Ok, so I am tired of my Motorola V66. It's mono-color and so buggy that I so far exchanged it with T-mobile 5 times over the last year. So when last month my contract expired I began looking for better deals where I would get similar minutes and a phone of my choice for free or almost free. One fucked up rule here is that you cannot renew a contract with T-mobile and get the same discounts as a new signee. So much for customer loyaltee! But this time consumers like me have a weapon, the WLNP or Wireless Local Number Portability.

This meant that I can take my number to say AT&T Wireless, get the Nokia 3200 for $99.99 (after rebates) without much hassle. I researched online and really liked at the features of the 3200: a camera, fm-radio, polymorphic tones, speakerphone and even a built-in flashlight. I went to the AT&T Wireless store at the mall, and saw the phone first hand, I loved it. But then, AT&T doesn't offer unlimited text or picture messages, which is definitely bad since I need the first one for sure and the second feature I might alot use if I decide moblog. But the 3200 offer was good enough to over shadow these issues, besides the AT&T salesperson was willing to give me extra minutes (they make commissions!).

But then I saw it... the Samsung SGH-e715 for just $75 (after rebates). It's a flip-phone with an internet antanae, dual displays, a CMOS 640x480 camera with zoom and flash and all the regular mumbo jumbo. The thing about this one is definitely the camera, since all other camera phones have a cheaper and low-res CIF, and I do love my photography. Also, this phone comes from T-mobile, which has an unlimited picture-messaging add-on plan for just $4.99. Great, but how do I do it, I am already with T-Mobile?

In a minute I had it... I will go to AT&T first, get and try the Nokia 3200. If I really really like the phone and the service, I'll keep it. Or I will contact T-mobile within thirty days of signing up with AT&T and get a new contract with them. This was I can get the e715 the best possible price. Cool right? And I won't be charged a single penny by AT&T except for the days I will have used the service, since AT&T has a 30-day-no-questions-ask refund policy. I have already confirmed this with AT&T customer service, but I would rather not ask T-mobile untill I actually do it. And I hope it works.

I'll be back with episode two of this quest for the one phone. Ciao.