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jszrules · Sep 19, 2006, 10:49 PM

Hi, I'm going to switch cell phone providers and have narrowed it down to Verizon or T-Mobile. My current Cingular phone is just not getting great service. Anyway, if I choose Verizon, I'd probably go with the Motorola V3m, and if I choose T-Mobile, I'd probably go with the Motorola PEBL. I'm just curious which phone you guys think is better?

That being said, I'm not 100% committed to getting one of those two phones. If there's another phone you recommend instead of one of these, please speak! However, just know that I'm not looking for a super-gadget that Batman would wear on his utility belt. I'd like lots of functionality, yes, but am trying to keep it somewhat simple. That's why I've leaned towards the RAZR and PEBL so far...

Thanks.

Chuckit · Sep 19, 2006, 11:04 PM

I got a PEBL, and it is nice. Not terribly fancy, but stylish and comfortable. I've never really been down with the RAZR.

KeriVit · Sep 19, 2006, 11:07 PM

First off, make sure the service works and don't choose based on the phone.

That said- Verizon and RAZR- meow!

SSharon · Sep 19, 2006, 11:25 PM

which phone do you currently use with cingular? (any intention of selling it real cheap?)
do you like candybar or flip (I assume flip since you mention razr and pebl)

better yet, fill this out Phone Finder - search for a phone by feature - GSMArena.com and see what it recommends.

edit: the link will probably only help you if you choose tmobile, I posted it in case other people were interested.

Big Mac · 01:32 AM

The RAZR has a surprisingly small external LCD, but other than that it's nice. ~~With the PEBL you forgo a bunch of features like the camera and such.~~

Chuckit · Sep 20, 2006, 12:28 AM

Uh, no, PEBL has a camera.

Big Mac · Sep 20, 2006, 01:31 AM

You're right.

CharlesS · Sep 20, 2006, 03:17 AM

From what I can tell, the PEBL seems to be pretty much the same phone as the RAZR V3 (note: not V3m), but it's more expensive, and not as thin. I don't see the appeal, frankly. Supposedly you can open the phone with one hand, like Captain Kirk. Woo hoo. The V3m and V3i are both more recent than the V3, so they'll be better technologically than the V3, and thus the PEBL - higher resolution camera, more internal memory, expansion slot, etc. Unfortunately, T-Mobile doesn't seem to have the V3i, so V3 and PEBL are your only choices there.

The two big advantages you'll have with the PEBL (or V3) on T-Mobile come basically from T-Mobile not being Verizon:

1. T-Mobile is GSM, so since both the V3 and PEBL are quad-band phones, you can take them anywhere in the world and they'll work.

2. You'll have Bluetooth file transfer ability on T-Mobile, but not on Verizon. There were apparently a lot of V3c phones that had full Bluetooth ability enabled by accident, but with the V3m it seems Verizon has corrected that, and the Bluetooth support is once again crippled. With a RAZR or PEBL on T-Mobile, you'll be able to transfer ringtones and other files to and from your computer for free.

The thing you really need to check is the coverage, though. If you've been having trouble with Cingular, T-Mobile may be even worse - they generally have a smaller coverage area than Cingular. However, you never know - I do know of one place where my Cingular phone gets no service but T-Mobile does. So it's worth a try. Do see if you can find a friend with whatever service you end up deciding on, to see if they will let you test your place out with their phone so that you know you'll get a good signal there.

Chuckit · Sep 20, 2006, 03:40 AM

It isn't as thin as the RAZR, but it's also not about five feet wide like the RAZR either. I find the small, smooth shape much less obnoxious than the big, clunky RAZR.

CharlesS · Sep 20, 2006, 03:43 AM

Okay, I can see that. I myself actually prefer the wideness of the RAZR, but then my hands are pretty large, so the RAZR's shape fits pretty comfortably in my hand. And the thinness is nice if you keep your phone in your pocket.

jszrules · Sep 20, 2006, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by SSharon

which phone do you currently use with cingular? (any intention of selling it real cheap?)
do you like candybar or flip (I assume flip since you mention razr and pebl)

better yet, fill this out Phone Finder - search for a phone by feature - GSMArena.com and see what it recommends.

edit: the link will probably only help you if you choose tmobile, I posted it in case other people were interested.

