I am part of that 50% looking into upgrading to a smartphone. I lost my phone last Wednesday (an LG Chocolote VX8550), and I have been looking into getting a Blackberry since. Attracted to features including mobile access to my email account and web searches, I figured right now would be an opportune moment to upgrade. However, I just started my 2-year Verizon Select Family Plan, which charges data transfer by megs ($1.99/mb), and I’m not too excited with the prospect of upgrading my plan and paying more just to do some internet browsing and e-mail checking. As Josh Kuss said, “As prices continue to fall for entry-level smartphones, there will be little incentive to buy anything else. Of course, that is assuming that the entry level data plans will continue to drop in price and/or become standard issue.”

Is there any talk of data plan prices dropping any time soon? Or any recent developments that would suggest it?

Jacob Botter, author of picture was making a joke with a mate and article writer goes to google to find an image to ilustrate.

Still, when you say “you have to pay a sizable amount per month regardless” you’re basically ignoring that you buy the handset on credit and the carrier recovers the full cost with interest. But because there are a lot of saps out there that dont understand this, you’re probably right.

The carriers are drooling in anticipation.

That entire introduction was on the entry cost of a smartphone to that of a feature phone. Right now through AT&T, you can get a refurbished BlackJack II, Pantech Duo, or Palm Centro for 50 bucks – all of which would be considered smart phones. As for maintaining your ownership of the phone (rather than “obtaining”, as I specifically say in the post), the monthly bill may vary with things like data and tethering – but you have to pay a sizable amount per month regardless of whether or not your phone is considered “smart”.

Apple’s iPhone will nail you for about $85 per month after taxes & B.S., and that doesn’t include the cost of the phone. And AT&T isn’t the most expensive plan out there either.

If all these people start buying smartphones, maybe we’ll start seeing price drops, but quite frankly, the prices are still outrageous for what you’re getting.