Which PocketPC phone to go with?

I currently have Cingular service and a V551 phone. I've been looking
into buying a PocketPC for the last year or so and finally decided to
get a all in one, pocketpc/phone. I have used Palm in the past but am
not that impressed so am staying away from Treo and as well, I have
looked at Blackberry's. They seem more for email use and I will do a
lot of web browing, word documents, and other PocketPC programs.

My question, which system should I go with? It seems like the HP 6515
is nice. I really can't find much bad about it except for maybe size
and most of all though, no wi-fi. This is very important to me and
basically rules out getting this system. Is there a card that plugs
into this unit that woudl add wi-fi as well as possibly add memory?
If so, that means I may go with that system.

As well, I have looked at the Siemens X66. It has wi-fi and seems to
have a slide in keyboard making it more compact. Also, it doens't
have a camera which disappoints me but I would rather go without a
camera than without wi-fi. It seem this model is also more powerful
than the HP but it's over a year old and I don't see it for sale many
places. What are opinions of this model?

Most of all, I don't see any other models available but if there are
some or models I can get unlocked to use with Cingular I'd be
interested. As well, are there any upcoming models just around the
corner? If they are a big step up I'd be willing to wait. I would
something that is a great PocketPC as well as phone. It has to be
comfortable to use but since I have a bluetooth headset I'd be using
it that way half the time when I use it as a phone. I know there is a
new higher speed data service coming out with Cingular within the next
year. It would be nice if I'm able to get a system that supports
this. Thanks for any help.

---

› See More: Which PocketPC phone to go with?

I love my HP HW6515. They have an updated version (the 6700 series)
that is SUPPOSED to be out in a couple of months.

Has a pretty good phone, built in GPS, and does an excellent job of
surfing the internet and doing email.

I have used the GPS a couple of times and it was very good. I
recently was on a long flight that had no movie and I was able to play
a movie I had downloaded (prior to going to the airport) and watch it.
Where I traveled to, the people only had dialup and I used my phone to
get my email and do a little surfing without any problems.

Contacts are great. Calender is great.

I used the Treo 650 which was a very good phone but I am glad that I
swtiched up to the HP.

I am looking for some other programs now to use on my phone.

Check out www.phonescoop.com for some other reviews.


On Tue, 06 Dec 2005 00:49:46 -0700, Mark W
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I currently have Cingular service and a V551 phone. I've been looking
>into buying a PocketPC for the last year or so and finally decided to
>get a all in one, pocketpc/phone. I have used Palm in the past but am
>not that impressed so am staying away from Treo and as well, I have
>looked at Blackberry's. They seem more for email use and I will do a
>lot of web browing, word documents, and other PocketPC programs.
>
>My question, which system should I go with? It seems like the HP 6515
>is nice. I really can't find much bad about it except for maybe size
>and most of all though, no wi-fi. This is very important to me and
>basically rules out getting this system. Is there a card that plugs
>into this unit that woudl add wi-fi as well as possibly add memory?
>If so, that means I may go with that system.
>
>As well, I have looked at the Siemens X66. It has wi-fi and seems to
>have a slide in keyboard making it more compact. Also, it doens't
>have a camera which disappoints me but I would rather go without a
>camera than without wi-fi. It seem this model is also more powerful
>than the HP but it's over a year old and I don't see it for sale many
>places. What are opinions of this model?
>
>Most of all, I don't see any other models available but if there are
>some or models I can get unlocked to use with Cingular I'd be
>interested. As well, are there any upcoming models just around the
>corner? If they are a big step up I'd be willing to wait. I would
>something that is a great PocketPC as well as phone. It has to be
>comfortable to use but since I have a bluetooth headset I'd be using
>it that way half the time when I use it as a phone. I know there is a
>new higher speed data service coming out with Cingular within the next
>year. It would be nice if I'm able to get a system that supports
>this. Thanks for any help.

I see now that the 3G is coming out. It's not out where I live yet
but will any of these phones or the new HP coming out support this?

In article <[email protected]>,
Mark W <[email protected]> wrote:

> Most of all, I don't see any other models available but if there are
> some or models I can get unlocked to use with Cingular I'd be
> interested. As well, are there any upcoming models just around the
> corner? If they are a big step up I'd be willing to wait.

It isn't PocketPC, but the smartphone I've been waiting for is the Nokia
9300. It's Symbion, not Palm. Its big advantage over the Treo, in my
view, is that it has a miniature laptop configuration, hinged along the
long side like the old Psions. That gives you something closer to a
usable keyboard and a screen wide enough to display a full line of text
or a web page of reasonable size. I think the screen resolution is 600
horizontal by 240 vertical--not as good as a laptop, but better than
most of the competition.

