Buying one of today's hottest smartphones can be a significant investment -- and not just right away. While you're likely to shell out a fair amount of cash for the phone itself, that amount will pale in comparison to the amount you pay for the service over the life of the phone. Let's look at three phones -- Apple's iPhone 4, HTC's Droid Incredible, and HTC's EVO 4G -- to see how much each will cost you over the two years of your service contract.
To see how these phones compare, feature-wise, read: Smartphone Face-Off: iPhone 4 vs. Droid Incredible vs. EVO 4G.
The Phone Itself
You can get a 16GB iPhone 4, a Droid Incredible, or an EVO 4G for $199 upfront (though the 32GB iPhone 4 costs $299). Keep in mind, though, that getting this price requires that you sign a new two-year service contract with the cellular carrier. And, if you're an existing customer, you need to make sure you're eligible for the upgrade pricing.
And getting those prices requires that you commit to a two-year service plans. All three phones require that you select a voice plan and a data plan, but the actual options for each vary greatly. Let's see how.
Note that all of the prices mentioned here are before any taxes and fees that may be added on to your bill.
Apple iPhone 4 from AT&T
AT&T offers voice plans for the iPhone that range from $39.99 a month (for 450 voice minutes, plus 5,000 night and weekend minutes) to $69.99 a month (for unlimited nationwide calling minutes). Calling plans that include calls to Canada range from $79.99 to $219.99 a month.
On top of the calling plan, you'll also need to select a data plan. AT&T used to offer an unlimited data plan for $30 a month; if you're an existing customer, you will be able to keep this plan for the time being. New customers, however, will have to choose between two data plans: the $15-per-month DataPlus Plan, which allows you 200MB of data each month, or the $25-per-month DataPro Plan, which allows you access to 2GB of data per month. If you want tethering, you'll have to pay $20 per month AND select the $25-per-month DataPro Plan.
None of those plans include messaging, either. If you want to send and receive text, MMS, or instant messages, you'll want to opt for one of AT&T's messaging plans, which start at $5 a month for 200 messages.
Now, let's do the math. If you opt for the $39.99-per-month voice plan and the $15-a-month data plan (these are your two cheapest options, but remember that you have a 200MB monthly limit on data), you'll pay $54.99 a month. Over 24 months, that adds up to just under $1320. A $5-per-month messaging plan adds $120 to your total over 24 months. That brings your two-year total to almost $1440.
Droid Incredible from Verizon Wireless
Verizon's voice plans for the Droid Incredible start at $39.99 a month (for 450 voice minutes) and run up to $69.99 a month for unlimited voice minutes.
Verizon also requires the purchase of an unlimited data plan with all of its 3G smartphones, which includes the Droid Incredible. That plan is $29.99 a month and offers unlimited access to personal e-mail and the Web. If you want to use the Droid Incredible to sync with a corporate e-mail account, you'll have to upgrade to a $44.99-per-month data plan.
Like AT&T's options, Verizon's data plans do not include messaging. If you want to send and receive text messages, MMS messages, and IMs, you'll need to add a messaging plans. Options start at $5 a month for 250 messages.
Now, let's add it up. If you opt for the $39.99-per-month voice plan and the $29.99-per-month data plan (your cheapest options), you'll pay $69.98 a month. Over 24 months, you'll spend just under $1680. Add a $5 messaging plan, and your two year total is almost $1800.
HTC EVO 4G from Sprint
Sprint bundles its voice plans and its data plans together, making the selection process a bit simpler. The carrier offers three options for EVO 4G users: the Simply Everything Plan, which costs $99.99 per month and offers unlimited voice, data, and messaging, and two versions of the Everything Data Plan. For $69.99 a month, Sprint offers an Everything Data Plan with 450 voice minutes, plus unlimited data and messaging. And for $89.99 a month, the Everything Data Plan offers 900 voice minutes, plus unlimited data and messaging.
If you want the mobile hotspot feature, which turns your EVO 4G into a hotspot to which other Wi-Fi-enabled devices can connect to the Internet, you'll have to pay an additional $29.99 a month.
On top of any plan you choose, you're also required to pay $10 per month for Premium Data, which is the fee for 4G service. You have to pay this fee whether or not Sprint's 4G service is available in your area -- and its availability is limited.
So, let's do the math. Your cheapest option is the $69.99-per-month Everything Data Plan. When you factor in the $10-a-month Premium Data fee, that brings your monthly total to $79.99. Over 24 months, you'll pay $1920 to Sprint for the phone's service.
Bottom Line
If -- and this is, of course, a big if -- you opt for the cheapest plan from your carrier, and you never go over your allotted voice minutes, messages, or data allowance, AT&T's iPhone plan is the cheapest. But AT&T has drawn complaints from many an iPhone user over the years for the carrier's service problems. Opting for the Sprint HTC EVO 4G will cost you more money in the long run, but if you live in an area with 4G service, you may be happy to pay for it. Verizon Wireless, meanwhile, is known for offering rock-solid service, wherever you are.
For more specifics on pricing and extra services, see the chart below.
Cost Comparison
| iPhone 4 | Droid Incredible | EVO 4G | |
| INDIVIDUAL PLANS | |||
| Cheapest Plan | $54.99 (450 minutes, 200MB of data) | $69.99 (450 minutes, unlimited personal e-mail and Web use) | $79.99 (450 minutes, unlimited messaging, and premium data add-on) |
| Most Expensive Monthly Plan | $94.99 (unlimited minutes, 2GB of data) | $114.98 (unlimited minutes, unlimited data) | $109.99 (unlimited minutes, unlimited data, unlimited messaging, premium data add-on) |
| Tethering/Mobile Hotspot Service | $20/month | N/A | $29.99/month |
| Messaging | $5 (200 messages) to $20 (unlimited) | $5 (250 messages) to $20 (5000 messages) | unlimited messages included |
| GPS Apps | $9.99/month | $9.99/month | included |
| Family Tracking | $9.99/month | $9.99 to $24.99 (one-time) | $5/month |
| Visual Voicemail | included | $2.99/month | included |
| FAMILY PLANS | |||
| Cheapest Plan | $89.99 (550 shared minutes, 200MB of data on each iPhone) | $129.97 (700 shared minutes, unlimited data on each phone) | $149.99 (1500 shared minutes, unlimited data and messaging, two premium data add-ons) |
| Most Expensive Plan | $169.99 (unlimited minutes, 2GB of data) | $179.97 (unlimited minutes, unlimited data) | $209.99 (unlimited minutes, unlimited data and messaging, two premium data add-ons) |