i could have done that also but for me my cell phone is just a comunication device, i currently have a lower end samsung that works amazing as a phone and it can skype out to canada so i can call my girlfriend. however this has resulted in my minitues going over. i bought and am getting the touch pro 2 for only one reasion. windows mobile skype. i pay 8$ for 3 months of unlimited calling over data to canada and i know i could "hack" to get teathering on my cellphone, my laptop dosnt have bluetooth so skype on my laptop is not really a option. i did get in on the google voice beta and the idea that the htc hero can do data for google voice calls (not minitues) seems nice but overall 30$ a month is 720 USD for 2 years where as 60 is 1400 if its worth it to get those extra features, if you can aford that go for it. i am on sero becuase i dont use a phone that often. only to call my girlfriend really, i have a laptop and a ipod touch and a psp for mobile gaming apps ect ect, my phone is somthing that should be funtional and smooth. and easy to turn off when i visit canada as not to get insane charges.
to be honest my ideal phone is a 日本語けたい but those dont work on sprint, and when you unlock a phone for one of the gsm networks you lose the japanese service so there is no real point in doing it. besides pay by cellphone isnt even in the usa and nether is QR Codes for the most part. even with android and windows mobile our phone networks suck compared to japanese cellphones. not to mention the design japanese keitai are long and thin flip phones with insane megapixal cameras and high def tv on them. the panasonic viera cellphone has a plasma screen just look at this sharp cell phone
http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/product/f...07a/index.html and tell me thats not somthing we over here in america or uk or whever would want >.< your unlimited data is basicly 40$ on docomo if you dont mind slow data, if you want fast data its around 100$ a month. however international roaming rates are insane. so it would cost me close to 300$ a month with international charges to have a japanese phone... with tons of features that i couldnt use... because i am not living in japan.