What "Cell Phones worth switching Carriers" to Get

People ask me about cell phones all the time. Cell phones have so many functions; simple phones, messaging phones, smart phones, flip phones, sliders, etc. Since I get so many requests, I’m going to do a set of articles on the blog. Coming soon will be the best of the phone lines on AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon Wireless and “discount carriers”, but today, I’m writing about the best of the best. These phones are the ones on the four major carriers that are worth switching service to get. Plus, I touch on one bonus phone you can soon get on any of the big four carriers.

Let’s say your contract is up with your current provider, or you haven’t had a phone contract. You have considered making a move, but haven’t had enough of a reason to pick a new carrier. You are looking for phones that do it all; the web, universal mailbox, texting, applications, high end features, and of course calling. These are the four phones that make it worth making the switch. They are all exclusive to the service they are on; i.e. you can only get these phones one place. I am not reviewing the carrier services right now, just the phones.

A few notes you may need to know. I am focusing on exclusives, and they are harder and harder to come by. Blackberry smart phones are almost never exclusive; they may have some slight version number difference, but usually they are basically the same. Some phones have different names on different networks, but they are still the same phone. Of the four major carriers, they usually share between AT&T and T-Mobile, who both use GSM for 3G data, and between Verizon & Sprint, who both use CDMA for 3G data.

What “Cell Phones worth switching Carriers” to Get?

AT&T - Do you really need me to tell you what phone is worth switching to AT&T for?

iPhone 3Gs
This is the most up to date version of Apple’s immensely successful line of smart phones. It’s faster, more powerful, and ‘smarter’ than previous versions. Reviews focus on how bright this phone shines on web and multimedia functions, which are helped by having a full ‘iPod’ built in. Still, it is the phone’s array of applications and thriving ‘eco-system’ of users, applications, music, tv, etc that truly extends this devices usefulness. While it’s true the call quality, and network, are key complaints of many user reviews, it likely shouldn’t stop you if you’re considering the iPhone 3Gs. One NOTE; rumors have persisted for years about an iPhone on other networks. Unless or until you see it announced, do not sit and wait. These types of industry rumors are commonly used to keep users from switching networks, or upgrading their current phones. $199.99 with contract.

T-Mobile

myTouch 3G 3.5mm (new)
Like the new limited edition Fender myTouch 3G, the newest version of the myTouch T-Mobile exclusive line has a host of upgraded features for the networks flagship smart phone. This version features a standard 3.5 mm headset jack (previous versions needed adapters or proprietary headphones), 8GB Memory Card, Swype technology on the virtual keyboard, and doubleTwist desktop sync software standard. The myTouch 3G sports a well reviewed responsive touch screen, intuitive interface, and attractive physical design. The main thing it misses is a physical keyboard option. It runs v 1.6 of the Android mobile OS currently, but has been tested for a potential upgrade to v 2.x. Google’s Android OS has been quickly expanding in the smart phone market, making fans with its customization, seamless interaction with web applications, and high performance. While Android has an application marketplace filled with a lot of the same high quality programs on other platforms, it is the native Google applications, including free Google Maps with turn by turn navigation, that make Android phones, including the myTouch3G a winner. Likely $149 with 2 year contract.

Sprint

Samsung Instinct HD
This was going to be the Palm Pre, but then the Palm Pre plus showed up on Verizon, making it non-exclusive. Then it was going to be the Samsung Moment, but the list was already slanted without a Blackberry and would have been much worse full of Android phones. Enter the highly ranked, well reviewed Samsung Instinct HD, the flagship of the Instinct line and best of breed video phone. Every review (PCMag, CNet, ZDNet, PhoneScoop) raves about the quality of the HD camera, and HDMI output allows you to view that HD video straight from the phone in full HD glory in your home theater. While this phone doesn’t feature a big name phone OS (it’s proprietary instead of Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Windows Mobile), it does have the Opera Mobile browser, which is a big plus for a full featured, but not officially ‘smart’ phone. If you’re a videophile, this is your killer phone. Current Sprint users, take note, this is not Sprint’s best; it’s just their exclusives are limited. Look for a best of Sprint article later for better, cheaper options. The Samsung Instinct HD’s main knock is its price; yes, that's more than every other phone listed. $249 with 2 year contract.

Verizon Wireless

Motorola Droid
The Motorola Droid is the carefully crafted first big step by Verizon Wireless into the consumer smart phone market. Previously, the company had focused on corporate style Blackberry devices, with consumer models being an afterthought. Sporting a high speed processor, and a ton of extra features (5 megapixel camera with flash, oversized 3.7” high resolution touch screen, and a full keyboard) the Droid runs Google’s Android OS to its fullest capabilities; it runs 2.0 out of the box, but now upgrades over the network to the latest version 2.1. Those features come at a cost; the phone is slightly thicker than others on the list. Voice to text capabilities in all core applications, voice commands, universal search, and multi-touch with pinch to zoom in browser are a part of the basic Android 2.x. Yet the growing Android marketplace has brought favorites like Facebook, Twitter, UrbanSpoon, Pandora, and others to the Droid. Native support for synchronization with Exchange e-mail, calendar, and contacts, plus the keyboard, make this a great business alternative to a Blackberry. The big screen, full DHTML and Java support, and announced Flash support (not seen on any other smart phones right now) put this with the iPhone 3Gs in the ultimate class of “web in your pocket”. $199 with 2 year contract.

Bonus Phone – Carrier Independent

HTC Nexus One
In a move to attempt a new direction in smart phones, Google, in partnership with HTC, has announced and is releasing a phone, the Nexus One, that will have a version to run on every network. They have already released the initial T-Mobile version, and have confirmed releases for a Verizon Wireless and AT&T version. There have been rumors of a Sprint version, but that is so far unconfirmed. The Nexus One is a computer geek’s dream phone; small, sleek, ultra powerful (the best specs of a phone currently available), beautiful, and fully customizable under the hood. The biggest current downfall is that it may take a computer geek to buy and maintain it. The phone is only available for sale on the web, can’t really be test driven (unless you know someone who owns one), and comes with no in person support, and very little phone support split between Google, HTC, and T-Mobile. If the last two sentences don’t scare you, then this should be your next phone, no matter what network you are on, or want. Most people, however, are better suited to the current structure of buying a phone through a provider for now. $179 with 2 year contract on T-Mobile