#dbest smartphones

Now that AT&T has announced that they’ll be discontinuing their unlimited data plans, are you thinking of switching to another carrier? I believe that all providers will ultimately take this route, but I’m sure some customers will still take their business elsewhere once their contracts are up with AT&T.

Well… technically you could keep your unlimited data privileges if you stay with AT&T and never change your plan, but that means you’re tied to AT&T indefinitely. And I don’t like that. That’s why I’m a loyal Virgin Mobile customer. No contract!

Below are 4 other mobile carriers (Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and Virgin Mobile) and their top smartphones.

Product	Description	Price	Reviews
Sprint HTC EVO 4G Sprint.com	A very advanced smartphone with top-of-the-line hardware and capable of 4G data transfer speeds, which is about 10 times faster than current 3G speeds, the HTC EVO 4G runs on the Android 2.1 platform and has a custom Web browser designed for the 4.3-inch touchscreen. Other features include simultaneous voice and data capability in 4G or Wi-Fi coverage areas for Web surfing; Google Goggles, which provides the ability to search anything from books and DVDs to barcodes and logos using pictures instead of words; a 1-GHz processor; and two cameras — an 8.0MP camera with HD video capability and a forward-facing 1.3MP camera.	$199.99 with a 2-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate	“Expensive as it may be, scarce its high-speed network of choice and ambiguous in its upgrade timetable, it’s still one of the most capable and impressive handsets not only running Android but in the US smartphone segment altogether… as chicken and egg devices go, there are plenty of positives to enjoy while you wait for the network to catch up.” – SlashGear
T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide mytouch.t-mobile.com	Available in black, white or red, and featuring Android 2.1, this phone sports a 3.4″ touch-screen WVGA screen, a virtual keyboard as well as the eponymous slide-out QWERTY pad, and 8GB of pre-installed MicroSD memory. It features a Faves Gallery, a dedicated app to manage 20 of your most common contacts; myModes, which allows you to change your theme using time-based cues; and a Genius Button, an enhanced voice command tool that can read back text messages, take dictation, search the web, and make calls.	$179.99 with a 2-year contract, $200 instant online discount, and $50 mail-in rebate	“… As soon as we pulled the Slide out of its well-crafted box, we knew that there was something interesting about this device. If not downright special. And the more we used it, all of that came true. From the physical body, to the software that powers it… it is a very, very strong addition to the myTouch family. If you’re in the market for an Android-based handset with a physical keyboard, we can honestly say that the Slide is one that you should give some serious thought to.” - Android Community
Verizon LG Ally verizonwireless.com	Talking or texting, touching or typing, uploading or downloading, this multi–talented superphone does it all—and does it with style. Outside you have an ergonomic silver–and–black case, tempered glass touchscreen, microSD slot, and touchscreen–qwerty keyboard combo; underneath, the Ally gives you the ability to customize home screens, and switch from surfing the web and emailing to text messaging and updating your social status. Plus, you can get turn–by–turn directions from Google Maps, and the 3.2mp camera/video captures your most memorable moments.	$99.99 with a 2-year contract and $100 online discount	“The battle for the Android high end is well-entrenched, and it’s becoming a bloodier battle nearly every day; the huge middle ground, though, is seemingly wide open. Staying shy of the magical $100 price point is key for a device in the category, and it’s a challenge that the Ally passes — but we couldn’t help but feel like we should still be able to expect more. Cheap doesn’t have to mean low quality.” - Engadget
Virgin Mobile Blackberry Curve 8530 virginmobileusa.com	Virgin Mobile’s first smartphone! The 8350 is a slim phone, perfect for those who need to be connected to work, friends and family while on the go. It provides easy mobile access to e-mail, messaging, and popular social networking sites (including Facebook and MySpace), as well as features a highly tactile full-QWERTY keyboard for comfortable, accurate typing. You’ll be able to access BlackBerry App World to download applications from a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones.	$299.99	“This is currently the lowest price in the industry for unlimited data & text. With the high demand of 3G mobile web service, this deal is a game changer. Especially when you take into account that there’s no long term contracts and no extra hidden fees. I’m personally itching to get in on this deal…” - retroblog.net

About the author

Mariana Perez wrote 21 articles on this blog.

A Texas transplant living the suburbs of Washington, DC, she's a stay-at-home mom to two active little girls and understands the importance of finding #dBest parenting and tech products out there! While her kids are napping you can often find her tweeting @ohMariana and writing at Riding With No Hands, where she shares hundreds of reviews of products her family loves. When she’s not blogging or taking care of her girls, she loves to do crossword puzzles, watch TV, and dabble in photography and web design.

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