T-mobile Mytouch
Every cell phone company has one exclusive super phone that influences customers to choose their network over the competitors. Sprint has the Palm Pre, AT&T has the iPhone 3G S, Verizon has the BlackBerry Storm, and now T-Mobile has the myTouch. T-Mobile has recently struggled to offer a premium consumer phone that appealed to the masses. T-Mobile just released the myTouch which is the sophomore attempt by T-Mobile using the Google Android OS; the original attempt being the largely popular but clunky G1. The myTouch is sleeker, more feature packed, and has some very unique absorbing software; however can it compare to the competitors?
Why the myTouch is hot
The myTouch is feature packed with a 3.2MP camera, 3G speed, Wi-Fi, PDA, email, GPS, Bluetooth, games, large touch screen, IM, expandability, real web browsing, SMS and MMS messaging, video playback, and many more standard smart phone features. At a first glance the myTouch seems like an advanced phone that offers some premium features, but nothing that makes it stand out against the competitors. The myTouch allows for personalization on the actual phone which is not seen on any other smart phone. I am not talking about changing backgrounds, but personalized home screens, colorful internet searches customized from pervious searches. The data speed is also mammoth on the third generation T-Mobile network, which is a big step up from the previous Edge network. The myTouch also has a trackball in addition to the touch screen, which is a nice blend (similar to the Pre). The phone looks great and feels great to hold, it is nothing like the old G1 on the outside; it is sexy and sleek.
What’s not so hot?
The myTouch seems like it establishes T-Mobile into the advanced smart phone business with different choices than their previous BlackBerry’s and clunky G1; however there are problems. The myTouch does have 3G, but unless you live in a major city you will probably not be able to use it for another 6 months to a year. As a T-Mobile sales agent told me, the 3G network is objective starting out and not in most places yet. The Edge network is not bad, but it is slow and awful for downloads and streaming video. The positive is that the 3G network is expanding and should be fully functional within a year. At a price of $199 with a 2 year contract you are looking at an expensive smart phone that requires additional memory cards to be on par with the iPhone and Pre. Fortunately since the memory is removable you can have multiple cards, which enables it to have more memory than both the Pre and iPhone.
Overall
The myTouch is a valiant attempt at an upgraded G1 that is if I may, on par with the competition. The advantages of choosing the myTouch does not end with the better resolution digital camera than the competition, but does end with the carrier providing the service. T-Mobile has excellent customer service (at least from my experience), affordable rates, and decent coverage. With a data plan and standard exiguous plan you will be paying roughly $75/month for service (300 MyFavs, unlimited texting and data). The competition is a minimum of $99 for similar service, which would be the Pre on Sprint (the unlimited everything plan is the closest comparison.) The myTouch is a great consumer smart phone that has great personalization software that will impress both gadget junkies and average consumers. The phone looks great and is fully expandable with both memory and apps. Overall a great phone and a much awaited improved android.
Sources:
http://www.t-mobilemytouch.com/
www.sprint.com, (Plans vary by region)
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Filed under Small Business Cell Phone by on Nov 8th, 2010. 