Wifi on a cell phone? What for?

[Jesda]

I'm shopping for a new phone. My Blackberry Curve is amazing for email but chokes when multitasking or handling images. The new Bold 9650 offers a faster CPU and a nice keyboard, as well as GSM and Wifi.

Question is, why would I want wifi on a cell phone? Sprint's data coverage is surprisingly good in the places I've traveled (lots of places), so what would I gain? It seems like by the time I ended up in a place with no data service, I wouldn't have wifi either.

The older BB Tour lacks wifi and can be acquired for half the price.

Thoughts?

[MinisterofDOOM]

There are a few reasons:

1: Wifi is generally faster. My T-mobile 3G bandwidth is pretty decent, letting me use the "real web" and avoid crummy mobile sites. But it doesn't compare to the 802.11g connection I get at home. The Wifi's there...why not use it? Even 4G and HSPA+ don't offer consistent throughput to match 802.11g.

2: Depending on your phone, using Wifi might extend your battery life. Cellular data transception uses more power than Wifi. On many phones, if you're connected to a wireless network, the phone is smart enough to stop using cellular (be it 3G, EDGE, GSM, etc.) for data and just use it for voice, saving power.

3: Having more options is always better. For some reason, my parents seem to live in a 3G coverage hole. I don't know why, but I always end up stuck on a slow 2G connection when I'm at their house. Being able to connect to their wireless network keeps my phone useful as an internet device.

4: Wifi opens up new options for connectivity with other devices. Yeah, bluetooth can work for small file transfers, but it was never intended for that kind of duty.

And the BIGGEST reason:
The ability to use the phone as a mobile hotspot. If it can connect to wifi, it can broadcast wifi.
WebOS and Android 2.2 both have native support for phone-as-hotspot. I'm not sure about Blackberry's OS, though. Obviously, things like netbooks suddenly become much more useful and more truly portable when paired with a hotspot-enabled phone.

[Kompresshun]

I've got the Curve 8530 and it's got Wifi as well, as MoD mentioned it does save power when i'm near one of my saved Wifi hotspots(at home and ect) and 3G is kinda spotty out where I live. I don't get 3G at all at my house so Wifi definitely makes up for that. The new Bold is a nice phone though, I wish it would've been available when I got my Curve, overall i'm pleased with my phone but the performance does lack a little when you start doing more than e-mail, social networking, and basic browsing.

Blackberrys are great devices, but i'm planning on finally making the jump to Android and switching over to the new HTC EVO in a couple of months after I get a little more use out of my Curve. It's a little more pricey than most of the Blackberrys but at $199 the features you gain are worth it... 4G/3G that also can be used as a mobile hotspot for up to 8 devices(Internet for my laptop on the go? Yes please), Wifi, 8MP camera, 1.3MP webcam, 4.3" touchscreen, ect. It's a sweet phone if you haven't looked at it, http://now.sprint.com/evo/

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Love my Blackberry. I've had several through T-Mobile. Currently I have the Bold 9700. WiFi is always nice to have because it allows you to connect and browse the web maybe when you don't have a signal from your provider, not to mention its faster.

I know this doesn't apply to you because you have Sprint, but as an added bonus for T-Mobile users with a Blackberry is UMA. UMA is Unlicensed Mobile Access. UMA allows you to connect through WiFi to make calls, text, use data all when you don't have a signal. The calls are FREE, yes FREE. UMA has saved my a** at school in a couple areas in some buildings where there is zero service.

Anyway, get the Bold. Its a better unit than the Tour anyway

[AppleBonker]

Agreed with the above on the wifi. You never know when you're going to stumble upon a wifi hotspot. And when you find one, it's always faster than trying to use cellular data. I, like Chris, used to frequently use the wifi on my phone in my own place (like when I was too lazy to get off the couch to look something up really quick). My phone is no longer the preferred device for this task, but while it was the wifi was incredibly useful.

[RobPaulson]

Yep, wifi is boss sauce. MoD hit it on the head again.

[Jesda]

It sounds like a nice feature to have, especially on GSM networks in the US/Canada since coverage isn't as complete as CDMA. I know TMo was an early proponent of wifi-capable phones, mostly to make home/office coverage more consistent -- it seems to have worked. TMo coverage is spotty in suburban St Louis, but Sprint and VZW are pretty thorough.

When I have wifi at home, however, I take out my netbook and leave the phone on the charger. RIM's browser is very slow at rendering.

Maybe if I had a phone like the Evo, which does full featured browsing and video conferencing, wifi would be nice since most cities lack Wimax/4G.

I also hate Apple for popularizing the on-screen keyboard. Some of us have grown-up things to do and customers to stay connected with, and slipping around on a virtual board just doesn't work, especially when you're entering specific order and tracking info.

[Jesda]

Anyone have a Samsung Moment?

