Samsung A501 v A701 "NextG" phone comparison

I'm looking at the Telstra website. I'm comparing the features between
the two Samsungs currently available for 3G 850 networks.

It says in part:
501 701

WAP Compatible NO YES
GPRS NO NO
1xRTT NO NO

What do the above mean? It says "Internet capable" and I've checked this
out in the shop. I thought that GPRS and WAP enabled the phone to
connect to the 'net. Is this not the case?

Also it says in the list that neither model plays back video. That is
not correct as the 501 at least does (again, tested it in the shop).

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› See More: Samsung A501 v A701 "NextG" phone comparison

Emjaye wrote:
> I'm looking at the Telstra website. I'm comparing the features between
> the two Samsungs currently available for 3G 850 networks.
>
> It says in part:
> 501 701
>
> WAP Compatible NO YES
> GPRS NO NO
> 1xRTT NO NO

That is a totally flawed comparison table, look at this one:
http://www.telstrabusiness.com/NR/rd...0_handsets.pdf

I've just gotten the Samsung A501 and theres a few things I thought I
should point out for possible buyers. The T9 isn't automatic and you
have to change it every time you want to do it. I haven't really had
any other problems but I found out by accident how to show the clock on
the exterior display. I'm sure theres nothing in the book but if you
hold down either the volume buttons or camera button on the sides, it
lights up the clock on the exterior display so you don't have to keep
opening the phone to check the time.

I don't know about this video thing, i don't really use video.



Emjaye wrote:
> I'm looking at the Telstra website. I'm comparing the features between
> the two Samsungs currently available for 3G 850 networks.
>
> It says in part:
> 501 701
>
> WAP Compatible NO YES
> GPRS NO NO
> 1xRTT NO NO
>
> What do the above mean? It says "Internet capable" and I've checked this
> out in the shop. I thought that GPRS and WAP enabled the phone to
> connect to the 'net. Is this not the case?
>
> Also it says in the list that neither model plays back video. That is
> not correct as the 501 at least does (again, tested it in the shop).

[email protected] wrote:
> I've just gotten the Samsung A501 and theres a few things I thought I
> should point out for possible buyers. The T9 isn't automatic and you
> have to change it every time you want to do it. I haven't really had
> any other problems but I found out by accident how to show the clock on
> the exterior display. I'm sure theres nothing in the book but if you
> hold down either the volume buttons or camera button on the sides, it
> lights up the clock on the exterior display so you don't have to keep
> opening the phone to check the time.
>
> I don't know about this video thing, i don't really use video.

Does this phone have the provision for an external antenna?

Graeme said....

> Does this phone have the provision for an external antenna?

No. The A501 just has one of those stumpy molded in antennas,
reminiscent of the older GSM phones.

Emjaye wrote:
> Graeme said....
>
>> Does this phone have the provision for an external antenna?
>
> No. The A501 just has one of those stumpy molded in antennas,
> reminiscent of the older GSM phones.
>
>

I thought that might be the case. It'll be interesting to see how
coverage compares in rural and remote areas without the ability to
connect external antennas.

Graeme said....

>> No. The A501 just has one of those stumpy molded in antennas,
>> reminiscent of the older GSM phones.

> I thought that might be the case. It'll be interesting to see how
> coverage compares in rural and remote areas without the ability to
> connect external antennas.

If it's anything like my 2280 CDMA unit, probably not much. Its coverage
or signal quality didn't seem to change whether the phone was in the car
kit (Nokia CARK126) which had an external antenna.

Emjaye wrote:
> Graeme said....
>
>>> No. The A501 just has one of those stumpy molded in antennas,
>>> reminiscent of the older GSM phones.
>
>> I thought that might be the case. It'll be interesting to see how
>> coverage compares in rural and remote areas without the ability to
>> connect external antennas.
>
> If it's anything like my 2280 CDMA unit, probably not much. Its coverage
> or signal quality didn't seem to change whether the phone was in the car
> kit (Nokia CARK126) which had an external antenna.
>

I think it depends how the antenna connects. I had a Nokia 6385 and I
currently have a Nokia 6255. They both use direct physical connections
to attach the external antenna. Others work on an induction system.
This latter style doesn't seem to show as much improvement as when it is
directly connected.

I had a 2280 as a loan phone for a week or so, but I forget how it connects.

Graeme said....

> I had a 2280 as a loan phone for a week or so, but I forget how it
> connects.

It connects to the car kit via its "pop port" thing at the base.

I remember when I had the 5110 series and later on a CDMA 6385 and a
6310i that had a plug thingy just behind the antenna which connected to
a set of contacts in the cradle. Presumably that was the antenna
connection.

Emjaye wrote:
> Graeme said....
>
>> I had a 2280 as a loan phone for a week or so, but I forget how it
>> connects.
>
> It connects to the car kit via its "pop port" thing at the base.
>
> I remember when I had the 5110 series and later on a CDMA 6385 and a
> 6310i that had a plug thingy just behind the antenna which connected to
> a set of contacts in the cradle. Presumably that was the antenna
> connection.
>
>

Yes. The little plastic / rubber plug comes out and provides a connection.