I didnt really know where to put this as I cover quite a few of the 'phone/carrier' specific forums but Im looking for a more general response.


Anyway, Im now out of contract with Vodafone (as is the wife next month) and Im looking to upgrade my K800i.


Ultimately I want an all in one solution, for phone, email, music, podcasts, web and possibly video. I do take photos regularly with the K800i and I will continue to but quality is not everything, it I want good photos Ill take my camera, so Im happy with easy point and click on a phone.


I use my ipod for a couple of hours each day and have an aux input in the car. I have a decent pair of headphones so 3.5mm jack is a must unless someone can convince me of some quality bluetooth headphones which wont break the bank.


I want to be able to download podcasts automatically, listen to internet radio from the BBC (amongst others) and possibly stream video content aswell.


Navigation of some sort whilst not essential, is still something I would like to have. I probably dont talk for more than an hour a month, probably only do 200 texts and a handful of PXTs a month. So Im not a huge phone user in the traditional sense but I do want to make more use of the data options available now.


So my questions really revolve around the usual debates. What phone to buy and which carrier to put it on? The obvious choice is an iphone 3gs. It does everything I want but is perhaps not the best 'in its class' although you know people will be writing apps for it until the cows come home.


Everything I have at home is centered around the families ipods so it make sense.


In terms of phones Ive always preferred Sony's. The K800i has been fantastic as was the K750i before it. The Sony Satio looks fantastic and certainly does everything I would want but cruicially it doesnt have a 3.5mm jack. It also is going to be brand new right now and there is no indication if the handset will be subsidised at all.


So what about a carrier? I live in central Wellington, have the odd trip around the central north island and thats about it. Id expect Vodafones 3g coverage to be more than adequate but Ive always had in teh back of my mind that if I wanted to move to something like this I really need to be XT to take full advantage of it.


I have no real reason to leave Vodafone other than 'its time for a change' and Ive been impressed with Telecoms attitude the last six months. However Telecom do still seem to be more expensive in terms of monthly rental and Vodafones current 3Gb of data a month is exactly what Im looking for.


In writing this I think Ive answered my own questions and I should just get an iphone 3gs on Vodafone and be done with it, but Im interested if anyone has anything to add.


Cheers