Smallest, least expensive PV phone?

[winger]

Don't want anything fancy, just one with picmail and sms. Good reception is a MUST.

any recommendations?

[sugarnova]

If you can find a Samsung M500, it would be perfect.

[winger]

If you can find a Samsung M500, it would be perfect.they (users) only want to buy new, from the store b/c of warranty (they have worst luck with phones)

[cirruslyloud]

just tell them to buy used and put insurance on their line.

[winger]

just tell them to buy used and put insurance on their line.First, they are beyond cheap and the $7/mo for each phone is too much. They want a new phone b/c that will stand up to more abuse before breaking (that's the thought, at least).

[cirruslyloud]

don't put TEP on the line, just the ESRP for $3. Here (http://cgi.ebay.com/Samsung-SPH-M500-Sprint-Nextel-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ220234457723QQihZ012QQcategoryZ20336Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem).

[winger]

don't put TEP on the line, just the ESRP for $3. Here (http://cgi.ebay.com/Samsung-SPH-M500-Sprint-Nextel-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ220234457723QQihZ012QQcategoryZ20336Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem).
maybe I was misinformed, but the store manager from our local sprint (corp) store says the $3 esrp is no longer available, only $7 TEP.

either way, I thought insurance can only be added to new fones (like within 30 days?). I tried adding to one of my fones last month and rep (ecare?) said old fones not eligible for TEP.

[Obliark]

Clear this up for ya.

3 Options for Insurance
$4 ESRP = Equipment service and Repair. In store repair. Does not cover Lost/Stolen, Water/Physical damage.

$4 ERP = Equipment Replacement Program. Asurion will get ya a replacement device with $50 dollar deductible

$7 TEP = BOTH prior programs, $1 dollar monthly saving.

Insurance of any kind can only be added for 30 days after a new device is actived or AFTER a paid repair at an authroized sprint service and repair station @ the time of repair.

EDIT: Just to stay on topic, Recommend the 520. Solid company, slide out dialpad helps it stay a lil smaller.

[cirruslyloud]

Clear this up for ya.

3 Options for Insurance
$4 ESRP = Equipment service and Repair. In store repair. Does not cover Lost/Stolen, Water/Physical damage.

$4 ERP = Equipment Replacement Program. Asurion will get ya a replacement device with $50 dollar deductible

$7 TEP = BOTH prior programs, $1 dollar monthly saving.

Insurance of any kind can only be added for 30 days after a new device is actived or AFTER a paid repair at an authroized sprint service and repair station @ the time of repair.

EDIT: Just to stay on topic, Recommend the 520. Solid company, slide out dialpad helps it stay a lil smaller.

Furthermore, insurance of any kind can be added within 30 days of an esn swap as well. Not limited to NEW phones.

[monkeyboy]

If you really want PV, then the M520, which you probably can get for free, certainly no more than the standard $50 price. I'm more partial to the Katana II, which is Vision only, and its less featureful, but has a better build quality, is a thin flip (not a slider) and has a nicer, higher-res QVGA screen, better for webbrowsing. Also at most $50 (just got another one for free).

[evpinfo]

I agree that the M520 would be a good choice since it is PV and has a camera (many of the basic camera phones now are only regular vision). I know that they went end of life a while ago, but the Samsung M510 would be a good choice too if you could find one.

[winger]

The M520 may work.

How's its reception abilities (versus like the Katana II, Treo 700wx, etc.) ?

[evpinfo]

I haven't used it much, but from what I have the M520 has good reception. I have had several Samsungs over the years and have been very happy with all of them. It will have better reception than the Treo (in my opinion most smaller phones do) and the Katana II will be end of life soon so you will probably want to go with something newer and up to date, like the M520. Also, the Katana II is not PV.