vB Easy Archive - Compression on a WM5 VS WM6 Device

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Compression on a WM5 VS WM6 Device
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Posted by: skarin

I just had a chat with a data tech support person at ATT and on a whim asked if he knew if the $19.99 unlimited data plan could be used with the Tilt. His answer was one of the most interesting I had seen, and sounded completely false to me but I thought I'd ask here if anyone else had ever heard of it. He was a really great guy for not blowing me off with a canned response, but his answer was "interesting" Here is an excerpt from our chat session:

Visitor: Do you know the reasoning behind what data plan I need to select based on what phone I have? As in if I upgrade my wife to a Tilt and want her to be able to email with impunity can I pair her with the 19.99 unlimited data and 200 txt messages plan?

ANS Craig: That plan will not work properly with the Tilt.
ANS Craig: No. It's best to use what is called a PDA Personal unlimited plan, since the phone itself is a PDA device.

Visitor: "properly"? would it just not get the internet at all, or would it just be a bit slower and not allow VPN access?
Visitor: it's best, or it's the only way? See conceptually I am having a problem seeing how she would use more data using her personal email on that devide VS me using my corporate exchange account on a 2125 and being allowed a 19.99 unlimited plan. I understand that ATT needs to have those that use more data to pay more, but if she is a VERY light user on a high end device does it make sense to pay more?

ANS Craig: The nature of the device determines what plans it should have to work better. The 2125 was allowed to have that plan because it's considered a smart phone. That plan would not work properly for the Tilt because it is a PDA device, and it's data transmissions are much larger than the 2125 phone.

Visitor: How so?

ANS Craig: You mean why does the Tilt have larger data transmission than the 2125?

Visitor: I really appriciate you time in helping me with this, as it is something I have never quite understood and don't want to pay more than needed, but also feel ATT is entitled to the proper payment.
Visitor: I am a software developer and a computer science major, so feel free to be technical if that helps in the explaination
Visitor: exactly. I am curious how it uses more data doing the same task

ANS Craig: I'm also a CIS major. And the best way to put it is the type of compression is used. As these are mobile devices, they don't use a full internet browser icon, and the data that they can show is limited. However, certain devices will compress data more than others due to the type of device. The 2125, being a smart phone, compresses the data more than the Tilt. The Tilt can show more uncompressed data than the 2125, so the PDA plan helps to off set the costs of larger data transfers.

Visitor: yes, i understand one is WM5 and the other is 6.0. There is no additional compression in the transfer on one vs the other. they both go through the same access point and proxy correct?

ANS Craig: Yes, they go through the same access point and proxy, but what I've said is still true.

Visitor: you are sticking with the "The 2125, being a smart phone, compresses the data more than the Tilt." line of thought? Do you know of any documentation I can see regarding this?

ANS Craig: I do not know of any documentation in this regards. I have given my answer, it's up to you if you wish to accept it or not. But the fact still remains that the Tilt requires a PDA plan to work properly.

Visitor: ok, I will take you at that and direct that line of thought to a person I know on the windows mobile team for an answer. what do you mean by properly? if one were to use the lesser plan with it what would happen? would it just underperform?

ANS Craig: Basically, yes it would under perform. The PDA plan provides lee way for the uncompressed data as well as offer extra provisioning so that it can bypass the proxy if necessary. The Media Bundle plan that you described does not offer this for PDA devices.

Visitor: Ok, I believe it to be otherwise, but we can disagree on that and still be friends. I really do appriciate you taking the time to discuss this with me rather than giving me a canned answer and blowing me off!

So, after that wall of text, is he right somehow, or is this just a new excuse for the plan differences? Is there a difference in the way the "Browser Icon" compresses the data from a windows mobile 5 device to a WM6 device?

Posted by: CA

I wonder if he is talking about the two different connections at&t uses for data, and not phone compression and/or access? PDA's are set to use one and smartphones the other, but you can change them.

PS: I'm only responding to subscribe to this thread to see how it unfolds, it could get messy!

Posted by: skarin

what I got out of it was that he believed that WM5 smartphone edition did more compression on the OS side than a WM6 Pocket PC device's OS(Professional). He said they both go through the same access point and proxy, so I don't think it'd be like a isp.cingular vs wap.cingular type thing he's speaking of right?

PS: how do you think it could get messy?

Posted by: zephxiii

I smell a load of rubbish. they all use the same access point. The real question is whether the PDA plan actually bypasses compression on the proxy server or not, and the proxy would have to be able to identify who each connection is.

Here is the real test:

Point your PDA/Phone's browser to the link below:

http://www.xti9.com/pics/das/1.jpg

The photo should be crystal clear with no signs of compression or resizing. Original photo's stats are 1000x589 at 346.79kB

Posted by: blkballoon925

Browser icon?
And he's (supposedly) a CIS major.

Posted by: Really_Annoyed

WTF does the compression have to do with anything? So because 2125 compresses the data more, it's put on a cheaper plan? So what if one uses Opera mini on the Tilt?

Posted by: Really_Annoyed

Quote:

Originally Posted by blkballoon925

Browser icon?
And he's (supposedly) a CIS major.

So I'm not the only one who found that weird. I thought it was something I didn't get because I'm NOT a CIS major.

Posted by: zephxiii

I don't think the 2125 doesn't compress more at all, or has anything to do with compression, that would have to be on the server side, not the device side (all data has to get to the device first before it can compress). There might be compression similar to that of a 56k dialup modem, but i don't see how windows mobile would have that, and Pro not having it.

Heres what i got in PIE whilst using the proxy as provided for 8525 with mediamax1500.

Nice isn't it?

What i got when i bypassed the proxy was identical to the source.

Posted by: Really_Annoyed

Next thing you know, they'll tell you PDA plans cost more because smart phones are more environmentally friendly. Or perhaps PDAs are a homeland security threat. Whatever it takes to charge you more.

Posted by: ~fluffy~

Quote:

Originally Posted by Really_Annoyed

Next thing you know, they'll tell you PDA plans cost more because smart phones are more environmentally friendly. Or perhaps PDAs are a homeland security threat. Whatever it takes to charge you more.

yeah, watch bush ban all smartphonesbecause they are conncected to alquedas terrorist network.

Posted by: Twenty4

I have been using the $19.99 MEDIA MAX 200 BUNDLE for two months now and everything works fine. It all comes down to what phone AT&T thinks you have.

Posted by: skarin

Well, I just went and picked up a tilt and had them add the media max 200 data plan and who'd have thought, it worked! Just as I knew it would.