Need help picking smart phone

Most phones come equipped with the ability to work as a mobile hotspot- it's the cost factor ($20 additional dollars a month with Verizon) that makes it an unattractive feature.
With that said, almost every phone made since 2000 has Bluetooth connectivity, and there's software you can download/install/use in order to use your Bluetooth as wifi.

An added benefit of this, is Bluetooth connectivity is actually more secure in it's transmission from emission to reception (SSB) but is accordingly slower.

Though I doubt any of you would have a decent reason to use such a secure method of transmission considering you're all just drivers. And the information could be intercepted further down the line (say for instance, between your phone and the cellular tower) so this is more or less just a method of securing a single wireless transmission line.

But to recap; you don't acctualy need to get the "mobile wifi hotspot" in order to get mobile wifi.

Personaly, I recommend OpenGarden.
Easy to install, easy to use, free.

 

I think he meant Apple Maps, there was a huge screwup with them some months back. It was actually pretty funny, they had fields in the middle of nowhere listed as things like huge buildings, and airports listed as playgrounds- very funny, but awful maps.

But anywho; you can source Google maps through either the Iphone or Android. The only difference being that Android works with Google maps a bit better, though that's up for debate. Unless you're totally connected with a Google account and submit to all of Google's little rules, you'll never really experience the seamless connectivity it has to offer. This includes doing things like allowing your Android device to keep it's GPS locator on (which actually stays on whether or not you like it, or turn it off) or allow it to have access to your emails and such.

I know drivers can get a bit weird about having large corporations sticking their noses in the private sectors business, myself included.

But anyhow, yeah, Iphone has access to Google maps, but Android has better features with Google maps, because Android is owned by Google and everything on the Android platform is centered around Google's services.

 

Pretty run of the mill Android, the operating system software on that is about a year out of date, and is about to go way out of date when Android 5.0 is released in the coming months.
That's not an awful thing, but it will place limitations on some of the apps you can use, but not by a huge amount.

I'd say swing for a Motorola Droid if you can manage it. I got a years awesome service out of it before I accidentally broke it (let of on a drive tandem and started rolling forward...ouch...) It's actually got a slide-out keyboard, which makes typing a hell of a lot easier.


EDIT- OP, there's not a snowballs chance in Satans apartment I'd pay $400 for that. You can get an equally equipped smartphone elsewhere for less.

 

My DROID RAZR that was $200 two years ago at Verizon with a two year contract is now a free phone at Verizon with a two year contract. I love my RAZR, and I'm due for free upgrade in a couple of weeks (has it been two years already? but really see no reason to, except that the new RAZR Maxx or Ultra has a better battery life(rated at 48hrs I think). The only issue I've ever had with my RAZR has beenn the sucky battery life.

 

I have the Motorola droid razor m. Pretty easy to use smaller than most other phones. I run lots of trucking apps from drive axle to the apps for all 3 major truck stop chains then a few other apps as well

 

Drive axle apps? Can you elaborate Juan? Sounds like one I've missed and would like to have!

 

I have an android, with Verizon, and it is Ok. But my Son has an iPhone and comparing both! I think iPhone is better. My phone the battery dies really quickly, need to be charge twice a day some times. With the iPhone it goes for two days. With. Verizon you can have as many data as you prefer.