Database Users

Cheapest (but usable) Android Phone?

Hi guys.
I'm developing an app for Android that I need to start testing in "the real deal".
Can you recommend a cheap Android phone (I don't mind getting bulky Chinese clones, as long as they work) that is good for development purposes?
By the way, I'm in Spain, so it would be better if I could buy it online and unlocked

I'd say G1. It's the original dev phone can be had on the cheap from T-Mobile.

G1 totally. T-Mobile is selling them "as low as 129.99" with a data plan. I got mine at eBay last month for 200$.

I got a brand new T-mobile pulse on a special offer from T-mobile and it cost only £91 (around €80) + £10 topup (and I get £15 cash back if I use the sim for 3 months).
So it's worth keeping your eyes open for deals like these. You can grab them on ebay cheap too.

or wait till january and see what happens with the whole nexus one story, rumor is ti'll be < $200

<$200 without a contract? Interesting...

go for a vogue. this is a windows mobile phone, but if you look in the forum for this phone here, its 99% android because it runs android so well. this is cheaper than the g1 and is made by htc.. better than chinese crap any day.

What about the HTC Tattoo, granted the screen resistive unlike the rest of HTC Android line up, which is captive screen. It is still a good device from what I read and it should be fairly cheap.

JimG520 said:
<$200 without a contract? Interesting...
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200 with contract 600 without contract

I just picked up a Blackberry 9700 ($75) and then I got the Behold II ($120) from one of those tmobile lil places at the mall (not the official tmobile store).
This was all because my wife traded in her old Blackberry 8320 and they'll give you 2 phones for it... (The deal is a 9700 for $75 and then a free 8520, but i hate blackberry's or WM phones after having an android phone) so she got her crappy blackberry and I picked up the Behold II. Love the fact that it has 320MB RAM. As soon as we can try custom firmwares, etc, i'm going to give Debian Linux a try on it.
Behold II is already rooted with Busy Box installed on it.

Check Spains Craigslist, I know they have it cause I used it last time I was there
Not really sure how you say android in Espana but its worth a shot. Of course, you could check other areas but likely going to think you are a nigerian scammer or something. I have seen G1's on there for $125 USD locally
http://barcelona.es.craigslist.es/

How to buy HTC HD2 Without T-Mo Service?

Okay,
So, I went down to T-Mobile store here in NYC. They told me I have to buy the phone with some kind of service even if I am buying it for full price. What do I tell them to buy just the phone?
I want to use it over At&t. I read that other people bought it from the store. Did anyone had to sign up for a new service?
I would appreciate any help
Thank you.

I just walked in to buy it. I ended up talking myself into getting a Flex Plan since I didnt wanna use it on Edge...
You can always just buy it and get a Flex Plan for a month and when its up, dont renew. Phone is yours, no contract..

i have a brand new tmobile htc hd2 that has never been used..if your interested let me know

thetaklu said:
Okay,
So, I went down to T-Mobile store here in NYC. They told me I have to buy the phone with some kind of service even if I am buying it for full price. What do I tell them to buy just the phone?
I want to use it over At&t. I read that other people bought it from the store. Did anyone had to sign up for a new service?
I would appreciate any help
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they lied to you.. stock is still short so they want most of them for extending contracts or opening new ones because they get more money... just try a different store or go in and try again.

i have a 3 day old HTC HD2 for sale for $400

data plan
I paid cash for mine. The sales guy asked which line I was using it on and I refused to say. He hated that.
They lied to you. They can sell the phone without a plan. They are just upset cause they're loosing revenue without a plan..
Shame on you T-Mobile
fhaines

Buy the phone with a no-contract "EVEN MORE PLUS PLAN" @$449.99
Then call them up and say you don't like their service and you would like to cancel the plan, you should get a prorated charge of a few dollars for a day. That should be it. they cant ask for the phone back, since u paid full retail price for it. you have to get it unlocked from online though.

They're trying to keep their stock for people who are going to start a new contract.
I've heard outright lies such as the HD2 being 'about $700' without a contract. This was over the phone when I was calling around and checking the stock on the first day.