The 9300 has neither WiFi nor a camera. The 9300i, which has been
announced but isn't out yet, adds WiFi. The 9500 has WiFi and a camera,
but is noticeably bigger and heavier.

Cingular announced a couple of months ago that they would have the 9300
in November, but they didn't, and I have been unable to find out how
soon it will be available. The European models (900/1800/1900) of the
9300 and 9500 have been out for quite a while, and I think T-Mobile
supports the 9500, although I'm not sure.

--
Remove NOPSAM to email
www.daviddfriedman.com

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
>
> As well, I have looked at the Siemens X66. It has wi-fi and seems to
> have a slide in keyboard making it more compact. Also, it doens't
> have a camera which disappoints me but I would rather go without a
> camera than without wi-fi. It seem this model is also more powerful
> than the HP but it's over a year old and I don't see it for sale many
> places. What are opinions of this model?

To each his own. I don't want--and can't use--a camera. I go several
places that ban cameras and with a phone/pda I'd be leaving BOTH the
phone and the pda at the front desk--not good.

There are several good PPC phones that can be obtained unlocked for
Cingular. IMHO none are perfect but the latest come close. I'll try to
summarize a few. You can tell what I've been looking at to replace my
GAIT phone once GSM is in all the areas I need :-)

One VERY popular model is the iMate JAM (made by HTC the same people
that actually make the Siemens SX66) because of the nice compromise in
size--it's much smaller than the SX66 but not too small to get good use
of the screen. Here's one review but there should be dozens on google.

http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?a...reviews&id=541

Best price probably (true on most of these):
http://www.dweiniger.com/phones/jam.shtml

The current models (the original, a 3rd party version called the JAM128,
and a new HTC version with grey body and 128 RAM) do not have wifi or
edge. Also note the JAM is tri-band and there are TWO models--one for
overseas with 900 and one for the US with 850mhz. There are a couple of
new ones supposed to come out early next year.

The HTC Prophet (with wifi, edge, 2mb camera, sdio). NICE!!! One extra I
like on HTC products is a connector for an external antenna. One
preview:

http://msmobiles.com/news.php/4436.html

The O2 XDA Atom (very similar to the Prophet--early reports were
confusing the two).

http://www.expansys-usa.com/product.asp?code=126950

Some more:

The Eten M500 (Torq P100) available for some time.
The Eten M600 (Torq P100w) coming soon with wifi and WM5 but no edge

Then there is several versions of the HTC Wizard/iMate K-JAM/Qtek 9100.
It has a slide out keyboard (in landscape mode). WM5 and WM5 softkeys,
quadband, edge, wifi "g", "mini" SD card. In a word "EVERYTHING".
Shipping.

http://www.geek.com/hwswrev/pda/wizard/index.htm
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=781
http://www.dweiniger.com/kjam.shtml

AND...drumroll please...Cingular is about to get two of the Wizard
models (a slightly different look, more squared off). They appeared
"accidently" on the Cingular phone selection list awhile back. The HTC
8125 with camera and the HTC 8100 without camera. And prices even
without contract appear to be better than the K-JAM etc. They were
supposed to be out by now but apparently Cingular decided to hold off
due to some WM5 problem--probably after Jan1. Pic here:

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000780066430/

Assuming this actually happens this could become the most popular PDA
phone ever made. There's also a version for Sprint that's already out,
the PPC-6700 (which has an external antenna stub and some other internal
changes so it's really a very different beast).

And one last contender--too big for me. The HTC Universal/iMate JASJAR.
(No, that's *****ed right--no relation to a certain Star Wars
character!)

http://www.pdagold.com/articles/detail.asp?a=257

Next model of Wizard several months down the road maybe May: The HTC
Hermes.

Hope this helps.
--
Jud
Dallas TX USA

Thanks for all that info. I did see somewhere about the HTC Wizard
coming to Cingular early next year as well as about the HP 6715. For
most of these phones, is dialing easy to do? I know they don't have
keypads like a regular cell phone but I assume you just use the keys
on the keyboard but yet with a fold under keyboard that's not always
out.
Also, how well do unlocked phones work? From what I hear they are
simply phones that can work with any carrier but as well I know some
are different frequences and also, if you get them working do you run
into any problems down the line using a unlocked phone?

I hadn't finished going through your posts until now when I saw you
did mention the Wizard coming to CIngular. Overall that seems to have
everything I want and I can't wait to see it out. The only thing I
see is the processor is only 200 mhz but you can't have everything and
overall it looks like a great product.

I am still doing more reading and seems this is the phoen to go with.
I was concerned about the processor speed but realize it's dual core
so actually faster than almost any of the other processors.

Mark,

I too was looking at the 6515. Lack of WiFi didn't bother me too much as it
had BT (and you can add a WiFi via the SDIO slot). What turned me off was
the non standard square screen and the lack of WM5. Square screen can cause
compatibility problems with some existing apps. I did like the GPS, but
have not heard much good about it's accuracy.

