Re: Maybe just me, but cell phones sound more exciting in Pakistan.
While I agree with those who say that people should explore options of eBay or Craigslist etc, the fact of the matter is that cellphone usage is years behind in the US.
In terms of technology, US is behind Japan or Europe. Here, you'd be lucky to find a 3G network, and even more lucky if you actually have a 3G phone and phenomenally fortunate to actually have a plan to use all this speed. I am sure its not a problem for many of you, but where I live, one of the larger cities in the US in a fairly decent neighborhood (not even suburbs), and the cellphone reception is patchy to say the least. What kind of video/3G services can we truly enjoy when we are counting the bars and praying that a simple voice call doesn't drop.
In terms of actual handsets, again I agree with TDW. Phones here in the US are not the most advanced hottest sets that are available in Japan and some European countries (not sure about Pakistan). Or let me put it this way, its a hit-or-miss. In some cellphone types US is as good as any. We have the latest and greatest Treo's and Blackberry's; and may be also Motos. Not sure if we are as lucky when it comes to latest Nokias and Sony's; and definitely Samsung and LG focus their latest inventions in Japan. Unfortunately, with the apparent lack of full 3G penetration, what will US consumers do with the hottest gadgets is anybody's guess, in the first place.