OT: recession snags smartphone makers, in an unexpected way…

[briansd1]

Cell phones are now a necessity of life. That’s how people live. I’ve resisted texting for a long time. But now, everybody texts so I have no choice.

It was interesting to watch Frontline last night.
They interviewed people about the recession.

I don’t see people cutting back on the little things (such as hairstyling) that make life bearable. Cell phones are one of those things.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/closetohome/etc/script.html

[SK in CV]

I don’t really know how people are spending all that money. I don’t know why either. I’m reasonably sure most don’t have to. I know I don’t.

Mine cost me nothing. (It’s a blackberry bold 9000. It isn’t top of the line, newest and greatest, but it is the one I wanted, because it has BIG keys and i have BIG fingers. And it does do most everything I want, other than take good photos.) It was refurbished, and free with a new 2 year contract, directly from AT&T. My daughters deal was even better. It cost $10 (a blackberry bold 9700) with a new 2 year contract, and it was through an outside vendor so there was an added bonus. AT&T never updated their records and she’s STILL eligible for deep discounts with a new contract.

And the total monthly cost isn’t anywhere near $100. For 5 phones, i pay around $200 a month with all the minutes we need and all the data we need for 3 phones. (2 aren’t smartphones.)

I do kinda have the hots for the new blackberry torch. I could get it now for $100 with a new contract from AT&T. I haven’t looked at outside vendors yet, but if and when it’s available for free that way, I’ll probably do it.

[SK in CV]

I don’t really know how people are spending all that money. I don’t know why either. I’m reasonably sure most don’t have to. I know I don’t.

Mine cost me nothing. (It’s a blackberry bold 9000. It isn’t top of the line, newest and greatest, but it is the one I wanted, because it has BIG keys and i have BIG fingers. And it does do most everything I want, other than take good photos.) It was refurbished, and free with a new 2 year contract, directly from AT&T. My daughters deal was even better. It cost $10 (a blackberry bold 9700) with a new 2 year contract, and it was through an outside vendor so there was an added bonus. AT&T never updated their records and she’s STILL eligible for deep discounts with a new contract.

And the total monthly cost isn’t anywhere near $100. For 5 phones, i pay around $200 a month with all the minutes we need and all the data we need for 3 phones. (2 aren’t smartphones.)

I do kinda have the hots for the new blackberry torch. I could get it now for $100 with a new contract from AT&T. I haven’t looked at outside vendors yet, but if and when it’s available for free that way, I’ll probably do it.

[SK in CV]

I don’t really know how people are spending all that money. I don’t know why either. I’m reasonably sure most don’t have to. I know I don’t.

Mine cost me nothing. (It’s a blackberry bold 9000. It isn’t top of the line, newest and greatest, but it is the one I wanted, because it has BIG keys and i have BIG fingers. And it does do most everything I want, other than take good photos.) It was refurbished, and free with a new 2 year contract, directly from AT&T. My daughters deal was even better. It cost $10 (a blackberry bold 9700) with a new 2 year contract, and it was through an outside vendor so there was an added bonus. AT&T never updated their records and she’s STILL eligible for deep discounts with a new contract.

And the total monthly cost isn’t anywhere near $100. For 5 phones, i pay around $200 a month with all the minutes we need and all the data we need for 3 phones. (2 aren’t smartphones.)

I do kinda have the hots for the new blackberry torch. I could get it now for $100 with a new contract from AT&T. I haven’t looked at outside vendors yet, but if and when it’s available for free that way, I’ll probably do it.

[SK in CV]

I don’t really know how people are spending all that money. I don’t know why either. I’m reasonably sure most don’t have to. I know I don’t.

