Doreen- You make me laugh!! If it wasn't that I didn't see this taped, scratched and beat up phone I would never believe it. You had me laughing here tonight. I know I have seen some great write ups on phones, types and styles. As for free, that should be pretty easy in my opinion. Go with your current provider and just pick one out. Your choices will be pretty limited.

If you are looking for one with all the bells and whistles then I would do a deeper research but most like the all in one with a PDA, WiFi options. You will have to pay out of pocket most likely but there are usually lots of rebates!! I am big about less is more...what I mean by that is if I can carry one unit/object opposed to a cell phone, pda, lockbox key etc... I would and the price would be with it. It's the service that gets me mostly and starting a new contract is not something I care too much for. So I would suggest my desired phone... 750p or a Blackberry... go for it...you are a top producer and need to make your life easier! As for the camera... check out Shannon Leferve's photos out and ask her what camera she uses...I love her photographs...I would have what she has!

AR suggestions:

blackberry     treo

I actually think I have that very phone in a box that I no longer use that provider. I will check and you can get it reprogrammed and welcome to it.

I was trying to remember if you had seen it.  Thank you for commenting you Smart REALTOR(r)you!

I'm probably not the best person to ask.  I'm like you in that I still have an old phone.  As a matter of fact, I'm still using the free phoneI got when signing up.  If I were to get a new phone, it would probably have email and browsing capabilities.  There are numerous times in my life that would have come in handy.

On another note...did you know that Warren Buffet still to this day does not carry a cell phone.  I know it isn't totally on topic, but I find it fascinating that one of the most successful people on earth doesn't have a phone.

If you just want a phone do a google on the phones that your provider has and put forum after the name of the phone, ie e815 forum or review.  Get the one that has the best reception.  My phone does pictures, mp3, bluetooth and so on but the best is phone reception.  I have a blue tooth headset and great reception.  My sister has a fancy Blackberry on a poor service provider with all the free minutes she can stand but she can't get reception.

Go for the iPhone.   Nothing like having a phone, internet browser, ipod and well, these things just about have everything anymore don't they.. :)

Hi Brett, 

Thank you for stopping by.  Regarding Warren Buffet, I would imagine he doesn't need a phone, he probably has 'his people call their people' when he wants something.  hahaha. 

Have a Happy New Year!

He Gene,

Thanks for the info, I will try that out.  You're right about reception, there are still a lot of problems with that here. 

Check out the graphic I have haha

Hi Sandy, 

I hadn't considered the iPhone.  I am not sure I want a phone that does all of that...  or maybe I just don't want to pay that much.  

Thanks for stopping by.  

Happy New Year!

Hi Doreen,

LOL about having the phone taped. Hey, if it works... so what.

I have a Treo 650. I've dropped it many many times. It's finally giving me a little problem by dropping calls. Or is that AT&T. Probably a combination of both. I have another new Treo 650. So, I have to download, upload, etc. to use the new 650. I like it because it's a PDA, phone, camera, MP3 (which I don't use), and it has bluetooth capability. I use my Garmin 670 GPS and the 650 via bluetooth and sound through the vehicle stereo speakers.

For your next phone, evaluate your needs and wants and make sure it makes sense. Spending some money and getting a phone that adds to your productivity will pay off. Getting a phone that does less than what will add to your productivity doesn't make sense.

One of the most important things in a phone.... DURABILITY. I'd bet most people drop their phone once in a while. So, a phone has to be durable. an iPhone looks and sounds great. However, I wonder how many people have dropped their iPhones and now have scratches on the once nice screens and casing. I have a 60 GB iPod and I'd hate to drop it because of the what ifs. So, I have to be VERY careful with it.

As for cameras, I use a Nikon DS70. I use mostly 3 Megapixels to shoot real estate. I have 4 GB of memory in the micro drive storage.

I think tablet PC's are still over-rated for now. Get a lap top with a large clear and bright 17" screen and lots of RAM and hard drive memory. I have a Gateway with WiFi and CD/DVD player. I also have a Sony VAIO UX280P mini "palm" computer with Bluetooth and WiFi which sits on my desk unused. I got that thinking that I can use it anywhere in my vehicle in the city for WiFi. However, the WiFi system sucks here.

I have few tech gadgets to get me by.

Cheers and Happy New Year!

Mr. C. KIM McGuire     N. Padre Island, TX     60's today. Hoorah.

I also have the Treo 650. but it is not for everyone, if you aren't willing to learn to use its features you might as well get another phone similar to your old one...yes. they still make basic phones.

If you are looking for a "simple" phone, you might want to look into a Motorola Razr.  It is small, sleek and fits into a pocket easily.  I have both a Razr and a blackberry and the voice quality on the Razr is much better than the blackberry. 

Doreen, That cracks me up because I think we've all been there.  When you drop your phone do you do the eakkk pose hoping that when you pick it back up again it still works?  I do...sometimes I cover my ears like it's going to make a really loud noise...you know the sound of all your prospects disappearing!  As for the camera...I use a Cannon 20D.  I Love it!  :)

I have the Razr and I love it!  I've had it for a bit over 2 years and I have dropped it a *few* times ~ I just wanted a simple PINK phone - it does have a camera, but I don't use that option.

