i have heard really good things about the Palm Pre. I dont have to make any decisions until September. I am not going to change networks, it wouldnt be a good move for me financially.

In the end, I dont know. I just may get the new version of the phone I have now. I really want to join the SmartPhone revolution, but its a big jump for me. We shall see.

I have owned Blackberry’s for 4-5 years prior to the iPhone, and have always thought of them as a class act. I really don’t think you could go wrong with any BB phone. They make frequent software changes, and have the strongest following of smartphones in the market, so you will never feel like you bought an orphan phone, with limited to zero support.

Prior to the BB’s I have owned the first couple of generations of the Palm Treo’s, which I still have a fond place in my heart. Although the prior generation Palm software was buggy, but man was it customizable.

To put the perspective of what the iPhone is in my life, is to put it in these words. The jump I made from a standard cell phone to a smartphone like the Treo, and then with Blackberry’s, was still not as significant as the jump I made from the Blackberry’s to the iPhone. I know it’s starting to seem like I am on Apple’s payroll, but the iPhone is just a monumental jump forward in phone tech. The biggest improvements are not just the email and messaging functionality. But the little bugger is just brilliant because it makes GPS enable apps the killer argument.

For example. This past 4th of July, I took, the wife, and kids to Washington D.C. for fireworks, and to see the sites. I met up with some of my friends there, and we went around town everywhere by car, subway, and walking. My iPhone was with me the whole day, and it worked like a champ. Helped me find train stations, restaurants, museum websites for times/costs, and train schedules. Helped me remember where I parked our car, and even let me email my Lat/Long coordinates to another friend who was looking to catch up to us on the vast expanse that was the National Mall complex. And yes I even used the WiFi that was available for free all over the National Mall. I know other phones, including the Blackberry, can do the same. But how well? How quickly, and with what deft, and skill can we accomplish this? My buddy’s Windows Mobile HTC would try to do the same thing, but would take 2-3 minutes, versus 2-3 seconds to lock on the GPS. Would sometimes not render the actual websites very well. And would even crash on occasions when trying to do too many things at the same time.

My take on AT&T and Verizon:

So far I have been happy with AT&T’s voice network. The Data is all over the place. I was in Atlanta two weekends ago for a wedding, and AT&T’s 3G network was quite abysmal. However I had very good luck with the network in DC during a very crowded 4th of July weekend. Go figure. This has more to do with the limitations of GSM based networks trying to do data and how AT&T designs the network. However, I have yet to have major Voice call issues on AT&T. More so because the Southeast where most of us reside uses the old BellSouth infrastructure. And by Bell standards, Bellsouth was a well run operation, versus the gunslingers of the Southwestern Bell that now make up AT&T.

Verizon on the other hand is a well run, well managed operation with a rock solid network. This is due to the fact they have great network discipline. Meaning, they do not let any and all handsets on their network, and by disabling certain features on certain phones, such as WiFi, Bluetooth data tethering, and some forms of MMS. They strong arm the handset vendors to produce what they want, and how they want the phones to work on their network. Fair enough, it’s their network. But this limits the types of phones, and the overall number of phones available. Even though they brag about their 3G network, I will make a bold statement to say that it really is not THE perfect data network. Even though Sprint’s voice network was sketchy, the 3G data is superior (more stable & consistently faster). But still the Data networks that use CDMA will continue to be more stable.

Sure my best solution would be an iPhone on a Verizon network. But don’t hold your breathe. The current Verizon CDMA network will slowly start to be phased out starting late next year, when Verizon’s 4G network goes to a more global GSM based “LTE” standard, which is similar to the roadmap of AT&T. So for a short 2-4 year run, I doubt Apple will make a special one off phone for Verizon. Second, Verizon doesn’t like being 2nd fiddle to the phone makers. Verizon has always wanted complete control of what data flows in and out of their network. They are not going to let Apple sell Apps, on top of an additional profit sharing of the iPhone user’s monthly revenue. You basically have 2 strong willed, head-strong companies, albeit, well managed operations, that will not take the back seat to the other. This last reason, in my opinion is the reason that you may not see an Apple/Verizon team up until LTE is prevalent.

My verdict: Just get the iPhone and be done with it. Unless the AT&T network in Albany is pathetic. It really is as great as the hype. Only people that have not owned and operated one will say otherwise. And this is coming from a past Blackberry and Treo user, that couldn’t imagine using a touch screen keyboard. If you are still not convinced. I think you should wait for the Palm Pre to come on the Verizon network probably around Christmas time. The Pre’s WebOS is just incredible. It is the only other phone outside of the iPhone that I would consider. Buy the Blackberry only if you messaging it your most important application. The Blackberry is a messaging monster. It really has the whole messaging world figured out.

Let us know what you select.

-Tejash

I really liked the Storm, but typing was not very easy for me, but then again, it wasn’t easy for me on my buddies iPhone. I’m just not used to it.

They say the Storm II will have a touch screen like the iPhone’s, no more pushing and clicking the screen thing.

So, I dont know. Maybe I will just get the upgraded version of my LG VX8300, it’s cheap and it works for what I need.

Filler, I like your phone, I bet it fits nicely in your pocket

My chief complaint (and what I forgot to mention above) is that the Storm does not have wi-fi support. So I can’t use my home wireless network on my phone. I mean, 3G is fast, but it’d be nice to use wireless in locations where 3G coverage was spotty. But, AFAIK, no Verizon phone supports wi-fi.

If you’re not tied to the iPhone/Storm-style phone, check out the LG Versa. Very comprehensive phone that offers a detachable full keyboard. Neat stuff that.

http://www.oaktreeent.com/web_photos/Telephones/Motorola_Cellular-One_Cell-Phone_web.jpg

On a serious note, seems that the crackberry curve holds a slight lead over the storm, if you go by customer reviews of course. The most important thing is to go to a Verizon wireless store and mess around with the demo phones, see which one fits you best.

However…if you wait a little bit longer, seems that crackberry line is coming out with a new phone for the verizon service..

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10276123-1.html?tag=TOCrightColumn.0

I also have Verizon wireless and pray every night to sweet fancy moses that the Iphone crosses over someday…

If you want the phone so you can do internet stuff, both phones are about equal.

If you want a phone with a lot of third-party app support, the iPhone has it over the Storm (though there are still TONS of apps for the Blackberry).

If you want a phone where you can also do some productivity – view Word Docs, etc. – then the Blackberry’s for you.

Blackberry Storm pluses: Standard size headphone jack so you can use any pair of headphones off the shelf, superior sound on it’s built-in speaker (great for playing audio for someone or for speaker-phone conversations), productivity software, you are already with Verizon so you get your normal upgrade discount plus you can get the buy-one/get-one deal on the Blackberry (BTW, you don’t have to get two Blackberries, they’ll let you choose any comparably-priced (or cheaper) phone)

iPhone pluses: Heavy third party hardware and software support, more intuitive touchscreen (the iPhone screen “buzzes” when you push to initiate and action, the Blackberry screen actually depresses and is kind of weird to get used to – they’re going to an iPhone-style screen with the Storm II)

That’s how I see it anyway.