Results 1 to 15 of 15
  1. #1
    I'd like to buy a Samsung SPH i500. Sprint no longer cells this phone.
    Is there a reputable source for this phone? Price is less critical than
    hassle -- I tend to avoid eBay for example (stolen phones, hassles,
    etc).

    Any tips?

    Thanks,
    john

    meta: jfaughnan, jgfaughnan, PalmOS, Sprint, SprintPCS




    See More: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone




  2. #2
    John Faughnan
    Guest

    Re: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone

    I can answer this myself for general reference. I could not find a
    source for this phone other than eBay. Sprint has pulled them from all
    outlets. Sprint has also "killed" the proxy server the bundled "Blazer"
    web browser runs on.

    I ended up going with eBay, choosing the most reputable vendor I could
    by various means and paying immediately. Tragically this meant I had to
    get another (bleepin) PayPal account. The phone cost about $160 or so.

    We'll see how the phone activation goes, since Sprint, of course,
    despises the idea of buying a phone via eBay rather than paying them.
    I'll report here on how Sprint respondes.

    john
    [email protected]
    meta: jfaughnan, jgfaughnan, PalmOS, Sprint, SprintPCS




  3. #3

    Re: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone

    Got one. Like it better than anything else they have out there. Head
    over to www.pdaphonehome.com for an excellent resource. Ebay is the
    only way to go - word to the wise - check the ESN before buying and
    make sure the vendor has good feedback.

    Cheers!




  4. #4
    Jerome Zelinske
    Guest

    Re: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone

    I have boughten phones on ebay and had no problem when activating them
    on Sprint PCS.



  5. #5
    Kyler Laird
    Guest

    Re: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone

    [email protected] writes:

    >I'd like to buy a Samsung SPH i500. Sprint no longer cells this phone.
    >Is there a reputable source for this phone?


    Not sure how reputable they are these days but I recall seeing some at
    Tiger Direct when I was looking about a month ago. There were a couple
    places that had them refurbished.

    Anyway, I don't think eBay is your only choice.

    Good luck.

    --kyler



  6. #6
    AZ Nomad
    Guest

    Re: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone

    On Tue, 22 Nov 2005 14:58:17 GMT, Jerome Zelinske <[email protected]> wrote:


    > I have boughten phones on ebay and had no problem when activating them
    >on Sprint PCS.


    I searched froogle and found mine, a 'refurbished' unit, for $150. It
    didn't look like it had ever been used; probably was returned by somebody
    who couldn't figure it out.



  7. #7
    O/Siris
    Guest

    Re: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone

    In article <[email protected]>,
    [email protected] says...
    > I can answer this myself for general reference. I could not find a
    > source for this phone other than eBay. Sprint has pulled them from all
    > outlets. Sprint has also "killed" the proxy server the bundled "Blazer"
    > web browser runs on.
    >


    Not accurate. The Blazer browser ran through a proxy operated by Palm
    (actually PalmOne, I think). Not Sprint. Palm provided an alternative
    browser, nWeb from Innova, for free for a short time. That ended Oct
    31st. And, that browser would *not* be part of the OS as Blazer was,
    meaning it used up the precious storage space available on the phone.

    So Blazer doesn't work anymore. I don't think there's any way to change
    that. And nWeb isn't free anymore. But it wasn't Sprint's doing. Not
    this time.

    --
    RØß
    O/Siris
    -+-
    A thing moderately good
    is not so good as it ought to be.
    Moderation in temper is always a virtue,
    but moderation in principle is always a vice.
    +Thomas Paine, "The Rights of Man", 1792+



  8. #8
    John Faughnan
    Guest

    Re: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone

    Well the vendor feedback was good and the phone activated well. Sprint
    had no questions or comments.

    Unfortunately the (refurbished) phone is defective (bad digitizer lower
    left side) and the vendor sent the wrong CD in the package. (KM
    electronics - http://stores.channeladvisor.com/km-electronics).

