3G vs. Wifi / AT&T vs. Sprint and other Smart Phone questions.

[FloriTexan]

I'm thinking of switching from Sprint to AT&T and upgrading to a Samsung Impression but first I need some education:

What are the differences between 3g (like on a smartphone) and WiFi (like on a blackberry).

Looking for comments re AT&T service, phones, etc. I've been with Sprint for years and am tired of the constant problems. It also bugs me that they offer better deals on phones to new subscribers than to returning subscribers.

I want a phone that has a good GWERTY keyboard (I'm a secretary for many years and typing is my job and downsizing to these small keyboards have been a huge block for me).

I want a decent to good camera phone and video with sound. I know the Impression has no flash, but I'm not too concerned with that as most of the photos I'll want to take are in daylight - casual stuff. I have my digital SLR for all else.

I want to send/receive emails NOT TEXT MESSAGES - not a texter - at all. Would AT&T assign me a email address with an at&t.com on the end? Can I also access my home broadband account? I'd like to be able to do both.

I like the look of the new touch phones but what are the detriments?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice you can offer.

[NMDemDist2]

1. i may be wrong but 3g is speed I think and WiFi just means you can pick

it up at 'hotspots' like Starbucks and McDonalds

as for Sprint, just call to cancel your service and they'll give the store away to keep you. I've done it a couple times and got GREAT deals.....

I'm cancelling them for the last time this month cuz their coverage sux here, but they managed to keep me for almost 3 extra years with GREAT deals...

[FloriTexan]

2. Thanks....

I have been with them for over 6 years and have had constant problems mostly with customer service. Threatened to leave several times it was just too much of a hassel to change. I tried to call Sprint to talk to someone with my questions and it was a huge effort. I called my local AT&T store and a human answered the phone and indulged all my questions, happily. I got off the phone and then thought of the ones I posted above, but also looking for other's experiences.