Cell phones, smart phones, and PDAs

T-Mobile USA customers often feel like they are caught between a rock and a hard place.

They love T-Mobile's affordable pricing plans on its service that beats the competition, but the carrier lacks some of the most popular devices, like the Apple iPhone. And this leaves some T-Mobile customers torn between a desire for hot new devices, like the iPhone, and the prospect of spending more each month on service.

So what's a T-Mobile customer to do? In this edition of Ask Maggie, I help two different T-Mobile customers sort through their options.

T-Mobile customers cope with iPhone … Read more

The new LTE-enabled iPad has turned out to be a data hog. So which carrier is best for getting the most bang for your buck?

In this edition of Ask Maggie I explain why the new LTE-enabled iPad eats through so much data. And I help a reader figure which carrier -- AT&T or Verizon -- will give him the most data usage for the least amount of money. I also offer some advice to a Sprint WiMax subscriber who is thinking about upgrading to a new Sprint 4G LTE device.

AT&T or Verizon LTE iPad?… Read more

Nokia and Microsoft are making a big splash with the first major launch of a Nokia Windows Phone in the U.S. But is the device and the Windows Phone software impressive enough to entice Apple iPhone customers to jump ship?

Like so many people who write in to Ask Maggie seeking advice, I also struggle with big decisions about which new device to buy. In this edition of Ask Maggie, I answer a question that I've been mulling for months about whether I should ditch Apple and its iOS ecosystem for something else. I also help another reader … Read more

If AT&T's marketing of the iPhone 4S as a 4G phone has left you scratching your head in confusion, you're not alone.

AT&T has ramped up its marketing efforts lately, airing commercials on TV that highlight the iPhone 4S as a 4G device. The TV ads emphasize that AT&T's version of the iPhone 4S can download Web content three times faster than its competitors because it's operating on AT&T's 4G network. While technically the iPhone 4S on AT&T may be faster than the same device … Read more

Smartphones and tablets are no longer just for surfing the Web and checking e-mail. They've also become mini-TVs.

But figuring out the best place to get your video for these devices is not easy. Sure there are tons of companies offering access to the latest movies and TV shows for streaming or downloading onto all kinds of mobile devices. But not all services work with all devices. In this Ask Maggie, I help one reader figure out how to choose a service. I also explain how those free online music services work.

Caught between a gadget and a hard … Read more

What's better than getting a great deal on one of the hottest smartphones on the market? How about getting a good deal on two of these devices.

In this edition of Ask Maggie I help one reader get the best deal I could find on the Motorola Razr Maxx, one of my favorite Google Android devices on the market. And I help another reader, who wants the most social smartphone around, decide if Windows Phone is right for him.

Dear Maggie, My girlfriend and I both have HTC Incredibles. We are both due for an upgrade on March 21. … Read more

AT&T has taken a lot of heat over the past few months for slowing down service for its heaviest data users on its unlimited plans. But what about Verizon Wireless, which also still offers unlimited data to its older smartphone customers?

In this edition of Ask Maggie, I explain how Verizon Wireless implements its network management policy to ensure that its wireless data network isn't overwhelmed by unlimited data plan users gone wild. I also offer another reader some advice on which Android smartphone to buy from Verizon.

Does Verizon throttle unlimited data service, too?

Dear Maggie, … Read more

Apple fans are supposedly disappointed that Apple didn't change the design of the new iPad. I guess that's why they bought more than 3 million of them the first weekend the device went on sale.

We heard the same complaints when Apple introduced the iPhone 4S. People wanted and expected some kind of cool design change to make the device look unique and different. But instead it looked like the one the company had introduced a year earlier. In this edition of Ask Maggie I try to explain why avid Apple consumers shouldn't expect too many more … Read more

A tiny number of people, who bought the first iPad when it was introduced in 2010 and signed up for unlimited data service with AT&T, have been reaping the benefits of a truly unlimited data plan ever since. But will they get to keep that sweet deal when Apple releases the third generation iPad?

In this edition of Ask Maggie I answer that very question. I also share some good news with an AT&T iPhone subscriber who is worried that once a 4G LTE iPhone is introduced that he might lose his unlimited data plan.

Preserving … Read more