I won't get anything but Android phones (until something newer and greater comes along, if it does) after having a Droid for over a year now. I'm loving Android too much and there hasn't been an Iphone with a slide out keyboard yet, right?

They would like me. I was eligible for an upgrade like a year ago (I have AT & T) and I looked at what I could get, and replied, "These are ugly and too complicated. Just give me a battery for my old phone."

That sounds like my dad. He is just now (right this minute lol) upgrading his phone for the first time since he got the phone when I was in 9th grade (it's a Razor if that clarifies old).
And he's only upgrading now because he wants to use his credit and because his phone is so old that the charge is impossible to hold. It is continually plugged in.

hahahaha. I have a Razr too. When I got it (after holding out for a long time) one of my friends was all wow, I'm so jealous, you got the latest thing, it's fancier than mine! By now of course, she's probably gone through five phones to my one.

I tried to do that with my Treo - just get a new battery - but you wouldn't believe the amount of hassle that is in Dubai. I finally gave in and got a Galaxy 5 and after a couple months can finally use the swipe function to send a text in a reasonable amount of time.

But here, people generally don't get contracts, they just pay for minutes, and regardless, phones are not discounted off full retail for any reason. The only downside is not being able to use the internet, but seriously, how much access do I need? Besides, my husband does have an internet-connected phone (work pays), so if we're out and arguing about who starred in what movie, he can look it up.

I'm with Sprint too and that's one of the reasons why I stay (upgrade credit).

Why doesn't Verizon just make the iPhone ineligible for the upgrade credit instead of punishing everyone? Not everybody wants an iPhone. I know personally between by blackberry and nook color (which is rooted for Android apps) I'm happily well connected and wouldn't switch.

Because it's not just about the iPhone. Verizon's removal of their additional credit is putting them IN LINE with Sprint, not putting them BEHIND Sprint. I honestly think it's about making themselves more competitive with every smart phone they sell and not losing so much money on the phone that they have to make it all up with the contract cost/ETF fees etc.

Yeah that is a huge difference between U.S. cell phone companies/users and those abroad. When you're in Europe everyone just pays per minute and most have a rather basic phone. It's not the same way of life at all when you think of how there are a good deal of Americans glued to their BB/Droid/iPhone. The same with internet, but that could have just been in Italy (where I was). It's much more of a luxury than a necessity like it seems here.

Internet definitely seemed a lot less available when I was abroad too.
It was sometimes actually hard to find a computer to use, and then I had to buy minutes. No hotels had wireless in rooms, which is practically necessary here in America.

But I love my gadgets, so I think I'll just enjoy our addiction to the internet/cell phones

First of all, the iPhone is very reasonably priced compared to competitors like HTC and BlackBerry, honestly.

Second, the iPhone is part of the issue, but not for whatever reasons you're thinking - Apple gets a large cut of every phone and subscriber, and they keep tight reins on pricing. Basically, giving away iPhones (and other smartphones) like they do their other, throw-away garbage phones would be insanity.

Haha it was so cool. I was so jealous because I had a phone that DIDN'T EVEN TAKE PICTURES *gasp!* (I thought I was so deprived hah) and my old can't work a computer (love him :)) Dad had a camera phone. Oh, I was saucy about that.

I'm so unhappy with Verizon.

I've been with them since 2000ish (I was previously an Airtouch Cellular customer). I'm seriously thinking about switching. I don't give a hoot about smartphones. I just don't want to pay $200 a month for two phones with spotty service and only 1,400 shared minutes.

Why are you saying it puts them in line, and not behind, Sprint? From what it sounds like, they've always been behind Sprint. I've been with Sprint for 10 years, and their policy is as follows for CURRENT customers (who usually get the shaft from all the phone carriers): they give $75 off the price of a new phone one year into a two-year contract, $150 off the price of a new phone after two years in a contract. But if you've been with them a while and pay your bills, they reward you with being in their "Sprint Premiere" club; I can't remember how you exactly get into it, but one of the benefits of it is that you get $150 toward a phone upgrade after just ONE year of your contract. So if you wanted a phone that is normally $200, you'd get it for $50. I also have the HTC Evo 4, and I LOVE Android.

ETA: iPhone vs. HTC Evo 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7yD-0pqZg

Because when I asked above, someone said that the sprint discount was identical to that of signing a new contract, if it's not then I correct my statement. I CAN say that the change puts them in line with AT&T's policies (which have been the same for ever) and I can't comment on TMobile.