    So I'm pretty annoyed! Guess I lost this gamble. Now I see how well KM
    Electronics works when something goes (very) wrong.

    john
    [email protected]

    meta: jfaughnan, jgfaughnan, PalmOS, KMElectronics, defective, bad




  9. #9
    Scooterflex
    Guest

    Re: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone

    If you want the CD I can rip it and post it in another group for you. I have
    the i500 as well and I think it's a great phone other than mine also has the
    bad writting area in the lower left. I bought mine brand new from Sprint
    less than a year ago and since it's still under warranty I plan on getting a
    replacement.

    "John Faughnan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Well the vendor feedback was good and the phone activated well. Sprint
    > had no questions or comments.
    >
    > Unfortunately the (refurbished) phone is defective (bad digitizer lower
    > left side) and the vendor sent the wrong CD in the package. (KM
    > electronics - http://stores.channeladvisor.com/km-electronics).
    >
    > So I'm pretty annoyed! Guess I lost this gamble. Now I see how well KM
    > Electronics works when something goes (very) wrong.
    >
    > john
    > [email protected]
    >
    > meta: jfaughnan, jgfaughnan, PalmOS, KMElectronics, defective, bad
    >






  10. #10
    Scooterflex
    Guest

    Re: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone

    Email me if you want me to post the CD in another group for you. I don't
    check the group very often.

    "Scooterflex" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > If you want the CD I can rip it and post it in another group for you. I

    have
    > the i500 as well and I think it's a great phone other than mine also has

    the
    > bad writting area in the lower left. I bought mine brand new from Sprint
    > less than a year ago and since it's still under warranty I plan on getting

    a
    > replacement.
    >
    > "John Faughnan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Well the vendor feedback was good and the phone activated well. Sprint
    > > had no questions or comments.
    > >
    > > Unfortunately the (refurbished) phone is defective (bad digitizer lower
    > > left side) and the vendor sent the wrong CD in the package. (KM
    > > electronics - http://stores.channeladvisor.com/km-electronics).
    > >
    > > So I'm pretty annoyed! Guess I lost this gamble. Now I see how well KM
    > > Electronics works when something goes (very) wrong.
    > >
    > > john
    > > [email protected]
    > >
    > > meta: jfaughnan, jgfaughnan, PalmOS, KMElectronics, defective, bad
    > >

    >
    >






  11. #11

    Re: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone

    Thanks, that's very generous! I actually have another convenient source
    for the CD. The bad digitizer is very annoying, particularly since it's
    natural to suspect that's why the phone was returned or sold in the
    first place. It's interesting that you have a similar problem with a
    brand new phone. I don't have a warranty of course.

    I thought I was really out of luck, since when I (somewhat
    delinquently) checked the terms of service of KM electronics I got the
    distinct impression it wasn't worth dealing with them about this. I
    took note of KM electronic's statement that "if you give me a bad
    rating in eBay there will be no further support" -- an interesting
    strategy. I gave 'em a bad rating.

    Thinking about it more, I realized I could work around the 'dead zone'
    by judicious use of the OK/cancel buttons and using the alternative
    methods common in PalmOS (example: I can't add a shortcut number the
    standard way, but there's an option menu item to do the same thing I
    can get at. So with some playing I think I can make it work for my wife
    for at least the next few months.

    I won't do eBay and PayPal with a vendor again, but I might do it with
    a trustworthy individual who's not a big eBay seller.

