Infographic: New iPhone vs. Palm Pre vs. Android G1

"If you don’t need unlimited voice and text messaging, the iPhone and the Pre can each be had for $69 per month"

This is not true. Your comparison is misleading to the point of being useless. The AT&T data plan is required for the life of the phone. If you get laid off or have a medical emergency 3 years after buying your phone, you will either have to continue to pay huge bills that you cannot afford or throw the phone away. You have to use At&ts crappy overpriced data plans to use the i-Phone.

Unfortunately, this chart does not consider the current key driver for smartphone sales: app stores. App store success is driven by flexible and easy application development, something that only iPhone has been able to accomplish. I know Localytics has done some cool analysis on Android vs iPhone vs Symbian vs Windows Mobile vs BlackBerry vs Palm Web OS: http://www.localytics.com/blog/post/smartphone-os-wars-what-platforms-to-develop-for-part-i/

As much as I admire Apple products I have no real position on the iPhone. I will observe that the greatest challenge Apple's competitors have is that the iPhone is a fashion item with an enormous following.

Features and quality are only lightly researched by most consumers of anything. They buy the item because their friends told them to. Because of this Apple will continue to enjoy a growing following and the attendant free publicity accorded fashion items.

WOW, iPhone 3G S… Have you looked at the actual specs/"new" features or even how they're promoting it? Looks like Apple is taking a page or two from another phone this time, a phone that is almost one year old now, starts with a 'G' and end with a '1'. So much for your "innovation" that you had thrived on.

I've browsed through a few comments at the bottom and a few of the positives of the iphone listed was its use of itunes. Funny. I just read an article saying that the Pre would be iTunes compatible AND have full adobe flash.

Have fun AT&T customers with your expensive iphones!

Here is the link to the article about itunes on the pre: http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/06/17/apple-to-palm-pre-drop-dead/

Its pretty funy to read

I had an iPhone and got rid of it… POS, because it really isn’t a smartphone, and lacks what power-users need in a phone. I am currently using an HTC Touch Pro, and am waiting on the Pro 2– passing up the Palm Pre (and its tiny screen). HTC is really leading the pack in innovation. I don’t get the comments about the iPhone being so great, it’s nice for the screen size, but that’s about it. And being locked to a single carrier makes it suck worse. My HTC can be radio flashed (at home) to other carriers. Just update the ROM and it’s ready to rock.

I used to be just like you…a dyed in the wool HTC lover…let me debunk your arguments:

1. Productivity – like all Apple products, productivity is a secondary concern. If you intend to write 20 page documents or insert macros into an Excel sheet while driving down I35 (did you see ChevyTexas?), then the iPhone is not for you. At the same time, my email connection to two different Exchange servers has been reliable and does not heavily draw from my battery. With the upcoming update, I can actually type something properly, increasing my productivity (AWRIGHT!). you can also view any doc in almost any format on the phone. Honestly, how many times do you actually create content on your phone?

2. iPhones can also upload ROMs. Just like HTCs, it voids the warranty. It's called a "jailbroken" phone. Just saying…

3. I have owned the Exec Pro, 8125, 8525, 8925 ("Tilt"), and Diamond Pro. They all have one thing in common – they are completely and undeniably sluggish.

1a. Apps open when they feel like it, and sometimes not.

1b. Programs that I bought for the 8525 do not work for the Tilt, even though they use the same OS and much of the same hardware.

1c. WM STILL does not have a decent web browser unless you pay $30 for Opera Mobile (not Mini – its level of garbage is not "mini").

1d. It's not exactly the sturdiest piece of equipment I have ever known. I sent back the 8525 three times before an "airport accident" (caused by me) kept me from returning the last one. Internet connectivity is hit and miss (it's not the network – my older HP phone (yes, they make phones) got great internet connection pretty much everywhere). One of the phones burned out three SD cards before I realized that it was the phone, not the card or my computer, causing the burnout (Troubleshooting 101 – check computer, check item, check recipient). They are plastic-y and cheap. The "innovation" for HTC phones are based on OS "innovations," not hardware innovation, the only part that HTC has a part in. (Before you say it, 640X480 is not innovation. The Exec Pro had it…in 2005. And it STILL worked better than the current phones…)

1d. As for productivity, I HAVE, in fact, made Excel worksheets on an 8525. Problem is, if I had taken out my laptop and done the work, I might still have hair today.

