Iphone 5 ???

[dave lackey]

Grrr...Sprint is discontinuing service to our old cell phone (nextel) and we have to get a new phone....I hate this kind of business!😡 Suck you in and force you to change when no change is wanted....

So, I might as well go with an Iphone 5 and unlimited data right? An Iphone 4 is half the price of the 5...a 6 is on the way this summer but I need a phone now.

At least this way, I can add an Ipad for my bride to use as part of rehab. Fat chance of affording that anytime soon with buying a new freaking phone.

Anyone have recommendations, caveats, or else regarding the Iphone 5?

 

[majid]

The iPhone 4 is not LTE capable. In cities where it is available like here in SF, that makes a huge difference. Your phone will last 2 years and the purchase price is inconsequential compared to the cost of 2 years' service, so you might as well get the best and plan some extra capacity as your usage of the phone expands with familiarity.

Apart from that, yes, it's an improvement, but smartphones are starting to reach the point of diminishing returns to technological improvements.

 

[dave lackey]

The iPhone 4 is not LTE capable. In cities where it is available like here in SF, that makes a huge difference. Your phone will last 2 years and the purchase price is inconsequential compared to the cost of 2 years' service, so you might as well get the best and plan some extra capacity as your usage of the phone expands with familiarity.

Apart from that, yes, it's an improvement, but smartphones are starting to reach the point of diminishing returns to technological improvements.

Thanks, Majid... I reckon others think this was a trivial question so your answer is appreciated.:angel:

 

[majid]

Well, since I got a 4G iPad Mini I hardly ever use my smartphone as anything but a phone any more, so I thought I'd save a few bucks when my Verizon contract expired and switch to a prepaid voice-only plan, and switch my wife over to Sprint so she could upgrade to an iPhone 5 and keep unlimited data, which Verizon is unambiguously sunsetting.

For various reasons, the prepaid plan didn't work out - crappy service (I was not receiving half the calls people made to me) and I underestimated how many minutes of voice I use because Verizon didn't count the calls I make to my wife in my minutes, so I ended up getting a Sprint iPhone 5 for myself as well.

The one big win is that Sprint allows you to use FaceTime over 3G/4G, unlike AT&T or Verizon who refuse to do so on grandfathered unlimited data plans because they can't stand the idea of someone somewhere communicating without the ability to nickel and dime us to death on it.

Being able to FaceTime anywhere, not just at home or office when on WiFi, is a big deal, specially when she is in London with the baby visiting her parents. Most US cellcos won't let you make international phone calls from your plan, or charge exorbitant rates, and Skype's call quality has been going down the tubes so it is best left for use calling legacy landlines and dumbphones.