What really turned me off the 6515, was the Nokia 6682. Not CE; but
Symbian. Used it to open and read PDF files. Used to to edit Word and
Excel documents. Viewed Powerpoint files. Nice browser and email with
attachments. Camera was surprisingly good. Not much bigger than my current
6230.

I'm getting one in two weeks.

Don
"Mark W" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I currently have Cingular service and a V551 phone. I've been looking
> into buying a PocketPC for the last year or so and finally decided to
> get a all in one, pocketpc/phone. I have used Palm in the past but am
> not that impressed so am staying away from Treo and as well, I have
> looked at Blackberry's. They seem more for email use and I will do a
> lot of web browing, word documents, and other PocketPC programs.
>
> My question, which system should I go with? It seems like the HP 6515
> is nice. I really can't find much bad about it except for maybe size
> and most of all though, no wi-fi. This is very important to me and
> basically rules out getting this system. Is there a card that plugs
> into this unit that woudl add wi-fi as well as possibly add memory?
> If so, that means I may go with that system.
>
> As well, I have looked at the Siemens X66. It has wi-fi and seems to
> have a slide in keyboard making it more compact. Also, it doens't
> have a camera which disappoints me but I would rather go without a
> camera than without wi-fi. It seem this model is also more powerful
> than the HP but it's over a year old and I don't see it for sale many
> places. What are opinions of this model?
>
> Most of all, I don't see any other models available but if there are
> some or models I can get unlocked to use with Cingular I'd be
> interested. As well, are there any upcoming models just around the
> corner? If they are a big step up I'd be willing to wait. I would
> something that is a great PocketPC as well as phone. It has to be
> comfortable to use but since I have a bluetooth headset I'd be using
> it that way half the time when I use it as a phone. I know there is a
> new higher speed data service coming out with Cingular within the next
> year. It would be nice if I'm able to get a system that supports
> this. Thanks for any help.

I like the GPS but since I have a separate GPS that's not important
and it's good a wifi card could be added but I'm glad you mentioned
the square screen. I had forgotten about that but read in a review how
that has problems.

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Tue, 06 Dec 2005 23:53:33
-0700, Mark W <[email protected]> wrote:

>Thanks for all that info. I did see somewhere about the HTC Wizard
>coming to Cingular early next year as well as about the HP 6715. For
>most of these phones, is dialing easy to do? I know they don't have
>keypads like a regular cell phone but I assume you just use the keys
>on the keyboard but yet with a fold under keyboard that's not always
>out.
>Also, how well do unlocked phones work? From what I hear they are
>simply phones that can work with any carrier but as well I know some
>are different frequences

You need 850 and 1900 for Cingular.

>and also, if you get them working do you run
>into any problems down the line using a unlocked phone?

The only problem is that you're on your own -- Cingular doesn't support phones
it doesn't sell.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> most of these phones, is dialing easy to do? I know they don't have
> keypads like a regular cell phone but I assume you just use the keys
> on the keyboard but yet with a fold under keyboard that's not always
> out.

Windows Mobile for PPC and the new WM5 come with an application that
displays a phone dialing pad on the screen. Since it's a touch screen
you just tap the buttons on the display--no need to use a keyboard. You
may have to wake it up using a function button first. There's also a
speed dialer function plus you can dial any number in the address book.
Or assign voice tags to numbers.

> Also, how well do unlocked phones work? From what I hear they are
> simply phones that can work with any carrier but as well I know some
> are different frequences and also, if you get them working do you run
> into any problems down the line using a unlocked phone?
>

None of the carrier specific settings (GPRS/EDGE fields, service
numbers, voice mail numbers etc) are there so you have to pull them off
an old phone or find them on the Internet (I think John has a page with
all that) and enter them manually. And of course be prepared to get
questions answered on the Internet because Cingular CS isn't going to
talk to you about them once they find out which phone you have.

A quad-band phone or a tri-band phone that includes 850mhz and 1900mhz
would be highly advisable--Cingular has areas with both frequences (and
many/most roaming partners will be using 850).
--
Jud
Dallas TX USA

The Sprint PPC 6700. It even has built-in WiFi and a very cool keyboard.

You asked how well unlocked phones work, I don't see any difference between locked/unlocked phone, but keep in mind that providers might change the phones they sell (locked) to fit more to their network (usualy they only lock it)

You mentioned you don't have 3G at your provider so i-Mate K-JAM might do since it supportes EDGE.

About the the diling, I think you are diling using the touch screen - you don't have to use the sliding keyboard for this.

Some once mentioned the HTC Hermes. Yes, this is the successor of the Wizard - a good phone on its own, but it will be available on June/July (if no delayes will occure) but I don't know if it's supports EDGE.

Ilan