best phone and data plan package for chess (usa)

[adams161]

Hi,

I commented earlier on the pocket pc post. that got me to thinking how would i get internet for a pocket pc so i did some googleing and made some phone calls. A guy at verizon said the pocket pc really is best with wi-fi ( which i cant use for everything) and why not get a iphone. Well i figured why not call me cell phone and see if i can upgrade my phone and data while keeping my voice the same. Guess what, i found out qwest wiresless is like closing down or something. If you have a qwest wireless plan ( and i've been with them for years so i'm tottaly out of the loop at this point on the new modern data and phone choices ) you need to now pick a versizon plan or lose your service and you have tell february.

So what i'm looking for is kind of a smart phone, were i can get a data plan and be able to do things like log onto icc and fics. Now because of my needs i might be better off with a non iphone smart phone that has a better keyboard since i'll primarily be chatting on icc or fics. I have heard iphones dont really have keyboards and work best when you are using their other input methods like supposedly they respond to rotation and touch. My voice needs are preety basic. currently i have 500 minutes anyime. any of the lower to lowest end voice plans are fine as i have a vongae phone at home as well. With data i'm looking for something that is somewhat zippy. i mean who wants to chat on a chess server and find their tells all take 15 to 20 seconds to get there.

I was reading a review the other day and it said the blackberry is more for the person who types and is not just interested in viewing content like preety web pages. seems blackberry and iphone boht have a basic voice data plan for about 69 a month plus tax which i guess turns into 80.

Any other ideas? verizon pitched an idea at me ( their migration department ) were you get a smart phone, something by palm, and voice for 39 , text messaging 20 , and data for 29. i dont text message so i was thinking i could skip that component, but i want to be careful that like icc chat doesnt count as text. And i want to watch out for any other pitfalls. they seemed to be saying that even instant messaging counted as text but luckily i dont do that eathier. But you say i dont want that you always got to watch for how they try to bill you anyway saying well you used that type of service.

I think with a smart phone its a given it will also support chess programs and i'm also interested in this though i dont see myself playing chess on it all the time i think i would play around wtih that functionality. Also as a programmer another considertion might be what type of phone could i start writing and distributing my own apps on, with considerations like is it easy to program for, ( i know java and hear a lot of stuff uses java ) and does anyone else use the darn thing anyway. Like an iphone has a built in audience, but maybe others do too.

thanks
Mike

[AdminX]

Here is one for the blackberry:
http://www.odesys.com/wireless/games/chess/index.htm