Mine cost me nothing. (It’s a blackberry bold 9000. It isn’t top of the line, newest and greatest, but it is the one I wanted, because it has BIG keys and i have BIG fingers. And it does do most everything I want, other than take good photos.) It was refurbished, and free with a new 2 year contract, directly from AT&T. My daughters deal was even better. It cost $10 (a blackberry bold 9700) with a new 2 year contract, and it was through an outside vendor so there was an added bonus. AT&T never updated their records and she’s STILL eligible for deep discounts with a new contract.

And the total monthly cost isn’t anywhere near $100. For 5 phones, i pay around $200 a month with all the minutes we need and all the data we need for 3 phones. (2 aren’t smartphones.)

I do kinda have the hots for the new blackberry torch. I could get it now for $100 with a new contract from AT&T. I haven’t looked at outside vendors yet, but if and when it’s available for free that way, I’ll probably do it.

[SK in CV]

I don’t really know how people are spending all that money. I don’t know why either. I’m reasonably sure most don’t have to. I know I don’t.

Mine cost me nothing. (It’s a blackberry bold 9000. It isn’t top of the line, newest and greatest, but it is the one I wanted, because it has BIG keys and i have BIG fingers. And it does do most everything I want, other than take good photos.) It was refurbished, and free with a new 2 year contract, directly from AT&T. My daughters deal was even better. It cost $10 (a blackberry bold 9700) with a new 2 year contract, and it was through an outside vendor so there was an added bonus. AT&T never updated their records and she’s STILL eligible for deep discounts with a new contract.

And the total monthly cost isn’t anywhere near $100. For 5 phones, i pay around $200 a month with all the minutes we need and all the data we need for 3 phones. (2 aren’t smartphones.)

I do kinda have the hots for the new blackberry torch. I could get it now for $100 with a new contract from AT&T. I haven’t looked at outside vendors yet, but if and when it’s available for free that way, I’ll probably do it.

[ocrenter]

the thing with smartphone is everyone wants one, even when you can’t afford it. I overheard someone the other day complaining about not being able to drive down to downtown because her car was not fit for the freeways, someone suggested bus or taxi and she said they were too pricey, meanwhile she’s got a blackberry she was texting away on.

clearly the smartphone is the top priority for folks up and down the socioeconomic ladder.

[ocrenter]

the thing with smartphone is everyone wants one, even when you can’t afford it. I overheard someone the other day complaining about not being able to drive down to downtown because her car was not fit for the freeways, someone suggested bus or taxi and she said they were too pricey, meanwhile she’s got a blackberry she was texting away on.

clearly the smartphone is the top priority for folks up and down the socioeconomic ladder.

[ocrenter]

the thing with smartphone is everyone wants one, even when you can’t afford it. I overheard someone the other day complaining about not being able to drive down to downtown because her car was not fit for the freeways, someone suggested bus or taxi and she said they were too pricey, meanwhile she’s got a blackberry she was texting away on.

clearly the smartphone is the top priority for folks up and down the socioeconomic ladder.

[ocrenter]

the thing with smartphone is everyone wants one, even when you can’t afford it. I overheard someone the other day complaining about not being able to drive down to downtown because her car was not fit for the freeways, someone suggested bus or taxi and she said they were too pricey, meanwhile she’s got a blackberry she was texting away on.

clearly the smartphone is the top priority for folks up and down the socioeconomic ladder.

[ocrenter]

the thing with smartphone is everyone wants one, even when you can’t afford it. I overheard someone the other day complaining about not being able to drive down to downtown because her car was not fit for the freeways, someone suggested bus or taxi and she said they were too pricey, meanwhile she’s got a blackberry she was texting away on.

clearly the smartphone is the top priority for folks up and down the socioeconomic ladder.

[Coronita]

Well, confessions of a android geek… I’ve held out as long as I can with my motorola razor with no text/messaging/web. etc.

And even now, I have a voice only plan on my personal plan for $30/month.

I can’t believe how much data plans are. $70/month is what I think the average plan is for a single line…And when I gripe about how expensive I think that is, folks give me a funny look like that’s reasonable.

