Cell contract coming up soon...BlackBerry or iPhone?

[DrWebster]

First of all, BE CIVIL.

With that out of the way, our contract with T-Mobile will be up in a couple months, and I'm looking to replace my aging BlackBerry Pearl. While I'm quite happy with T-Mobile's plan and service quality, their phone selection is lackluster at best, and they're dragging their feet on rolling out their 3G network. Also, when their 3G network is fully deployed, it won't match the standard frequencies that other carriers use, so 3G phones for T-Mo will have to be designed specifically for them. Therefore, we're leaning towards switching to AT&T as a carrier.

Assuming we're going with AT&T, they have a good selection of phones available, including a number of BlackBerries as well as the iPhone. Since I have a Pearl, I'm used to the BB interface and the way the mail system works, and generally like it. However, the media player and Web browser are limited and slower than snot, a problem that, from what I've read, carry over to even the newest BB devices. I also have an iPod touch, so I'm used to that interface (which is pretty much the same as the iPhone), and love everything about it except the mail system.

So there's my dilemma. I like parts of both the BlackBerry and the iPhone, but the parts I don't like are what the other does well. I need a robust mail interface (I like how e-mail and SMS are on the same screen on the BB), but also want a good Web browser and media player. Downloadable apps are nice too, and the iPhone has the edge in this category, but I've found good BlackBerry apps too.

Finally, the two handsets I'm most interested in -- the BlackBerry Bold and 16GB iPhone -- cost about the same amount ($300), so cost isn't a huge factor. I believe AT&T charges similar amounts for the data plan for each.

I know there are folks here who have both BlackBerries and iPhones, and some of you may even have/had both. So, what say you?

KEEP IT CIVIL -- I'M SERIOUS ABOUT THIS. We've been through the flamewars already, so I don't need shit about "Apple is teh suxor" or anything.

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

AT&T is widely considered an inferior carrier, and is consistently subpar in Consumer Reports' surveys. T-Mobile is generally one of the better carriers. I would be leery of switching to any carrier other than Verizon, which is consistently the top-scoring carrier.

 

[Workdawg]

I've never had trouble with ATT, but I've never used any other carrier either.

As far as phone choices. I guess I'd consider what you would use it for the most. As you said, the BB does office type stuff better, but the iPhone does the entertainment stuff better. Which is more important there?

 

[mazdamn02]

As a Tmobile (blackberry for work) and AT&T (iPhone for personal) customer, I can state that both have been good.

My recommendation depends on what your intent for the phone is.

If you're paying for it out of pocket, and are only using the email function for personal and some work, and want a really good web browser and media player its the iPhone hands down without a shred of doubt. Its fast and the app store is revolutionary. Heard of Pandora? Its on the iPhone. I'm a big fan. The sucky part is text entry is tricky starting out.

Having said this, if your intent is to use it for work primarily the blackberry wins. The email and microsoft enterprise capability is awesome and useful. On the flip side- the web browser sucks and is slow (edge network FTL) and its media player capabilities are bested easily by any standalone mp3 player out there.

 

[YSOSLO]

I'm with Dan on that one....content makes a big difference on which would be the best fit.

 

[JohnnyT]

I've always liked my Curve. Not loved it, but for my use it's worked out well. I'm with you Colin, I do enjoy the SMS and e-mail on the same screen (actually didn't know the iPhone was different). I HATE the web interface, and desperately wish it had HTML browsing. As for a media player, I could care less (and it seems you could too) because we both have other media playing devices, unless you're looking to consolidate and not use the iTouch. I'm resistant to a touch screen, but I've only tooled around with it for a bit and found it cumbersome. Of course, that's expected until it simply becomes natural (like the switch from T9 to QWERTY). The add-on apps are the "killer-app" for the iPhone IMO. That is one feature that would sell me on that phone. The interface looks great but overall the phone is almost "too much" for me (does MOAR BECAUSE MOAR apply here?).

I'm on Verizon, never had any complaints. Not sure how the 3G network compares, but my internet is also pretty slow, at least compared to the iPhone when I saw it on 3G. Personally, I'd probably swing for the iPhone over the Bold. It seems like you can sacrifice a bit on the mail interface, and you'll gain a great media player and add-on abilities, along with HTML browsing.

And, after reading what I wrote, I've scrambled everything everywhere. What a mess...

 

[JustROLLIN]

I prefer the sound quality and clarity on the Verizon network over any of the other networks I have used. (All of them) That being said, I think T-Mobile was the next best as far as those two key factors.

I currently use an 8830 BB and I love the phone other than the web browser. The browser does not display full web pages very well and takes a very long time to load. But, when you are browsing WAP pages, I find it to suitable and actually pretty quick.

 

[DrWebster]

Thanks for the responses so far. I suppose a little more information is in order.