    I really regret that Samsung killed the PalmOS i550 (Sprint cancelled
    the contract I think). The i500 is very close to being a great phone;
    with a few usability tweaks it would have been there. I will use mine
    until it breaks -- or I transfer it to my wife.

    john

    meta: jfaughnan, jgfaughnan, PalmOS, KMElectronics, defective, bad,
    Samsung SPH i500, PalmOS


    Scooterflex wrote:
    > If you want the CD I can rip it and post it in another group for you. I have
    > the i500 as well and I think it's a great phone other than mine also has the
    > bad writting area in the lower left. I bought mine brand new from Sprint
    > less than a year ago and since it's still under warranty I plan on getting a
    > replacement.
    >
    > "John Faughnan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Well the vendor feedback was good and the phone activated well. Sprint
    > > had no questions or comments.
    > >
    > > Unfortunately the (refurbished) phone is defective (bad digitizer lower
    > > left side) and the vendor sent the wrong CD in the package. (KM
    > > electronics - http://stores.channeladvisor.com/km-electronics).
    > >
    > > So I'm pretty annoyed! Guess I lost this gamble. Now I see how well KM
    > > Electronics works when something goes (very) wrong.
    > >
    > > john
    > > [email protected]
    > >
    > > meta: jfaughnan, jgfaughnan, PalmOS, KMElectronics, defective, bad
    > >





  12. #12
    Scooterflex
    Guest

    Re: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone

    I'm still hoping that they come out with something similar to the i500. I
    think it's a great phone. For my usage a Treo 650 is just too big for me to
    carry while I'm on my motorcycle and I like the flip design, something the
    Treo lacks. When I'm riding in colder weather those bars phoe have a
    tendency of making calls on their own from my jacket pressing the buttons
    and since I always forget to lock the key pad the flip phones are the best
    for me. I also like it because it's very small compared to my HUGE Tungsten
    C so the i500 allows me to leave my big Palm at home and still have access
    to my most used applications like Pocket Quicken and Auto Slate. Other than
    an SD slot and more memory I think it's the best phone I ever owned. You
    might want to take a look at this website... here you can change the wall
    paper to anything you like if you down load the application. I use it and it
    works wonderfully. I bought mine last March and since it's still under
    warranty I can return it. I sold my old Sanyo camera phone on eBay a few
    years ago and the guy who bought it was very happy with it. I was thinking
    of selling my Sanyo RL2000 on eBay as well but I loved it so much I figured
    I would keep it as a back up phone just in case. If you need any help with
    the phone feel free to email me. I don't check this email every day but I do
    check it a few times a week.

    http://i500.nopdesign.com/

    <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Thanks, that's very generous! I actually have another convenient source
    > for the CD. The bad digitizer is very annoying, particularly since it's
    > natural to suspect that's why the phone was returned or sold in the
    > first place. It's interesting that you have a similar problem with a
    > brand new phone. I don't have a warranty of course.
    >
    > I thought I was really out of luck, since when I (somewhat
    > delinquently) checked the terms of service of KM electronics I got the
    > distinct impression it wasn't worth dealing with them about this. I
    > took note of KM electronic's statement that "if you give me a bad
    > rating in eBay there will be no further support" -- an interesting
    > strategy. I gave 'em a bad rating.
    >
    > Thinking about it more, I realized I could work around the 'dead zone'
    > by judicious use of the OK/cancel buttons and using the alternative
    > methods common in PalmOS (example: I can't add a shortcut number the
    > standard way, but there's an option menu item to do the same thing I
    > can get at. So with some playing I think I can make it work for my wife
    > for at least the next few months.
    >
    > I won't do eBay and PayPal with a vendor again, but I might do it with
    > a trustworthy individual who's not a big eBay seller.
    >
    > I really regret that Samsung killed the PalmOS i550 (Sprint cancelled
    > the contract I think). The i500 is very close to being a great phone;
    > with a few usability tweaks it would have been there. I will use mine
    > until it breaks -- or I transfer it to my wife.
    >
    > john
    >
    > meta: jfaughnan, jgfaughnan, PalmOS, KMElectronics, defective, bad,
    > Samsung SPH i500, PalmOS
    >
    >
    > Scooterflex wrote:
    > > If you want the CD I can rip it and post it in another group for you. I

    have
    > > the i500 as well and I think it's a great phone other than mine also has

    the
    > > bad writting area in the lower left. I bought mine brand new from Sprint
    > > less than a year ago and since it's still under warranty I plan on

