I don't have a smartphone so I don't know anything about what they charge for accessing the internet. I think I paid around $25 for the phone itself.

Well, when I looked at Verizon, it didn't seem like you could get phone/text/data for much under $100, AT&T was more like $75, but that was because they had more text/data options and maybe that won't be true soon.

I don't phone or text much, so, at those rates (Sparky's), I could spend a few hundred on a phone and be free and clear after six months or so.

The problem is fads and 'saleabe' concepts.

Every program should be tailored to the needs of the group. There are basic, adult learning theories and program structures, but the content must suit the context.

The problem is, the stakeholders either don't want to pay for that kind of analysis or get caught up in 'we have to spend money on training, and we did THAT before, so make something up that's NEW.

That way lies crappy results and pissed off employees.

Man. I guess I'm still bitter. I couldn't get paid (competitive to low rates) to do what folks really need, while the Moonbeam Brigade gets a multi-year government contract.

Grrr.

Still, that reality led me to do what I love even more, so I guess it worked out okay.

Last time I bought a phone I made the person at T Mobile do the contract/buy math and look me in the face when they tried to sell me the contract. They had the decency to look ashamed. If draw even inside of a year, what's the vague temptation?

Ah, I just realized you all are talking about contract vs. buy for the phone itself, right? Separately from how you pay for calling/texting/etc.?

Virgin Mobile is tempting. I was no contract for years, but I've been latched to AT&T since I got my first iPhone.

Sadly, I *really* like the phone.

I thought you always bought the phone. With some of the contracts you, what? Trade up when the contract is over?

I'm dealing with someone who is possibly the stupidest person I have ever met today. The wall of her stupidity is so high, I don't have any idea how to get around it.

Especially since CLEAR and SIMPLE questions for her to answer don't seem to be doing it.

Now I'm remembering AT&T is buying T Mobile and I'm sad. I've been running from AT&T for so long. I don't love T Mobile, but I have unlimited data (even though they do seem to throttle me) and SIM card technology and they're not AT&T. That used to be enough.

I have grandfathered unlimited data. When, you know, there is actually coverage.

I thought you always bought the phone.

T Mobile seems to price the phone about $200 lower, and then have a more expensive voice/minutes cost. And then if you decide to not go with them within the 2 year period, you have to cough up the the $200 anyway.

In theory I could get my phone anywhere and still pay the monthly costs I pay now. But I'm hesitant about where I'll get my OS upgrades, so I've most recently tended to get the phone from T Mobile.

OMG, my head hurts so much. I can't believe I've only been at work 90 minutes.

We are all a-twitter here at work because Pierce Brosnan was about 20 feet away from us at lunch.