I just returned from the AT&T Wireless store with my new phone. Luckily, a heads-up phone call earlier in the day (with a request to hold one of the phones in my name) insured that I would get one of the 25 phones the store had.

It's unlocked, with the SIM card installed, and ready for adventures with me. A stud of a cell phone for Studley.

While I waited for my name to be called to be helped, I scooped up the last Motorola HS810 Bluetooth-compatible wireless headset. Hey, gotta take advantage of the opportunities when they present themselves.

The person directly ahead of me bought the last unreserved phone, so they are sold out at that store. They told me that they sold 5 phones in 30 minutes.

Anyhoo, as far as prices go, if you buy it in the store, you will pay $299, plus sign up for a 2-year service plan. The headset I mentioned above sells for $119. This is what was publicized by AT&T when the launch was announced, and this is what you pay in the store.

However, AT&T may have a discount available based on your employer. Let them know who you work for, it pays off! After I told them my employer, here's what I received:

- A 20% discount off the price of the phone (so I paid $239.99 for it). The guy ahead of me received a 30% discount.

- A 5% discount on my monthly bills.

- My activation fee was waived.

- My service plan time requirement was reduced from two years to one.

The $174.99 quoted by cordelli is what AT&T offer if you purchase the phone through their website. The price is not bad. The downsides are that you have to wait for the phone to be delivered, and you have to worry about whether or not it gets dropped during delivery.

And cordelli was correct about the phones brought in from Europe (where the v600 has been sold for some time). There were websites of "phone providers" who were selling the unlocked ones for anywhere from $500 - $700.

I wonder what they'll charge now, since the phone can be purchased for much less?