Verizon Smart Phones

I'm on Verizon and have the Samsung Charge. Had the first Motorola Droid when they came out too. Love the Droid platform.

I would say if you get one, get a 4g compatible phone so when you get 4g in your area you won't have to upgrade your phone early if you start itching for 4g service.

whatever you do,

DO NOT

DO NOT

DO NOT even look at a blackberry. i've had more problems with the two i've had (one was a replacement), in a year and a half than i've had with all 5 of my previous phones. I'd go Droid incredible/X or iPhone.

Blackberry is out for me.  Too many people I know have had at least 2 to 7 replacements.  Their remanufactured are junk and that is your replacement.  A co-worker has had 5 replacements in 6 months and finally got Verizon to upgrade him to I-Phone.  He has hung up on my three times while speaking.  He says it works fine in speaker mode, but he hangs up on people sometimes when he talks, unless he keeps the phone away from his face and only has the speaker near his ear.

Looks like I will be headed towards the droids.  Now to figure out what they have and what is best for me.

I am very happy with my iPhone. It's my third one. Even though I work in tech, I just want a phone that works and I have no desire to play 'under the hood.' Although all my developers have Droids. Both work well, but from what I've seen the iPhone interface is cleaner and more intuitive. No flash though, which is sometimes an inconvenience.

Keep in mind that on Verizon you will NOT be able to surf the web and talk on the phone at the same time. Now that is a major inconvenience. I'm constantly looking things up while talking on the phone.

Agree that the sales dude is smoking crack.  Iphone's are great phones and most of the Droid phones are really good as well.  For me it's a personal preference thing.  Whichever look/feel and functionality you like better is the one you should go with.

I recently upgraded to the 4G Droid Bionic and absolutely love it.  getting 25MB down and 8MB up all over town is ansane, so I'd strongly recommend waiting for the Iphone 5 (hoping it's 4G) or going with a 4G droid phone if it's not.  

I would recommend a search of CoJ on this topic, it has been hashed out quite a few times with some good info in the various threads.

That said, I have had both and I prefer the iPhone. Yes the droid is more customizable, which is cool for the first week. Then you really just want your phone to work when you need it. This is where the iPhone blows android out of the water for me. The iPhone is quick, easy, intuitive, and always works without a hiccup. No, I can't re-arrange my widgets every day, but I don't want to.

I would recommend waiting for the iPhone 5, the iOS 5 update is coming soon and will make some very nice changes. I can't imagine that the iPhone 5 won't be 4g. If you want 4g, wait till the 5 comes out, if you don't need it, pick up an iPhone 4 with the iOS 5 update for dirt cheap.

Bottom line is both platforms work, they just skin the cat in different ways, everyone will have an opinion on which is better for them, you just have to figure out which is better for you.

 ETA: One of the major problems I have with the android platform is the fact that it is open to further development, which is it's strength as well as it's weakness. Every manufacturer will have a different flavor of android so you have to take that into consideration when picking out a phone. The problem is, when android comes up with an update, the various phone manufacturers have to update their tweaks to android before you get the update. So when I had an HTC droid phone, the latest and greatest android update was out for no less than 18 months before the update was made available to the HTC phones on Sprint. Yes, the carriers get a say in when it comes out too. So to get an update with android it has to come from google, go to HTC to get tweaked, then go to the carrier for final approval. If you have a slightly older phone that isn't the latest craze, you will get no love and will wait forever to get the update. With the iPhone, it comes from Apple straight to you, everyone gets it right away.

I have a first generation Droid..so sick of the force close issues. I havent had an software update in gosh knows how long, and when I first got the phone I got them pretty regularly. The only thing I love about the Droid is the google maps gps/ car dock. Works like a regular GPS. No cost to you. Ive heard that Iphone has the app but not sure there is a car dock. Im also not thrilled with virtual keyboards but its something I imagine I can get used to, to avoid the not stop force close. Basically the operating system farts in just about any app Im in and I have to start over. Maybe its because of the phones age (18months) or a virus but not happy with it. Also the phone wont stay connected to wifi at work or at home..randomly disconnects.

Im holding out for the iphone 5.

The Verizon sales rep showed me his mapquest app, he says it gives turn by turn and voice just like the droid gps.   I have the car dock but it has started coming "unstuck" from the window and pops off randomly, so stopped using it. 

One thing I've read on a few sites is there are reasons the IP 5 won't have 4G, it's simply not ready, battery size issues, etc.  But they warned that they might call it 4G, but it probably won't be 4G LTE.  So it'll be 4G if you're on sprint, but not on verizon.  I wonder if I'd even notice a difference between 3 and 4 g

And the android customizeable thing, I'm not even sure I know what I could do with the phone, so I haven't (at least I don't think so).  In the end, as said, i just want it to be a phone and to get on the net.

I work for a telecommunications company and one of the main reasons you may be swayed from an IPhione is the fact that with its functionality and abundant APP's it really sucks up the bandwidth and is actually slowing down the wireless infratstructure of Verison and other providers alike.

Most providers are transitioning to LTE as it will provide greater bandwidth abilities to meet the ever growing consumption by smartphones. LTE is incredibley fast however depends on where you are in relation to the towers footprint and the surrounding terrian ie: hills, buildings etc.

Really at the end of the day...it becomes a personal choice as to which smartphone you like or is pushed on you thru sales and marketing....the speed at which it operates is solely dependant on the newtork you choose.

Which phone (or phones) is it that have the ability to be a "hot spot"?  I recently won an Ipad2 (WiFi only - no 3G) - but no wireless internet at home.  Looking at the most cost effective way to make this not be an expensive paperweight.  The Verizon MiFi is $50 per month, and there is a $35 activation fee.  I have the 1st Gen. Droid currently.

Thank you in advance

The iphone has this ability.  But Verizon does charge you... I think $30/mo.  What I don't know is if you can surf the wifi and talk on the phone at the same time.  possibly not.  But, we haven't seen the new iphone 5, being announced next week.

to the OP.  Wait for the iphone 5 announcement next week.  iphones are terrific.  They may not compare feature by feature- but the user interface is so well thought out, they're just fun and obvioius to use.  Everything is just very slick.  Androids aren't a bad choice, but there's a reason why the apple products are so popular.  I love my iphone.  And- no shortage of great apps.  Many are free, those that aren't are only a few bucks.  Like buying a cup of coffee.  Plus the whole searching for apps, reading reviews and buying apps is much slicker on the apple products.

Well most places you take the Ipad to (work,airports,alot of restaurants, libraries etc.) have free wifi. I would suggest you get wifi at home..its sure cheaper than $50 a month. I have a friend that bought an Ipad and will buy a bundle data pkg (not sure what that consists of) that she uses when she is on trips in case she is at a place that doesnt have free wifi. (I think it costs $30per bundle) she doesnt have a plan per say... Just buys it when she needs it.

On my droid bionic the "hotspot" feature is $30/mo. over and above my data charge and everything else.  Fortunately I'm grandfathered in and get unlimited data for the $30.

Other than the price the 4G hotspot is unfreeking believable fast.  You could seriously use it for your home internet broadband and cancel your home internet if you wanted it.  It's that good.

So if you're grandfathered in you don't pay the $30 for the hotspot, just the $30 for unlimited?

And for someone who doesn't know much... having it as a hotspot is the same as having say wi-fi in your house?