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More than half of the people in the US currently have a cell phone (cite). Now here’s what I want to know — How the hell did they all decide which one to get?

Is there anybody out there who has a recommendation for somebody who will use practically no talk time, but may use a fair amount of data services, particularly WAP? more…

Seriously, I’m not an unintelligent person, and I can’t for the life of me sort it out. I went to 4 different stores today, and spoke with 3 different sales clerks. They’re all freaking morons. Not a one of them was able to answer any of my questions. I suspect most sales conversations must go like this:

Customer: Oh, look at this little one here. Isn’t that cute?

Clerk: May I help you?

Customer: Yes, how much for the cute little one?

Clerk: Blah blah blah rebate. Blah blah blah Anytime Minutes. Blah blah blah Night or Weekend minutes. Blah blah blah.

Customer: *Blink* *Blink* ……. Does it come in blue?

As opposed to:

Will: Here’s the thing, I really only need a cell phone like 4 times a year. I think I might use data services more though. What would be the best plan for me?

Clerk: *Blink* *Blink* … That’s a good question. Nobody’s ever asked me that before. I don’t know.

Will: OK? … *Waits*

Clerk: *Grabs Obtuse Sales Literature* With any of our plans, for $5/ month you can get up to 500 text messages. Do you do more messages than that?

Will: I don’t really know. I don’t currently have a cell phone. I was thinking more of WAP services than messaging though. Looking things up on the internet, that kind of stuff. I’m kind of interested in this Sony Ericsson T68i, because I understand it can be used as a bluetooth modem. Does that use the same data measurement that text messages use, or does that use talk-time minutes or…?

Clerk: I don’t know. These are professional level questions ….

Will: *Bites Tongue* *Decides not to bother asking if you need a dial-up account to use the bluetooth phone as a modem*

Clerk: …I only know about the plans. Did you have any questions about the plans?

Will: *Internally: I thought that’s what I was asking you, you stupid idiot.* No, that’s OK. Thanks.

The web sites are no better. I defy you to go to the AT&T web site and figure out what their mobile data services cost. I don’t think it’s even on the site anywhere.

Seriously, how do people figure out which phone/plan to get? I think it would be easier to figure out how to operate on myself.

By the way, I hear the T68i is a fantastic phone with the one crucial flaw that the reception sucks ass. I can’t tell if that’s just with T-Mobile as a provider or if other providers like AT&T would give you the same problems.