I have the Motorola V180. I probably wouldn't sell it to be kind to you...haha. It's beat up, has a dirty external display, and forgets it has a SIM card from time to time. I'd probably want to keep it anyway, just so I have a backup of people's numbers should my new phone and Apple Address Book both get wiped on the same day!

To answer your other question, I prefer flip phones over candybar only because they fit better in pockets. I also like the feeling of having the mic close to my mouth although I know that doesn't really make a difference.

Regarding Verizon vs. T-Mobile ... If Verizon had GSM, there would be no discussion. It's annoying that they don't. However, what CharlesS said about T-Mobile covering a smaller area than Cingular concerns me. That being said, my Cingular service does work well in other parts of the city (NY), but in my building it is terrible for some reason. I looked at surveys and Verizon and T-Mobile seem to top every list for NYC...

mdc · Sep 20, 2006, 09:18 AM

Without trying to derail this thread, I thought I'd give my 2 cents.

My T-Mobile contract expires really soon and last week I went into the store to talk to them about phones and I walked out with a new contract and a BlackBerry Pearl and I am in love with it.

There is one issue with it though.
Pocketmac.net has not brought out their 8100 (the pearl) version of pocketmac yet (it says coming soon). So right not there is no connectivity with a Mac.
I exported my Address Book to Outlook format and installed the BlackBerry software on my wife's latpo and synced the addressbook.

Other than that, I really do like this phone.

SSharon · Sep 20, 2006, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by jszrules

I have the Motorola V180. I probably wouldn't sell it to be kind to you...haha. It's beat up, has a dirty external display, and forgets it has a SIM card from time to time. I'd probably want to keep it anyway, just so I have a backup of people's numbers should my new phone and Apple Address Book both get wiped on the same day!

To answer your other question, I prefer flip phones over candybar only because they fit better in pockets. I also like the feeling of having the mic close to my mouth although I know that doesn't really make a difference.

Regarding Verizon vs. T-Mobile ... If Verizon had GSM, there would be no discussion. It's annoying that they don't. However, what CharlesS said about T-Mobile covering a smaller area than Cingular concerns me. That being said, my Cingular service does work well in other parts of the city (NY), but in my building it is terrible for some reason. I looked at surveys and Verizon and T-Mobile seem to top every list for NYC...

I have both cingular and tmobile phones and worked in midtown for a few months before moving out to long island. My cingular phone consistently had better service (more bars) but I never had any problems placing calls with my tmobile phone.

I had the free motorola v300 I think and the combination of a crappy interface with a crappy form factor caused me to buy an old nokia from someone on the boards here. My cingular based nokia was actually smaller in every dimension than the motorola flip phone and I have been happy with that phone for about 3 years now.

CharlesS · Sep 20, 2006, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by jszrules

Regarding Verizon vs. T-Mobile ... If Verizon had GSM, there would be no discussion. It's annoying that they don't. However, what CharlesS said about T-Mobile covering a smaller area than Cingular concerns me. That being said, my Cingular service does work well in other parts of the city (NY), but in my building it is terrible for some reason. I looked at surveys and Verizon and T-Mobile seem to top every list for NYC...

It could be. In a great big city like NYC, I would suspect that T-Mobile would dedicate a lot more resources to covering that area than they would in a smaller town (see their slogan: "Coverage where it counts"). While as a general rule, Cingular has more coverage, that doesn't mean that it doesn't have some weak points that may not correspond with weak points in T-Mobile's network. Again, I do have one friend whose T-Mobile phone works in her apartment where Cingular doesn't, so take that FWIW.

Like I said, the best thing to do is find a friend who has T-Mobile and have them come into your apartment so you can see if their phone works there. Or maybe if you go to a T-Mobile store, you can get a loaner to try out.

