The Perfect Phone

This is a guide to get all your voice and data in one device at just over $20, saving you up to $180 each month.

Executive Summary

1. Cancel your phone, mobile (cellphone), and Internet services.
2. Buy a good phone, equipped with wi-fi.
3. Sign up for an AT&T GoPhone.
4. Add the unlimited data plan.
5. Add a small number of minutes.
6. Install Gizmo, Skype, or Truphone on your phone.
7. Install Joikuspot or Walking Hotspot on your phone.
8. Sign up with Grandcentral or Callwave.

How much do you pay for voice and data, inclusive? Seriously, I mean everything: mobile phone, home phone, mobile Internet on your phone, mobile Internet on your laptop, and Internet access at home. Most of you do not have all of this, but I suspect you wish you did. The reason you don't have access everywhere is because it costs so much. If you were to waltz into your local AT&T store or call them up on the phone, you would pay at least $200 per month for all of that. You might even pay more than that. With some smart usage, you can get all of the above for $20 per month. I know you don't believe me, and there may be a service or two above and beyond that might add a bit to the cost, but stay with me and get ready to cut your communication bills by up to 90%.

Basically, this plan revolves around AT&T's recently announced unlimited data plan for their pay-as-you-go plans and a good smart phone that can take advantage of AT&T's 3G high-speed network. "But wait!" you say, "the unlimited plan itself costs $20/mo, and that just lets me surf the Internet on my phone, it doesn't include any talk time or all those other things you said above!"

Oh, but it does. Start by going to one of the many VOIP services out there. Basically, VOIP is a phone running over that $20/mo data plan. There are a number of services out there, but right now, I would choose between Gizmo, Skype, and Truphone. I use Gizmo because I can run it on my phone, my Nokia tablet, and on my computer. Skype does the same thing, but because Gizmo is SIP-based you can use it in many more ways whereas Skype is closed and run by eBay. Either is a good choice. Truphone is the relative newcomer to this space but it looks to be pretty good. The downside is that right now is that you cannot use it from your computer, but if that does not matter to you, this is a good option. In fact, you do not have to choose just one. You can try more than one of these at your leisure. Whichever service you decide upon, add some call-out minutes to it.

The great part is that VOIP works over 3G, meaning you can use it just about anywhere you can use your current phone. Now for the other parts. Skype, Gizmo, and Truphone can be installed on many phones out there, but these next parts are going to require a good phone. If you don't have one, this is going to cost some money, however, you should make the money up within the first two to four months of this plan, and you will have a top-of-the-line phone to go with it. I know the most about s60-based phones such as the Nokia Nseries and Eseries. You want to make sure you get a 3G-enabled phone, so let's just assume an N95-3 or N95 8GB. (Note the 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics. You can save even more money by replacing your camera with this phone.) The real key with a phone like this is that it supports 802.11 wi-fi (the same wireless you have on your laptop). By using either the included cable, or bluetooth, the phone will connect your laptop to the Internet anywhere, anytime.

Now for the fun stuff. On your phone, install either Joikuspot or Walking Hotspot. These programs turn your phone into a wireless hotspot, allowing you to connect any and all of your home computers to the Internet, just as you would with the wireless router connected to your DSL line (so don't forget to cancel that DSL or cable service).

Now, you can initiate all the calls you want, but how do people reach you? During this transition, your phone number may change some and there may be multiple ways to reach you. Sign up with Grandcentral (now owned by Google) or Callwave (integrates nicely with Gizmo), choose a number you like it, and then point that number to the services you have setup. Now, you can give one number to people and it will ring your phone.