vB Easy Archive - Need Advice on Switching, Blackberry Pearl and the iPhone?

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Need Advice on Switching, Blackberry Pearl and the iPhone?
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Posted by: xavier206

I'm in need of some advice before I make a final decision...

I'm currently a Sprint customer (no contract to fulfill), wanting to switch to Cingular to get the Pearl. My company is going to pay for the Pearl, data plan, etc. right now! But with the news of the iPhone coming out in June, I'm not sure how to move forward:

1) Should I stay with Sprint for another 6 months, get a Blackberry (8700?) with Sprint, then switch to get the iPhone w/ 2 year from Cingular?

or

2) Should I get the Pearl now w/ 2 year, then pay full price for iPhone in June?

or

3) Is it possible for me to pay full price for Pearl now, with no contract - then in June sign up for 2 year w/ iPhone purchase?

Thanks in advance for any advice you lend!

Posted by: KeilwerthSX90R

This all depends on your needs. I'm a Mac user, but even if the touchscreen keyboard works as advertised it won't replace the tactile feedback and typing speed of even the suretype keyboard on the Pearl. The iPhone is not a corporate email / calendar / contact device like a BB. Also, your company might not support it.

If you are getting a phone as a phone first and will only do personal email, contacts etc. and aren't a heavy SMS or email user then the iPhone sounds good and I suggest you wait until June because from what I've read even existing Cingular customers will need to sign a 2-year contract so I'm not sure how it will affect you.

Posted by: xavier206

Thanks for the comments. I think I'm going to get a Blackberry for sure, but I guess the question I want to ask (haven't been able to find an answer on the forums):

1) Can I switch to Cingular from Sprint and purchase the Pearl WITHOUT a two year contract? I thought I read somewhere, if you switch over and do the whole number porting thing, that you have to commit to a 2 year plan with Cingular??

Posted by: homegeek

Quote:

Originally Posted by xavier206

Thanks for the comments. I think I'm going to get a Blackberry for sure, but I guess the question I want to ask (haven't been able to find an answer on the forums):

1) Can I switch to Cingular from Sprint and purchase the Pearl WITHOUT a two year contract? I thought I read somewhere, if you switch over and do the whole number porting thing, that you have to commit to a 2 year plan with Cingular??

When I switched to Cingular and had my number ported over, they made me sign an 11 month contract even with my own phone. I got no special features such as free m2m. If I wanted M2M it was 2 years.

Posted by: xavier206

Quote:

Originally Posted by homegeek

When I switched to Cingular and had my number ported over, they made me sign an 11 month contract even with my own phone. I got no special features such as free m2m. If I wanted M2M it was 2 years.

Wow...I wonder if that is normal practice by Cingular to tie you to a plan without even purchasing a phone, or is the contract commit on a case by case basis?

Posted by: homegeek

Quote:

Originally Posted by xavier206

Wow...I wonder if that is normal practice by Cingular to tie you to a plan without even purchasing a phone, or is the contract commit on a case by case basis?

I think it is a stupid practice but I believe that is what they do. They wanted to give me the m2m so they could sucker me into a 2 year deal. This is with me still bringing my own phone to Cingular.