>>>>>> and I don't feel like paying $600 for a phone and it not working on the service.
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Heh, heh, I've always thought that questions about $600 phones seemed a bit out-of-place in a Forum devoted to Speakout Wireless, whose services are attractive to cost-consious users with modest needs, who want a low-cost, no-contract phone to have "just in case".
(I paid $25 for my first Speakout phone (used), and have never used up my annual $25 top-up.)
But, I will admit that those data-capable smart phones are VERY attractive, and if I had one, I'm sure I'd get plenty of use out of it!