<p>You are paying for it for the rest of your contract.</p>
<p>Smart phones are overrated anyway. Get a brick phone, spend $40 a month on it, and don’t waste your life on apps.</p>
<p>Samsung Galaxy s4 cost me $150 with Sprint but it was $250 originally. I got $100 off when I switched over my telephone number. I LOVE it. The screen is bigger than the iPhone 5 and that’s a huge plus for me.</p>
<p>
I assume this post was a joke. But in case it’s not:
Many apps are basically replacement for what you commonly would do on the computer. You can check your bank funds, email, or even get on CC from your phone. </p>
<p>But anyway as for phones:
I have an LG Optimus Elite from Virgin Mobile. It’s a good phone imo for a good 2 year max. The camera especially is awesome (not as awesome as Iphone 5 or Galaxy S3/4).
The plan is $35 per month with no contract so it is affordable.</p>
<p>In college an iPhone is worth whatever the premium is just for iMessage alone. I’ll never go back.</p>
<p>Look at Credo (phone company with a conscience) it’s a pretty good deal and does not place restrictions on internationals. There are prepaid and contract phones.
No matter what you do, DO NOT buy a phone before you get to the US. Email your international counselor and ask whether the International Orientation includes taking students to stores and setting you up with a cell (mobile) phone. The answer is likely yes. At that time you’ll see what contracts and prepaid options are offered to you - the US is a big country and not all options are equally good everywhere.</p>
<p>A lot of comments about the iMessage, but it is free and unlimited text messaging to other iOS users that can be used on Wi-Fi right? Is the number of iOS users in college large enough that this could pretty much take the place of normal text-messaging?</p>
<p>Unfortunately the international student orientation doesn’t include helping out students with cellphones…But yes, I am not getting a phone before I get to the US.</p>
<p>Ask if a session during International Orientation could deal with cell phones. It’s super important and the systems (and costs) vary a lot depending on location. For example, the US system is not quite as advanced as the system in Europe, while it is also more expensive ($24/month unlimited text, data and voice, anyone? :p). One weird thing for example (<price gouging=""> in my opinion) is that, depending on plan, you pay to call but also to receive calls. There are “roaming” charges. Text, data, and voice are separate. “Unlimited” plans may have “tiny print” limits. Etc…</price></p>
<p>theblues- at my school at least I’d say definitely over half of the students have iPhones, so yes it does take the place of texting most of the time. It’s also way, way faster than regular texting and you can see when the other person is typing.</p>
<p>iMessage is definitely why I’m not so sure about getting the S4. iPhone have it and makes texting so much better.</p>
<p>whoa you’re telling me that I can see the person say I love you and then erase to say hola?</p>
<p>XD No. You can see when they’re typing. Not what they’re typing.</p>
<p>Oh -_- That’s nothing close to new. i.e. Kik/Facebook Messenger.</p>
<p>Be unique. Get a Blackberry.</p>
<p>^Or a windows Phone.</p>
<p>Don’t get a Blackberry. </p>
<p>Ok. You can get it. </p>
<p>But, really, don’t get a Blackberry.</p>
<p>I wasn’t joking about not wasting your life with apps. Don’t be one of those people with dead eyes glued to their phones all the time.</p>
<p>I’ll have you know I am on Level 287 in Candy Crush and take offense to your post.</p>
<p>What about people with their eyes glued to: TVs, computers, books, games, etc.</p>
<p>LOLOLOL I thought I was bad with being at level 167</p>