Right but here is what I pay:
$375 phone
$100 every 6 months for minutes
5 year cost = 375 + 10*100 = $1375
I've heard of people with contracts paying that much in 1 year.
Prior to the iPhone I had a $30 Nokia, which had better battery life. Back then my cost was even lower of course, but because I pay prepaid at 0.10 per minute it was no hardship to get the iPhone and therefore all the apps.
Gps uses data doesn't it?
Youre basically turning your smartphone into a dumb phone. What a waste.
Gps uses data doesn't it?
Youre basically turning your smartphone into a dumb phone. What a waste.
What dumb phone does gps, apps, games, advance calendar, memo, hd video recording, plays movies in great quality, detailed contacts list, play music. Do you consider the iPod touch to be like a dumb phone?
Yes and no. It's an A-GPS, meaning it is assisted by data to improve performance. It will still work without data though, just slower.
The default Map app (Google Maps) however requires data connectivity as maps are only streamed. If you want your maps to be stored locally and accessible while offline, you need to buy a GPS app which stores maps.
So technically, you could get away with an app like TomTom ($60) and deal with worse performance (it takes a while to find GPS signal and isn't as precise), but then you also wouldn't have access to stuff like business search, public transit directions, compass/gyroscope support and such. It's also generally a pain to just lookup something quickly like you would do in Google Maps. Every time you have to input the whole address one step at a time (State, City, Street, Number).
At that point it may be smarter to simply buy a cheap 100$ dedicated GPS than buy a navigation app. But then again I doubt OP considered spending money at all, he probably only uses a terrible free ad-supported app.
----------
Clearly OP has different usages than most people. He wants to use his iPhone as an iPod touch + dumbphone replacement rather than as an actual smartphone. That's ok, but he doesn't have to force his usage to other people just so he can feel good about not anticipating the next iPhone.
What dumb phone does gps, apps, games, advance calendar, memo, hd video recording, plays movies in great quality, detailed contacts list, play music. Do you consider the iPod touch to be like a dumb phone?
still not using the phone as it was meant....
I skype a lot.
I use T-Mobile, so I don't get data. I just use Wifi when I really need data on the phone, which is rare.
... why care about battery life on a mobile device when you can just leave it plugged in all the time?
I have the same mindset as the OP. Minimalistic.
I HATE contracts. The less mendatory payments you have to have each month the more at peace you are.
Too bad the US is so far behind Europe, everyone in the US is just entangled in contracts.
Here, you can get a pay as you go simcard, put €20, and for 30 days you get unlimited Internet, free texts to any network, free calls to others on the same carrier and free weekend calls everywhere, that €20 stays on your balance. After those 30 days, you can buy an Internet add-on pack for €5 that gives you 500MB of data and talk with your friends through Viber, Skype, etc...
I know people who get contracts then constantly complain how they cannot afford it, etc... I buy phones outright, unlocked, if I cannot buy the phone that means I cannot afford it, simple as that, no contracts, no leasing, no monthly payment nonsense.
I'm on 3GS and frankly, I don't see a point in upgrading to either 4 or 4S, they offer absolutely nothing new to me over the 3GS, I buy a phone purely based on requirements rather than just for the sake of upgrading.
Most likely won't upgrade to the next iPhone either, unless it has a great camera that at least beats the Nokia N8. Camera is the only thing that can probably get me to upgrade.
I don't understand the title of this thread...
Why is the "iPhone 5" necessarily a contract phone?
I'm no fan of contracts; I bought my 4s sim-free direct from apple on release day. Sure it was a bigger initial outlay but I'll be saving money over what I'd otherwise be paying over the length of a contract.
When I'm in the mood for another phone, I'll do the same again. Some people simply can't afford to buy a phone outright so take out a contract which essentially spreads the cost. I wouldn't criticise anyone for it - I think most of us have been there at some time...
Yeah but when on wifi you can. My point is some are ok with wifi only.
I'm guessing you are not in the US?
All this hype about the iPhone 5 is excessive and unnecessary. It's a contract phone after all.
To you maybe. Not to many others. Why the post in the first place ?
I love my iPhone 3GS, which I bought new and unlocked from Apple. It's a world phone so I can use it everywhere with prepaid minutes. I can switch carriers. It's a fairly tough phone and seems like this phone will last 5 years.
This idea that people should be on contracts and change phones every year or two is insane. Changing phones is bad for the environment. I myself found a phone on the beach when I was in San Francisco.
And these contracts are so darn expensive.
Whereas I paid $100 for 1000 minutes over 6 months ago and I still haven't used all my minutes. I text a lot. I skype a lot.
I just don't care about the iPhone 5.
I need my data plan. Or my iPhone would turn into a normal phone that can't do anything when I'm outside the house. Which is a lot...
If you do not have data, how do you skype a lot, considering you rarely need wifi? My wife buys the 1000 minute cards every six months or so too, but we have never tried using data on her phone.
id say 90% of iphone owners aren't ok with how he is using his phone...
The OP simply has got a point. You don't buy a car every two years, you don't buy a sound system every two years, you don't buy a new laptop/PC every two years, you don't buy a TV set every two years, you don't buy a new fridge every two years, hell you don't even buy a new house phone every two years. But somehow, two years is a very long time when it comes to cellphones.
Cause: contracts that include subsidized phones
The issue is most of us on these forums want the latest and greatest. This means upgrading your phone every year. Unfortunately, I like many, have a sick obsession with technology. Phones, Tvs, Computers.....I want the newest available!
I want the newest within reason. So rather than upgrade my MBP 2010 to the 2012, I added an SSD and more RAM. The effect was pretty amazing.
If pre-paid works for you great. But it's not for everyone. Especially here in the US pre-paid data is both expensive and not the fastest. It piggy backs off the national carriers and gets bottom of the barrel priority. When you are sharing a tower with the carriers customers they get top priority on that tower, your last in line.
All this hype about the iPhone 5 is excessive and unnecessary. It's a contract phone after all.
I love my iPhone 3GS, which I bought new and unlocked from Apple. It's a world phone so I can use it everywhere with prepaid minutes. I can switch carriers. It's a fairly tough phone and seems like this phone will last 5 years.
This idea that people should be on contracts and change phones every year or two is insane. Changing phones is bad for the environment. I myself found a phone on the beach when I was in San Francisco.
And these contracts are so darn expensive.
Whereas I paid $100 for 1000 minutes over 6 months ago and I still haven't used all my minutes. I text a lot. I skype a lot.
I just don't care about the iPhone 5.