For several months I’ve been looking at getting a cell phone, but I found deciding on the “right” cell phone was extremely difficult. Buying a cell phone isn’t just about the cell phone itself, but also the kind of service plan you get with it.
Being a Linux fan I had my heart set on an Android phone. The problem I ran into was that I just couldn’t get the right phone with the plan I wanted. After months of looking and waiting I finally settled on a Blackberry 9780 with Wind Mobile. What I wanted most was an “unlimited local calling plan.” Now I could have got this with an Android phone, if our location had any, or I could try ordering the phone online.
When it comes to service I always prefer working with someone I can walk into a store and ask (rather than on the phone). This turned out to be a great decision because almost right off the bat I had to go in and ask a few questions. (One of the problems I had turned out not to be Wind Mobile at all, but a problem with a friend’s VOIP ATA.). The service I got in the store was good (they didn’t tell me to call their technical service, they tried to help themselves).
As for the phone itself, it’s not the newest Blackberry Bold out there, but I’m really growing accustomed to it. I’m actually quite surprised at how much I like this phone. When considering the phone I remembered that Chris from NetDirect wrote the Berry software so I could synchronize my phone with Linux. But it may be unnecessary since I can also connect via Bluetooth. How long the Blackberry has to live is a good question, people are predicting RIM’s death every day. Personally, I think RIM can probably hold on long enough to engage the market again or at least to get bought out by someone else.
When I was looking for a cell phone I mentioned to one of the guys at Fido that I just couldn’t find the right cell phone with the right phone and his comment was that the Canadian cell phone market wasn’t the greatest. I’m bound to agree and appreciate the rep’s candor (Fido might not like it, but I do – honesty is important).