I'm not considering switching to Verizon or Sprint because they both use CDMA. I'm a die-hard fan of SIM cards, which are only used on GSM phones (and therefore, T-Mobile and AT&T). My wife and I don't have a landline, so we're rather attached to our cell phones...if my phone were to die, I simply cannot afford the downtime to take the phone back to a store and get a new one programmed. With SIM cards, if my phone dies, I can pull the SIM and slap it into a spare phone and be up and running again.

I'd be using the phone mostly for personal use, so Web browser, media player, semi-decent camera, and other "goodies" (GPS, apps, etc.) are nice. The only catch is that I also need access to a Gmail account I have set up specifically for monitoring server status at my work -- if a server goes down, I get an e-mail immediately. A robust mail client and push e-mail is a requirement. For those with iPhones, how long does it take for a message to appear on your phone after it's sent to you? I need the total time from the message being sent to it showing up on the phone to be about a minute or less. With my current BlackBerry, it's close to 10 seconds. Also, can you set different audio alerts/notifications for new messages based on mailbox? I'd want to be able to have the phone beep or something when mail comes into one mailbox, but only vibrate when it hits another.

If I got an iPhone, I'd probably sell my iPod touch. It would be nice to consolidate, but not an absolute requirement. The only hangups I'd have about switching to an iPhone, aside from my worries about the mail client, are that it's missing some of the small-but-useful features the BB has, such as a magnetic sensor that can turn the ringer on or off automatically based on whether the phone is holstered or not.

 

[spek1098]

G1, open source, nuf sed

 

[dmention7]

^^^ If I said that, it would be considered violating the warnings on the first post But as long as it's already said i am curious why aren't you considering the G1? I mean, if apps are a big draw, then an open source platform seems like plenty of win--no worries about whether Apple is going to put the smackdown on an app that would be useful to you.

 

[Workdawg]

I think we tested this before with my phone, yahoo pushed in a matter of minutes, don't remember exactly how long though.

One thing that REALLY throws me off about the G1 is that google owns you if you have one. You MUST have a google account, and all your contacts, calendar, etc. are tied to your google account and synced to the phone, not on your phone synced to the account. If your google account gets hacked somehow, I'd hate to think what would happen. I love the idea of open source, and maybe someday soon android will become the big thing, but Apple has a year and a half head start, and a cult following of developers building apps. There are A TON of free apps on the app store.

As for your comment about vibrate when in the holster. The iPhone has an analog switch on the side to turn the ringer off. It vibrates when it goes silent so you know without having to look at it.

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

You can computer backup your directories and the like with Verizon free of charge either through them or through a 3rd party application. No store visit needed.

 

[DrWebster]

As for your comment about vibrate when in the holster. The iPhone has an analog switch on the side to turn the ringer off. It vibrates when it goes silent so you know without having to look at it.

I know about the switch, and for most stuff that would be fine. I'd like to know if ring/vibrate can be set individually on mailboxes, because I want the work-related Gmail account I need to use to only ever vibrate, not ring (regardless of whether the phone is set to ring/vibrate for calls).

While I like the concept of Android, I'm not considering the G1 because I hate the hardware. You mean I have to use a special little adapter just to plug headphones into the thing? No thanks.

James, while you can back up your contacts and stuff yourself, what if your whole phone dies? Can you program a replacement at home and have it start working right away, or would you need to take it to a store? When I was on Sprint a number of years ago, the only way a phone would work on my account is if a Sprint rep manually programmed it as such.

 

[Workdawg]

I know about the switch, and for most stuff that would be fine. I'd like to know if ring/vibrate can be set individually on mailboxes, because I want the work-related Gmail account I need to use to only ever vibrate, not ring (regardless of whether the phone is set to ring/vibrate for calls).

I know that you can turn off the "ringer" for mail, but I don't think you can set it to vibrate only always.

 

[WhiteSpy9]

I can't speak for either iphone or blackberry since I don't own either.

I do however have T-mobile's 3G service and I am quite satisfied.

 

[WhiteSpy9]

Forgot one thing....... you can post to the chatbox on the G1.

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

James, while you can back up your contacts and stuff yourself, what if your whole phone dies? Can you program a replacement at home and have it start working right away, or would you need to take it to a store? When I was on Sprint a number of years ago, the only way a phone would work on my account is if a Sprint rep manually programmed it as such.

I believe you can do it over the phone with another phone... the old phone would still have your number and such, but what happens if a SIM chip is damaged or loses its info? The same risks apply and neither are likely.

My phone is my only phone as well, and I have no issue with CDMA. I see the primary advantage of a SIM card as people who need multiple phone types at once (like a non-camera phone at work or on visits, but a PDA-phone for work apps, or like an ultra compact for out on the town...)

 

[AJ]

Until a better service for the money comes around, I'll always be with Verizon. It's been around 10 years with them now.

 

[Picklz]

Made the switch from VZW (Been with them for 6-7 years) to AT&T and picked up the iphone last night, so far I love it.

I've had an AT&T and Verizon Blackberrys and I feel their major strength is in the corporate environment, with their email services, the BES, etc.

 

[Big Nate]

I have had AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. They all have bad point and good points.

AT&T has always taken care of me.