Reply #7: Answers...

[huskerlaw]

1. The data plan is extra, but it's not bad. Like $20/month for unlimited data (internet, etc). Each plan comes with a certain amount of free texts, but those aren't unlimited unless you pay for that, so be aware of that. I pay $90/month for 450 anytime minutes (which rollover if you don't use them), 5000 night/weekend minutes, unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes (calls to/from anyone else w/ AT&T), no roaming, no long distance,unlimited data and 1500 text messages per month.

2. Do you live in an area with 3G coverage? (translation: a large metropolitan area) If not, then the S part really isn't going to be worth it. It wasn't that big of an upgrade to begin with, but if you're not even going to be able to take advantage of the 3G part, then the S is really overkill.

3. The battery life on the 3G really depends on what you're doing with it. If you're on the 3G network and you're playing with apps and/or the internet, the battery life is pretty well crap. Something like 4-6 hours. If you're basically using it as a phone with limited apps/internet usage, more like 8-10. You can optimize that by turning off the 3G and/or wireless connectivity if you're not using them. I have a car charger and just plug in the phone when I'm in the car, and I easily make it through the day without the battery dying.

4. I love it for the apps and the internet. Everything is available at your fingertips. Need to find a restaurant? Prove some random piece of trivia in a debate? Don't want to get lost? I love it.

5. Honestly, the only thing I don't like is having to use AT&T. Their coverage can be spotty (particularly out in the boonies) and the company sucks. I don't dislike anything about the phone itself.

6. Pandora (listen to radio stations you create on your phone), Shazam (what is the name of that song?? Shazam can tell you), NY Times, NPR, IMDb, Kindle, Facebook, Tweetie...half the fun is finding new ways to entertain yourself. ;)