Drop, charge, and lose the cordsThe 411: Storage limits and more on data plans
This is the 411, my Q&A column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have the same questions, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know in the e-mail.
First off, thanks for your recent piece comparing the smartphone voice and data plans. Very helpful! My question pertains to smartphone flash drives. Most of the current smartphones allow the user to add storage via a flash drive, usually a microSD or SD card. When I read the review about the smartphones, I often see some kind of statement regarding flash memory that seems to indicate that their is a maximum amount of storage that a device will accept.
For example, the review of the HTC Tilt 2 says, "The Tilt2 has up to 32GB of expandable memory while offering 512MB ROM/288MB RAM." So my question is: is the maximum amount of flash drive space that a device will accept limited by the device itself (e.g., hardware/software limitations) or is it limited by the amount of flash card storage that is currently available in the market (referring back to the Tilt2, the device will accept a 64GB card when it becomes available)? -- John, via e-mail
HTC TouchPro2
(Credit: Verizon Wireless)As far as I know, the expandable memory limit is indeed limited by the device itself. So even if a 64 or 128GB card becomes available, you will not be able to use those cards in the phone. Perhaps the firmware of the phone might be upgraded to handle the new cards, but I'm not sure if that is possible.
Nicole, I'm a 56-year-old with big hands and bad eyes, so a lot of this smartphone technology is wasted on me. My office wants me to get a HTC Touch Pro2 (bigger screen and keyboard), but I'd prefer to use my Verizon cell phone as a Wi-Fi device to access my company's Web site and my e-mail account through the Web through my laptop. What would you recommend for me? -- Paul, via e-mail
Many phones with a Verizon data plan can be used as a modem for your laptop, though it won't be via Wi-Fi. You use either a USB cable or Bluetooth to "tether" the phone to your laptop so that it can connect to the Internet via the phone's cellular network. For Verizon, you have to make sure your phone supports Mobile Broadband Connect, which costs anywhere from $15 to $50 a month depending on what plan you already have. Also note that there is a 5GB data cap with $0.05/MB after that.
I would recommend choosing a phone with EV-DO Rev. A for faster speeds when surfing. The HTC Touch Pro 2 is a good choice, as is the HTC Imagio if you don't want a keyboard. You can even opt for the Samsung Rogue if you don't want a smartphone.
I recently purchased the Samsung Omnia from my carrier Verizon. Although I will virtually never use the mobile broadband I'm forced to pay $30/month for the service. I used it a couple times to try it. I can't justify the $360/year, so I will be returning the Omnia. I feel like I've been extorted having to pay in order to have a cutting-edge device. I like the camera, windows, media player, wifi, etc. Do you know if I purchase an unlocked smartphone (Omnia 2 or Omnia HD) whether or not Verizon has a policy regarding activation for voice service only and what the policy is? Can't believe the only option is going outside my service provider for the device. So much for customer service! I already feel stabbed in the back and robbed of $30. Thanks! -- Jo, via e-mail
It seems that activating a smartphone without a data plan is a hot topic, if the response to my previous column is any indication. I will note that it's a touch harder to get an unlocked phone on a CDMA network like Verizon's (though I hear it is possible), and you will have to opt for the Omnia 2 instead of the Omnia HD since the Omnia HD is GSM-only for now.
Although I have not verified this personally, I've read e-mails and comments from readers who say that if you buy the phone from a third-party retailer, like from Best Buy or eBay, you can bypass the service provider pressure of having to buy a data plan. So what you can try to do, is to buy a Verizon phone via one of these channels, and then call Verizon up to activate just a voice plan on the phone. The cost of the phone will likely be more expensive, and I can't guarantee that you won't get charged any data fees (sometimes the phone's data connection is switched on automatically). Again, you may be taking a risk by doing this, but if you're willing to do so, go ahead and let us know how it works out.
Nicole Lee is an associate editor for CNET, covering cell phones, Bluetooth headsets, and all things mobile. She's also pretty geeky--she likes World of Warcraft, comic books, and shiny gadgets. E-mail Nicole.
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Nicole Lee reviews cell
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My pervious smartphone was a Palm Centro. I added data to it for 1 month, and on that phone, it was not worth it. The speed was horrible at best. I made sure to check out and play with a few iPhones using 3G data before I dove in. It was a night and day difference, and didn't take much more than that to make up my mind. It seems the longer I own the iPhone, the more I use features that use data.
