Need email on STJ, thinking about Iphone/Blackberry for trip

[PA Girl]

Important info - I know NOTHING about fancy phones, a total tech dumbie.

Here is our situation, Husand needs to have email access for our upcoming trip (42 Days!!!!)

In prior years we either had a computer to use at the house or lugged a laptop, something we want to avoid this trip.

I was thinking about getting an Iphone or a Blackberry for him to use while on STJ. (This phone would also be used for other travels but would not become his primary phone.)

Our current service is Nextel, which doesn't work on STJ. Any new phone would just be an extra for travel.

So, is my idea crazy?

I just looked at the ATT site and saw prices that I could stomach (basic, refurb models) in order for the convenience.

Does ATT have decent enough coverage on STJ?

Should I be looking at other providers?

[mbw1024]

our iphones worked great on STJ but unless this is your carrier i don't think it makes sense. you need to pay for a data plan of $35/month on top of whatever plan you choose. unless you see this as a complete business expense that you can carry it seems like a lot for ocassional use.
can't speak to blackberry since i never had one.

[loria]

my husband uses his iphone all over STJ with very few problems--

[PA Girl]

our iphones worked great on STJ but unless this is your carrier i don't think it makes sense. you need to pay for a data plan of $35/month on top of whatever plan you choose. unless you see this as a complete business expense that you can carry it seems like a lot for ocassional use.
can't speak to blackberry since i never had one.

The bolded part is what I was missing/not getting, so I would have to pay for the regular phone service plan AND a data plan?

While it is purely business, that is getting into more than I would like.

[mbw1024]

our iphones worked great on STJ but unless this is your carrier i don't think it makes sense. you need to pay for a data plan of $35/month on top of whatever plan you choose. unless you see this as a complete business expense that you can carry it seems like a lot for ocassional use.
can't speak to blackberry since i never had one.

The bolded part is what I was missing/not getting, so I would have to pay for the regular phone service plan AND a data plan?

While it is purely business, that is getting into more than I would like.

correct. granted if it was for 1 phone and no extra lines and infrequent use you could likely select a plan with the least minutes - not even sure what that is but the ATT site shows their plan types. THEN you add $35 for the data plan and maybe $5 for 200 texts if you need that.

[mbw1024]

a quick look at ATT I see a Nation 550 plan for $50 a month. that gives you 550 anytime minutes.

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

My iphone worked great on STJ

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

I know very little about this as well however, I use my iphone in STJ with remarkable success. But, it's my "primary" cell phone, not an extra. The AT&T coverage is great (better than any other we've used over the years) and with the 3G network, you have internet access.

The iphone serves as my internet access, phone, contact list/calendar (all synced from my home computer), i-pod, movies for the plane and camera while on STJ.

[lprof]

For us, the iphone has worked well (calls plus internet) most places on St John with no extra charges. Last trip we did not always have ATT service on Bordeaux Mt... charges from other carriers, ie. international roaming, were many, many dollars. With the iphone read the info on international travel carefully. ATT did favorably heip us resolve this matter; we learned about reading instructions,


and tokens were placed back into the bucket.

[Greenskeeper]

I used my ATT Blackberry on STJ with great success. Also had our Verizon business line that worked just as well. If hubby is planning on using Microsoft products (word etc) the Blackberry is the one to go with as that is not available on Iphone. The other option is to purchase a Netbook (you can get a decent one for about $300) and buy an air card for it which will run about what the cost of the Blackberry will monthly. It is very user friendly and will allow him to have a more easily manipulated keyboard and larger screen to view any documents, spread sheets etc. he might need to access on vacation.

[jayseadee]

I had good coverage with ATT 3G in Coral and Cruz Bay; not so much at the beaches.

Does he need to respond immediately? Maybe buy minutes and stop at Connections in the mornings/evenings or one of the other locations with internet access.

[mahojim]

Just be sure to let ATT know that you'll be on island, and when, so you don't get stuck with any roaming charges.
My bill was doubled this past Nov., but they did me the "1 time courtesy" of knocking it back to regular fees when I called them after getting my bill.
Smiles-
MJ

[byado18]

Our iPhones worked great --- although we took a laptop we only pulled it out to download pix but did our email, etc. on our phones!...watch for when you are roaming (some of the beaches would pick up the BVI towers) so you don't get hit with extra charges.......

[PA Girl]

I had good coverage with ATT 3G in Coral and Cruz Bay; not so much at the beaches.

Does he need to respond immediately? Maybe buy minutes and stop at Connections in the mornings/evenings or one of the other locations with internet access.

This was the original idea. Then one of the guys in the office got an Iphone and the email ability got him excited.

We were planning on eating breakfast in town often so I might just stick with the Connections idea.

Nothing coming from work will be time critical - typically just a list of questions that need to be answered.

[toni]

I'm no techno, but maybe something like an ipod touch?
http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/features/
It's not a cell phone, so you don't have to have an expensive monthly plan and it sounds like you wanted to keep your other phone, but you have to be able to have access to wifi.