    getting a
    > > replacement.
    > >
    > > "John Faughnan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > > news:[email protected]...
    > > > Well the vendor feedback was good and the phone activated well. Sprint
    > > > had no questions or comments.
    > > >
    > > > Unfortunately the (refurbished) phone is defective (bad digitizer

    lower
    > > > left side) and the vendor sent the wrong CD in the package. (KM
    > > > electronics - http://stores.channeladvisor.com/km-electronics).
    > > >
    > > > So I'm pretty annoyed! Guess I lost this gamble. Now I see how well KM
    > > > Electronics works when something goes (very) wrong.
    > > >
    > > > john
    > > > [email protected]
    > > >
    > > > meta: jfaughnan, jgfaughnan, PalmOS, KMElectronics, defective, bad
    > > >

    >






  13. #13
    Tinman
    Guest

    Re: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone

    Scooterflex wrote:
    > I'm still hoping that they come out with something similar to the
    > i500. I think it's a great phone. For my usage a Treo 650 is just too
    > big for me to carry while I'm on my motorcycle


    I ride a motorcycle just about every day, and carry my Treo 650 just
    fine. I have a pouch-style belt case that stays put just fine on my
    belt, or in a pocket of my jacket. I don't notice it any more than my
    Sanyo 8200 (which is a little bit thicker, albeit smaller in the other
    two dimensions).


    > and I like the flip
    > design, something the Treo lacks.


    While I too prefer flip phones, I am willing to forego it in the case of
    my Treo. It just offers me so much more functionality. (Plus, I used to
    carry an iPaq PPC *plus* my phone--though I began to carry the PPC
    less-and-less.)


    > When I'm riding in colder weather
    > those bars phoe have a tendency of making calls on their own from my
    > jacket pressing the buttons and since I always forget to lock the key
    > pad the flip phones are the best for me.


    This is not really an issue with the Treo 650 (Keyguard).


    > I also like it because it's
    > very small compared to my HUGE Tungsten C so the i500 allows me to
    > leave my big Palm at home and still have access to my most used
    > applications like Pocket Quicken and Auto Slate. Other than an SD
    > slot and more memory I think it's the best phone I ever owned.


    It is a nice phone, if you are willing accept those limitations. And if
    SPCS allowed easy online phone swaps I might have one (for the times
    when I want to carry a smaller phone, without losing at least my core
    PIM apps).

    But as time goes by I find I am doing more and more with my Treo; stuff
    that is simply not possible with an i500: streaming Internet radio and
    Shoutcast (in pretty darn good quality, at least at 56 Kbps), streaming
    MobiTV (quality varies from acceptable to barely acceptable) and much
    more.

    There are also, according to an inside document released--and then
    immediately pulled by an apparently disgruntled Palm investor--that
    reports that the two next Treos will arrive this coming January. Verizon
    is to get the 700w (Windows Mobile version, for which they have
    exclusivity for the first six months) and Sprint the 700p (PalmOS).
    Though I somehow doubt a January release (would have expected leaked
    photos of working pre-production models by now), it seems for sure a new
    Palm and WM Treo are on their way. Personally, I'm glad Verizon gets to
    deal with the first WM version while Sprint gets PalmOS.

    The PDF is down, but at this moment you can still find it via Google.
    Search using "Palm_SAGIO_Research.pdf" and towards the bottom of the
    page there should be a PDF link for "Palm Inc. October 2005." While the
    link is down, "View as HTML" still works (for now!).


    --
    Mike





  14. #14
    John Faughnan
    Guest

    Re: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone

    Wow. More bad news. I would discourage anyone from buying an i500 on
    eBay.

    My first eBay phone from KM-Electronics had a bad digitizer. I gave up
    on them and tried a smaller supplier. Guy's been responsive, but so far
    he's sent 3 phones:

    1. Phone #1 was locked and missing its IR port.
    2. Phone #2 was missing its IR port.
    3. Phone #3 looked great -- until I activated it and tested the sound.
    It only works as a phone about 1/2 the time. Comes and goes.

