Quote Originally Posted by Catrin View Post
I will talk with AT&T, I have the idea that my rates go up if I don't sign another contract? Perhaps I am wrong about it. It would be great if I didn't have to actually change anything for now, and just switch to another smartphone that happens to be on sale whenever this one goes south...

Tulip, you weren't being argumentative, as a tech geek it is sometimes too easy for me to justify such things when it really isn't necessary. Trying to do better with that If I could afford it I would love to move to Verizon and get the iPhone 4, but from what I can determine I would pay more on a monthly basis for Verizon, and that would be on top of the cost of the phone.
You can just keep paying for your normal service once your contract is up. No need to sign another contract unless you get a new phone.

I did extensive (as is my nature) comparisons of Verizon and ATT service for my iphone. I really wanted to switch to Verizon because of coverage, but if I had not dropped and shattered my phone, I would have kept ATT for a while and figured out something later. Since i had to buy a new phone anyways, I went with Verizon, and stuck with the iphone since that's what my business uses (this is a business phone). My plan ends up $5 more per month than with ATT, for twice as many minutes (I've never used up my minutes, even with my ATT 450 plan) and unlimited data (make sure you check that, many companies are now making us pay for data). ATT had unlimited text and Verizon does not, so I have to watch that. With Verizon's 5 Family and Friends plan, it works out well for me because my collegues are on ATT still (because of simultaneous talk-surf that they do and that I don't do). F&F allows those calls to not count against my minutes.

If I just needed a plain old phone, I would just get a plain old phone. But I need all the bells and whistles for my work (travel) and I like the apps, too.