Notebooks Using a PocketPC Cell phone with US Mobile providers

I'm thinking of getting a PocketPC phone (NOT a smartphone) and want to find out if any US mobile providers (namely Sprint or Verison) will actually support them.

I don't want to pay any outrageous fees just to have phone service on a smartphone (it's like $100+/month just to talk on those things, not even have text messaging or wireless web!!), so I'm hoping that by using a pocket pc with phone chip inside I can just activate it as though it were a normal phone.

any experiences?

(The forums said Laptops = "Laptops and portables of all sorts" so I'm hoping this fits here)

 

To use Sprint/Verizon, the cell MUST BE CDMA. As such, the only CDMA PPC phones you are going to find that are well supported are, SURPRISE! VZW's phones. I myself have a i730 sitting by my feet, used but not in use. Wait a small bit, and then get the new ones coming out.

 

So is this a true PPC Phone, or a Smartphone? (I can't tell)

Does it cost any extra to talk on this than a regular phone?

My main concern is I want to be able to run standard PocketPC apps while still being able to talk on it like it was a cell phone, and not have to pay anything more than I'd pay for my current cheapie cell phone.

 

Ok. As of now, there are three approaches which are being taken by Microsoft in the mobile market.

(A) There are devices running Pocket PC 2003, which is simply the bog standard Pocket PC OS, with some custom who-ja-ma-jiggers to add functionality. It is the last generation of OS.
(B)There are devices running Windows Mobile 5.0.

1. Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC Edition is the new OS, and it functions just like PPC2003, except with (A) new features and (B) integrated phone bits.
2. Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Edition is Windows Mobile 5.0, but with enhancements to allow full usability without a touchscreen, and on displays with different aspects.

Windows Mobile 5.0 is the newest, however I'm not sure what runs on it. Best . Good luck.

In regards to the phone, it works just like a phone. You buy one, either with a plan or unlocked, and then drop the ESN into VZW's registration service and you're there.