Which cell phone?

Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
edited December 2003 in Science & Tech
I'm apparently getting a new phone for christmas, and my parents want to know which one I want.

I require:
Bluetooth-enabled
Color screen
Internet access (sharing over bluetooth would be good)
Vibrate mode (I'm getting it because I need to be able to leave it on in class in case of an emergency)


Any suggestions?

Comments

  • BuddyJBuddyJ Dept. of Propaganda OKC Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Garg just got a Sony Ericson T610. It's snazzy. It has all the features you want, plus a camera.
  • LawnMMLawnMM Colorado
    edited December 2003
    I'd say get one of those virgin mobile phones for their tv ad if nothing else...:eek2:
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Sony Ericsson P900. Nuff said.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited December 2003
    How much is it tho, Shorty? I kinda have to keep it under ~$200
    I was actually looking at the T616, which is apparently the same as the 610...
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Since when have you ever worried about "keeping it under ~$200" :wtf:

    T610.. isn't as good as it looks. The screen is barely readable in sunlight.

    Look for a Sony Ericsson Z600, it is the same phone effectively as the T610 but clamshell, and has a proper back reflective screen.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited December 2003
    Parents. They said <$200 :rolleyes:
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Z600 or T630 it is then.

    Bear in mind that neither of those two will give you good internet on their small screens. You are best of bluetoothing to a laptop/PDA and using the phone as an internet modem (either by GPRS/EDGE/HCSD or dialup CSD).

    Are you in a GSM or CDMA area?
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited December 2003
    I don't know for sure; I'd have to check. And yeah, I was planning on using the internet function on my laptop or palm anyhow.
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Z600 bluetooth ---> PDA/laptop.

    It also has a good email client on it, for when u want to send emails and dont have the time to use the PDA.
  • EnverexEnverex Worcester, UK Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    The T610 is easily readable in sunlight! Infact, I have never had a problem of not being able to see the screen...
  • JimboraeJimborae Newbury, Berks, UK New
    edited December 2003
    Geeky, from personal experience listen to Shorty when it comes to phones, he's a total phone nerd (and I work for a mobile company in the UK!)

    The old T68i screen couldn't be read in sunlight the T610 is better, still not great though.

    You need to know for sure whether you're on CDMA or GSM. Bear in mind if you do a lot of travelling overseas you wont be able to use a CDMA phone as virtually every where else uses GSM.

    If you're gonna go GSM you might like to consider also the Nokia 6600. I have one and am very impressed. Bluetooth, GPRS, camera, video, good size & res screen, Real One player, Opera web browser, Symbian operating system so there are loads of 3rd party apps being developed all the time and its much cheaper than a P900.
  • EnverexEnverex Worcester, UK Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    The bluetooth is a bit stupid on the Nokia 6600 though, you have to click OK before you can do anything, and you have to click it every time you try to do something (even though you have established a partnership with code).
  • JimboraeJimborae Newbury, Berks, UK New
    edited December 2003
    Enverex had this to say
    The bluetooth is a bit stupid on the Nokia 6600 though, you have to click OK before you can do anything, and you have to click it every time you try to do something (even though you have established a partnership with code).


    NS, thats true but I dont think it should be like that as there is the option to connect to trusted device without confirmation.

    I think the blue tooth has a few minor bugs in it which should hopefully be taken care of in a future firmware upgrade. Overall though I still really like the phone
  • RADARADA Apple Valley, CA Member
    edited December 2003
    LOL!
  • KwitkoKwitko Sheriff of Banning (Retired) By the thing near the stuff Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Phones are dependent upon on which carrier you choose. You should probably pick your carrier first, then see what they have available.
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Im a nerd with everything ;D:wtf:
  • EnverexEnverex Worcester, UK Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Mr. Kwitko had this to say
    Phones are dependent upon on which carrier you choose. You should probably pick your carrier first, then see what they have available.

    Don't you have anything like "Pay & Go" over there? Buy a phone, pick a sim from a supplier, then just put credit on the phone when you need it.
  • gtghmgtghm New
    edited December 2003
    Enverex had this to say
    Mr. Kwitko had this to say
    Phones are dependent upon on which carrier you choose. You should probably pick your carrier first, then see what they have available.

    Don't you have anything like "Pay & Go" over there? Buy a phone, pick a sim from a supplier, then just put credit on the phone when you need it.


    No we don't its is carrier dependent...
    Not to mention that there is actualy 3 different standards here now CDMA, TDMA, and GSM. GSM is the one that is new for most US carriers.

    I just upgraded to a shared plan myself so I did a lot of research out there... I don't need all of the stuff that you need geeky so I probably can't really coment too much on your situation. But I did find out that for you to have the features you are looking for it will most likey be GSM, however the problem with GSM right now is that its coverage area is fairly small and depending on the plan you can get hit with some pretty hefty roaming charges.

    I know that with AT&T (who has the most complete coverage in the US) The biggest problem for me was that the 2 different GSM plans only gave you one or the other of features...

    For example their local plan gave no roaming but you had to pay for long didtance, while their national plan gave you free long distance but socked you with roamoing charges if you went off the GSM network. The catch there is that the GSM network is not as big as AT&T's TDMA network so your calling area would actually be smaller until they expand the net work and you might find that you would be getting hit with some hefty roaming charges, about $.79 an minute.

    Of course they are not going to expand it until the demand grows enough to justify the dollars to spend to expand it...

    I think that who ever it was that said it, Geeky, you should pick the carier then you can pick the phone...

    Cheers,
    "g"
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited December 2003
    The service provider will probably be Cingular, since that's what I have now, unless someone recommends something better.

    List of the phones available in my area:
    http://onlinestore.cingular.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ES_PHONES?storeAlias=sfrsfr&storeId=11551&catalogId=11551&langId=-1&svcAreaId=SBC
  • KwitkoKwitko Sheriff of Banning (Retired) By the thing near the stuff Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    I'd say the Sony Ericsson T616.
  • gtghmgtghm New
    edited December 2003
    Well unless I missed something only theSiemens S56 only supports Bluetooth...

    Every other phone feature list dosen't mention Bluetooth at all...

    Now, from the research I have done, The actual phones may support the technology from the manufacture but the supply deal with the carrier will have that functioin diabled in the phone.
    For example, I just got a Nokia 3560 , according to the features from Nokia the 3560 supports the Mobile Internet but AT&T is only offering the internet on its GSM network so this phone came with that feature diabled and I can not get the net on this phone.

    If Bluetooth is a necessity you better do some more research on phones and contact the carrier to see which phones they have that come with that feature...

    gl,
    "g"
  • GargGarg Purveyor of Lincoln Nightmares Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    I have a hell of a time reading my T610 in the sunlight. Thank God for voice dialing (and shadows :D).

    The camera is amusing, but really low resolution. If anyone is interested in taking decent photos with a phone, most camera attachments for phones are better than built in models.

    My service is with T-mobile. I can use the "internet," but only the services off their website. It's slightly useful, but if I can't find a way to access the rest of the web, I'll turn off online access next month.

    The bluetooth works like a charm, after sorting out some quirks with the usb bluetooth adapter I bought.
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