I am not defending the iPhone, nor am I a hater of everything non-Apple. You get what fits you best, and more power to you. But denigrating a product that over 30 million people worldwide enjoy and use far more often than any HTC device because of whatever reason is ignorant…again! I see you are in San Antonio…only a three to four hour drive to see your buddy in Dallas.

If you are going to talk on your cell phone on the drive, don't tell anyone.

Hate all you want, but it is the current top in individual phone models (Blackberry may have more devices, but they are spread across multiple product lines.)

An Open Letter To The Dallas Police Department:

Almost every day, I get cut off driving to work by someone who is talking on their cell phones. While I am unsure about the laws in your fine state, this gentleman Chevytexas has decided to be completely unsafe and attempt to drive while speaking on his cell phone. Please remove this unsafe driver from the roads. I have included this quote for the courts to disseminate:

Bottom line PLUS: any smartphone where you can MULTITASK (not on the iPhone); any phone you CAN TALK ON (not on the iPhone via ATT). Bottom line NEGATIVE: any smartphone that’s a BAD PHONE, whether it has unlimited apps; any phone that REQUIRES BOTH HANDS (e.g., no voice commands). Does any developer actually drive and talk? I do.

On an unrelated note, please advise this person that I have used every smartphone OS except WebOS AND have vast experience with WM and "Crackberry," with a little less on Android. I don't like Apple (too "hip," "jive," and "expensive" for me, amongst other reasons) as a company, nor do I like most of their products. When there is a winner, though, admit it, try something else to see if it is better, and move on. Bashing on the item (in this case, the iPhone) that everything else in the market is compared to is ignorant.

Indeed, the iPhone is laking certain functionality (multitasking….thank goodness no one else has mentioned this in the past), but, overall, the iPhone is well thought out and a powerful machine that, in most cases (FLASH!), replaces a computer for simple web tasks.

Please arrest this man for propagation of defamation of complaining ad nauseum about things that other people complain about and then saying that it was his idea. While interrogating him, please advise him of his right to BE SILENT and not advise everyone on the world wide web that he is breaking the law.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

PS: I have driven across the country innumerable times recently, and I have lost connection to AT&T only in the banjo-playing Wyoming zones. The voice quality is far superior to T-Mobile, and is at the very least comparable to Verizon (I, like most of America, ignore Sprint…). Also, AT&T has no iPhone bandwidth max, so I am quite merry with the 1.5 – 2 GB throughput a month I throw down on my iPhone.

Bottom line PLUS: any smartphone where you can MULTITASK (not on the iPhone); any phone you CAN TALK ON (not on the iPhone via ATT). Bottom line NEGATIVE: any smartphone that's a BAD PHONE, whether it has unlimited apps; any phone that REQUIRES BOTH HANDS (e.g., no voice commands). Does any developer actually drive and talk? I do.

I think something to keep in mind here is the challenge to developers because of the proliferation of mobile OS's, a phenomenon known as fragmentation. For more analysis on fragmentation see this article

LOL sir…… You write ONLY about iPhone. You PLAN on getting the iPhone 3GS, you said it yourself. You may have your critiques here and there, but when it comes to comparing OTHER phones you're always quick to circle the wagons. So yes, I read enough.

I love how this column consistently tries to defend the iPhone tooth-and-nail. What you people need to realize is that the iPhone is NOT an established end-all, be-all INSTITUTION, and that there are other very competent phones… these phones do a lot of things better than the iPhone ever could, especially from the productivity standpoint.

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I thought the "you get what you pay for" comment was an over-the-top attempt to slight the Palm Pre, which is a fantastic device. Wake up, people.

ex ped: Dan, if you believe this column consistently tries to defend the iPhone tooth-and-nail, you're not reading the column consistently enough.

3G service is such a location specific issue it is not really a valid global agrument. I spend all my time in either Dallas, DC or Baltimore. I have 3G all the time every time on my iPhone. To me it is all about the App store. My iPhone has become my weightloss tool (ShapeUp 32lbs and counting), trail guide (Motion GPS which will get better with the compass), Game console (lots), news consolidator, stock manager, real estate monitor, and more. All things I never dreamed of in a phone until I got the iPhone. I am sure the hardcore will point out that many phones offerred this experience before and nuanced agruements why existing phones do it better, but the iPhone was the first smartphone to move beyond the early adopters in the technology adoption curve and for that it earned its success and frankly paved the way for any phone (Pre, Bold or whatever) that might also succeed in becoming more than a communication tool be it email, phone, mms, sms, Facebook, internet or whatever. The iPhone offers more than communication and no other phone really does at this point.

