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 |  | Older Model: $0-$100 with 2-year Contract |  | New Model: $150-$300 with 2-year Contract |
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Google's open-source Android operating system has gained considerable popularity since it was introduced in 2008, and there are now hundreds of Android smartphones ranging from basic to premium models. Reviewers also praise the phones for their integration with Google and open-source platform. Several manufacturers, including Motorola, Samsung, HTC and LG, and most major wireless providers sell phones using the Android platform.
Typical costs: | - Verizon Wireless sells a variety of Android smartphones that start at free with a two-year contract, such as the LG Spectrum 2[1] ; without the contract it costs $500. Other more-popular models like the Samsung Galaxy Note II[2] cost as much as $300, with a two-year contract. Without the contract, the model costs $700.
- AT&T sells several entry-level models for less than $1, including the Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate[3] , which costs $0.99 with a two-year contract. Without the contract, the phone costs $380. The highly-rated Samsung Galaxy SIII[4] costs $200 with a two-year contract. Without the contract, it costs $550.
- T-Mobile has a variety of Android phones that are free with two-year contracts, including the T-Mobile MyTouch. Without a contract, the phone costs $370. T-Mobile sells the popular Samsung Galaxy Note II for $370. Without the contract, the model costs $700.
- Sprint sells the Samsung Galaxy S III[5] for $100 with a two-year contract. Without the contract it costs $550. But the previous model, the Samsung Galaxy S II[6] , is free with a two-year contract. Without the contract, it costs $500.
- Plans for voice calls, data and text messaging vary by provider. Verizon[7] charges $40 per month for each device and plans for shared messages, voice calls and data cost $50-$100 depending on data usage. AT&T[8] charges $40-$70 for voice calls, $20-$50 for data plans and $20 for unlimited text messages.
- Virgin Mobile, a contract-free wireless provider, sells Android phones[9] for $50-$300, depending on the features offered. Data, talk and messaging plans[10] are $35-$55.
Related articles: Smartphone, Blackberry, iPhone, Palm Pre, Windows Mobile Phone, Cell Phone
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What should be included: | - Features vary depending on the phone, but most use a touch-screen interface. Many also include a slide-out, QWERTY keyboard.
- Most Android based phones come with a 5-megapixel camera, a music player, a video recorder, and access to email, web browsing, social media platforms and GPS-based navigation.
- Purchasing a phone without a two-year contract can be more expensive at the outset, but it saves customers from being tied to a wireless provider. A contract-free phone can be purchased from one provider and activated through another.
Additional costs: | - Electronics retailer Best Buy[11] sells a variety of smartphone accessories including protective covers ($20-$50), car chargers ($15-$30) and Bluetooth devices ($30-$100).
- Google Play[12] provides access to hundreds of thousands of apps for android phones. Game apps typically cost $1-$7. Many popular social media apps, including Twitter and Facebook, are free to download.
- Insurance on phones varies by model and wireless provider. Typically insurance to protect phones costs $5-$10.
- Opting out of a contract without completing it generally results in cancellation fee of $175-$350.
Shopping for android phone: | - Google has a directory[13] of Android smartphone and service providers, with a tool to compare individual devices. For more information, visit the Android website[14] .
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: Laura C Varnam in Orlando, FL. | Posted: August 2nd, 2010 12:08AM |
| Model: My Touch 3G | Store: Purchased from rep @ T-Mobile on phone |
I don't feel the phone is worth the $299.00 I paid! Bummer, to late now. I wish I would have had more info before I bought it. My advice to everyone out there: #1-make sure you thouroughly check out any phone before you buy! #2-if it sounds to good to br true, it probably is!! |
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| Posted by: lovin my first smartphone in Sunnyvale, CA. | Posted: May 24th, 2010 02:05AM |
| Model: HTC Incredible | Store: Small Verizon Shop in Mall |
I had been interested in Google phones for a while, and after Android 2.1 came out with the voice-to-text and turn-by-turn-GPS-navigation w/spoken directions, and it become available on Verizon with the Incredible, I decided the technology had gotten to the point where it was finally time to upgrade to a smartphone! I was worried, though, that I wouldn't get the discount on the phone -- I was less than 2 years into my contact, and the www.verizonwireless.com website told me I'd have to pay full price ($550)! But I stopped by my local small Verizon store in a mall, and they told me because I didn't currently have a data plan and was adding that, I'd get the $350 discount on the phone! Plus, they charged me taxes on only the after-rebate price! sweet! So it pays to double-check the deals at a local store -- plus I've found the small mom and pop Verizon stores have way better service than the corporate-owned mega shops (which always take way too long and feel like a car sales lot). |
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External Resources: | - www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetai...
- www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/device/smartphone?rememberMyZip=&prevstate=&go=/device...
- www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/samsung/galaxy-exhilarate-black.html#fbid=RIGzrj...
- www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/samsung/galaxy-s-iii-garnet-red.html#fbid=RIGzrj...
- shop.sprint.com/mysprint/zipcode_intercept.jsp?showZipPTNSection=false&redirectURL...
- shop.sprint.com/mysprint/zipcode_intercept.jsp?showZipPTNSection=false&redirectURL...
- www.verizonwireless.com/wcms/consumer/shop/share-everything.html
- www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans-new.html#fbid=RIGzrj7xjAU
- www.virginmobileusa.com/shop/cell-phones/android-phones/
- www.virginmobileusa.com/cell-phone-plans/beyond-talk-plans/overview/
- www.bestbuy.com/site/Mobile-Cell-Phones/Mobile-Phone-Accessories/abcat0811002.c?id...
- play.google.com/store/apps
- www.android.com/devices/#/
- www.android.com/
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