Smart phones packages in SA

[DaveM]

Well I am thinking about moving away from Blackberry but am unsure about this right now. As you may all know with my Blackberry I get an unlimited internet package for around R28 SA I think. Now I am not sure if this is only on the Blackberry or does it extend to other smart phones as well or do you need to purchase a data package over and above your phone contract. If so how what cost would I be looking at here over all.

The other question is what phone as my issues right now with Blackberry is the battery life and also I am finding a lot of internet services just don't have apps for Blackberry.

 

[CarlS]

I don't find battery life very good on smart phones in general, including the IPhones. It looks like the Androids have the widest range of apps.

 

[DaveM]

It does and it also look like the phones are very nice but now the cost comes into it especially the internet package

 

[hemibee]

I can't help you with info on the plans/packages in SA but I can give you a little equipment info.

I like my iPhone 3GS and I don't see changing it anytime soon. To be perfectly honest I won't be changing it because of the plan I'm on. If I upgrade the phone I will have up change my plan and pay more for less.

My son has a Galaxy lll, I don't remember which Galaxy lll it is but I will admit I would look at it if I was to upgrade. I like the products Samsung is bringing to the market. Would I select it over an iPhone? I don't know but I would give it a serious look.

A coworker has another phone, can't remember the brand but it looks a lot like the Samsung and he has had nothing but trouble with it. I'm going to say 90% of his trouble is his fault and not the phones. He would download any free app he could find and a few of those have been malicious apps that about ruined his credit and almost cost him his job. Aside from the app issue he claims he barely bumped the side of the phone and broke the screen. He had the phone replaced and then dropped it on his carpeted floor and broke the new one. In total I think he is now on his fourth one and the phone insurance has cut him off for a two year period.

One advantage of the iPhone is also a disadvantage, the apps. The only way to get an app for your iPhone is thru Apple. This cuts down on the number of apps available causing the disadvantage. In order for an app to be available for the iPhone it must pass the Apple standard for an app which helps keep the malicious apps off of the iPhones. Is it 100% safe? Probably not but it blows the competition away in the area of safe apps. If the app isn't what it claims to be, Apple will shut it down. I have had one app that when it first hit the market it was everything they claimed it to be but after a couple updates it triggered a flag at Apple and it was shutdown.

What ever you decide on, get something like an Otterbox case for it. One drop of the phone and it will pay for itself.

Battery life isn't great on any of the smartphones. Some will be better than others but none will be great.

My best suggestion is talk to a few folks that have different smartphones and give theirs a test drive.

Good luck with your search, hope you find the perfect one for you.



Posting with Tapatalk for iPhone.

 

[DaveM]

Thanks Tony that helps, I really do like my Blackberry and am used to it but with less and less support on apps it is starting to take a bit of strain

 

[CarlS]

I am looking at the Galaxy for when my contract is up. So far, I am impressed with it.

 

[The Seeker]

I wouldn't think there would be any difference as far as your unlimited internet goes between a smartphone and your Blackberry.

Why should there be? You get unlimited Internet now with one type of phone (Blackberry) so why would they make it any different for a smartphone?

To extend the battery life on my Android, I installed the free app called "Juice Defender". I have it at the default setting (medium) and it extended the battery life at least 75% over what I had before. I rarely have to worry now about battery life. The Motorola RAZR Max has REALLY long battery life over the basic RAZR.

Android's do have the most Apps available, but of course you should always get them from a good source like Google Playstore.

I tend to stick with Motorola phones because they can take a beating and they don't have problems like the others. My kids had Samsungs and other brands. but they were either crashing and screwing up, or they broke easily.

 

[DaveM]

I am looking at the Galaxy for when my contract is up. So far, I am impressed with it.

Google springs to mind here Android and all

 

[DaveM]

I wouldn't think there would be any difference as far as your unlimited internet goes between a smartphone and your Blackberry. Why should there be? You get unlimited Internet now with one type of phone (Blackberry) so why would they make it any different for a smartphone?

I think the unlimited internet is part of the Blackberry package that is why I was wondering. What I have just done is installed an apps to monitor my bandwidth use so that will give me an indication what I need to look at if I need to purchase a bandwidth package on top of a smart phone package.

To extend the battery life on my Android, I installed the free app called "Juice Defender". I have it at the default setting (medium) and it extended the battery life at least 75% over what I had before. I rarely have to worry now about battery life. The Motorola RAZR Max has REALLY long battery life over the basic RAZR.

I had a look last night at a comparison and the RAZR came out tops over every phone as far as battery life went. I have never seen one of these phone before so I need to actualy go and have a look and see what they like

Android's do have the most Apps available, but of course you should always get them from a good source like Google Playstore.

It does look like as far as apps go this would be the way to go

I tend to stick with Motorola phones because they can take a beating and they don't have problems like the others. My kids had Samsungs and other brands. but they were either crashing and screwing up, or they broke easily.

I have been lucky with my Blackberry as it comes with a hard case and it is easy to get it in and out when you need to

 

[The Seeker]

All Verizon smartphones come with a pre-installed APP that monitors your bandwidth usage. They also come with a pre-programmed phone number to call to get an automated bandwidth usage report.

 

[DaveM]

Now that would be a handy service to have. I don't think the Blackberry worry about that as it does not really matter. The only thing I believe that you pay for on this one is if you watch videos

 

[The Seeker]

Well, my carrier, Verizon had unlimited data plans at one time but they don't anymore. You specify what data plan you want. Now, my Son had unlimited data from long ago so he is "grandfathered in" and still gets it. But whenever his plan expires, he'll have to choose a data plan.

 

[hemibee]

Well, my carrier, Verizon had unlimited data plans at one time but they don't anymore. You specify what data plan you want. Now, my Son had unlimited data from long ago so he is "grandfathered in" and still gets it. But whenever his plan expires, he'll have to choose a data plan.

That's what I have, an old unlimited plan but as long as I don't change phones I'm granfathered in. I plan to keep the iPhone as long as I can.

 

[DaveM]

I find it strange that your normal internet your side is unlimited but on a smart phone not and I think you would use a fraction of the bandwidth compared to a PC

 

[hemibee]

The problem is too many people are using the smartphones to access the web and overloading the system, or so they say. When they first started very few were using them and they needed to attract customers and once people found out they weren't being charged by the minute like the phone calls the users numbers exploded and they weren't ready for it. Now they have the customers hooked and they want more money.

 

[The Seeker]

To me that makes more sense.

Businesses and people at home on their PCs or Macs should get unlimited Internet. They are using it more and it's usually hard wired either through a cable or telephone line.

You are using their network remotely with your smartphone OR tapping into a Wi-Fi and getting it from someone's hard wired Internet.

 

[DaveM]

Well when I am at home I tap into my WiFi but that does not affect my bandwidth on that side but just makes it faster my side.

 

[hemibee]

Correct, wifi access doesn't count against your bandwidth.