So my phone is destroyed. I dug out my last GSM phone and popped my SIM chip in, and it's OK. I remember the various things that are broken on this one (like when it stopped accepting calls). Megan also wants a new phone - one that integrates into her car's Bluetooth controls. Unfortunately she signed up for a two-year commitment when she picked up her last phone, so we are slightly in a bind.

I'm starting a new view - I don't want to buy anymore locked phones. It's ridiculous that I owned a Audiovox 5600 and couldn't get Megan and I on a family plan, because my Audiovox was an AT&T Audiovox and she had a Cingular phone. Very frustrating as a consumer.

OK, so I'm willing to pay the high price for an unlocked phone, but I can't seem to find the right phone for Megan. She needs a Motorola v551. At first glance it looks like the model number is different for the different cariers... does anyone know the "generic" model number for the v551? Secondly, I found "TechCypher" has the phone - but is this a legit online store?

I really want to get an iMate SP5 when they are available, but the plan right now is to get an unlocked v551 which I'll use for the next month, then I'll pickup an unlocked SP5 (smartphone, wahoo!) and give Megan the v551.