13 November 2008 Thursday

To Blackberry storm or not to...

So, I’m thinking I want a Blackberry Storm. Yes, no, maybe?

Notes:

I’m not inclined to leave Verizon.
I’ve never had a blackberry.
I really like my current Samsung SCH-u40. it’s small and happy in my pocket. but it does not allow me internet access. this is a tragedy. anything larger than my current phone will not fit in my pockets :(
I want to be able to add free/open-source applications. Will the blackberry allow for that?
BB storm has expandable memory slot — as should all small portable devices of a media-playing nature. (microSD. that’s how I fly.)
My understanding is that the Blackberry Storm runs GSM (slot for SIM card). I’ve been waiting for a good world phone…but would it still be locked? that’s no good…
The tactile-feedback touchscreen sounds great, but will I be able to accurately type most things without looking at the phone? I really should be able to…

Update 17november2008: The more I think about it, the more I think I really need Wifi on a device like this, which is the one feature notably absent from the BB Storm. :(

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Current scenario

My family plan currently breaks down as follows:
$60 for first phone and $10 for the next = $70
700 minutes/monthly between the two lines.

Then there’s VZ Navigator (GPS) added to each line ($10 × 2).
then there’s per-megabyte usage which has been working out to roughly $2 on one line atnd $10 on the other (=$12)
Then there’s an additional $10/line for 500 txt/pix/flix msgs and unlimited in-network txt/pix/flix. ($10 × 2).

So far, that all works out to $70 + $20 + $12 + $20 = $122.
No email/real web usage.

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Scenario 1: both phones go smart/blackberry

If I change up the plan to “700 Select plan”,
that will be $90 for the first line.. ($90+$10= $100 for the two lines)
Still 700 minutes/monthly.

Still add VZ Navigator (unless there’s a web-app I can download, or if I find I can easily hit google maps or something while driving..) = $20 (two lines)
no more per-megabyte usage.
pix/flix/msgs are unlimited in the Select plan..
ADD $30 per line for unlimited email/web usage (only of any use on a blackberry or smartphone. so current phones will not be able to use this..though they’d still get unlimited pix/flix/msging and run per-megabyte usage). = $60 (two lines)

So that would work out to $180. So about $60 across two lines for full web access per month.

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Scenario 2: one phone goes smart/blackberry (for now)

700 Select plan = $100 for two lines.
VZ navigator for two lines= $20 (maybe would just be one.)
megabyte usage for one line = $10
$30 for web/email on one line.

total: $160. (plus the cost of a blackberry/smartphone)

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Miscellaneous notes

BBStorm would cost me$150-$200 after rebates and such.
Office provides 10% employee discount on my plan cost each month.