vB Easy Archive - Best 3G Phone?

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Best 3G Phone?
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Posted by: gthing

Here are my requirements for a phone, listed in order of importance:

1. 3G
2. Great Bluetooth Implementation (Headset and DUN)
3. Candybar
4. PDA-like Functionality

The Samsung Blackjack is the closest, so I bought it. Unfortunately the bluetooth implementation on it sucks and I cannot use it for what I need.

Realizing I would need to make a compromise, I took back the Blackjack and purchased the Samsung Sync (A707). It is not a cnadybar phone, but has great bluetooth implementation that works great for what I need.

I've been testing the Sync and have found that it's 3G support is totally weak. The blackjack was pulling around 900kbps on average while the Sync has so far topped out at around 330kbps. I assume it just lacks the horsepower to pull the data as fast as it is offered.

I need the bluetooth for my car computer. I run bluephone elite which will not work with WM5 devices. I also need to be able to easily do bluetooth DUN which doesn't work on the blackjack (I'm using OS X).

Dropping PDA functionality and candybar requirements, I am left with a scattering of 3G phones - mostly samsungs and a few LGs. What I really want to know is which phone can take advantage of 3G speeds the best while still being able to do BT DUN and the like?

I love everything about the pearl if it was only 3G

I am convinced that Cingular will release a phone that meets all of my requirements sometime within the next several months, but for now I don't want to be using my Treo ****s-fifty anymore and need something to tide me over.

So: Excluding the Blackjack or the 8525, what phone will get the best data network speeds? If you have a 3g phone and are in a covered area, please post your speed report from dslreports.com

Posted by: Razor1973

*BUMP* Anyone? I too would like to know.

Posted by: gthing

I went back to the Cingular store today and took back my A707 and got the blackjack again. The guy at the store said all the regular phones would suck at 3G and that I had to get a pda phone if I wanted to fully take advantage of it.

Both of the guys at the store went into explanations of why the data is slower and about the browsers and phone's memory, etc. The guy asked how I tested the speeds and I told him I used dslreports. He said that it wasn't accurate and started explaining about TCP packets and stuff. I don't really care if it's an accurate report, it closely reflects real usage speeds, and as long as I'm testing all phones with the same system, the numbers are accurate relative to eachother.

I'm voting for Blackberry to add 3G to their Pearl. It would solve all my problems.

Posted by: Razor1973

If you really like BlackBerries that much, then I really don't see why you wouldn't want the BlackJack. It's a similar form factor, it's a smartphone, very customizable and it even comes with the thumb-wheel. I know everybody has different needs, but I do believe it is probably the best device Cingular is selling right now.

You did mention you had a problem with the Bluetooth radio and that's where your needs come in. So why get another one? Maybe Cingular is not offering anything that will cover all you need right now, so you might have to keep what you have or upgrade temporarily until something does come out. Have you considered getting something unlocked?

Posted by: gthing

The bluetooth on the A707 worked flawlessly. But you're right - overall the blackjack is the best phone for what I need. I have to make compromises with connectivity.

The two things I need to work for bluetooth:
Bluephone Elite - A program that turns your computer into a bluetooth headset. I've made some headway here actually, but still can't get it to function.

Bluetooth tethering - OS X doesn't support the PAN bluetooth profile, and the Blackjack doesn't offer a regular modem profile (not sure what it's really called) over bluetooth.

So yes, I believe Blackjack is the best answer now. In 3 months this will probably not be the case.

Posted by: troyboy30

330kbps? That's awful slow.

Posted by: Razor1973

1 line of post and half a page signature.

Posted by: gthing

Quote:

Originally Posted by troyboy30

330kbps? That's awful slow.

Yea, I don't get it at all. I was pulling that kind of speed with my blackjack, but the a707 would only get around 300kbps. The guy at the store said the a707 wasn;t even capable of those speeds because it receives "different packets." I told him many people had reported those speeds, and I have been getting them in the area with the black jack - so it's not the network.

I would have kept the A707 if I would have seen sustainable 900kbs + results. I even tried in a "3G+" area with no noticeable increase in speed.

Posted by: I have a phone

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor1973

1 line of post and half a page signature.

no kidding.

Posted by: troyboy30

not sure what you're looking at, but theres closer to 50% post and 50% sig

the speed test results are part of the post! lol

sorry to hear about those speeds gthing...the speed test I posted was actually done while only on 3G not even 3G+

Posted by: gthing

I actually drove around until I found a 3G+ area and still got the same crappy results. It would be interesting to test the same phone in your area to see if it IS the network, or the phone that is the culprit.

Posted by: troyboy30

ship it to Atlanta and I'll test it! lol