Anyone know where to buy in Canada?

barriedog said:
Anyone know where to buy in Canada?
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I can ship to Canana! $580, or my shop in Markam.Ontario

They tried the same thing with me, even though its off contract they are trying to still push plans and activation on it, even online, no way to buy it for $440 directly from the website,
i got it through a friend with a tmobile acc

I have an unlocked T-Mobile HTC HD2 for sale... I'm looking for around $525, which is what I paid + shipping of your choice. (I paid $29.99 to unlock it.) I'm tried using it on AT&T and can't stand EDGE. I never even tried a call on it. My AT&T Pure will have to hold me over until I can get a Telstra HTC HD2. I have all original accessories, documentation and box to go with it. PM me if you're interested. Oh yeah, I've flashed it with the latest Energy Rom, but I can downgrade it to stock rom if you like.

HTC Surround is coming November 8th afterall

But only to Best Buy (US only). Very strange.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/14/dell-streak-htc-surround-white-samsung-fascinate-and-taylor-s/
Is the LG Quantum going to be a Wal-Mart exclusive? lol

RustyGrom said:
But only to Best Buy (US only).
Is the LG Quantum going to be a Wal-Mart exclusive? lol
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LOL! that was funny

The Taylor Swift SE-X10 is what caught my attention. Guess Im gonna have trouble choosing now :-\
lol

I seriously question the validity of Best Buy being the exclusive launch for the Surround. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Being one of the debut phones of WP7 under AT&T, the AT&T store is definitley going to have this. I would expect this, especially after after all the hype that was built for WP7 phones.

Well, after asking an ATT corporate store and multiple Best Buy's, it seems like it is true that it is exclusive to BB. Not sure the reasoning behind it but I put my preorder in anyhow. Usually phones are the only thing I buy from BB anyway since they give instant rebates on phones instead of the usual mail-in variety by ATT.

Just for the record.. Since people don't understand it still. Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile are different. There are standalone stores in malls and whatnot for Best Buy Mobile. And they truly do offer the cheapest prices on cellphones(physical in store that is). Instant rebates, none of that mail crap. And I think we're the only ones who offer legit iPhone insurance. Just saying, I feel like people are giving the downs to BBY because they over price everything. But BBYM is completely different. Anyway..
Can't wait to see all these new phones! We were fiddling with the Dell Streak today, sucks vanilla wise. Custom rom would make it worthwhile though. But I don't see us selling many of them with the $300 UPG/ACTV price. And we were lolling the entire day over the OtterBox for the Streak.. enormous!

I guess Best Buy Mobile isn't taking any more preorders?

I found a website that says they are taking preorders: http://www.mobilecityonline.com
Seems to be $600 for most of the WP7 phones, $100 more for it to be unlocked. I'm thinking I'll pass on it due to the price, but maybe someone else will be interested.

XeNoMoRpH1030 said:
I guess Best Buy Mobile isn't taking any more preorders?
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Possibly the closer we get to launch. Haven't heard much yet at work.

xSeany said:
Just for the record.. Since people don't understand it still. Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile are different. There are standalone stores in malls and whatnot for Best Buy Mobile. And they truly do offer the cheapest prices on cellphones(physical in store that is). Instant rebates, none of that mail crap. And I think we're the only ones who offer legit iPhone insurance.
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Radioshack and Best Buy alternate between lowest prices, depending on the phones. They don't do mail-in rebates, either. Not that RS is getting the Surround, but the point remains

Well, it seems Best Buy has put it back up

I hoped that we'd be able to preorder this device, but it appears AT&T isn't doing any type of preorder. I talked to them and they said you have to wait till November 8th.
I did notice Letstalk and Amazon Wireless have the devices up, just as coming soon though.

I got a best buy mobile and a att store within 20 feet of eachother in the mall here. I DONT think its as silly as having about 8 tmobile booths through out the entire mall.
There is also another att store in front of the mall. Its just crazy!

Hard to find...
The HTC Surround just showed up in Best Buy's inventory today. I work there full time and I've already got my pre-order. I did it on day one so as to guarantee my phone. Bad news is that the Best Buy I work at (small-end of the large format stores that sells appliances and installs car audio) has only 10 handsets on order. Hope you guys got your orders in early. As far as I can tell they will also have at least one case available for the phone in the stores house brand, Rocketfish. Can't wait to get this thing so I can ditch my Fuze.

Available at AT&T
Trust me it will be at AT&T starting Monday morning. ;-)

Here is a picture of the one I picked up at BB in Atlanta TODAY.

