Cheap T-Mobile G1 Phone with Google

The long-awaited T-Mobile G1 smartphone combines full touchscreen functionality and a QWERTY keyboard with a mobile Web experience that includes many Google tools you've come to rely on with your PC, including Google Maps Street View Gmail, and one-touch Google search. It's also the first phone to be powered by Google's new open-source Android operating system, which offers an intuitive interface easily customizable home screen. You can also purchase optional software via the Android Market to personalize your G1 with a variety of software applications like games, social networking, and on-the-go shopping.

In addition to a vibrantly colorful 3.2-inch touchscreen, the G1's hinged screen slides open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard and closes to prevent accidental dialing. It runs on T-Mobile's new and growing 3G network, and also offers Wi-Fi connectivity for surfing the web on your wireless network or at hotspots as well as Bluetooth for handsfree communication. Other features include a 3-megapixel camera for still photos, a digital audio player (and easy access to Amazon's MP3 store), an included 1 GB MicroSD memory card, and up to 5 hours of talk time.

"Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do you have to have a Google account to use T-Mobile G1?

A: Yes, customers must log into the phone using a Google account login when they first use the device. Once you do log into T-Mobile G1 using a Google account, your Gmail and Google Calendar will all sync to your phone providing secure, up-to-date access to your personal information. If you don't already have an account, the startup process will walk you through creating one. Creating a Google account is free.

Q: Do customers need a voice and/or data plan to use T-Mobile G1?

A: Yes, when you purchase T-Mobile G1, you must add one of two T-Mobile G1-specific data plans to their account. This is similar to other all-in-one devices we offer like the T-Mobile Sidekick or the T-Mobile Shadow. Customers must also have a voice plan.

Q: Is the G1 compatible with your HotSpot @Home service?

A: No. Unlimited HotSpot Calling (formerly named T-Mobile HotSpot @Home) is not included in the T-Mobile G1, although the device can browse the Web over high-speed wireless connections including Wi-Fi and our 3G network.

Q: Are there any advantages to using Gmail on the device versus another type of personal (POP3 or IMAP) account?

A: Yes. After first logging into their Google account, you will have all your Gmail, Google Contacts, Calendar and Talk data automatically synchronize with the phone. Anything you do on the phone with these products will seconds later become available on the computer and vice versa. If you were to ever lose their phone, their information will still be available and seamlessly synchronize with a replacement G1. You will also benefit from push email and calendar alerts (this is also available for the multi-headed email client). Finally, Gmail's contacts are synchronized automatically with the phone's contact list.

Q: What is the "search from everywhere" feature?

A: "Search from everywhere" provides customers the ability to do contextual searches. T-Mobile G1 has a hard key on the QWERTY keyboard that you can touch in order to start a search within any application you are in. For example, if you are in your contact list and hit the search key, the device will search your contact list. If you are in your email and you hit the search key, the device will search your email. You can also start a search within each application through a search option within the application.

Customer Reviews

Magnificent. Best phone I've ever had, Excellent browsing, good battery life, and I absolutely adore the slide-out keyboard. Waiting for the next update to improve the slow camera speed and inability to save pictures from text messages; expected to arrive by the end of April, and the phone will be nearly perfect when that happens, imo.

Examine your needs - for me - it was a great fit As another reviewer put it: "Depending on the type of user you are, the G1 can be a dream-come-true device (Google-Services-dependent) or a disappointment (Media/Application-heavy user coming from iPhone); it just depends on what you need."

I was looking for a phone that was more of the original smartphone concept: I needed fast, efficient gmail access; over the air sync with Google Calendar; and a good web browser. Bonuses to me, were a decent application store, and solid built in apps, like google maps. This led me to compare the iPhone, the G1, and various blackberrys. Ultimately, I picked the G1 over the blackberrys because of it's superior gmail interface and more consumer oriented application store.

I went back and forth between the G1 and the iPhone for weeks, but am confident the G1 was a better choice. With the G1 I get: - Complete google services syncing - A keyboard and trackball - Cheaper monthly service fees than ATT's iPhone data+text plan - Superior notification system. On the G1 (unlike the iPhone) you can chose to acknowledge a reminder - and pick which reminder/email/text you want to look at (or not). With the iphone, you currently get a pop up to either look at it or ignore it.

It's a difficult interface to describe, but if you are someone that has 3 emails, a calendar reminder, an IM, and a text message all waiting on your phone, you may want some flexibility in choosing what you'll look at when, and only the G1 gives you that flexibility. I gave up: - A larger screen - Better applications. What can I say? The android market is good and it's only getting better, but the iPhone has more applications. - Better multimedia management. I don't listen to music on my phone - I have my iPod for that, and w/ 50 gb of music/moives on it, no phone currently can replace it.

