2009 smartphone and carrier buying guide

2009 Smartphone and Carrier Buying GuideBy Matthew Miller

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Smartphones 3

Smartphone Buyer’s Guide: What are the choices on my carrier? 7

3

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: SmartphonesThe lineup of cell phones has expanded a bit, but a significant number of what we see in that category are updates to

existing models. The real innovation in the mobile phone world is in the area of smartphones where we see the Apple

iPhone, Palm WebOS, Google Android, RIM BlackBerry, and Microsoft Windows Mobile devices taking us to places we

have never been before. This holiday season there is a huge selection for you to choose from on every carrier and several

exciting devices will be launching throughout November. There are so many to choose from that we can’t cover them all

here so I will present you with one smartphone from each carrier and one SIM-unlocked one.

Even though I am only presenting one phone from each carrier, I highly encourage you to visit your local carrier’s retail

store to check out all the offerings available since they are quite compelling. The great thing for buyers this holiday season

is that such intense competition lends itself to good prices and changing carrier plans and services.

T-MobileMotorola ClIQ

T-Mobile is my personal wireless carrier and I was going to talk about my current

favorite device, the T-Mobile Touch Pro2, but I think another new device is more exciting

and interesting for the holidays. Motorola’s new CLIQ Google Android device with

MOTOBLUR integration that tightly integrates social networking feeds and data in the

device. The CLIQ has a beautiful capacitive touch screen, 5 megapixel camera, support

for T-Mobile’s 3G data network, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and full QWERTY keyboard.

The device is highly optimized for social networking with Facebook, MySpace and

Twitter apps built right into the Android OS. Android is an exciting new platform with

thousands of applications and capability to meet all your needs.

Price: $199.99 with 2-year contract and rebate

AT&TIPHONE 3GS

AT&T has some excellent BlackBerry and Windows Mobile options, surprisingly no

Google Android devices, but it is hard to argue against the Apple iPhone 3GS being

the best smartphone on this carrier. The iPhone 3GS is a very fun device and this latest

model improves on the speed while adding a very functional 3.2 megapixel camera

that captures video footage with ease. Everything is easy with the iPhone 3GS and the

number of available applications continues to increase exponentially.

The iPhone 3GS is a good phone, but an even better media player so if you are buying

for someone looking to take their music or movies on the go then the iPhone 3GS is the

one. Social networking tools are also very well done on the iPhone and they are more

functional on the iPhone than on a web browser in most cases.

Price: $199 for 16GB with 2-year contract and $299 for 32GB with 2-year contract

4

SprintHTC HERO

If you are a Sprint customer, then I have to admit I envy you. I have thought about

adding a Sprint account to my mobile collection because they have the best voice and

data plans and the most exciting lineup of smartphones. You can choose from the Palm

Pre, upcoming Palm Pixi, HTC Touch Pro2, HTC Hero, upcoming Samsung Moment,

and BlackBerry Tour. I was going to choose the Palm Pre, but I was not extremely

pleased with the build quality of the device when I owned one for three weeks and

after spending time with the HTC Hero I think this is the leading device on Sprint. The

customizations that HTC has made with their Sense UI make the Hero a device that will

meet all your needs.

The HTC Hero has it all with EV-DO Rev. A, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.5mm headset jack,

capacitive touchscreen, accelerometer, trackball, thousands of Android apps, amazing

Google experience, support for all the greatest Sprint services (Sprint TV, NFL Mobile

Live, NASCAR Sprint Cup, and Sprint Navigation), and a solid 5 megapixel camera capable of capturing still images

or video content. Like I said, I found the the HTC Hero so compelling I almost signed up with Sprint just to have one

for myself.

Price: $179.99 with 2-year contract, instant savings and rebate

Verizon WirelessHTC IMAGIO

It has been a while since Verizon Wireless has had some exciting smartphones, but

this holiday season they are looking to make quite a comeback with their two Google

Android devices, HTC Touch Pro2 (regularly sold out), and RIM BlackBerry Storm 2.