SK, yes. Your BB is free. Because your carrier subsidizes it…But trust me, you’re paying for it (or your company is paying for it) via the monthly service plan.

I guess for me, I’m sort agnostic to these smartphones. I see the all the time, and they come and go from development, that I don’t both to keep up. I went through a G1, Samsung Galaxy, Droid, Nexus One, Samsung Galaxy S (latest personal use), and I think I have HTC Evo (which is just a bigger version of the Incredible) that I got from Google IO, but never use. Actually, one think I don’t like about Sprint and Verizon is being on CDMA, no SIM card. They all start to look the same. And if it wasn’t my own money, I couldn’t/wouldn’t pony up $400 for the phone or a $70+/month plan.

[Coronita]

Well, confessions of a android geek… I’ve held out as long as I can with my motorola razor with no text/messaging/web. etc.

And even now, I have a voice only plan on my personal plan for $30/month.

I can’t believe how much data plans are. $70/month is what I think the average plan is for a single line…And when I gripe about how expensive I think that is, folks give me a funny look like that’s reasonable.

SK, yes. Your BB is free. Because your carrier subsidizes it…But trust me, you’re paying for it (or your company is paying for it) via the monthly service plan.

I guess for me, I’m sort agnostic to these smartphones. I see the all the time, and they come and go from development, that I don’t both to keep up. I went through a G1, Samsung Galaxy, Droid, Nexus One, Samsung Galaxy S (latest personal use), and I think I have HTC Evo (which is just a bigger version of the Incredible) that I got from Google IO, but never use. Actually, one think I don’t like about Sprint and Verizon is being on CDMA, no SIM card. They all start to look the same. And if it wasn’t my own money, I couldn’t/wouldn’t pony up $400 for the phone or a $70+/month plan.

[Coronita]

Well, confessions of a android geek… I’ve held out as long as I can with my motorola razor with no text/messaging/web. etc.

And even now, I have a voice only plan on my personal plan for $30/month.

I can’t believe how much data plans are. $70/month is what I think the average plan is for a single line…And when I gripe about how expensive I think that is, folks give me a funny look like that’s reasonable.

SK, yes. Your BB is free. Because your carrier subsidizes it…But trust me, you’re paying for it (or your company is paying for it) via the monthly service plan.

I guess for me, I’m sort agnostic to these smartphones. I see the all the time, and they come and go from development, that I don’t both to keep up. I went through a G1, Samsung Galaxy, Droid, Nexus One, Samsung Galaxy S (latest personal use), and I think I have HTC Evo (which is just a bigger version of the Incredible) that I got from Google IO, but never use. Actually, one think I don’t like about Sprint and Verizon is being on CDMA, no SIM card. They all start to look the same. And if it wasn’t my own money, I couldn’t/wouldn’t pony up $400 for the phone or a $70+/month plan.

[Coronita]

Well, confessions of a android geek… I’ve held out as long as I can with my motorola razor with no text/messaging/web. etc.

And even now, I have a voice only plan on my personal plan for $30/month.

I can’t believe how much data plans are. $70/month is what I think the average plan is for a single line…And when I gripe about how expensive I think that is, folks give me a funny look like that’s reasonable.

SK, yes. Your BB is free. Because your carrier subsidizes it…But trust me, you’re paying for it (or your company is paying for it) via the monthly service plan.

I guess for me, I’m sort agnostic to these smartphones. I see the all the time, and they come and go from development, that I don’t both to keep up. I went through a G1, Samsung Galaxy, Droid, Nexus One, Samsung Galaxy S (latest personal use), and I think I have HTC Evo (which is just a bigger version of the Incredible) that I got from Google IO, but never use. Actually, one think I don’t like about Sprint and Verizon is being on CDMA, no SIM card. They all start to look the same. And if it wasn’t my own money, I couldn’t/wouldn’t pony up $400 for the phone or a $70+/month plan.

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