Operating System (OS):
The software that runs the phone itself. PC's have Windows, Apple computers (macs) have OSX, Apple mobile devices have iOS, Android devices have Android.
Megabyte (MB) and Gigabyte (GB):
Units of measurement for data. 1 Gigabyte, abbreviated GB is made up of 1000 Megabytes, abbreviated MB. An average song on your iPod is probably around 5 megabytes. I use anywhere from ~10-100mbs a day when I use my phone. The average is probably 40 megabytes a day or 1.2 gigabytes a month.
3G, 4G, LTE
These are different network standards that different carriers follows for connectivity between their towers and the phones. They are blanket terms and can mean different things depending on if you're looking at the specification or talking to a marketer. You don't really need to care about the differences. For the type of usage you're looking at, it won't matter if you're on a 3G or 4G or LTE network. Though in general from lowest max speed to highest goes 3G, 4G, and then LTE.
iPhone:
Apple's smartphone runs the iOS operating system, which iPads and iPod touches also run. Because of this, there are a ton of really high quality apps for either free or purchase.
Android
A blanket term which is used to describe both the Android operating system, and phones that use it. E.g. "I have an Android" or "I have an Android phone." There actually aren't any phones called "Android". The app ecosystem, meaning the variety, quality and availability of apps, is getting better every month with Android, but is still not as good as on iOS. Android came about because Google wanted an operating system it could control so that Apple wouldn't be the only big player in the phone space. Android is more or less free for phone companies to use which is why it's on so many phones, especially cheaper models. iOS is only on devices that Apple makes.
Appstore
When deciding what apps to install on to your phone, you would use each OS's appstore to do it. This is where you browse and search for apps, read reviews, install apps, and manage updates. On Android phones, this is called the "Google Play" store. In practice it's just an icon you tap and it brings up a way to browse and install other apps.
SIM Card:
The little card you get when you buy a phone through AT&T or T-Mobile. It contains info about your account and is tied with your phone number. You could pop out your sim and throw it in a compatible phone and your number would follow the phone. No need to call the company. SIM cards can also hold a limited amount of contacts data.
GSM and CDMA:
The first part of getting a phone on a provider's network is answering, "Can this phone physically communicate with the network in question?" For example, a phone built to work on the technology AT&T uses won't work on Verizon and vice versa. However AT&T and T-Mobile have some network technology overlap, so you can potentially use the same phone on either network.
- AT&T - GSM
- T-Mobile - GSM
- Verizon - CDMA
- Sprint - CDMA
- US Cellular - CDMA
From that breakdown it looks like you should be able to use a Verizon phone on Sprint. Unfortunately they use different frequencies and thus the phones wouldn't be compatible.
Unlocked
In United States this concept only really applies to AT&T and T-Mobile. Unlocking your phone only applies to Verizon and Sprint if you intend to travel and use Europe's GSM networks for example
If your phone is "unlocked" it means that it doesn't care what carrier it can connect to. As long as the SIM card you've put in the phone is paid up and activated it will connect to that SIM card's company and boom you've got service. Phones are sold "locked" because they don't want you to up and leave to another company. This isn't much of an issue given contract cancellation fees, but it's still a super common practice. Your options to unlock a phone are:
- Call the company and ask them to send you directions for unlocking the phone, often with a code they generate on their end. They will often only acquiesce to this if you've completed your contract.
- Hack it. Which isn't an option for all phones.
- Purchase a phone unlocked from the get-go.
The only options from Apple I would consider are the iPhone 4s (released in 2011) or the iPhone 5 (released in late 2012).
The iPhone 5 has a faster CPU and graphics chip than the 4s as well as a different construction. Rather than glass panes on both sides, it only has glass on the front and two smaller glass sections on the back. Apparently this makes it more impervious to fall damage. The biggest change between the 4s and the 5 is the 5 has a taller screen and is thinner and lighter. You wouldn't think it would be that big of a deal but if you hold the 4S and 5 at the same time it's amazing how much lighter the 5 feels.
** iPhone 4s 16GB Prices:**
- With 2 year contract at AT&T: $99
- Locked to AT&T but purchased used from eBay: ~$350-400
- Unlocked used: ~$400-450
- Unlocked new: $550
** iPhone 5 16GB Prices:**
- With 2 year contract at AT&T: $199
- Used, locked to AT&T: ~$600
- Unlocked new: $650
The only Android phone I would get is the Nexus 4. It's built by LG but designed by Google. It's Google's current state of the art on what an Android phone should be. The biggest benefit to getting an Android phone direct from Google, rather than a Samsung or HTC phone, is that it will have the best software support going forward.