WOW! wrong info. The G1 service plan only needs to be $39 + $24 for data service.

I had an iPhone and got rid of it… POS, because it really isn't a smartphone, and lacks what power-users need in a phone. I am currently using an HTC Touch Pro, and am waiting on the Pro 2– passing up the Palm Pre (and its tiny screen). HTC is really leading the pack in innovation. I don't get the comments about the iPhone being so great, it's nice for the screen size, but that's about it. And being locked to a single carrier makes it suck worse. My HTC can be radio flashed (at home) to other carriers. Just update the ROM and it's ready to rock.

Bottom line those without an iPhone do to whatever reason are jealous of those with an iPhone. I find it humorous how iPhone users never put down other phones and services but only talk about the items the iPhone offers but owners of other phones and services talk negatively about the iPhone and AT&T.

Interesting that every new phone that comes out is compared to the iPhone. This says a lot for the iPhone. I am glad there are other phones because we wouldn't know how great the iPhone is without these other phones on the market.

BTW… you can transfer songs from your computer unto the Pre. I personally like the Pre because I have a Palm Centro now, so the keys are a bit bigger. I have only experience the Pre and iPhone. On a tight budget of a single mom Sprint beats anything. My plan is includes this 450 min, free talk after 7PM, $5 more talk at 6PM, unlimited data and messaging.

After comparing plans I could care less what the phones do and how long it takes to load as long as I can go online, text and talk at the same plan.

Also, they forgot to mention what a pain it is if your iPhone needs repairing or breaks. You have to go to an Apple store which are few and far away. You practically loose a whole day being on a waiting list, unless, you knew ahead of time your phone would break and made an appointment.

How about RECEPTION (that is conviently left of the list). It seldom makes a difference in New York, butin Louisiana forget about 3G, only the MAJOR cities have that, we are lucky to get EDGE here in the boonies. I just want to be able to talk, the rest is all gravy. The coverage maps for these companies ought to be on the top 10 false advertising claims of the century. Problem is you don't know the reception until you already own the phone. You folks from the cites ought to stop whining and just thank your luck stars you can even get coverage….

The price for the G1 is grossly over stated. I have a 1000 minute family plan with plenty of minutes and the data plan with 400 messages is $2. I pay $95 a month.

The "S" Stands for Suckers.. Seriously… Att's 3g is so lame it's sad. I find it funny that my friends never achieve 3g speeds. I'm glad I left att. Att is overcharging you people with iphones lol…Again… What does the "S" stand for…

What's important for these Internet-based phones is to have unlimited data-not necessarily unlimited talk time. Sprint has a plan for the Pre with unlimited data, unlimited text, and 450 minutes talk time for $69.99.

– competitors can never match.

rofl. Please.

– 1. The iTunes App Store

Mostly junk. And both android and palm will catch up. iPhone simply had a headstart. Irreveleant in six months.

– 2. The iTunes Store (which Apple will undoubtedly prevent pre and android users from tapping into)

I don't WANT to use itunes – and apple won't risk a lawsuit – do some reasearch. Amazon already available. More to follow. So enjoy your LOCKED in phone. Again, mostly irreleveant now, very irrevelant in six months.

– 3. The Dock Connnector.

What in the world are you smoking?

–4. In app purchases.

See #1 & #2. I'm not even sure what point you are trying to make here – you've basically tried to turn the app store into three invalid points.

–5. Mac OSX. Let’s not forget that OSX is at the core of the experience.

Dude, this is a liablity, not an advantage. Both android and pre were built from the ground up to be mobile devices. Osx has been shoe horned into a small box – that's one of the reasons it can't multitask.

The chart also leaves off the fact that anyone attempting to upgrade thier iphone gets to fork out another $200. And expected that cost to get HIGHER if you want teather or use MMS – AT&T is already gearing to gouge you some more. Enjoy it.

Great chart but 3rd party apps are missing form the selection

What's so big? Written from my iPhone. BTW, you Johnny-Come-Lately's have the advantage of following in Apple's footsteps – and STILL are second best! AT&T drove a hard bargain but things have changed – thanks to Apple!

