Phone Advice

[Travis]

2. An iPod is the third-best mp3 device out there, so that's not saying much.

EVERY MP3 player is garbage unless it allows you to upload wav files, the ipod allows you to upload uncompressed wav files which are the best quality of sound you can get. but most people dont want to be downloading a song which is 50 mb's they would rather get the compressed version mp3.

so anything that can play wav files and have the capability to hold them, like a 120 gig ipod you are set, and you have the best quality sound possible. and you have enough space.

[Downing11]

Is that $30 iphone fee per iphone in your plan and I assume it covers unlimited internet and texts? Is there a family iphone option for multiple iphones in your plan? I'll have to go to a store and just have the guy run down what the bill will look like.

We have the 1400 minute plan which is $90 a month for 2 phones and then my mom is on the plan at $10 a month. My mom's phone is just a plain boring phone as that is all she needs it for, no internet no texting. That doesn't seem like it will change no matter what phones you have, the difference will be this iphone fee(s).

[jsence2]

Is that $30 iphone fee per iphone in your plan and I assume it covers unlimited internet and texts? Is there a family iphone option for multiple iphones in your plan? I'll have to go to a store and just have the guy run down what the bill will look like.

We have the 1400 minute plan which is $90 a month for 2 phones and then my mom is on the plan at $10 a month. My mom's phone is just a plain boring phone as that is all she needs it for, no internet no texting. That doesn't seem like it will change no matter what phones you have, the difference will be this iphone fee(s).

The $30 iPhone DATA PLAN (not a special iPhone fee) is the unlimited data upload/download plan. It does not cover texting or MMS. It simply covers data--your GPS/maps, your email, your internet, app downloads, etc.

You can add a basic 200 text plan for like $5 a month, but if you're a heavy texter like me, I'd go for the $20 unlimited plan.

However, without seeing your contract plan, I wouldn't be able to tell you for certain how getting an iPhone would impact it, or if there is a special family plan for the iPhone. The extra $30 for the data would only impact the iPhone though, as far as I know.

[trendon]

EVERY MP3 player is garbage unless it allows you to upload wav files, the ipod allows you to upload uncompressed wav files which are the best quality of sound you can get.

First of all, the Zen line can play .wavs. Secondly, I find 256 or 320 bit mpegs are just fine.

And whoever said LG phones suck is out of his mind. Samsung, yes. LG? The second-best behind Nokia.

[Travis]

mp3's are garbage, regardless of the bitrate, because its compressed and you lose SO much data. i guess it just me being a audio engineer, i like my shit to be great quality.

[trendon]

mp3's are garbage, regardless of the bitrate, because its compressed and you lose SO much data. i guess it just me being a audio engineer, i like my shit to be great quality.

I was going to say. For the layman, mp3s recorded properly are just fine.

[jsence2]

iTunes converts to mp4.

[shel311]

iTunes converts to mp4.

I've NEVER even heard of MP4, LOL.

I'm so behind the times on this conversation, it's just silly.

[nick]

iTunes converts to mp4.

I've NEVER even heard of MP4, LOL.

I'm so behind the times on this conversation, it's just silly.

you're from Louisiana....

[shel311]

iTunes converts to mp4.

I've NEVER even heard of MP4, LOL.

I'm so behind the times on this conversation, it's just silly.

you're from Louisiana....

2 shay.

Man, that shit gets me EVERY time.

[6ftdeep]

ok here is the deal..

Since you have att...

If you want to use your phone for the internet for such as twitter, checking out the ndl boards, gps, and all that good stuff, with some text messageing
The iphone is the way to go..

You can get the older 3g Iphone 8gb for 99$ or of course the newer iphone 3gS 16gb for 199.

This is assuming you are eligiable for a full upgrade, and not an early upgrade. Which the prices will be different of course.

Now since you are on the 1400 min plan, which I believe you said 3 phones correct I believe that is like 110$ ..
Now you said that if you get the iphone you may have to get 2 of them correct because your wife will want one too..
That is 30$ each phone and it is mandatory that you have the iphone data plan on the package as long as you have the iphone listed on the account as the phones in use.
If you both text more then 200 msgs a month. YOu should go with the family unlimited text messaging plan which is 30$ a month which allows any of the phone to have unlimited texting for one fee.

So you are looking at about 240 dollor bill after taxes assuming you dont accrue overages or dl programs or anything.

Now if you dont plan to use your phone for the internet, the iphone is highly unnecessary as well as the blackberry or any smartphone for that matter.
But if you think you might want to use the internet in the future but at this time your not quite sure. I would recommend either a blackberry bold, or the newer nokia that att has.
Reason being while the data plan is 30$ for these phones as well, they are not mandatory which means you add and remove the feature as you see fit.

Which I would then recommend the LG Xenon, or the Neon both are nice phones and great for texting.

The Samsung is a piece a shit.. I received so many calls and problems with that phone when I worked for att it was crazy.

Also just random tips for att customers..
If you are looking to save money on your phone bills.. Do the following.. See how many rollover minutes you have.

If you have tons and tons you can not use.. Call 611 on your phone and lower your plan to the least amount of minutes that they offer which is 450 for indiv plans and I believe 550 for family..
And make sure you ask to get a "NO CAP" On your roll over minutes, that way you lower your bill and you get to keep your rollover minutes so when you go over you have that buffer.
Then watch your rollover minutes and before you run completely out bump your plan back up.
Also if you text message alot and have a family plan and are spending more then 35$ on text messaging month you are spending too much.. get the family texting plan for 30$
Also if you data plans on all lines and they are not smartphones get the family data plan for 10$ box per line.
Also if you ever get third party charges on your phone ask them to place a purchase blocker on the line and they will refund all charges.
Also plans can always be backdated to the first day of the billing cycle so never have your mins or plans prorated unless it is in your benefit.
Also if you notice a month later you went over your mins and paid a lot of money att can do what is called a rerate which will usually always save you money.
Also if you dont yell at the rep when calling about a problem and play kind of dumb but ask for help .. each rep has 250 dollors they can use to fix any billing problem. I would credit ppls accounts all the time. Unless you were a dick..

Ok that is all.

[LetsGoPeay]

iTunes converts to mp4.

I've NEVER even heard of MP4, LOL.

I'm so behind the times on this conversation, it's just silly.

You? Unfrozen Caveman Shel? Nah.

When I see you in a tech thread I imagine you opening and closing the refrigerator and being amazed that the light goes off, assuming you’ve figured out how to use the fridge.

[shel311]

iTunes converts to mp4.

I've NEVER even heard of MP4, LOL.

I'm so behind the times on this conversation, it's just silly.

You? Unfrozen Caveman Shel? Nah.

When I see you in a tech thread I imagine you opening and closing the refrigerator and being amazed that the light goes off, assuming you’ve figured out how to use the fridge.

LOL.

And don't even get me started about the light in the microwave.