I guess as a novelty I might listen to music every now and then or watch a movie on the train or something, but honestly, I loaded some music on my G1 and still have never listened to it. Bottom line, if multimedia is important to you and you like iTunes, get an iPhone. If you're more focussed on staying in touch and want a phone that offers a keyboard and a great interface that I believe Google will only continue to improve, I'd highly recommend the G1."

Read more reviews at http://astore.amazon.com/cheap-cellphone-plans-20/detail/B001JT1U1E

Best values in cell phone plans? 2

Best value for big talkers:
Most carriers offer individual plans with up to 6,000 minutes. Sprint beats them all with its Power Pack Unlimited, which charges $199.99 for unlimited anytime minutes. If your phone is permanently affixed to your ear, this is the plan for you.

Best value for families:
Most of the carriers charge a similar rate for family plans, with features that vary just a little. Therefore, T-Mobile once again stands out with its myFaves family plans, which provide five free numbers for each phone line. Again, the carrier offers fewer anytime minutes than its competitors for the same price, but more versatility. T-Mobile also offers a traditional family plan (3,000 anytime minutes) for $129.99 but without myFaves numbers.

Best value for families who really like to talk:
Although the price is a bit higher than T-Mobile's when adjusted for minutes, AT&T and Verizon top the charts with their minutes-rich family plans: 6,000 anytime minutes for $299.99. It beats buying a 1,400-minute plan and paying $500 in overage charges.

Best value for international travelers:
Most reviewers consider T-Mobile the best international carrier, as it runs on a GSM network (making it compatible with European and Asian networks), is more reliable, and is less expensive. Even so, it's a bit of a pain to set up, as you'll need to ask T-Mobile to unlock your phone for access to overseas networks. AT&T also runs on a GMS network, but doesn't receive such high marks.

Best values in cell phone plans? 1

Best value for infrequent phone users:
Aside from buying a prepaid plan, the best option is probably T-Mobile's Basic Plus plan that offers 300 anytime minutes and unlimited weekend minutes for $29.99. Keep in mind, however, that 300 minutes isn't much. The other carriers all offer basic 450-minute plans for $39.99.

Best value for people who receive a ton of calls but rarely make them:
Sprint's Free Incoming plans are unique in that you're only charged for outgoing calls. Incoming calls, by contrast, are completely free. Obviously, not everyone will find such a plan worthwhile but it's great for users who want to stay in touch without actually doing the touching. Prices start at $49.99 for 300 outgoing minutes and max out at $99.99 for 1,000 minutes.

Best value for messaging fans:
Verizon's Choice Select plans offer unlimited text, picture, video, and instant messaging for an extra $20 per month over the company's traditional voice plans. Given the popularity of text messaging, this is a no-brainer for many phone users.

Best value for people with a few really close friends:
Do you spend most of your minutes talking with just a few people? Consider T-Mobile's myFaves plans that let you select five people for unlimited chatting, regardless of which carriers they use. The myFaves plans generally offer fewer anytime minutes than similarly priced plans from other carriers, but because conversations among your "five" don't count as anytime minutes, it's easy to come out ahead with a little monitoring. Note that myFaves plans don't offer mobile-to-mobile minutes, however.

What questions should I answer before buying a plan?

After you've decided which type of plan to buy, you should start to narrow your search based on a few select criteria. Here are a few questions to help focus your search.

Will you be calling people all over the country, or will most of your calls be confined to your region of the country?
Most people prefer national plans--which usually integrate long distance and roaming charges into the total cost--but local and regional plans often are less expensive. Either option is fine, provided you understand that local and regional plans might charge extra for calls outside your coverage region.

Where do you live?
Every carrier's cell network is different: Most cover the major cities pretty well, but rural areas are quite a bit spottier. If you don't live in an urban area, you might have fewer plan choices available to you. Detailed coverage maps are usually available on the carrier websites.

How many minutes will you need?
Be realistic. It's tempting to choose a plan with limited anytime minutes to save money, but there are few worse feelings than receiving your cell phone bill and realizing you went 500 minutes over your limit. On the other hand, if you don't talk on the phone all that much, a low-minute plan may be perfect.

What do other people in your neighborhood or city think?
Unlike with many technologies, cell phones really do behave differently based on where you live, as each carrier's cell network varies in quality and coverage. Ask your friends, neighbors, and associates whether they've had positive or negative experiences with certain carriers and plans.

Are there any extra features that matter to you?
If text or picture messaging is a priority, factor the cost of these services into your search. If you want to surf the Web on a smartphone, look for a plan with good data options. Many plans also offer unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes, meaning you can talk with other people on the same carrier network for free. If most of your friends already subscribe to one carrier, it might make sense to subscribe to the same carrier to cut costs.

