Upgrading My Cell Phone

I was hoping to upgrade my cell phone some time soon but I think I'm in a holding pattern yet again, waiting for all of the features I'd like in a single unit.

Currently, I have a Blackberry Storm (see userpic), and a separate wireless broadband modem for my laptop, both on Verizon Wireless. When I bought these two years ago, Verizon wasn't offering any device with wifi hotspot capability; since Verizon uses CDMA which handles voice or data but not both simultaneously, I really needed separate devices so I could work on servers via the laptop while participating in a conference call via the telephone. Things have changed since: hotspot functionality is supported and VOIP allows me to use just the same data link for both & voice.

My two year contract with Verizon is up but I'm going to stick with them largely because no other network works as well in the vicinity of Roseland Resort, the campground where we keep our trailer and summer getaway. If I ever want to telecommute from there, Verizon is the only choice.

I'm also looking to Android-based telephones. Both kent4str and cuyahogarvr have Android telephones and I'd like to stay app-compatible with them. The iPhone is a nice hunk of hardware & software but not enticing enough to make me shift.

Verizon's newer LTE network looks great: its reach is limited to larger metropolitan cities --including the greater Washington-Baltimore region where I spend most of my time-- but the extra speed is a huge bonus. Alas, the only smart phone they're offering which could use the network is the HTC Thunderbolt, which isn't even available for sale yet.

The Thunderbolt has a number of features I'd like including front & back cameras but it doesn't have the latest Android 2.3 operating system. In fact, all of Verizon's smart phones have only the older 2.2 version. There's a strong possibility any telephone I buy can be flash-upgraded to the latest & greatest but I'd rather just have it pre-installed & working out of the box.

The other big contender is Motorola's Droid X telephone, largely because it has a larger screen than any other model. It doesn't have Android 2.3 (yet) and lacks a front-facing camera but kent4str likes his a great deal.

When I get some spare time, I'll wander down to the Verizon Wireless store to see what they have on hand and what might be in the pipeline for future.


Go ahead... ask me anything!

Upgrading My Cell Phone

I was hoping to upgrade my cell phone some time soon but I think I'm in a holding pattern yet again, waiting for all of the features I'd like in a single unit.

Currently, I have a Blackberry Storm (see userpic), and a separate wireless broadband modem for my laptop, both on Verizon Wireless. When I bought these two years ago, Verizon wasn't offering any device with wifi hotspot capability; since Verizon uses CDMA which handles voice or data but not both simultaneously, I really needed separate devices so I could work on servers via the laptop while participating in a conference call via the telephone. Things have changed since: hotspot functionality is supported and VOIP allows me to use just the same data link for both & voice.

My two year contract with Verizon is up but I'm going to stick with them largely because no other network works as well in the vicinity of Roseland Resort, the campground where we keep our trailer and summer getaway. If I ever want to telecommute from there, Verizon is the only choice.

I'm also looking to Android-based telephones. Both kent4str and cuyahogarvr have Android telephones and I'd like to stay app-compatible with them. The iPhone is a nice hunk of hardware & software but not enticing enough to make me shift.

Verizon's newer LTE network looks great: its reach is limited to larger metropolitan cities --including the greater Washington-Baltimore region where I spend most of my time-- but the extra speed is a huge bonus. Alas, the only smart phone they're offering which could use the network is the HTC Thunderbolt, which isn't even available for sale yet.

The Thunderbolt has a number of features I'd like including front & back cameras but it doesn't have the latest Android 2.3 operating system. In fact, all of Verizon's smart phones have only the older 2.2 version. There's a strong possibility any telephone I buy can be flash-upgraded to the latest & greatest but I'd rather just have it pre-installed & working out of the box.

The other big contender is Motorola's Droid X telephone, largely because it has a larger screen than any other model. It doesn't have Android 2.3 (yet) and lacks a front-facing camera but kent4str likes his a great deal.

When I get some spare time, I'll wander down to the Verizon Wireless store to see what they have on hand and what might be in the pipeline for future.


Go ahead... ask me anything!