One of the biggest bummers about Android is how freaking long it takes for manufacturers and carriers to update their devices. There are still Android phones being sold today that are using a 2 year old version of the Android OS. You may not think this is a big deal, but as an example consider Android version 4.1. It was a huuge improvement that got the day to day smoothness and usability of an Android phone much closer to an iPhone's level of polish. Any recent Google designed phone could update almost right away. Mom's current phone is a flagship, high end phone made by Samsung, the Galaxy S3, and it runs Android. It still hasn't gotten this update. And when it does, it will have Samsung's junk on top of the clean simple experience Google made.
It's important to mention that Google has been unable to keep up with shipments of the Nexus 4. People who ordered it in early December have received notifications that it might ship in January or even February. It will get better over time, but if you really want a Nexus you might end up paying $400+ for on on ebay.
Nexus 4 8gb:
- New and unlocked: $300
Nexus 4 16gb:
- New and unlocked: $350
StraightTalk: (this just links to an screenshot of their plans, their site was being wonky)
- No contract, just monthly re-ups.
- Unlimited Minutes
- Unlimited Texts
- ~2GB a month of Data. They say "unlimited" but that's BS. If you went crazy and netflixed every night without using WiFi they'd cut you off for sure. People in mobile phone forums seem to think around 2GB a month of usage is safe.
- Uses AT&T's network so you can use a phone locked to AT&T or an unlocked phone.
- Let's say you buy a new iPhone 5 for ~$650.
Total: $45/ month + $3.28 in taxes Total after 2 years: $1,159 + ~$650 for new iPhone 5 = $1,808
Here's AT&T's cheapest contract deal:
- 2 year contract
- 450 Minutes a month w/rollover - $40
- 300MB of data - $20
- Unlimited texts and unlimited mobile-to-mobile calls - $20
- You can get a refurbished iPhone 5 for $150 with this plan
Total: $90/ month + $10 in taxes Total after 2 years: $2,400 + $150 for refurb iPhone 5 = $2,550
For comparison here's AT&T's best no-contract deal:
- No contract
- Unlimited Minutes
- Unlimited Texts
- 1GB a month of Data.
- Let's say you buy a new iPhone 5 for ~$650.
Total: $65/ month + $7 in taxes Total after 2 years: $1,728 + ~$650 for new iPhone 5 = $2,378
Plans for the Android Nexus 4
This phone is interesting because it can function on either T-Mobile or AT&T's network. My suggestion would be either pre-paid on Straight talk like above or...
No contract
Unlimited Minutes
Unlimited Texts
100mb (1/10th of a gigabyte) for $50 a month or 2gb of data for $60 a month. - 100mb a month is pretty low. You likely will hover around the low hundreds of megabytes in usage once you really start using your phone. It really depends on how you use the phone outside of a place where wifi exists.
Let's say you buy a new Nexus 4 for $350.
Total: $50/ month + $5 in taxes $60/ month + $7 in taxes Total after 2 years at $55 a month: $1,320 + $350 for a new Nexus 4 = $1,670 Total after 2 years at $67 a month: $1,728 + ~$350 for new Nexus 4 = $1,958
So if I get an unlocked iPhone can I use it on T-mobile?
- Yes, and this is what I was doing for the past 2+ years. The problem is that the cell frequencies the iPhone uses for data are compatible with AT&T but not T-Mobile. So I could make calls, send texts, and even access slow-speed internet that piggybacked on the old system, but I couldn't use 3g, so doing anything that involved the internet (maps, surfing, using twitter, etc.) was kind of like using a dial up modem. You may laugh like "so what slow down a little" but I feel like if I'm going to have this device in my life, it should reduce stress and be a utility, and not take two minutes to load up a web page or get directions.
- T-Mobile IS trying to restructure their network to support the iPhone, but that won't be done until mid 2013. When that's complete they're going to finally offer the iPhone but only at un-subsidized prices. So no $199 with contract, just full price for the phone and a smaller monthly bill.
Can I use a smartphone without getting a data plan?
- Yes certainly. However you'd only be able to do anything that involves data like surfing, installing apps, looking up directions, etc. while on a WiFi network.
If StraightTalk uses AT&T or T-Mobile's network, how can it be cheaper than what the companies themselves offer?
- I'm not totally sure. I think StraightTalk buys network access in bulk and sells to a customer base that is less likely to use their phones than someone who buys straight from AT&T or T-Mobile.
What about Verizon and Sprint?
- Verizon has the best network in terms of coverage, Sprint's isn't as good. However if you buy a phone to work with either network that's it, that's the only company it will work with. Finally, their pre-paid options aren't as good as the competitors either.
Can I keep my phone number?
- Yes you can port your phone number to the new service provider, whomever that may be. However don't cancel your current service until you decide which new carrier or service you want and start the process with them. They'll ask you for your current number and work with your old provider to port the number. If you cancel your current cell service first, your number is lost to the ether, never to return.
I'd probably get a refurb or used iPhone 4s, get it with the unlimited $45 a month StraightTalk plan, and enjoy having a modern phone. That's exactly the setup I have and I like it.