importing a phone - a few q's (newbie)

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fergienz

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#1280 27-Mar-2004 21:47

Hi all.
I'm new here - read a few posts etc - thats about it.
I'm thinking of getting me a phone (i have never owned a cell (or mobile?) phone before - so its all new).
I was looking at teh SE T610.
Now for the q's.

1. Firstly - is that phone ok? Are there simalar ones (non - clamshell - from what i've seen - i don't like) or is there a new model that will come out the day after i purchase - ie, should i wait a bit.

2. I'm aslo looking at buying from USA.
- Will it work in NZ? (as long as its 900 it should be ok aye?)
- And will vodafone 'allow' it - becuase its an imported phone.
- Will it support V Live! (is VL! a NZ thing - or international) and will i have to do anythig to set it up (i've seen all this stuff about unbranding etc). Ppl also seem to be disliking VL! (i've never used it) but if i don't have it - can i still check news, weather, email etc - and wouldnn't it be cheaper (i read on the VF site that they only round to 1kb when on Live!, whereas on WAP, they round to 10kb)

3. I've read that you can check emails with it - i'm with paradise, can you check them (i've also read that it doesn't support SMTP - does this just mean you can't send through the fone) And how much does it cost?
Also - i've read that you can connect it to laptops etc - surf net - how do they charge - is it just the 10c = 10kb (or whatever that rate is)

Um, i think thats it for moment.
I'll add more later.
Thanks in advance.
Alex

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#4453 27-Mar-2004 22:03

Welcome... And a few answers.

As long as it has 900MHz and it's not locked to a company, just insert the SIM card and it will work. Some companies lock the phones into their networks, so you can't use it in another. Be careful when buying overseas and make sure it's unlocked.

When here in New Zealand you can use Vodafone Live! providing you configure it correctly (APN, IP, etc).

Yes, you can check your Paradise e-mail with the phone, and will use Vodafone's own SMTP server to send e-mails (which is the same as Paradise's one, since they both run from TelstraClear network).

I'm sure other will have more comments to add here.

fergienz

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Geek

#4454 27-Mar-2004 22:36

hi.
Thanks for that.
It will use normal sim cards aye? (they don't have different ones in different parts o fthe world do thy?)
Do i just get these from a VF store?

And as for the unlocking part - i've read u can do this yourself - is this true? (the one i'm looking at is unlocked anyway i think)
Thanks

freitasm

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#4455 27-Mar-2004 22:54

Yep, just buy a SIM card from a Vodafone shop. Unlocking can be done, but I think you need a special cable and software.

fergienz

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Geek

#4460 28-Mar-2004 12:48

Hey - thansk for all the info :D
Just got the sunday paper today - see the "i-mate Smartphone"

Looks really cool! - what are they like?
Anyone here have one?

Do they have vodafone Live! - if they don't - can you still check news, info, and ya emails?
And how would you be charged - is it just the normal GPRS rates?
And the $5 a mnth for 1mb will still be available aye?

Is there anything worng with them?
And is it worth the extra $$ over the SE T610?

fergienz

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#4461 28-Mar-2004 12:56

Another Quik Q (sorry)
I've seen a few phones that support progams such as MSN and ICQ .
How does this work?
Are you "connected" in a call when you're using this? so u pay your calling rate?
Or does it just use GPRS data?
If so - how much does it use?
Sya a 2min conversation over MSN on the smartphone to 1 other person./
Thanks

alasta

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#4464 28-Mar-2004 19:06

For what it's worth, I've been using a T610 for a few months and it's a pretty capable handset. It's easy to use, has plenty of features for the price, and the signal quality and battery life seem to be pretty good. On the downside, the WAP browser seems to be very slow and unreliable. On several occassions, while browsing WAP, I have had the thing completely freeze on me and the only way to recover it is to remove and reinsert the battery. However, newer software versions may suffer less from these problems.