Looking at what is currently available though I have to say the HTC Imagio is the clear

leader. While the Touch Pro2 has a QWERTY keyboard, the HTC Imagio has the latest

Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, 5 megapixel camera, 3.5mm headset jack, 3.6

inch 480×800 pixel display, WiFi, Bluetooth, EV-DO Rev. A and UMTS/GSM for true

worldwide usage. It supports Verizon services such as V CAST Music, V CAST Mobile

TV, V CAST Video, Visual Voicemail, and VZ Navigator.

If you don’t need a keyboard and need a sleek device with support for wireless bands

around the world then the HTC Imagio is a good choice. The V CAST Mobile TV is a FLO

TV-based live streaming video service and the antenna on the back acts as a kickstand

for the device so you can enjoy video content with the Imagio resting on a table.

Price: $199.99 with 2-year contract and online discount

5

GSM SIM-unlockedNOkIA N900

If you are with AT&T or T-Mobile, then you have the

option to buy SIM-unlocked devices from various

online vendors without having to worry about any

contracts or mail-in rebates. This flexibility does come

at a bit higher price, but sometimes the device is well

worth that price. I have had the pleasure of using a

pre-product Nokia N900 device and this smartphone

is much more of a mobile computer than a phone,

although the phone part is actually quite strong as well.

The Nokia N900 is scheduled to be released in mid-November and supports the 3G data frequency found on T-Mobile

USA. If you want to learn a lot more about this amazing device, then I recommend you check out my Definitive Nokia

N900 Guide.

The Nokia N900 runs a Linux-based operating system called Maemo 5 and sports such high end specs as a 600MHz

ARM Cortex A8 processor, 3D graphics accelerator with OpenGL ES 2.0 support, 1GB application memory, 32GB

integrated Flash drive with microSD card slot to add up to 16GB more memory, 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss

optics, 3.5 inch 800×480 resolution touchscreen display, integrated WiFi and Bluetooth, integrated GPS receiver, and full

Mozilla-based browser that supports Adobe Flash 9.4.

The device is snappy, supports a growing number of applications, is very well connected and has the ability to run

multiple applications at once. The phone functionality was not forgotten with a proximity sensor, one touch multi-access

to your contact’s different connections (cell, IM, text, email), and much, much more.

Price: $559.99 from online retailers with no contract or rebates (MSRP $649)

6

Smartphone Buyer’s Guide: What are the choices on my carrier?I recently posted the 2009 Holiday Guide for smartphones and in that guide posted about just one smartphone from

each carrier. I also posted my Holiday Guide for feature phones and included the two I thought are best on each carrier.

There are more smartphone selections than just one and now that most all of the announcements for the holidays have

been made I thought you might like to know what the choices from each carrier are, along with the subsidized and

non-subsidized prices so you can make an informed choice. Most people find a carrier that works for them with the

best coverage in their local area so they look first to their carrier for a smartphone rather than looking for the a smart-

phone and then switching carriers. You will find the smartphone choices from the four largest nationwide carriers, but

keep in mind there are also some rather large localized carriers in the Northeast and Southern regions with excellent

smartphone choices.

The prices you will see in this article are from the carrier. If you are new to a carrier or adding another line you will find

excellent prices on Amazon.com and other online vendors.

Verizon WirelessVerizon has had a rather weak lineup of smartphones for most

of 2009 with their primary focus on high end BlackBerry models.

They recently added some very good Windows Mobile and Google

Android devices to their offerings so Verizon Wireless customers

have some of the best choices this holiday season. You will find

smartphones with keyboards and those focused on touch only so something should appeal to you that allows you to

stay with Verizon Wireless, or even join them to obtain one of their new Google Android devices.

