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Should you buy a new phone now? By Joni Blecher (March 31, 2003) Section Editor Joni Blecher, a.k.a. the Cell Phone Diva, wants to answer all your questions about cell phones, service plans, and wireless connectivity. Send her a question! Now or later? Q: I'm a self-professed gadget junkie, and I'm looking to buy a new smart phone or a PDA/phone. While I really like the Treo 300, it feels a bit flimsy, and I'm not too fond of Sprint. I'm already an AT&T Wireless customer, and I like its service, but its wireless Web access is expensive. I'm debating whether I should get the Treo 300 for only $399 and take advantage of Sprint's unlimited data access. Or should I wait for AT&T? I would like a compact phone/organizer and e-mail/Web device. If I could use apps on it, even better. --Alexa A: You have a tall order for a small phone. If you can wait, you should. There will be a bunch of new mobiles available in the next couple of months (count 'em: one, two) that will have full-blown PDA/e-mail functionality as well as wireless Web access. If you're patient, you'll have two advantages. First, you'll be able to choose from more models. Second, I predict that plan costs will come down, as carriers become more aggressive with pricing. Wireless Web service plans change all the time; every month brings a flood of new options. If you're not happy with what's available now, don't get locked into a bad plan. It's worth the wait. That said, there's one more item you should consider: Think about how you're going to use the phone. Are you going to be spending more time making calls or responding to e-mail? Small phones packed with a lot of PDA functionality can sometimes be difficult to use. Not another network Q: I've noticed that some phones are GSM 850 compatible. What is this 850 frequency? --Sohil A: That's a great question. In short, GSM 850 is another flavor of GSM available in the United States. It's a way for carriers expanding in the GSM market to quickly grow service-coverage areas so that you'll be able to use your GSM phone in more places. However, phones won't be GSM 850-only. Instead, we'll be seeing GSM 850/1900 mobiles from manufacturers such as Sony Ericsson and Siemens, both of whom are introducing quite a few phones that support the technology. Sprint phones coming soon Q: I've searched the Internet to find out if Sprint is going to release a new line of cell phones. I really like the Sanyo 5300 with its built-in camera. But before I blow $300 on a cell phone, how or where can I get information on when Sprint PCS will be launching its new line? --Francis A: Your timing couldn't be better. I just got back from CTIA, where I saw many of the phones due to be released this year, including some new mobiles from Sprint. You'll be happy to know that the majority of the new models include a built-in camera. Among those is the Sanyo 8100, an arguably sleeker mobile. However, the 5300 is a solid phone, and my guess is that as more Sprint releases come out, the 5300 will come down in price. The really good news is that, based on my recent testing of a slew of camera phones, Sprint seems to be handling the sending and sharing of pictures particularly well. In short, I'd wait a couple of months before upgrading. You'll have more options, and I suspect the phones with built-in cameras will slowly become more affordable. |
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Joni Blecher is a section editor for CNET Reviews.