I've got a Canon S3 IS camera and really like that ~

What memories you are bringing. I remember having a 256k organizer with ten years of contacts stored into it. I kept putting off transferring the data to the PC. (you see, it was sold without a cable which had to be special ordered) Every time the battery went dead it would ask if you want to delete all data. Oh why did they set the default to yes.
At least I'm still young :)

Depends on how much you use your phone. I would make sure it can txt. A big thing is if you want internet or not.  I choose not to because if so then I think I would work 24/7.  good luck to you!

Tom,

Pretty sad when we have our lives stored in a small chunk of plastic.  LOL 'at least I'm still young'  you're cracking me up.  

David,

No internet on the phone for me.   I did end up with a Sanyo Katana II.  It's pink and I am really happy with it. 

Congrats and best of luck to you!

Thanks David. 

Good luck . I usually get a free phone every 2 years. We can donate our old phones . 

If I ever get the rebate, mine will be free also.  I don't think anyone wants the old one, it's very dead.  Thanks for visiting.  :) 

Doreen,

So which phone, which tablet PC and which camera did you buy?

Mike in Tucson

Doreen,

You are so funny!  Your post was perfect, I laugh because you sounded like my dad, my husbands dad, the mom's and everyone else I know that either loves or hates the advancement of technology.  I'm partial to the I-phone, I have the older version, a new version is suppose to be out with in the month.  I'm also partial to At&t a good friend of ours works there and he's been wonderful in our phone time of needs. LOL

Good luck and have fun!

C. Lange

I like what you have to say about "techno years".  Things are moving along quickly and the older I get, the harder it is to keep up.  I remember the days when I could walk into anyone's house and turn on the TV!  Now, it takes a series of move on 2-3 different remotes!  And the channel line-ups! I remember 2,4,7,9,20,50, and 56, during my childhood.  Who has time to watch over 300 channels or, whatever they offer today. 

Mike,  I suppose I could end up in internet jail for this, but here is what I ended up with...

  no tablet this time

hmmmm,  interesting how the biggest object ended up being the smallest. 

Hi Cheron,  I considered getting a smarter phone, but didn't want to pay that much and don't want to get into the texting thing.  I know too many people who spend way too much time talking to each other on the phone without ever saying a word out loud. 

Are you coming to the next AZ RE Blogging network meeting? 

Hi Kendra,  You look way too young to be remembering when there were just a few TV stations!  I remember when they ALL signed off at 1 AM at the latest, not to appear again until 5 AM.  I don't even watch TV, I pesonally think it's a waste of time.  Mostly because it sucks me in...  Thanks for commenting. 

I don't like cell phones. They're imposing and invade privacy. People believe they have to have one to stay ahead of the next guy. Look at the economy. Ben Franklin said that, "Haste Makes Waste." He was right. The country was better off when we used semaphore and smoke signals to communicate across long distances. They make them cheap to break anyway, insuring the manufacturer and plan provider that you'll have to go back to the kiosk at Carnival Mall, Anyplace, USA to throw away money on an upgrade, new packed service charges and a more expensive service plan for another phone that will break, burn out, get sat on, get lost or fall off of the top of the car when the user drives off and forgets to take it off of the roof.

Doreen,

You picked a great camera!  I was in Benson today, and found a red tail hawk's nest with nestlings.  I got some photos, but sure wish I had a long lens on a camera like yours.  Come on over and check out the post.

Mike in Tucson

David, you forgot one.  Dropped in the turlet.    Thank you for visiting. 

Mike,  The main reason I chose the Pentax is because I have more than one lens for it from my 'old' ME Super.  That saves me a bundle.  And one of them would have done what you needed.  :)

I'll be over in a while...  :) 

Doreen, your calls would get "canned" :-)

Or at least drowned out. 

The signal would crap out.

Then it would be flushed and the sewer alligators could call home.

I'm using the palm treo - windows version. First I fell in love from a distance. Then it became love/hate. Now we're not talking. (battery problems). I don't know if our relationship is built to last. sigh.

On am on the third treo but this will be the last one. I cant stand the fact that the software slows down to the point where I cannot even answer a call.... I basically have to reboot the thing every day. I do not recommend. If you want a phone that has good cms and email go with the blackberry.

Best wishes and good luck with your new phone....

If you have any SEO questions feel free to ask them in the SEO QandA group.

Chuck,  You too?  I stuck with a phone, forget this fancy stuff.  Blackberry, Blueberry, Treo, Oreo, Palm, Elm... which is really the best and which really works and lasts more than a few months? 

OurMonmouth,  What's your name really?  I did consider, long enough to see I couldn't get it for free, one of these phones, but ended up with a Sanyo Katana II.  (free w/rebate)  It works great and at this moment, I don't do a lot of texting, so it is not that big of a deal.  I'm sure in the future I will be looking at this differently.  Thanks for stopping by.