Verizon does have the most expensive data and voice plans, but they also have the most coverage of any wireless

carrier. The HTC Touch Pro2 has been sold out for much of the last month so may be difficult to find. The HTC DROID

ERIS and Motorola DROID are the hottest devices at the moment and you will see commercials for both on television

and in print advertising. If you travel internationally, make sure to look for a phone that is GSM-capable too.

rIM BlackBerryBlackBerry Curve 8330 - Front facing QWERTY,

2.0 megapixel camera: $429.99 (no contract)

and $49.99 (2-year contract)

BlackBerry Tour - Front facing QWERTY, 3.2

megapixel camera, GSM world phone: $489.99

(no contract) and $149.99 (2-year contract)

BlackBerry Storm2 - Large touchscreen, WiFi, 3.2

megapixel camera, GSM world phone: $539.99


Windows MobileSamsung Omnia - Large touchscreen, Sam-

sung TouchWIZ interface, 5 megapixel cam-

era: $459.99 (no contract) and FREE (2-year

contract)

HTC Ozone - Front facing QWERTY, non-

touchscreen, 2 megapixel camera, GSM world

phone: $349.99 (no contract) and $49.99

(2-year contract)

Samsung Saga - Front facing QWERTY,


AT&TThe largest GSM carrier in the U.S. is AT&T and the Apple iPhone has definitely been the

dominant smartphone for them over these last couple of years. Apple changed the face

of the smartphone with the original iPhone and has updated the offerings twice with the

iPhone 3GS the current device available on AT&T. I was with AT&T for a couple of years and

found their data plan to be decent, but their voice network let me down way too often so I

had to drop them and stick with T-Mobile.

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phone: $449.99 (no contract) and $99.99 (2-

year contract)

HTC Touch Pro2 - Large touchscreen, slider

QWERTY, 3.2 megapixel camera, GSM world

phone: $489.99 (no contract) and $199.99 (2-

year contract)

HTC Imagio - Windows Mobile 6.5, large



(2-year contract)

Google androidHTC DROID ERIS - Touchscreen, 5 megapixel

camera, HTC Sense UI and widgets: $469.99


Motorola DROID - Android 2.0, 5 megapixel cam-

era, large touchscreen, slider QWERTY: $559.99


apple iPhoneVerizon has no iPhone devices.

SymbianVerizon has no Symbian smartphone offerings.

Palm WeboSVerizon has no Palm WebOS devices.

A couple of things to keep in mind as you look at these

Verizon smartphones is to check for WiFi and GSM

support if you are a business traveler who needs these

wireless technologies to do your job.


2 megapixel camera, WiFi: $399.99 (no

contract) and $149.99 (2-year contract)

BlackBerry Bold - Front facing QWERTY, 2

megapixel camera, WiFi: $449.99 (no contract)


BlackBerry Curve 8900 - Front facing QWERTY,

3.2 megapixel camera, WiFi: $349.99 (no


Windows MobileSamsung Jack - Front facing QWERTY, non-

touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera,

WiFi: $329.99 (no contract) and $79.99 (2-year

contract)

Samsung Propel Pro - Slide-up front facing

QWERTY, touchscreen display, 3 megapixel

camera, WiFi: $279.99 (no contract) and $79.99

(2-year contract)

HTC Pure - Windows Mobile 6.5, touchscreen

display, 5 megapixel camera, WiFi: $349.99 (no


HTC Tilt2 - Windows Mobile 6.5, touchscreen

display, slide out QWERTY, 3.2 megapixel cam-

era, WiFi: $499.99 (no contract) and $299.99

(2-year contract)

Google androidAT&T has no Google Android device.

apple iPhoneApple iPhone 3G (8GB) - Capacitive touch-

screen UI, 2 megapixel camera, No MMS

support: $99 (2-year contract)

Apple iPhone 3GS - Capacitive touchscreen

UI, 3.2 megapixel camera: $599.99 (16GB)/

$699.99 (32GB) with no contact and $199.99

(16GB)/$299.99 (32GB) for 2-year contract price

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SymbianNokia E71x - Front facing QWERTY, WiFi, 3.2

megapixel camera, GPS: $249.99 (no contract)

and $49.99 (2-year contact)

Nokia Surge - Slider QWERTY, 2 mega-

pixel camera, GPS: $229.99 (no contract) and

$29.99 (2-year contract)

Palm WeboSAT&T has no Palm WebOS device.

