Iphone 4G and calendar options ?

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veryshort

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Master Geek

#63339 24-Jun-2010 19:36

Hi All ,
well after seeing a friend of mine with a iphone 3GS I was convinced I wanted to get the new 4G version { when it comes out } I use video calling quite a bit on vodafone with best mate the 4G now does this BUT after my wife did some research on the new phone Im now not convinced heres why ..... the new Iphone 4G does its video calling via WiFi using there facethingy software NOT via the GSM network which now means you will be using data up when video calling and not just making a phone call as per my current Nokia . Can someone please tell me im wrong here ? this is a major dissapointment if this is the case .

my main reason for wanting the iphone is the ability to use the "mobileme " cloud based snycing application { payware} both myself and my wife need to know what shifts we might be working and that application does instant updates etc we can see our calendars etc } .... my question to you guys here is .... are there any other options for a cloud based system that is updated instantly that I can access from my phone ... I know of google calendars but I wouldnt be able to see it on my phone unless I surf the web . we are ready to update our phones just for this ability and the iphone is one option for a smart phone and can of you guys make any other suggests or comment on sysytems you are using that work for you

Thanks all for your time .

Cheers
Andrew { aka V-S }

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#345034 24-Jun-2010 22:08

Just being a purist... It's actually "iPhone 4"...

n4

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#345044 24-Jun-2010 22:20

veryshort: I know of google calendars but I wouldnt be able to see it on my phone unless I surf the web

Get an Android phone instead? Latest versions I think let you sync more than one Google Account, and sync Google calendars (and therefore I assume multiple calendars), for free..

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johnr

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#345047 24-Jun-2010 22:24

I wish people would stop calling it the iphone 4G

Handsomedan

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#345139 25-Jun-2010 10:43

Ok - so all of the Apple press tells us that the video calling function will only work iPhone to iPhone (more precisely iPhone 4 to iPhone 4) via WiFi.

There is (at present) no known way around this.

I'd say it's more about the inability of the US carrier (ATiT) to handle the data traffic that would be generated bu all of that video calling that they believe would happen.

Persoinally, I can think of better ways to communicate (I have never liked video-calling) but the Facetime thing might change that.

I agree that the iPhone 4 looks like a great unit, but VFNZ are getting the HTC Desire shortly - and Google have their own cloud, so if video calling is off the table anyway, that might be a better immediate route.

FWIW, I am an iPhone user and am very pleased with my 3GS on iOS 4. so I have no hidden agenda to sway you to the "dark side" and all that Android has to offer.

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#345142 25-Jun-2010 10:50

Handsomedan: I'd say it's more about the inability of the US carrier (ATiT) to handle the data traffic that would be generated bu all of that video calling that they believe would happen.

Another example of Apple not following standards. 3G Video Calling uses packet data for call setup only, and then use circuit switched for the actual video call. No data involved...

The standard is called 3G-324M and obviously Apple completely disregarded it...

veryshort

81 posts

Master Geek

#345145 25-Jun-2010 10:57

Handsomedan: Ok - so all of the Apple press tells us that the video calling function will only work iPhone to iPhone (more precisely iPhone 4 to iPhone 4) via WiFi.

There is (at present) no known way around this.

I'd say it's more about the inability of the US carrier (ATiT) to handle the data traffic that would be generated bu all of that video calling that they believe would happen.

Persoinally, I can think of better ways to communicate (I have never liked video-calling) but the Facetime thing might change that.

I agree that the iPhone 4 looks like a great unit, but VFNZ are getting the HTC Desire shortly - and Google have their own cloud, so if video calling is off the table anyway, that might be a better immediate route.

FWIW, I am an iPhone user and am very pleased with my 3GS on iOS 4. so I have no hidden agenda to sway you to the "dark side" and all that Android has to offer.

Thanks guys for all your help , I would love VFNZ to Clarify { when the Iphone 4 Comes out } how it does Video calling , Im very keen on an iphone and having seen it in action with lots of apps it looks like a great phone , being able to to run a cloud calendar for both myself and my wife is a really important feature for us { as we both work shift work } with it being updated immediately is fantastic can anyone else please advise me on different options/Combinations phone /calendar /cloud providers ... have done a bit of research but its doing my head in .

veryshort

81 posts

Master Geek

#345148 25-Jun-2010 11:09

opps forgot to ask , yes Im new to the whole smart phone thing and am unsure as to which smart phone to get . I guess here is what im wanting to achive ....

I run thunderbird email I would love a calendar attched to it { Lightning maybe } that could also update a cloud calendar at the same time while updating my mobile device as well , Im not even sure if its possible yet .....

example ... I make an input into my calendar from my pc .... my wife cjecks her Smart phone and can see that update straight away and she too can add/delete things at the same time .

The only system that I can see will work for this is the mobileme application { that is payware} which talks to all the pc's/mobiles etc the only thing is I would have to access mobileme from a web connection as apose to having a calendar on our email client that will then send the update to the "cloud " based provider to then inturn update all the devices ... I hope this makes sense to everyone ...

we will be shelling out some serious money and just want to get the best option .

going the apple way will cost ...

2x 3GS iphones { would wait for the 4} on plans will cost $1200 and $40per month per device on a 24month term

1x membership to mobileme $100

thanks again to everyone for there suggestions .

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Ham

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#345233 25-Jun-2010 14:27

Also, when you sync Google Calanders it loads into your iPhone Cal

jnimmo

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#345401 25-Jun-2010 22:10

Andrew, you can achieve the same thing on your iPhone with a Google account; it will let you sync your calendar, contacts and mail for free.

If you want to have your own individual calendars showing on both phones, it is slightly more complicated but possible. You would be able to have a single shared calendar up and running within a few minutes though.

Cheers,
James

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#345402 25-Jun-2010 22:17

I have two separate Google accounts (one personal, one Google Apps) syncing Calendar, Contacts and Mail (push) on the iPhone 3GS with iOS4.

I have multiple shared calendars on my personal Google account that I can access from the phone, although I can only set appointments on my primary one for each account.

No need for separate server/licence/whatever.

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veryshort

81 posts

Master Geek

#345455 26-Jun-2010 09:55

jnimmo: Andrew, you can achieve the same thing on your iPhone with a Google account; it will let you sync your calendar, contacts and mail for free.

If you want to have your own individual calendars showing on both phones, it is slightly more complicated but possible. You would be able to have a single shared calendar up and running within a few minutes though.

Cheers,
James

Hi James thanks very much for the info , so judging by what you have said I can achive the synced calendars for free using google { do they update straight away ? I dont have to login to any website etc ? } now all I have to do is to get a phone that will let me do it .we currently have nokia 6121 phones but am guess we will need a smart phone .Is there an application for my pc that I can make changes to my google calendar its then pushed to my "online calendar" which is in turn pushed to the mobile devices ? once again I am sorry if this it might seem a bit lame with the silly questions .

cheers
Andrew

jnimmo

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#345491 26-Jun-2010 12:20

Yes you can achieve synced calendars for free using Google. It happens fairly quickly, usually within a couple of minutes; and it will just happen silently in the background you don't need to do anything.

You can check out http://www.google.com/mobile/sync/ for more information on how to set this up on the iPhone, and also lists other phones it supports.

iPhone, Nokia S60, Windows & of course Google Android phones will all work too.

As far as a desktop application, you could probably use something like Mozilla Sunbird for a desktop Google Calendar client.

Guess the problem is the iPhone won't really do video calling like you want to unless you are on wifi