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You Don't Need a Smartphone

iPhones et al might have more than you need; here are some cheaper alternatives

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 13, 2009 12:44 PM CDT

(Newser) – Smartphones may be the future, but you may not need one just now, writes Marguerite Reardon of CNET. The iPhone and its pricey brethren probably have more features than the average user needs. Here are some cheaper feature phones that might meet your needs. Prices are for a 2-year contract:

  • AT&T—Motorola Karma QA1—$79: This little 3G wonder features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and home screen access to Facebook and MySpace.

  • Verizon—LG enV2—$50: This slim handset may not have much built-in memory, but it has so many other features you won’t notice.
  • Sprint—SCP-2700 by Sanyo—Free: It looks like a low-end BlackBerry, and features robust email capabilities at an unbeatable price.
  • T-Mobile—Samsung Gravity—$30: A candy bar-sized phone with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, this is a great budget-conscious text messaging phone.

The Samsung Alias has a full keyboard, text message and email support and more for just $20 with a 2-year agreement.
The Samsung Alias has a full keyboard, text message and email support and more for just $20 with a 2-year agreement.   (PRNewsFoto/Verizon Wireless)
The Samsung Instinct s30 is shown at the International CTIA Wireless show in Las Vegas, Wednesday, April 1, 2009.
The Samsung Instinct s30 is shown at the International CTIA Wireless show in Las Vegas, Wednesday, April 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Verizon Wireless enV2 has a pile of features, including a full QWERTY keyboard, email, music, and more, for only $50 with a two-year contract.
The Verizon Wireless enV2 has a pile of features, including a full QWERTY keyboard, email, music, and more, for only $50 with a two-year contract.   (PRNewsFoto/Verizon Wireless)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
jagerhans
Sep 15, 2012 4:56 AM CDT
hey, newser just discovered feature phones !! yayyy ! ok, what then :\? 
embersyc
Sep 28, 2009 7:18 AM CDT
These are "texting" phones, not smart phones. The can handle some of the capabilities of smart phones, but don't have the ability to heavily customize with apps or full internet browsers.
kokuaguy
Jul 13, 2009 9:58 AM CDT
Mahalo newser and all commenters !!! You may have made my upgrade decision a lot easier and less expensive.
 

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