JamesonRobert.com

I got a new phone (again). I am in love… this thing is awesome. Found it on Amazon.com for $75 plus a $100 rebate, so I’m being paid $25 for the phone. Service is with T-Mobile, and I’m only paying $60 a month for unlimited data and email, plus 300 minutes and fave five. About $20 cheaper than service on my old phone with Verizon.

I can do so much more with this thing than my old phone… here’s a rundown:

• Google has blackberry apps for checking Gmail, Google Reader, Google Docs, Google Talk, Google Maps, and even has a program to sync your Blackberry calendar with your Google Calendar. Awesome stuff. The Gmail interface on the Blackberry is basically the same as the interface on the Gmail website. My only complaint here is the lack of web link handling in the Gmail client. The built in Blackberry email client works fine with links.
• RIM (the people who make Blackberry) make their own Facebook client, which works rather well. Lets me check friends status updates, upload photos, make wall posts, poke, and send messages. Everything I could want out of Facebook when I’m away from my computer.
• TwitterBerry - nice Twitter client. Lets me update status and check my friends updates.
• Yahoo! Go - The main thing I use this for is Flickr access. I can upload photos to flickr, check out updates from my contacts, and leave comments on photos. Yahoo Go! also gives me quick access to weather, news, Wikipedia, and Myspace.
• Yahoo! oneSearch - Voice-based web searching? Yes please! I haven’t had a good reason to use this yet, but it’s certainly a fun toy.
• IM clients for Google Talk, AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, MSN - Again, I don’t see myself using these much… but I’ll keep them on the phone in case.
• Wi-Fi access! - While in range of a Wireless router, my phone will use that internet connection in leu of the cell signal. Gives me better call quality and internet speeds while I’m at home, or if I go to any number of wireless hotspots such as Starbucks. Because of this, I’m finally able to drop my Vonage phone line.
• Yodlee - not an application, a web page. Aggregates all my financial account information in one place, so I can check bank account balances, credit card balances, etc., all at once. My Chase account doesn’t have mobile access except through texting.
• Brightkite - again, not an app (yet… there’s one in the works apparently) - this is a bit like Twitter. Microblogging, but location based. Currently invite-only beta. I just got my account today. If you’re interested in an invite, leave a comment here and let me know. As of right now I still have 5 invites left.

One of the things I’m loving so far is that I can move away from using SMS messaging all the time. I used to use text messages for Twitter updates and Facebook messaging. Now I have no texting plan. It’s a nice feeling.