Android handsets

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vespaman

88 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#53070 8-Dec-2009 17:23

Greetings,

Looking to purchase a handset to update to latest android 2.0, what is the best available at the moment ? Are the paralell imported handsets worth considering ? What about the cheaper 2 sim type phones out there - do they have the specs to run android at all ?

TIA for any help

NZtechfreak

4649 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 461

Trusted

#280473 8-Dec-2009 18:49

I'd wait for the wider release of the Motorola Milestone (the Europe version of the Droid), its probably the best Android handset out there right now. Definitely go parallel imported (E-Infotech, Gadgetsonline, Phones Direct are decent sources), much cheaper and generic firmware is better than branded firmware (if you get it from a NZ parallel importer then you still have all your consumers garantees act rights and protections).

Twitter: @nztechfreak
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naggyman

697 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 86

#280478 8-Dec-2009 19:24

With the Milestone if you want 3G use Vodafone (it has Vodafone 3G frequencies). It is not compatible with XT

Morgan French-Stagg

morgan.french.net.nz

NZtechfreak

4649 posts

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#280494 8-Dec-2009 20:33

Yep, should have mentioned that sorry (shouldn't assume everyone spends at least an hour a day reading about mobile phones!).

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

naggyman

697 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 86

#280501 8-Dec-2009 20:43

@Nztechfreak Lol, but I dont spend that much time reading about handsets. I just know the network frequencies.

Morgan French-Stagg

morgan.french.net.nz

vespaman

88 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#280548 8-Dec-2009 23:28

NZtechfreak & naggyman. Thanks for your input.

Im wanting a handset I can do with what I want. Plus I don't want to be telco dependant (locked or not) dual sim is more flexible and using a voip client me and my users can connect to any wifi network anywhere. However I am based in Invercargill so our XT options(I need Telecom for work as we are currently on a Telecom mobile "free mobile calling" plan aren't an option as we are currently on the CDMA network.

The network frequency are things we don't think of but we really have to pay attention to if considering new hardware. We would be primarily internet first Cellular failover for obvious reasons. Also the handset must support a secondary camera. I want to use some voip clients that support this so that we can video call - like skype but using open source , free technology. X-Lite is a great free sip phone. Sip droid is a choice at the moment from the android project - has any one got any feed back on this ?

"Definitely go parallel imported (E-Infotech, Gadgetsonline, Phones Direct are decent sources), much cheaper and generic firmware is better than branded firmware (if you get it from a NZ parallel importer then you still have all your consumers garantees act rights and protections)."

Makes sense - thanks for this. I always thought the imports were poor value for money but if you are going to upgrade to Android - it doesn't matter as long as your handset hardware specification is good. eg: Processor CPU, RAM and ROM capacities. Obviously I'm limited to certain handsets that have 2 cameras - can someone suggest something ?

naggyman

697 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 86

#280585 9-Dec-2009 06:09

Regarding Network Frequencies: Telecom XT is WCDMA 850 and Vodafone 3G is WCDMA 900.

As said in another thread UMTS/WCDMA/HSDPA are (for your purposes) different names for the same thing.

Hope this helps explain the network frequencies.

Morgan French-Stagg

morgan.french.net.nz

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NZtechfreak

4649 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 461

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#280587 9-Dec-2009 06:30

No, I meant I do!

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org