Surround Available at AT&D tomorrow morning
I am picking up my Surround at AT&T in the morning. They have 10 in stock.
AT&T require a minimum $15 data plan which gives you 200 megs monthly which is sufficient for my use since I mostly use WiFi at home. So the phone will cost me $200 and about $45 monthly. The surround reviews look very good. Though I may have preferred an HD7, only T-Mobile has them now and their service would cost a minimum $80 per month.

I just ordered mine online. Should be here in 2-3 days, assuming everything goes well.
Also, you can pre-order the LG from AT&T. Not sure why they didn't let you pre-order the others...

Just picked one up at my local ATT
Just got one, so the ATT stores have the Samsung and the HTC, we shall see how this plays out (gota learn a new windows now)
Cheers
BR

[Q] How easy is to buy a Focus without a contract?

I will be traveling to the US in about a week, I want to buy a Focus and was wondering if I will be able to do it without having a contract with At&t..
I'm willing to pay the "No Commitment Pricing" of $500+taxes but I don't know what kind of requirements they impose to the actual purchase of a device in the store.
Anybody has info on this?

idloco said:
I will be traveling to the US in about a week, I want to buy a Focus and was wondering if I will be able to do it without having a contract with At&t..
I'm willing to pay the "No Commitment Pricing" of $500+taxes but I don't know what kind of requirements they impose to the actual purchase of a device in the store.
Anybody has info on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your best bet is Best Buy if/when they get the phone, I think.
When I bought my Focus today in an official AT&T store, they mentioned I would have to purchase some sort of contract to "get the phone today". I didn't mind since I was planning to, but it felt to me like it was a necessity...

Anyone else have problems buying off contract? I used my upgrade on an iPhone 4 and wanted to buy this for the full retail price today.... Hopefully I don't run into any problems =/

I bought mine no contract with no hassle. I'm already an ATT customer and just asked to buy the phone without a contract.

chizzwhizz said:
I bought mine no contract with no hassle. I'm already an ATT customer and just asked to buy the phone without a contract.
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Click to collapse
Same here, I was in and out in about 5 minutes.

Bizybone said:
Same here, I was in and out in about 5 minutes.
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phew... load off my mind. now i can sell off my samsung captivate without worrying the whole day if i did it for nothing. THANKS

I got the phone when the stores open in Columbus, OH on the 8th. There were 4 of us in line there. The other 3 were Microsoft employees. Two bought the focus, one the HTC. All bought them with NO contract. Infact I think one guy paid for all three of them lol. I'm pretty sure since you can order them online with no contract for $499.99 at ATT.com that a contract is not needed.

I walked in and out of a official att store with a focus.

Buy it @ at&t stores should be no problem at all. The biggest problem is to get it unlocked.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

You can't buy the Samsung Focus off contract currently. AT&T will sell it outright ($499 + tax), but they will only sell it to you if your an existing on-contract customer or you sign up (with a minimum term). I've already been to AT&T and tried, apparantly my money is not good enough there. I'm not sure how people in the US put up with this rubbish. Either way, the only way to get a Samsung Focus in the US at the moment is to sign up at AT&T.
I've also been to Best Buy, but they only stock the HTC Surround, which I won't buy due to it not having a microSD slot.

I'm currently an AT&T customer who just renewed my contract for another 2 years for the iphone 4. So they'll be able to sell me one full retail price, right?

www.expansys-usa.com

What about Amazon Wireless, I think you can buy there without a plan...
EDIT: I just confirm this, you can buy without a plan!

Most online site still need to verify your status with AT&T (at least that's the policy with Letstalk.com). Stores don't like to sell phones without contract because there is no money to be made (monthly service charges).

jaraya13 said:
What about Amazon Wireless, I think you can buy there without a plan...
EDIT: I just confirm this, you can buy without a plan!
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You can go elsewhere on the net as well. The problem is AT&T has the best price right now. Everyone else is a good 50-80 more expensive. I'd rather save the extra cash and grab a branded one...

bmstrong said:
You can go elsewhere on the net as well. The problem is AT&T has the best price right now. Everyone else is a good 50-80 more expensive. I'd rather save the extra cash and grab a branded one...
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Dude I meant the branded ones (AT&T), for example the HTC SURROUND AT&T BRANDED price is $460 or something like that. And I was able to go through all the checkout process, just that I didn't want to pay, hehehe

OK cool.. I hope there are Focus left when I´m there!