Wireless Application Protocol?

Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
This catchall term refers to the various enhanced services that carriers can send to your phone via the WAP. It allows your phone to communicate with your content provider over the Internet, much the way information is sent to your home computer on the Web. Each carrier's WAP service functions as an information warehouse: it can gather local movie times and restaurant information; show news, weather, and sports updates; provide mobile e-mail services and web browsing; or capture pay-per-download music and videos. The services also let you purchase ringtones, themes, games, and applications.

As carriers have rolled out high-speed data services, so too have they introduced mobile content services that depend on higher data rates. Sprint and Verizon rely on the 3G EV-DO data service to deliver streaming video, real-time audio, fast web browsing, and downloadable music. AT&T and T-Mobile, meanwhile, run on alternative 2.5G EDGE and 3G UMTS networks, which are built using a different infrastructure than EV-DO but achieve the same basic objectives. (The UMTS network is faster than EDGE but isn't as widely available.) All the carriers eventually promise significant service upgrades with the launch of 4G data services, hopefully in 2008.

Some carriers offer pay-as-you-go pricing based on the amount of data you transfer via their Internet content services; however, flat-rate monthly packages usually are more cost efficient. AT&T, for instance, charges $9.99 for a basic package with 400 messages and 1 MB of MEdia Net transfers, which incorporates e-mail, sports scores, ringtones, games, and more. For an additional $20 per month, users can enjoy unlimited access to AT&T's Cellular Video service--with video clips from TV shows, music videos, and sports highlights--along with unlimited MEdia Net access and 1,500 messages.

The other major carriers offer similar services: Verizon's V-CAST video costs $10 per month or $3 per day, while Sprint charges $20 a month for separate music and TV packages. Verizon also bundles its V-Cast music services into its America's Choice Premium voice plans. Check the carriers' respective websites for more information.

Multimedia Messaging Service?

Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
A more sophisticated form of text messaging, MMS lets you send images and photos, audio and video clips, and instant messages to other cellular subscribers. The emergence of camera phones helped jump-start this category, and it's only expected to grow as more and more people buy phones with video capture capabilities.

Most carriers now bundle SMS and MMS messages together into a single monthly bill. As mentioned above, the carriers generally charge $15 to $20 for unlimited text, video, audio, and instant messages and $5 for between 200 and 400 messages. As an alternative, customers usually can pay for each message individually, although typically at a slightly higher rate: Verizon, for example, charges 25 cents per MMS message. This latter option is ideal for people who only send a few MMS messages per month.

Short Message Service?

Short Message Service (SMS) text messaging was the first add-on feature made available to cellular voice subscribers. SMS messaging lets you craft short text messages and send them to other cell phone users on any U.S. network. Carriers also often send purchased ringtones and system messages to subscribers via the SMS system. The Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS) is a small upgrade to SMS service that allows you to format the font and colors of your text message, or add sound effects and animations.

Carriers used to charge for each SMS or EMS message sent and received--usually in the range of 5 to 15 cents per message--but now that text messaging is so popular, carriers are increasingly offering fixed plans that provide an allotment of messages for a flat monthly fee. All the major carriers charge between $15 and $20 for unlimited text messaging, or users can choose a starter pack that costs roughly $5 per month for between 200 and 400 messages. (Each additional message typically costs 10 cents). In addition, sending in-network messages (i.e., messages sent from one Verizon subscriber to another, for example) is often cheaper than out-of-network texting. If you plan on sending international text messages, be sure to check whether your carrier sells a separate plan for these.

What are the various service plan add-ons, and which ones do I need?

Keep in mind that not all phones support the add-on services listed here. As a general rule, the more advanced--and often more expensive--a phone, the more add-on features it supports. Do your research and make sure you choose a phone that is capable of handling all the services you plan to use.

Also note that the major carriers sometimes disable certain features on your phone, usually because they want to protect a competing proprietary service. It's often possible to re-enable these features via an unlocking service, but there's no guarantee that your carrier will support the unlocked features.

What are the different types of plans?

Three primary plan types are available for cell phones: individual, family, and prepaid.
Individual plans are for customers who expect to use their phones on a semi-regular basis, either as a purely mobile phone or as a replacement for a landline. Often, infrequent phone users can get away with as little as 300 anytime minutes per month, but most folks will find that insufficient.

Family plans, by contrast, are for families with two or more people who want to save money by pooling their minutes. Family plans can pay off, but they also can be tricky, as it's hard to monitor usage patterns for several family members at once.

Prepaid plans are for individual users, but rather than requiring you to sign a one- or two-year contract that guarantees a set amount of minutes per month, users buy minutes on an as-needed basis. Prepaid plans are great for people who want a mobile phone on hand but don't want to use it all that much.