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Top multimedia phones, prepaid plans...and more |
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Joni Blecher Wednesday, Mar. 3, 2004 |
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Q: What is the best combination camera/MP3 player/Internet-capable phone? I was looking at the Motorola MPx200, but it doesn't have a camera.
--Stan A: The MPx200 has a built-in SD slot, which lets you expand memory--a key feature if you want to store MP3s on your phone. But at this point, the Motorola is a better fit for people who want to sync Microsoft Outlook info with their handset. Have you considered the Sony Ericsson P900? We probably won't see it offered by carriers until next month, at which point subsidies should bring the price down a bit. Among its features, the P900 includes a built-in camera that doubles as a video recorder; expandable memory via Sony's Memory Stick media; the ability to play MP3s and use any MP3 as a ring tone; and a large, 65,536-color touch-screen display that will make viewing Internet pages a pleasurable experience. If you don't like the MP3 player on the P900, try the version on the optional HBM-30 accessory, which also lets you receive incoming calls via Bluetooth. The only downside to the P900 is that it's a little chunky. The old switcheroo
Q: Are there any plans that allow you to keep your landline and add a cell phone with the same number?
--Harold A: Not yet. In some areas, you can move your landline number to your cell phone but not vice versa. Just like starting over
Q: I have a Samsung SCH-8500 and Sprint service, but I want to get a prepaid plan for this phone. Can I do this? It looks like all the prepaid companies want you to buy a new handset.
--Vickie A: You're right--you can't do it. Unfortunately, if you want prepaid service, you'll have to start over, and you can't even keep your phone number. Prepaid numbers work on a totally different system than the monthly service accounts, so you can't switch between them easily. If you're still interested, a few companies that offer prepaid plans are Virgin Mobile, AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless, and TracFone. And you can always sell your phone on an auction site such as eBay, but make sure you close your account with Sprint first.
The Diva talks back: Is that Jessica Simpson calling? Rhinestone-encrusted handsets and Hello Kitty cases aren't enough anymore--the intersection of pop culture and the cell phone now means you can use Jessica Simpson's unreleased hit as your ring tone. If you have the right T-Mobile handset and $1.99, you can download a "hi-fi" polyphonic ringer featuring Ms. Simpson or other select Sony artists. It's a brilliant way to promote upcoming releases, but what's the real cost to the public? Some ring tones are annoying enough as it is, so this could be a blessing in disguise--especially if your taste runs more to Cheap Trick than whatever teenager of the year is dominating the charts. What do you think? What are your favorite multimedia phones? TalkBack to me below!
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