One more point. Only 2 of the three phones listed can use the internet while making a phone call. I'll give a hint as to which phones: they don't use CDMA.

So much for multitasking…

I think it is somewhat unfair to only list the most expensive voice and data plan for each phone. Shouldn't you list the range of possible plan prices in the infographic just like you did for the phone prices?

I certainly have no need of unlimited voice calling and text. I Pay about $82 /month for my iPhone plan. I get 450 minutes, 1500 nights and weekends and 200 text messages. The 450 minutes rollover so, for me, I get significantly more voice coverage than I need since I rarely go over 400 minutes per month.

With unlimited data, the 200 text messages is adequate to cover for my friends who haven't entered the 21st century yet and are still using an archaic, insanely expensive communication protocol like SMS.

@matt from Chicago – clunky interface, unusable keyboard? Clearly, another fanboy who has never touched a Pre, but rather chooses to get all his information from Apple blogs and forums. Fear not, little boy, you can keep your iPhone, but don't expect it to write informative comments on the internets for you. That's one app you won't find.

Written from my Pre and very useable keyboard, in between which I am checking Palm stock, SMS with my fiancee, received gmail and took a phone call. Try THAT with your iPhone!

One item missing fro cost analysis is the inclusion of MobileMe annual subscription, which is required to meet on the iPhone many of the free features Palm provides.

Because Palm uses the cloud extensively additional memory is of minimal value, IMHO.

Lastly, its a grossly inaccurate statement on the $69.99 AT&T price. Not sure what reference the author uses, clearly its not the AT&T website

In all honesty, I hardly find it a major issue as the memory capacity is 8 oe 16 GB, as a jump drive is $25 buxx. As to the 50,000 applets, only a hundred or so are worth while. And no one could possibly review the usefullness of such a collection. Palm is likely to better control the qualith and number of these Apps. We understand Palm is reviewing over a 1000 applets for release over the next few months. JimWilson

Why not comparing with G2?

ex ped: Not available in the U.S. yet, and the price has not been announced.

Do I detect a massive amount of sweat from the Apple weenies? The fact is that if you've got work to do you're going to buy a BlackBerry or a Palm Pre. If you've got nothing to do but stare at a stupid compass because you don't know how to use a GPS or you can't wait to listen to more ignorant rap music, you'll be a weenie and buy an iphone.

I just got the Pre and have been a Sprint customer since '06. The phone is very intuitive and fits in my pocket well. Additionally it is more ergonomic than the Apple. At the end of the day my choice was influenced not by thte 50,000 APP's that I wouldn't have access but to the $600 per year I would save because I am a high user.

Phones are personal choices and I recommend either the iPhone or Pre depending on your needs. Either way you can't go wrong.

Wow. That G1 chart is terribly inaccurate. This article is useless. Plus it took apple 3 iphones to get video recording? Pathetic.

What about Nokia, Samsung and HTC phones?

Cleaverly disgusing the Iphones true competitor, Blackberry.

The chart in this article only gives a skewed view. The fact is that the iPhone IS the best phone on the market by far. It has five things the competitors can never match.

1. The iTunes App Store

2. The iTunes Store (which Apple will undoubtedly prevent pre and android users from tapping into)

3. The Dock Connnector. This is huge. Third party developers will tap into this, creating game attachments, medical apps and other attachments and controls we can only dream of.

4. In app purchases. This will drive even more customers and developers to the apple echosystem.

5. Mac OSX. Let's not forget that OSX is at the core of the experience. This OS will only get more powerful and richer as time goes on.

Apple is building an entire ecosystem on OSX that will allow it to rapidly build and create functionality. And to top it off the iPhone IS an iPod, which is definitely best in class (and I've seen them all). None of the competitors will ever be able to say that! The only thing holding down Apple is ATT and that will change in 2010 when Apple is released out into the wild

First of all who needs a compass? OMG Ok let's step back for a sec… if you have GPS navigation which is always pointing north why do you need a stupid compass app? (not to mention you need to quit your pandora to open it) Also you can't compare sprint voice turn by turn navigation with google maps. I hate the who's bigger/better cat fight but half of iphone's apps really are stupid and useless. With that been said I think the extra space is a plus and palm didn't think it throughly enough – MicroSD,internal memory I don't care how as long I can have more than 16GB of space. As of right now iphone still the best BUT I pray apple will pay for its stubborn way of doing business. This exclusivity deal with ATT is dragging them down and you start to wonder how much is ATT involved with the whole iphone project.

