Cell phones

[edg]

So I'm thinking about buying a cell phone. Unless someone can come up with an overwhelming reason not to, I will probably go with Cingular as a provider, as they're the only provider in the US (to my knowledge) who allow unused minutes to be kept across months.

What I'm not sure on is the phone. I have three solid criteria:

It must not be a flat-body phone (in other words, it needs to be a flip-top or have a sliding panel that reveals the keypad), unless the power button is not easily accessible.

It must not cost me, when all is said and done, more than $300.

It must be heavy-duty enough to withstand being kept in my pocket.

Features, like games, text messaging, cameras, and the like, are completely optional; they're nice (except for the games - playing games on a cell phone = ugh) but I don't require them. What I do need is a device that will let me get in touch with people, and that will let people get in touch with me, when I don't have a land line handy.

So. Anybody have recommendations? What should I look for? What should I avoid?

Comments

[fadethecat.livejournal.com]

When you sign up for the plan, especially if you do it online, they'll offer you all sorts of phones at various costs, some of them free. I'd advise just getting the lowest price one they offer that has a flip-top. (I almost got a flip-top one, but it would have been $50 for the phone instead of free, so.)