If I wanted to use AIM or Yahoo IM on the Centro, it used my text messages. Since I wasn't a heavy texter, and didn't have an unlimited plan, I strayed away from using it. On the iPhone, IM messages use data, not text. So, if you love IMing while on the go, but you're not a huge text freak, then the data plan makes up for it. You can also find a large selection of text apps for the iPhone that route text messages through data and doesn't use up the Starter Text messages $5 plan, if that's what you have.
However now the consumer has gotten what they asked for and most devices are now wi-fi enabled. The compromise is that now the carriers "force" you to have a plan that includes data usage. Otherwise people will just connect using wi-fi.
The price of a Smartphone is heavily subsidized by the carriers and that subsidy reflects the revenue they will get from you having a data plan. The "lesser" discount on the device that you wish for would most likely be completely unsubsidized and would amount to hundreds of dollars.
By the way - I used to be totally in agreement with you. I had a Palm Treo for years and was grandfathered in to the old rules of not having to have a data plan. However it always used to make me crazy everytime I read a "CON" about a new phone that it didn't have wi-fi. Unfortunately I think with this issue - you can't have it both ways.
BTW - I just bought a new HTC Droid Eris ( LOVE IT ) and finally had to add the data package to my calling plan.
Clicking "Get Mobile Web" pops up the following terms:
"Access to Mobile Web is included with Nationwide Plans. Usage is billed at $1.99 per megabyte. Customers viewing approximately 50 Mobile Web pages will incur megabyte charges of approximately 0.3 megabytes. Data use is cumulative for the month."
Verizon's unplanned fee converts to roughly 1/5 of a cent per KB, 20% of the AT&T rate. The data are not as useful on this phone as they would be on a smartphone. I wonder if I could get a Droid or other smartphone unlocked then get the Nationwide voice plan and pay only per use on the data side? Would I average less than 15 MB/month (the amount necessary to equal the $30 "Unlimited" data plan monthly fee) if I only used it when I really needed it and waited for WiFi, otherwise? Having an app that accurately meters usage would tell me that ;)
To answer your question, mdub311, service providers have no need to wise up until we consumers do. We've been signing up to services we don't need since the beginning out of a lack of information and alternatives. The Tier 1 carriers are making a ridiculous amount of money off of continuing monthly fees for unused capacity. Then, when a device (like the iPhone) comes along that actually uses the advertised capacity we're supposedly paying for, they can't handle the load. Its a lose-lose for consumers. If you compare rates (and this really takes some digging) with the MVNOs they lease their capacity to, you find that we're paying way more than even another company who leases the same capacity in bulk then resells it charges its customers. You can see the rates charged by one particular MVNO to the US gov't at this link: http://var.immixgroup.com/contracts/gsa70_pricing.cfm?client_id=209&contract=GS-35F-0330J
They're able to charge half as much per MB (~$5/MB vs ~$10/MB) as AT&T charges redgeminipa and stay in business even after paying their carrier their cost + profit built into the the leasing rates on the GSM side. They're able to charge 3/4 as much per MB (~$1.50 vs ~$2) as Verizon charge's me on the CDMA side. That's 2 company's costs and 2 company's profits for 1/2 to 3/4 the price. Sure, there's may be some gov't discount built into those rates but don't fool yourself into thinking they'll run at a loss on the gov't gravy train.
Point being, its time for data prices to come down. When someone pays an extra $360/year for an iPhone data plan because its "required" but almost never uses it near its advertised capacity, the Tier 1's get the message that they can charge these high rates for poor service and there's no downside. Perhaps its time to start looking at the MVNOs as alternatives.
When I was on Verizon and activated my own phones online, the system "forced" me to add and subtract certain features (I.E. unlimited data) based on the device.
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by fondy
November 12, 2009 9:11 PM PST
- The main reason they force data plans on us is to increase profits. By law, even an unactivated phone has to be capable of dialing 911, which tells you right there that it doesn't need a data plan to work as a phone. Data plans should be completely optional for any phone with wi-fi. The thing that gets me is how they charge you for texting when your phone has nothing but a number pad. You try telling the salesman you want a phone with a qwerty keyboard to take advantage of that overpriced text plan, then they try to force a data plan on you because the only phones with full keyboards are 'smartphones'.
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