    All were defective, two obviously so. The guy may be responsive, but
    he's not paying much attention to the phones. I'll see if he'll take
    them all back and refund my money.

    My gut sense is that somehow, but hook and by crook, Sprint and various
    retailers have dumped an enormous number of broken phones into the eBay
    marketplace. I'm running zero for four. Those are pretty darned awful
    odds.

    This experience has also given me some interesting insights into eBay
    which I'll turn into a blog post sometime
    (http://jfaughnan.blogspot.com/).

    john
    [email protected]

    meta: jfaughnan, jgfaughnan, PalmOS, defective, bad, Samsung SPH i500,
    PalmOS, eBay




  15. #15
    Scooterflex
    Guest

    Re: Buying a Samsung i500 Sprint phone

    Thnaks for the insight. I think I'll wait until at least when the new
    version comes out for me to make a decision. But for now, I'm saving for a
    new bike. I'm looking at the Honda VLX or the Shadow Spirit.

    "Tinman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Scooterflex wrote:
    > > I'm still hoping that they come out with something similar to the
    > > i500. I think it's a great phone. For my usage a Treo 650 is just too
    > > big for me to carry while I'm on my motorcycle

    >
    > I ride a motorcycle just about every day, and carry my Treo 650 just
    > fine. I have a pouch-style belt case that stays put just fine on my
    > belt, or in a pocket of my jacket. I don't notice it any more than my
    > Sanyo 8200 (which is a little bit thicker, albeit smaller in the other
    > two dimensions).
    >
    >
    > > and I like the flip
    > > design, something the Treo lacks.

    >
    > While I too prefer flip phones, I am willing to forego it in the case of
    > my Treo. It just offers me so much more functionality. (Plus, I used to
    > carry an iPaq PPC *plus* my phone--though I began to carry the PPC
    > less-and-less.)
    >
    >
    > > When I'm riding in colder weather
    > > those bars phoe have a tendency of making calls on their own from my
    > > jacket pressing the buttons and since I always forget to lock the key
    > > pad the flip phones are the best for me.

    >
    > This is not really an issue with the Treo 650 (Keyguard).
    >
    >
    > > I also like it because it's
    > > very small compared to my HUGE Tungsten C so the i500 allows me to
    > > leave my big Palm at home and still have access to my most used
    > > applications like Pocket Quicken and Auto Slate. Other than an SD
    > > slot and more memory I think it's the best phone I ever owned.

    >
    > It is a nice phone, if you are willing accept those limitations. And if
    > SPCS allowed easy online phone swaps I might have one (for the times
    > when I want to carry a smaller phone, without losing at least my core
    > PIM apps).
    >
    > But as time goes by I find I am doing more and more with my Treo; stuff
    > that is simply not possible with an i500: streaming Internet radio and
    > Shoutcast (in pretty darn good quality, at least at 56 Kbps), streaming
    > MobiTV (quality varies from acceptable to barely acceptable) and much
    > more.
    >
    > There are also, according to an inside document released--and then
    > immediately pulled by an apparently disgruntled Palm investor--that
    > reports that the two next Treos will arrive this coming January. Verizon
    > is to get the 700w (Windows Mobile version, for which they have
    > exclusivity for the first six months) and Sprint the 700p (PalmOS).
    > Though I somehow doubt a January release (would have expected leaked
    > photos of working pre-production models by now), it seems for sure a new
    > Palm and WM Treo are on their way. Personally, I'm glad Verizon gets to
    > deal with the first WM version while Sprint gets PalmOS.
    >
    > The PDF is down, but at this moment you can still find it via Google.
    > Search using "Palm_SAGIO_Research.pdf" and towards the bottom of the
    > page there should be a PDF link for "Palm Inc. October 2005." While the
    > link is down, "View as HTML" still works (for now!).
    >
    >
    > --
    > Mike
    >
    >






  • Similar Threads