SprintAs you can see below Sprint has some wonderful smartphone

offerings and was the leader in the various operating systems until

some of the newest devices were announced running Windows

Mobile and Google Android. Sprint has the most affordable

unlimited plans and their data plans include features that normally have extra fees with Verizon and AT&T, such as voice

guided navigation, wireless television, and sports services. I would be all over a Sprint HTC Hero if I had better Sprint

coverage, but not every carrier can give all of us full coverage and this just isn’t the carrier for my area.


2 megapixel camera, no WiFi:$569.99 (no



2 megapixel camera, WiFi: $479.99 (no con-

tract) and $149.99 (2-year contract)

BlackBerry Tour 9630 - Front facing QWERTY,

3.2 megapixel camera, no WiFi, GSM world


(2-year contract)

Windows MobileHTC Snap - Front facing QWERTY, non-touch-

screen display, 2 megapixel camera: $399.99


Palm Treo Pro - Front facing QWERTY, touchscreen

display, 2 megapixel camera, WiFi: $549.99 (no


Samsung Intrepid - Windows Mobile 6.5, front

facing QWERTY, touchscreen display, 3 mega-

pixel camera, WiFi, GSM world phone: $449.99


HTC Touch Diamond - Touchscreen display, 3.2



HTC Touch Pro2 - Touchscreen display, slide

out QWERTY keyboard, 3.2 megapixel camera,

WiFi, GSM world phone: $599.99 (no contract)


Google androidHTC Hero - Capacitive touchscreen, 5 mega-

pixel camera, HTC Sense UI, WiFi: $479.99 (no


Samsung Moment - Capacitive touchscreen,

slide out QWERTY, 3 megapixel camera, WiFi:

$479.99 (no contract) and $179.99 (2-year

contract)

apple iPhone

Sprint has no iPhone device.

Symbian

Sprint has no Symbian device.

Palm WeboSPalm Pre _ Capacitive touchscreen, slide up

QWERTY keyboard, 3 megapixel camera,

WiFi, Palm Synergy: $549.99 (no contract) and


T-MobileT-Mobile is the smallest of the four major carriers and they just

started rolling out their 3G data network over the last few months.

They operate their 3G network on a frequency different than AT&T

(1700 MHz) so devices are not cross compatible for high speed

data. T-Mobile launched the first US-based Google Android device last year with the T-Mobile G1 and has focused on

BlackBerry and Google Android smartphone offerings with some Windows Mobile updates just recently being released.

T-Mobile also has their UMA/Hotspot @Home service available that lets you make and receive calls via your home WiFi

network to ensure you have a good solid signal in your house with unlimited calling support. T-Mobile also just rolled

out their European-style plans where you can sign up for month-to-month service with no carrier contracts.

rIM BlackBerryBlackBerry Pearl 8120 - SureType QWERTY, 2




WiFi, 2 megapixel camera: $349.99 (no con-

tract) and $129.99 (2-year contract)


WiFi, 3.2 megapixel camera: $399.99 (no


Windows MobileT-Mobile Shadow - Slide up QWERTY, non-

touchscreen, 2 megapixel camera, WiFi:


contract)

T-Mobile Dash 3G - Front facing QWERTY,

non-touchscreen, 2 megapixel camera, 3G

support, WiFi: $339.99 (no contract) and


T-Mobile HTC Touch Pro2 - Large touchscreen

display, slide up QWERTY, 3.2 megapixel cam-

era, 3G support, WiFi: $539.99 (no contract)


Google androidT-Mobile G1 - Capacitive touchscreen, slide

out QWERTY, 3.2 megapixel camera, 3G, WiFi:


contract)

T-Mobile myTouch 3G - Capacitive touch-

screen, 3.2 megapixel camera, 3G, WiFi:


contract)

Motorola CLIQ - Capacitive touchscreen, slide

out QWERTY, 5 megapixel camera, MO-

TOBLUR integrations, 3G, WiFi: $399.99 (no


apple iPhone

T-Mobile has no iPhone device.

Symbian

T-Mobile has no Symbian smartphone.

Palm WeboS

T-Mobile has no Palm WebOS device.

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2009 smartphone and carrier buying guide

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