Travel Technology - help with phone and service choice

My well used V66 recently broke and my T-mobile plan just ended sunday, so now I am looking for a new phone and maybe new provider. Any advice for a good phone and service? The V66 is really easy to use and I dont need a whole lot of extras. Basically reliable service, good text messaging capabilities and world wide use (I dont travel to Asia at the moment.) I was considering staying with tmobile and getting another V66 or switching to Nextel and getting the i710. My zipcode is 60201. Does anyone have any suggestions?

thanks

www.howardforums.com is a board not quite the size of FT that is geared toward exactly those types of topics. I found it a tremendous resource when I was researching my phone/provider switch last fall.

www.howardforums.com is a board not quite the size of FT that is geared toward exactly those types of topics. I found it a tremendous resource when I was researching my phone/provider switch last fall.

"Not quite the size", indeed.... it's about 5 times LARGER :D

Yeah that site is massive, and not easy to navigate for a newbie. I also learned that Cingular works intl now, I guess that has something to do with the AT&T merger. Anywhoo with more options, I am even more confused. Those of you out there that travel, whats good? I dont need a camera, and quad band is good, but I can work (and have) with three and I text like a madman, what or who would you suggest? I guess everything is color now, but that doesnt matter, just portability and slim. Man for a 21 year old, I am way out of the loop on this stuff.

If you want a no frills phone with great sound and reception as well as great battery life I will be retro and suggest the Nokia 6310i. They can be picked up for about $250ish unlocked on the web. If you are happy with TMobile service I would stick with TMobile service. Some of the other Nokias that TMobile sells would also be good and you can get them for the same as a new contract price from a TMobile factory store or from TMobile on the web. If texting is important there are some Nokias, noteably the 6820 if I recall correctly, that you can get unlocked and use with TMobile service. It is a compact phone with a fold open keypad for texting.

Hofo is a great site... I'm a member there... :D

If you want good service then go with Verizon... If you want a good phone go with a Att or Cingular and T-mobile...(but you are leaving T-mobile, so look at Att or Cingular...)

Hofo is a great site... I'm a member there... :D

If you want good service then go with Verizon... If you want a good phone go with a Att or Cingular and T-mobile...(but you are leaving T-mobile, so look at Att or Cingular...)

HoFo is a great site. I would say that if you are happy with your TMobile service I would stick with it. I have Verizon and TMobile and am happy with both.