Life in Progress

What to do when you’ve accidentally soaked your still-under-contract smartphone and it won’t revive?

A few days ago, I biked home in my rain gear, but absentmindedly forgot to close the zipper on the pocket that contained my iPhone 3G.  Needless to say, it was dripping wet and dead as a doornail when I got home. Other people have real problems in this world, so I didn’t get upset or anything.  It was my own negligence that made this happen.

On the advice of many friends and web sites, I dried off my iPhone, then sealed it in a box with uncooked rice and silica gel packets.  Days later, my iPhone was no better than when I’d soaked it.  Not that the advice wasn’t any good, but not all electronics make it through a soaking, especially when they’re still on while getting soaked.

AT&T let me know that I was not eligible for an upgrade for another 3 months, but they’d be happy to sell me a new iPhone 3GS + 2-year contract extension for $399(!). Uh, no.

So, I could borrow someone’s unused older non-smartphone just to have phone service, but would still be paying AT&T ~$80/month for 3G smartphone service I wouldn’t have access to.  Or…I could terminate early (~$100, see below) and try a whole different tack.

Alternative 1: Verizon’s Motorola DROID

• Pros: Better network, technically superior phone
• Cons: Lose access to all iTunes library and apps

I don’t know anyone who’s singing the praises of AT&T’s wireless network except maybe the marketing firms paid by them.  Switching to Verizon would be a welcome boost in call quality and coverage.

Then there’s Google’s Android 2.0 operating system, which would let me make use of all the great Google apps (free navigation, Google Voice, etc.) that Apple won’t allow in their App Store. (Note: There are Android-based phones from other providers I’m considering as well.) Plus, the DROID has several superior technical specifications, like a 5-megapixel imaging sensor, DVD-quality video recording, much higher-resolution screen, hardware keyboard AND landscape/portrait software keyboards, etc.

I’d be paying $199 to Verizon and committing to a 2-year contract, plus pay AT&T an early termination fee of ~$100 ($175 - $5/month in contract). That’s still $100 less than getting an iPhone 3GS, and I’d have a technically superior phone.  Or…

Alternative 2: iPod Touch + Skype + Wi-Fi

• Pros: Super cheap monthly cost via Skype ($2.95!), retain all iTunes apps and music
• Cons: No camera, GPS; no phone capability outside of Wi-Fi hotspots; Skype app must be on to receive calls

I still need access to my music library and apps, so the iPod Touch is a natural alternative. For $2.95/month, I could have unlimited Skype calling to and from U.S. phones, and I’d just use my iPhone’s headset to make those calls. My obvious limitation would be Wi-Fi hotspot range, but I’m almost always around one of those.

I lose out on a camera, but have all the familiarity, apps, and music library I already have via iTunes, and $2.95/month is a LOT more palatable than ~$80/month for smartphone use. The definite other downside is not having phone capability in an emergency, should I not be in Wi-Fi range—or if I’m in a hotspot I don’t have authentication for. I could get some free phone with emergency usage plan for those situations.

Which way would you go?

Location-based services (LBS) are continuing the recent years’ trend of making the sharing of personal information and connections easier and easier. And though there have been predecessors to the two services I’m mulling over, these appear to be the ones that click with me. But which one to choose?

foursquare

I’ve been using foursquare since November 19, 2009, finding it fun to check in wherever I go and accumulate points, badges, or even mayorships for being the person who checks in the most at a particular place. When you and your friends do this at the same time, then it really gets interesting, turning it into a competitive social game. But the best part about foursquare is giving or trying out tips on what to do, eat, or see at different places around town. In this way, you’re really encouraged to get out and about.

You’ve likely seen coverage of foursquare from various tech or more mainstream publications, and my seat-of-the-pants, finger-in-the-wind measurement might indicate that foursquare is the service with the most popularity. foursquare also shares some of the same investors who back Twitter. Businesses are even starting to get the potential of foursquare’s power of attraction.

The downside? Since it runs on the honor system, it’s not hard for the less scrupulous to game the system, which makes the experience less fun for everyone. foursquare is also dependent on entering physical addresses when adding locations not in their database, only using GPS to roughly figure out where you are in town. Think about all the duplicate entries from formatting and spelling inconsistencies, and the ways people can use this to their advantage to rack up undeserved points.

Update (November 25, 2009): I’m now a foursquare Super User, which means I can access their database to reconcile the inconsistencies I mentioned above! I tweeted about this post, and foursquare told me on Twitter to send them my suggestions and input. That is really great, letting the users have a hand in building the success of the service.

Gowalla

Then there’s Gowalla, the Austin-based LBS with similar gameplay, and whose iPhone app and web site are beautifully done. I just started using this on November 23, 2009.

There are no mayorships to be had or usurped (which some people consider a negative competitive aspect of foursquare), but you do find and receive items in various spots around the city. If you create a new spot and drop an item there, you’re named the founder.

I’m still learning more about Gowalla, but can see that the double-edged sword of Gowalla is its GPS dependence. On the plus side, you actually have to be at the location you claim to be at to check in. On the minus side, if you forget to check in and find you have a weak GPS signal indoors, you’ll have to go back outside to check in. Another minus is that any users without GPS are automatically excluded.

Update: Gowalla just upped its game, according to this Nov. 24 Tech Crunch article.

What do you think?

Do you use and prefer one of these LBSs, or a different one? If so, why? And finally, which one do you think will prevail?