Amazon.com doesn't have Focus in stock. In fact, it only briefly showed up in like 10 seconds before it was sold out @ 11/8.

You go to Dell online and buy any phone on any carrier in the US and some unlocked Nokia's without a contract and in some cases the prices are pretty good...I have a Streak AND a Nokia N8 on the way lol. The Nokia (ugly pea green one) was actually only $450 compared to $550 most other places. If I don't like either one I may be joining the Focus owners club in a few weeks.

craiglist.. thats how i got mine// 400 bucks.. a week old

T-Mobile Store refuses to sell Galaxy Tab

Yes....My wife went in to buy me a Tab From the Brandon FL Mall. The first place she went he would not sell her the unit unless she signed up for Internet. She had 650 bucks in her pocket ready to buy and he would not do it. I know the answer why (they make their money on contracts) But that is why I was willing to pay 300$ more. AHHHHHHH.

Haha, I actually had a very similar experiance. I went on the day after Thanksgiving (I originally wanted to get the Sprint Tab for 550 at Best Buy but decided at the last minute to spend the extra 50 bucks and get the T-Mobile one). Two T-Mobile stores told me they wouldn't sell me one without a contract and one told me that I wouldn't be able to get one off contract till February. I almost bought one off of Amazon.com but they day they came in stock, the price jumped to 650.
I eventually found a brand new T-mobile tab on Craigslist for 550, so I guess I won?

hmm, thats weird I bought mine from Tmobile on the prepaid thing so I use wifi most of the time then when I need 3g I can buy a prepaid card.

I bought mine from the Tmobile store in Temple Terrace. I had no problem buying off contract there. Try a different store because the one in the Brandon mall is staffed by idiots.

Same experience. So we bought a $10 prepaid for it (100MB or 7 days, whichever comes first).

I had the same issue. My first t-mobile one I got by with the pre pay same as everyone else. But my second t-mobile one (ginny pig) I had some issues with the store trying to force a contract on me. Of couse my creadit was crap but what worked in my favor was my taking a picture of the tag nest to the galaxy tab price and no contract price with my iphone. I then told them it false advertising and there is no display ad showing they could not sell me one off contract. I then said fine I will send to consumer reports and post on xda-developers with your store name and location. The t-mobile rep then said give me a min and i will call the manager. 2 min later got my t-mobile galaxy tab. What does get me is they make a profet off the full price one and I bought the leather case and the car adapter so there is money to be made from these non contract tabs.

Amazon has lowered the price on the T-Mobile galaxy tab to $620 (form $650) with free shipping. Since there is no tax (for most people) the Amazon version will come out cheaper.
I just bought a ATT Tab from Amazon for $620 because Tmobile has terrible coverage in my area

I had the same issues in New Hampshire Mall with 2 stores. I called T-mobile, they told me it might be some affiliates.... I went to an "official T-mobile" t-mobile store (in the same mall) and got it for 599.99 as advertised. No contacts, no activation fees.

I had the same problem on launch day here in Albuquerque. The salesman even checked with the manager and still refused to sell me one off contract. So, I waited till the next day and bought the Verizon version, though it sure would have been nice to have the 16gb internal instead of on the card.

Well I caved.....
Yes I caved, went and bought one on contract form a different store. I want to go by the the store and walk in and tell them what I did. I am about to cancel both of my lines and go to Simple Mobile anyway as soon as this thing can make a voice call. I dont mind a Blue tooth in my ear at all.

Jasonator said:
Yes I caved, went and bought one on contract form a different store. I want to go by the the store and walk in and tell them what I did. I am about to cancel both of my lines and go to Simple Mobile anyway as soon as this thing can make a voice call. I dont mind a Blue tooth in my ear at all.
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You caved even with the Motorola Honeycomb tablet being shown at CES in two weeks?! Tsk Tsk

ap3604 said:
You caved even with the Motorola Honeycomb tablet being shown at CES in two weeks?! Tsk Tsk
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How is that even relevant to the topic?
I don't understand why T-Mobile corporate isn't getting involved. Or is this is just an "authorized reseller" problem? Because those stores aren't even legitimate T-Mobile stores, anyways.