Need help with phone and hotspots

[Surf & Turf]

Hi all:

I feel like a caveman. I am still using Verizon's Env 2. Now some of the buttons don't work. I mainly use it for talk and texting while the Ipad 2 for the internet surfing.

I looked at some of the newer smartphones but Verizon requires a DATA plan with it ... another $30-40 whiles I also am paying another $30 for the 2Gig data plan for the Ipad 2 with Verizon.

It does not seem to make sense.

The questions I have are:

1. Is hotspotting with a mobile phone all that reliable?

2. If it is ok, which smart phone is better ?( Any carrier will do....my plan
is over with Verizon)

3. Is it more economical to go this way with a hotspot phone or just for me
to get another Non-internet phone?

Would you please offer me some advice on some phone/carrier options.

Thanks.

[the86d]

If you have an Android and have just a little bit of computer savvy, you can run an Open Source Android device, root it, and tether for free.

I left Verizon as they charge WAY too much for data plans. I even payed the early term fee on 2 phones...

iPhones are a bit more "locked down" than Android, and you will have to install the laggy iTunes (if you don't already use it), but do research on the phones, and mods for them before making a decision. (Even Locked bootloader Androids have a one-click workaround that should only have to be done once, rather than iPhones that have to be re-Jailbroken every time they drop an update if tethering... AND you can run Android phones with WPA/WPA2 encryption.)