Ps: I couldn't help and went to a sprint store to check out the Pre… the Pre web browser is amazing and the 3g speed feels like you are on wifi connection… too bad I have a contract with ATT

Check out HTC phones!!

Where's the Blackberry?

I can't believe Palm came up with such an ugly monstrosity that you could call a phone and everyone knows that the G1 is a joke, especially at 1 GB Memory. Overall, the next generation of smartphones will not come from Palm or Google. I think we can opt for better.

Interesting comments folks. Which device and service you choose really depends on your requirements. I for one will go with the iPhone 32GB version with unlimited service. The reason I will do this is stricky the function of how I use a device like this. With out mentionsing names, there are some very nice CRM business apps for iPhone that I make use of to keep my life a little more sane. It's the time vs money issue for me. If the other device did what I needed I would use them. Maybe two years from now this will change for me. I think you need to look at the whole package of why you need a smart phone to begin with.

@Slappy:

A moronic post. You pretty much just listed random specs of the iPhone as an argument in favor of getting the iPhone, neglecting to tell everyone that the Palm Pre does pretty much everything on that list and more. (Movies? TV shows? Podcasts? Like the iPhone is the only phone capable of these? Do more research before posting this drivel.)

I'm pretty sure AT&T is paying Apple a hefty sum in order to keep iPhone exclusivity… I'm not sure they're capable of offering more competitive rates at this time while trying to update their woefully inadequate network.

This telling discussion is yet another reason to buy the Palm Pre. I've owned it since launch and LOVE IT! I've also been a Sprint customer for almost 10 years and have absolutely no complaints.

att would have so many more customers if they were so greedy. They raised their data plan package once the "new" Iphone's came out. I cant wait for the exclusivity agreement to be over with.

Why would anyone use the clunky user interfaces of the Pre or G1? Wow, the Pre has multi-tasking. Did they mention that it takes at least 10 seconds to open another app from the time you make a selection? Did they bother to mention the Pre's ridiculouly small and poorly designed keyboard? I would never give up the spectacular user-interface of the iPhone for an ersatz alternative.

It goes beyond the chart for the iPhone. Doing these column little info charts and the price at the bottom is just pure BS. You need to show the potential buyer everything you get with the device. Here is a small list.

Optical Grade Glass Oleophobic Coating Screen – NOT PLASTIC

3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display

480-by-320-pixel resolution at 163 ppi

CPU/GPU same as the pre

Open GL/ES 2.0 Optimized by iPhone OS

16GB/32GB

8GB for $99

Talk time: Up to 12 hours on 2G – Up to 5 hours on 3G

Standby time: Up to 300 hours

Internet use: Up to 5 hours on 3G – Up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi

Video playback: Up to 10 hours

Audio playback: Up to 30 hours

Size and weight

Height: – 4.5 inches (115.5 mm)

Width: – 2.4 inches (62.1 mm)

Depth: – 0.48 inch (12.3 mm)

Weight: – 4.8 ounces (135 grams)

iTunes seamless integration

Movies

Video PodCast

Audio PodCast

TV Shows

Music

Music Videos

iTunes University

iTunes Latino

50 thousand apps and growing fast

REAL High End 3D accelerated Games

High End Applications

Dock Connector API and I can't wait to see the 3rd party hardware stuff coming this summer. This alone pushes the iPhone way beyond the wanna bees.

BT API

MobileMe with Locate me and Remote Wipe

Apps open and switch instantly now

Superior battery life by a huge margin

Video Recording ( Widescreen ) and Instant Editing right on the iPhone, Instant Share to YoutTube, MobileMe and eMail

Instantly share pictures to MobileMe Gallery

It's an iPod!!

Safari with AI, Multi-Touch controls

Real Cut, Copy & Paste. Yeah even non editable text can be copied.

Voice Memos

Voice Control and yeah not just English, Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese (China), Chinese (Taiwan), Dutch, English (UK), English (U.S.), Finnish, French (Canada), French (France), Germanm, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish,, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish (Mexico), Spanish (Spain), Swedish

MMS with full copy and paste

Real Universal Global Search to the Framework/API level. It mean all apps, not just core apps get Global Search

Keyboard with the best predictive intelligence yet. Has 40 international layouts and growing. Nice to have a virtual keyboard to easily add languages.