The T610 is on the way out shortly, and there are other threads on these forums regarding the upcoming replacement models.

peteremcc

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#4465 28-Mar-2004 22:12

See my thread on the T630, the replacement for the T610, which should be out very soon.
Also the K700, the replacement for the T630 (as you might have realised were a bit behind here in NZ), will be coming out in the next 5-6 months [I am waiting for this one.].

If you need a phone soon i'd get the T630 but it doesn't have an internal radio and only a small amount of memory. If you can wait i'd get the K700 which is a decent upgrade from the T610: Radio and 32MB of memory plus larger screen.

Finally if you want to buy overseas then I won't stop you but I've researched it and it is complicated, so many things to check that it will work here etc... (although Vodafone have no objections). The trouble is if it doesn't work they won't support the phone and you also have no warranty. I'd prefer to pay the extra $100-$200 for those things.

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freitasm

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#4466 28-Mar-2004 23:06

Phones will be connected to ICQ or MSN using GPRS. You'll pay for data only, not minutes. The Smartphone2 phones are very cool, and I'm expecting one soon. You can not only synchronise with your desktop (Outlook) but check your e-mails, have IM clients installed, and much more.

peteremcc

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#4470 29-Mar-2004 09:14

How much are we looking at for these smartphones anyway... any sites i can go to for some spechs?

freitasm

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#4472 29-Mar-2004 10:40

Costs are around NZ$1100 on Vodafone dealers.

johnr

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#4474 29-Mar-2004 10:57

I have used a I-mate smart fone2, its OK but it needs touch screen, would rather keep using my P900

fergienz

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Geek

#4481 29-Mar-2004 18:09

Hi all.
Thanks for replies.
A few Q's regarding ya comments:

1. How much will the SE 630 retail for?
I looked at teh 700 - but seems to "camera" oriented - and i won't really be needing camera - got a decent 12MP dig camera!
2. Regarding the Overseas purchase - has anyone brought overseas before? any thoughts. Where you buy from?

Alos - the SM is only $480 on a 36mnth contract - is that with a certain contract? or anyone?
can you sell phone half way thro contract?
Thanks

alasta

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#4482 29-Mar-2004 19:46

You can do whatever you like with the phone during the course of the contract. It's yours.

However, you are committed to continue with your Vodafone services for the entire duration of the 36 month contract.

peteremcc

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#4483 29-Mar-2004 20:14

I'd say the T630 would be about $800, not sure jut seems about right.

I wouldn't say the K700 is too camera orientated it's just thats how SE have decided to advertise it (phone cameras being popular at the moment etc). I think the best improvements on the K700 are clearly the larger screen, larger memory (32MB instead of 2MB on the T630 - A VERY IMPORTANT UPGRADE) and [for me anyway] the inclusion of the radio (no more seperate headset).

fergienz

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#4485 29-Mar-2004 21:44

hmmm...

one thing (in fact - main thing) i'm liking about the Smartphone is its basic PIM or PDA functions.
I used to own a ipaq 1910 - and loved it - but would have been great if i could check emails, surf net etc aywa from home.
And looking at the E900 - seems ok - but is it very big? From wot i've seen in pics - it seems to much like a PDA with phone functions - and i'm looking for a phone with PDA fuctions....

Also - regarding the contract:
so i could use any plan? I could get the cheapest one - still ok?
And what happened if i had to cancel it (i mean it must happen - must have somthing they do) would they charge a fee?

O - and back to the Smart phone (jeeze, we're all over the place here!) i see it has an SDIO port...
would this mean i can:
1. connect one of those new Wireless cards - and set up a network with my pc? Even share internet over it (does the OS support it) I no it wouldn't be that great - but still - just think, surfing the net (and not paying huge GPRS $$) while having lunch... etc

2. Are there SDIO 56k modems? If so - could i use it to connect to phone, and plug into a phone jack, and connect to ISP? Or even a bluetooth modem would work....

Lol- just thinking - i would probably be better off with a small laptop - or a "smartphone PDA" even..... hmmmm

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