I've been looking forward to my contract ending with Verizon by the end of this year because I've been wanting a new cell phone. My phone right now is a pretty good phone (Motorola e815), but after a year and a half I'm a bit bored of it. Plus, I've dropped it so many times that sometimes it's got problems. So for a while now I've been looking for phones that I could get internet access. I looked into Verizon's phones and plans and frankly it seems like it will cost a bit too much. T-Mobile and the Sidekick plans are comparable. The cheapest alternative seems to come from Cingular, but I'm not sure if I want to go that route. My sister redirected me to the Helio and although I've looked at it briefly before and dismissed it, I'm interested again.

Pros
All-in membership includes
- unlimited text messaging
- unlimited picture messaging
- unlimited video messaging
- unlimited mobile MySpace (although I hardly use it nowadays)
- unlimited web browsing
- unlimited HOT
- unlimited file transfer
- unlimited high speed 3G
- unlimited buddy beacon (I can find other Helio friends! But do I care most of the time?)
- unlimited GPS-enabled Google Maps (the COOLEST feature, I think)
- unlimited talk: nights + weekends
- unlimited talk: mobile to mobile
- you can share your minutes with any Helio A La Carte member
- if you need to return your device or cancel your service, they offer a full refund for returns within 30 days of purchase (and I think this includes all the expenses of canceling your previous contract with another carrier)

And the cheapest plan is $65/month and includes 500 minutes which is more than my current plan. See membership details here.

Cons
- I don't know anyone who has it who could vouch for its service
- the phones are not that cheap (or more like nice one I want is not cheap), however you get a deal as a new customer and possibly if you sign up more than one account

So has anyone heard anything about Helio? Anyone have some good advice and feedback?

posted by che @ 9:45 AM