Help me choose the right phone

[mike9670]

I'm on AT&T familyplan now with 3 phones. Our contracts end 12/20/10.

I am the only one looking at an Android phone, the other two lines are feature phones.

If I stay with AT&T I can get the following (letstalk.com):

Samsung Captivate: $79.99
HTC Aria: Free

I can afford around $100 for a new phone.

T-Mobile: Motorola Defy, Mytouch 3G Slide, LG Optimus
Sprint: Samsung Transform, LG Optimus

The G2, EVO and such are out of my price range.

Really don't want to stick with AT&T 2GB data plan though and prefer Sprint or T-Mo's plans. Sprint seems to have less coverage than T-mo though.

Any thoughts?

 

[Johnly]

Sprint has better coverage. They piggy back of VZW towers, if verizon works, sprint does too.

 

[mike9670]

Does Sprint data piggback VZW?

Right now, I am waiting for Sprint to release some more Android phones in my price range. EVO and Epic are too epxnesive.

The Samsung Transform seems to only midrange choice although I'll take a look at LG optimus as well when it comes out.

 

[tony bag o donuts]

Sprint is still spotty and doesn't get the same coverage as verizon. Yes they piggy back each other but more often than not Sprint will drop the call.

Look at amazon...if you get a new contract the prices are really cheap:
Amazon.com: android Smartphones

 

[jincuteguy]

If i get a new contract does it mean I have to change carrier? Right now I have T-mobile so if i choose new contract, does it mean I can stay with T-mobile but sign a new contract? Or i have to be a complete new customer?

 

[packerbacker]

I think out of those, Sprint has the best coverage. I've had Tmobile before and it was expensive and didn't have the best coverage. No experience with AT&T, but I've heard a lot of negative feedback on it. I'm not sure I personally like either Sprint phone, but that's just me. I'm partial to Galaxy S's and the Mytouch/Nexus'.

Good luck deciding though. It really boils down to what's important for you. Once you decide on a carrier, go and play with the phones. You'll surely fall in love with one. We're all partial to our own android phones. Lots of bias in these threads.

 

[mike9670]

If I say AT&T it's either the Captivate or Moto Bravo.

T-Mobile will be Moto Defy or Mytouch Slide.

Sprint is the Samsung Transform.

AT&T is most expensive. T-Mo and Sprint end up the same for my family plan options.

 

[takeshi]

Sprint has better coverage.

If you're going to talk coverage, the OP needs to check real world coverage in the places he needs it most. Generalized "carrier X has better coverage" comments are meaningless as coverage varies by market and even with a given market. Every carrier has holes, including Verizon.