[RobPaulson]

you'd be surprised how far the on screen keyboards have come.

however, you're not alone in your desire for a physical keyboard. HTC is still planning on putting out phys keyboard devices int he future, dont get discouraged, they are out there and they are great devices!

[MinisterofDOOM]

The Moment's an okay middle-range Android machine. It has one of the better keyboards available on an Android phone (full size--no combined number/QWERTY top-row, and keys actually have some space between them). I like the fact that it has directional/arrow keys AND an optical trackpad. But I DO NOT like the location of the enter key.

HTC is still planning on putting out phys keyboard devices int he future, dont get discouraged, they are out there and they are great devices!

Unfortunately, reality doesn't quite look that rosey. All but one of the many high-end Android devices are keyboardless. Nexus One, EVO...the Droid's the ONLY high-end Android phone with a physical keyboard, and it also happens to have one of the worst keyboards of any Android phone (and an effing d-pad instead of a trackball or optical trackpad). No, It seems HTC and everyone else sees physical keyboards as necessary only for tween-focused "texting phones" like the ridiculously stupid Backflip and the Sidekick-successor MyTouch Slide. All of which are low- or middle-range hardware-wise, and compatibility with future software advances (like Flash 10.1) is either questionable or completely absent.

If you want a hardware keyboard, you almost have to go with Blackberry, and even they are starting to move to touchscreen-only.

BAD TREND.

[Kompresshun]

Anyone have a Samsung Moment?

I don't know anyone who has one so far but i've heard good things about it, it's faster than the HTC Hero but it doesn't have the visual appeal of HTC's version of Android(which is just basically skinned and tweaked UI). It's more appealing to someone like us that still prefers a physical keyboard but I felt like the HTC Hero is a better build quality, i'm sure the EVO will be nice too but I haven't got to play with one yet.

[RobPaulson]

DROID2 is rumored to have physical keyboard. thats the phone i had in mind. (is the D2 moto or HTC?? gah i dont even know they are all bleeding into eachother in my mind at this point... sorry for any confusion there)

unless those pics were fake, which is absolutely possible.

also, who needs a keyboard when androids speech-to-text is absolutely amazing. i dont even type messages or search criteria anymore... pushing one button and speaking naturally is way easier and faster (on N1 with froyo).

[sentrastace]

wifi ftw. the 3g network isnt all its cracked up to be.

[Empty V]

I go down to Baja, Mexico a lot and it's much cheaper for me to use my WiFi at the condo opposed to data roaming, plus it's much faster.

[Chiquitita]

I really don't use it because AT&T has coverage almost anywhere. I have a blackberry Bold 9700 and love it!
But wifi is always good to have just in case... just saying, plus it makes it faster!

[C-Kwik]

I can't speak for Blackberrys but with Windows Mobile Phones, having wifi can open up a few other options. A popular one is wireless tethering. That is, you create an ad-hoc connection between your laptop and phone (using free software you can find online) and your phone can act as a modem. It can also be done with bluetooth Personal Area Networks) but its pretty slow.

The downside is if you leave the wifi on when not near a network you use, then it tends to drain the battery quicker.

[RCA]

I absolutely NEED wifi on my phone.

I don't have data on my G1 and with android you can't create new contacts unless it is saved via "cloud". So when I add someone a day later my recently called list is just a number. Also my favorite app is Shazam and it's useless unless I have Wifi.

And one know of a Shazam type app that I can use on my computer?

[MinisterofDOOM]

I really don't use it because AT&T has coverage almost anywhere.

So those lying ads actually work? AT&T's 3G coverage SUCKS. Yeah, they have "coverage" everywhere, but it's 2G coverage.

[Jesda]

I guess I dont have a use for wifi. Anywhere I expect there to be wifi, I usually bring my netbook. Sprint's 3G is pretty extensive.

Seems like the Bold's extra RAM is a good selling point though (found that bit of info this morning). I could use a bluetooth keyboard with the Evo, but having to pair it each time I want to type an email seems really annoying.

[marlin29311]

Another reasoning for WiFi on a CDMA network is that it allows you to contiue data coverage while on a phone call...CDMA is built on one channel for information, whereas GSM is built on two...hence all the AT&T ads talking about how you can surf and talk at the same time. While connected to a hotspot, you can use data and talk on the phone at the same time with a CDMA device.

[RobPaulson]

I really don't use it because AT&T has coverage almost anywhere.

looks like we have an ATT employee up in hurr. i seriously almost spit out my water when i read this hahaha

also, jesda, IDK what internet provider you have at home, or if they have implemented anything like this in your area, but around here, optimum online has deployed a type of 'wifi everywhere' system. you can actually pick up an opt-online wifi connection in most major areas and main streets, its become quite impressive.

you may want to look into that as well as a way to justify a wifi capable device.