Locked or unlocked?

ok, i have an htc evo 4g with sprint. We have traveled all over the country and have had coverage everywhere either through sprint or roaming which is included in our plan. Someone told us about Boostmobile for no contract. My concern is coverage. Even though they say its roaming, will you get coverage in say, Montana? Also, we may be traveling abroad and heard you should have a GSM phone. We want to upgrade to maybe a samsung S4 but I don't think that is a GSM. I just read about the locked and unlocked. I'm a techie and still confused on what to do. Any feedback on Boostmobile would be great.

I've done a lot of traveling with AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon devices (for work). Verizon was available almost anywhere - by far the best coverage in my observation. Next was Sprint - about 75%. T-Mobile was close - about 60%, and AT&T was in dead last place - about 40%. There was a hotel room in downtown New York City where all, except AT&T, would work fine! So, I stick with Verizon now and have been happy. (I have no financial interest in any of this stuff other than paying through the nose for services)

Get a locked phone and stick with your contract for 2 years - and then you can have it unlocked if needed. But, unless you're a techie, locked phones are just fine.

There are lots of cool apps available for the iPhone. However, almost all of them require payment (from $0.99 to over $35). There are also a lot of cool apps available for the Android phones - and the vast majority are free. Android attracts "open source" developers whose joy is seeing their software used versus Apple developers who want compensation for their work. (my opinion, of course)

Both Apple and Google check software before it goes into their "stores". Downloading Android apps from non-vetted sources can be done and increases your risk factor. There are multiple free virus scanners and malware detectors available for Android. I've run many but never had a detected virus or trojan.

I'll also observe that the world wide share (and the US share) of Android phones is rapidly growing - for ever one iPhone in use there are over 3 Android phones. Samsung is the Android market leader and they make good equipment. The average "life" of any smartphone is 18-24 months because technology is advancing so fast - thus most vendors only provide upgrades for about 2 years.

Having bought many phones (for my family), I'd suggest you head over to your local Verizon store, and check the Samsung Galaxy III. It is less expensive than the Galaxy 4 and works great.

Well...how do you REALLY feel about ITunes! LOL!!

I saw a "fully unlocked" phone at Best Buy..per the salesman. Don't remember a thing about it since it was noisey and way too many things to look at and think about all at once. Living in a techno cave for all these years really overwhelmed me for a bit.

So Verizon is more reliable in more places vs ATT being fine as long as you are near a major area?

cts

PS 1775 Thank you for the advice. My son travels a great deal for business all over the country. He's got tech gadgets everywhere to keep up with it all. He's in the midwest...and I'm in FL but we've been emailing back and forth. Thanks for your insights.
cts

First thing to learn when first emerging out of a tech cave is never listen to the salesmen at Best Buy or the other electronics stores. They are not advising you in YOUR best interest.

If you buy an "unlocked" phone from a retailer you will pay the full, unsubsidized price for the phone which can mean $600 for a phone that you can get locked and under contract with a cell provider for $50 or less. There is nothing wrong with a locked phone and there is nothing wrong with crossing OS systems. Iphones work on Win computers just as well as they work on Macs. And Android phones work just as well as Macs as they do on any other computer. Most cell providers will unlock their phone for you once you have it for a certain period of time (usually the initial contract period). All it takes is a code and the right sequence of buttons pressed to unlock a cell phone and the carrier will give you that code - for free - once the time period elapses. At that point you could bring the phone to another carrier provided the carrier uses the same system as the phone is - two systems GSM and CDMA. (GSM uses a SIM Card, CDMA does not - you don't need to know this or understand this. Basically, Verizon-Sprint = CDMA everyone else = GSM.)

The Galaxy Note III is a nice phone - pricey but nice. The main feature of the Note phones and tablets is that they have full handwriting recognition with a special pen that comes with the device. You can write on the screen - print or script (even the worst handwriting) - and it will recognize what you write instead of having to use the keyboard. Beyond that, there is not much difference from any other similar level smartphone.

I will not get into the IOS vs Android discussion because you will get as many liking one as liking the other.

I will tell you that I have had several Samsung devices - phones and tablets - and the one consistent thing with Samsung has been when a new update comes out for Android, Samsung's attitude is lots of luck, go get a new phone if you want the update (even devices just a few months old). The Note is a Samsung.

It is hard to say who you can trust when shopping for a phone or a computer - but is certainly is not the salespeople. If you have relative or friend who is tech savvy take him/her along and be guided by their experience.

For one the calander sucks a big one. There is no way to pin a function to a specific day of each month. Date OK but no day. Things like pdanet are simply not available. ITunes dings you dollars for nearly everything.

donn0128
"Personally DW has a Ipad and Iphone, and I hate them to death. But their hers not mine. I am more comfortable with my Android phone and will be getting a Android tablet soon"
My god did I get drunk last night and write this. X2 with everything Donn0128 said.
But to add to it Apple doesn't play well with others very propitiatory software. If your familiar with Windows now then I would stick with it. I went from Iphone to Samsung android and after the 1st day learning curve I like it much better. Did mention I HATED ITUNES. And oh yeah I HATED ITUNES!

Locked: The phone can only be used with the contract provider.

If you are getting a "Free phone with sign up or new contract" it is locked.

UNLOCKED: phone can be used with ANY compatable provider.

This means a phone purchased for use with T-Mobile can be switched to AT&T.

Now the problem.. AT&T and T-Mobile both use the same encryption and compression methods.. So the phones can cross over

Sprint uses a different one

I'm not sure what Verizon uses

Some use multiple schemes and once again their phones can cross over.

Some phones are capable of multiple schemes as well.

donn0128 wrote:
The down side is Apple prevents a lot of kool apps from being used on their products.

Interesting. Could you give a few examples of 'kool apps' not available on an Iphone?

Such preferences are obviously subjective but I've yet to find Iphone apps to be lacking.
One might also say they are more secure having been vetted - something androids don't.

For me a lot depends on what you use a PC for. If you use a lot of Microsoft applications a case can be made to look at another windows based PC and a Windows based smart phone. If your main usage is surfing the web, calendar functions, music, pictures, and the like it matters less what the operating system is.

I personally have been very pleased with my iPhone(s) in the area of ease of setup, use, reliability, available "apps" and integration with my PC. I'm looking at getting an IPad for Christmas (many hints have been issued)which will relegate my Windows laptop to the occasional Excel spreadsheet device. Then things I update on the IPhone such as contacts, mail, pictures, calendar will also show up on the IPad (assuming both have access to the internet)

I have AT&T and as long as I'm near major highways, cities, towns it seems to work OK. Many state parks I visit, AT&T is nowhere to be found but I see folks using their Verizon phones.

Currently when away from home I use the IPhone for everything, have found no need for a laptop on the road. Sometimes I'd like a bigger screen but can deal with it.

If you want to have everything you have on your computer available on your phone, etc, then go Apple. The Macbook Pro is a great machine that offers long battery life and is fairly user friendly. The down side is Apple prevents a lot of kool apps from being used on their products.
Personally DW has a Ipad and Iphone, and I hate them to death. But their hers not mine. I am more comfortable with my Android phone and will be getting a Android tablet soon. That will go along with my Win7 laptop. And this to me is much easier to use. But as always it is what you get used to.
What do you use the computer for? Simple bill paying, emailing and surfing the web? Then a good tablet might be a better choice for you. If your heavy typing blogs, reports and such then a laptop is much better. You really really need to decide what, desk top, laptop, tablet, smart phone will work for your needs and be easiest to use. Then go shopping.
ATT is OK near big cities and on the freeways, but if you travel to lots of remote places don't expect service. Verizon still offers better service in remote areas.