Dictionary supports international languages also

Character recognition so you can write in Chinese characters!

Digital compass ( hikers/bikers/campers ) will love this

Tethering

Nike + iPod

Parental Control

Autofocus and selectable Focus on the Camera!

Photo and Video Geotagging

Google Sync

Exchange Sync

AGPS – Voice Turn by Turn support

Viewable document types: .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel)

Or better yet, compare the Pre and the iPhone 3GS to the HTC Touch Pro2 and Diamond2, which are similarly about to be released and stack up very favorably.

But we know unbiased comparisons aren't exactly the point here.

Shouldn't the total cost include the price of the iPhone and the Pre? I think the iPhone cost should be $3800 and the Pre $2600.

ex ped: Yes it should. I've asked about it and BrillShrink says they're redoing the chart. Will post the new version as soon as I get it.

Hmmm. Why are they comparing the iPhone and Pre which aren’t even available yet, with the G1 which is over 6 months old?

The Pre came out last saturday, June 5th. I walked into a sprint store last night to play with one (they've sold out nationwide at the moment).

The G1 isn't getting the short end of the stick b/c it's comparing the latest and greatest of the three most powerful smartphones platforms. I know there are other Android's coming to the market but they are still pre-release models with no confirmed release date.

They could not do the math over at Billshrink.com. Actually, the iPhone total cost is $3,799 and the Pre is $2,599. They included the cost on the G1 phone in the "Total Costs" but not the other two.

For me the bottom line is the service plan cost. The I-phone plan is too expensive and they will never earn my business until they drastically cut the cost of their service plans.

I use mobile for phone calls only. Which keep me away from IPhone or any phone which require a data plan.

Thank you to the commenters who pointed out the G1's expandable memory. This really doesn't bode well for the new iPhone – it shows absolutely no significant advantage over the competiton.

Slanted article. Nice mention ONLY in the chart that the G1 has expandable memory. Price point is also $99 at Walmart. Why even compare the G1 which is nearly a year old to two devices that have yet to hit the market? Compare the G1 to the iPhone 3G, or better yet, compare the T-Mobile MyTouch 3G to the iPhone 3GS and Pre.

"iPhone comes with twice the Pre’s memory capacity and 16 times the G1’s."

The key for the G1 is the expandable memory. You can pick up 16 GB microSD card easily for about $50, which happens to exactly match the price difference.

Actually this chart is incorrect. The Tmobile G1 has a microsd slot making it expandable to at least 16GB. You guys need to do your research. Not to mention its the only of the 3 that is open-source.

Completely misleading. This is a phone comparison with the punchline being all about the plans.. for which no details are offered.

I have my $30 a month voice plan with tmobile and use wifi for the smartphone functions on my G1. I paid $180 for the phone without a contract.

24 month ownership cost? $900.

I think the point is to compare equivalent plans. Even with your $74.99/month plan, the Pre's baseline plan (at $69.99/month) is a better deal from a purely price point of view.

And considering that you get unlimited messaging with that is an even bigger boon for the Pre.

The G1's SD card is easily accessible and upgradeable. A 16GB mini-SDHC card costs about $40.

I find myself not using my voice plan much. Prefer to manage that via visual voice mail. have unlimited text cos of family plan. Great deal. Thousands of sms per month, most are "k", "done", "cool", etc. What is not being measured is the yield that one gets. Judging from my GB throughput, I am getting a great deal.

Only the truly financially-illetarate would want to use unlimited everything, just because it is unlimited.

@Fred,

100% with you on that one. "Do you really need it?": NO!

I only need my cell phone to make and receive phone calls.

All the other bells and whistles, I can really do without.

Give me a basic $19.99/month plan and I'm more than happy.

Hmmm. Why are they comparing the iPhone and Pre which aren't even available yet, with the G1 which is over 6 months old? Why not compare with the HTC Magic, which is a much more elegant device?

ex ped: Probably because the HTC Magic isn't available in the U.S. yet.

Most people do not need unlimited calls or messages. The 39.99 plan is enough for most.

Plus 20 dollars for text is stupid when you have free messaging on unlimited data. I would do 200 text for 5 dollars and that is more than enough:

So a typical iPhone plan could cost most people 74.99 a month or 1800 for 24 months.

The 100 dollar unlimited is a mart move from sprint to get back some lost customers. but ask yourself a question: Do you really need it? check your cal and text history…