Another thing you can check out is T-Mobile's online coverage map. They have one somewhere on their web site that is supposed to show you where the strong and weak points of their coverage are. You could check what it says for your apartment.

If T-Mobile does work well in your place, their prices are sure low.

King Bob On The Cob · Sep 20, 2006, 12:32 PM

Here's the deal breaker for me...
PEBL = Metal
RAZR = Plastic

I'd go metal no matter what if I could. I also like substantial feeling phones (RAZR was too light for it's size in my mind). Plus the PEBL feels so much nicer than the RAZR... Mmm... Skipping stone.

- - e r i k - - · Sep 20, 2006, 05:35 PM

Next up on MacNN:

Plague vs. cholera

Heavy Fluid · Sep 21, 2006, 10:08 AM

All in all, they are very similar phones. The RAZR fits in your front pocket without looking like you have a phone in your pocket, or something else. I have a RAZR, and I love it. I have played with the PEBL, and it is a cool phone. The "one handed" opening thing, that is pretty neat. Other than that, they are just about the same.

As for the service, me personally, I will never be a Verizon Wireless customer, ever. I don't care how good their service is, I hate the fact that they cripple the Bluetooth capabilites of the phone. I have been with AT&T, Nextel and Sprint so far, and dropped them. I am with Cingular now, and have been very happy with their service so far. I would go with GSM, as stated above, because once you get your phone unlocked, it can be used pretty much across the globe with a local SIM card.

::maroma:: · Sep 21, 2006, 10:57 AM

PEBL

RAZR

Leaving out letters is cool.

Dakar · Sep 21, 2006, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

PEBL

RAZR

Leaving out letters is cool.

O RLY?

jszrules · 01:38 PM

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm leaning towards the RAZR V3m, but before I do...

Any ideas which month the KRZR K1m will come out in the US?
What about the RAZR V3MAXX...is that definitely intended for the US market?

CharlesS · 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by jszrules

Any ideas which month the KRZR K1m will come out in the US?

No idea.

What about the or the RAZR V3MAXX...is that definitely intended for the US market?

No definitely, but I'd surmise that it'll eventually make it to the US since it supports the 850 band, which isn't used much outside of the US. But that's just speculation, of course.

edit: although it seems to support the 850 band only with GSM, and only does WCDMA on the 2100 band, which of course isn't available in the US. So that's a problem.

ghporter · Sep 23, 2006, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by King Bob On The Cob

Here's the deal breaker for me...
PEBL = Metal
RAZR = Plastic

I'd go metal no matter what if I could. I also like substantial feeling phones (RAZR was too light for it's size in my mind). Plus the PEBL feels so much nicer than the RAZR... Mmm... Skipping stone.

My RAZR is aluminum. Last time I checked, aluminum was a metal.

I'm quite happy with it; I don't use it as a PDA, so the fact that Moto's OS isn't particularly advanced (and doesn't have the best UI) is not a problem. I'd love for someone to create a simple way for a Mac user to connect to Motorola phones and do everything you can do with their Mobile Phone Tools software on a PC, though. It's going to be a pain when I finally start keeping stuff on my Mac and want to do more than synchronize the address book with it.

DigitalEl · Sep 23, 2006, 01:19 PM

On T-Mobile, I'd forego both Moto choices due to the UI (sorry, ghporter). Just yesterday I picked up an unlocked Samsung t509. As a recovering phone whore - with Sony Ericssons (2), Nokias (5), a Motorola and a BlackBerry stuffed in a drawer somewhere - this Samsung is my favorite phone yet.

It's not a smartphone... Just a basic handset, but with Bluetooth and EDGE. The UI is Nokia-like in its simplicity, the speaker is crisp and clear and its radio is strong... Full bars where expected and a surprising single bar in places where I had no coverage at all with my BlackBerry.

Lastly, I'd take T-Mob over Verizon because they are GSM. As someone already said, a GSM phone will work in a lot more places. Also, with GSM, you have a lot of phone choice if you ever decide you want something more sophisticated someday. You can go on eBay or one of those (mostly) ripoff import sites and buy an unlocked handset.

Good luck and happy hunting.