vB Easy Archive - NEC 515 and 525

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NEC 515 and 525
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Posted by: PuckX

Hey all, great forums!! Quick question.... I currently have the 515 and its a great phone... but I'm seriously considering taking it in and paying the extra 50.00 for the 525... because im a sick puppy and what the top of line model... what can i say. Question... I keep reading about all those volume problems with the 525.... I have no volume problems with the 515 so should i assume that I will get the same volume performance for the 525 or did they change something that affected the volume on the 525? Also do you think its worth the extra 50... I mean technically the only real difference is the camara (which is going to be crappy, hey its not even a meg im a realist), the external screen, and more updated software for its OS( i guess thats what you would call it) but I also hear the signal strength is better in the 525's too.... although since I swapped my old 515 PC0380 for a newer PC0385 my reception has been much better. Thanks for any info.. I have read pretty much every post regarding these two phones and haven't really seen much that clearly answers these question I have posted... so hopefully someone could help me be satisfied with my 515 or push me to spend the 50 for the 525... im still indecisive... thanks!!

Posted by: clouzot

Hello there,

I do have a 525 and my wife uses a 515.
I have absolutely no problem with the volume on my 525.
It is LOUD and clear (quality a little better than my wife 515).
Reception is excellent here north of Atlanta.
Overall, I am very satified with my 525.

Posted by: Ling Ti Len

The NEC 515 is a fine phone, but if you're the gadget obsessed type (I know I am) the trade-up to the NEC 525 is well worth the extra money. You listed all the model changes, so there's not really any more to add to that, but personally, I like the design of the 525 more; maybe because it looks more Japanese, which is good

.

It really comes down to whether you want the extra features, but I guarantee you'll be happy with either model. Cheers!

Posted by: PuckX

Thanks for the replies guys!! Definatley gadget obsessed... will be trading up to 525 for sure.

Posted by: PuckX

Hey thanks again for the advice Ling... i traded up for the 525 yesterday.... and damn is it a nice phone.... camera is pretty much crap... but again what can i expect for 100k(thats what i have a digital camera for anyways).......its a cool gadget what can I say. The phone as a whole rocks... none of the reception problems that the 515 had (although the 515 with updated firmware was good), external display rocks... with caller id and clock i dont need to open my phone to see who it is or what time it is anymore. Overall very satisfied with the upgrade. Some features still missing that I would like to see on a phone... but I dont think any of them carry that stuff yet... and I dont want a PDA phone. Next gen phones should be bad *** though.

Posted by: Quatre

Quote:

Originally posted by PuckX
Hey thanks again for the advice Ling... i traded up for the 525 yesterday.... and damn is it a nice phone.... camera is pretty much crap... but again what can i expect for 100k(thats what i have a digital camera for anyways).......its a cool gadget what can I say. The phone as a whole rocks... none of the reception problems that the 515 had (although the 515 with updated firmware was good), external display rocks... with caller id and clock i dont need to open my phone to see who it is or what time it is anymore. Overall very satisfied with the upgrade. Some features still missing that I would like to see on a phone... but I dont think any of them carry that stuff yet... and I dont want a PDA phone. Next gen phones should be bad *** though.

Actually the external display on that phone sucks it is only 4k compared to many Sprint phones that have 65k color external display just like main display. Also does that phone have speakerphone? and if so is it full duplex like the panasonic phone for att which has no color external display.

Basically if you want the best phone that is the Sanyo vm 4500 camera/and video phone flip with speaker phone and flash for camer and light for video and 65k color external display.

If you want better wait a few weeks for Americas first 260k color screen at 2.2" the Toshiba 4050 for sprint has everything the sanyo vm4500 has but with teh bigger more color main display. Cheers.

Posted by: choco_bunny

Stick to japanese phones and you will never be dissapointed!!!!!! Well if money is no issue then you could also check out the Sharp GX20/22 (GSM) or if you dont mind CDMA then Look at that VM4500 on Sprint.
Just my 50cets on the issue

Posted by: Ling Ti Len

Ok, just so you know, Japanese phones don't work across the pond, look around the forums. Secondly, the outter LCD on the NEC 525 is fine; you don't use it as your main display, and it looks fine in 4096k, you don't need 65,000 thousand colors for a screen that's less than half the size of the main LCD!

Posted by: Quatre

Quote:

Originally posted by Ling Ti Len
Ok, just so you know, Japanese phones don't work across the pond, look around the forums. Secondly, the outter LCD on the NEC 525 is fine; you don't use it as your main display, and it looks fine in 4096k, you don't need 65,000 thousand colors for a screen that's less than half the size of the main LCD!

First of some japanese gsm phones do work over here on gsm network provicers like att, tmobile, and cingular. Hence the big sale of Sharp gx22 phones for unlocking and use over here on any of the gsm providers. I was thinking of going with ATT for this reason because they have the NEC 525 and Panasonic gu87 which are as close as we get to the japanese phones but the no color external screen on teh panasonic and the 4k color on the NEC turns me away.

I have teh Sanyo VM4500 on sprint which is the only flip video phone period plus has speaker phone and 65k color external display. Again i thought of going to sprint for the nec and pana phones and then possibility of buying a Sharp gx22 or other to work on att with gsm. But those are too too expensive that way and i see on ebay for like 800 even though i know you can get cheaper still and sometimes i have seen it is a pain to unlock set it up.

I'm still contemplating but at this point its prob easier just to stay on sprint with my video phone and wait for the new toshiba video phone with first 260k color screen in america and still 65k external not NEC for att 4k. i know on gsm there will always be more japanese phones to choose from on gsm but for now the Toshiba on sprint is better.

Posted by: MDDrew

Quote:

Originally posted by Quatre
First of some japanese gsm phones do work over here on gsm network provicers like att, tmobile, and cingular. Hence the big sale of Sharp gx22 phones for unlocking and use over here on any of the gsm providers. I was thinking of going with ATT for this reason because they have the NEC 525 and Panasonic gu87 which are as close as we get to the japanese phones but the no color external screen on teh panasonic and the 4k color on the NEC turns me away.

I have teh Sanyo VM4500 on sprint which is the only flip video phone period plus has speaker phone and 65k color external display. Again i thought of going to sprint for the nec and pana phones and then possibility of buying a Sharp gx22 or other to work on att with gsm. But those are too too expensive that way and i see on ebay for like 800 even though i know you can get cheaper still and sometimes i have seen it is a pain to unlock set it up.

I'm still contemplating but at this point its prob easier just to stay on sprint with my video phone and wait for the new toshiba video phone with first 260k color screen in america and still 65k external not NEC for att 4k. i know on gsm there will always be more japanese phones to choose from on gsm but for now the Toshiba on sprint is better.

i think he meant japanese phones for jap. carriers not just phones form jap. makers

Posted by: Quatre

Quote:

Originally posted by MDDrew
i think he meant japanese phones for jap. carriers not just phones form jap. makers

who knows. but maybe i'm not clear. So for instance The Sharp gx-22 you can buy for use on american gsm isn't the same as they use there? in other words its not setup to be used on one of their carriers. maybe it is just blank. i thought it was same and just had to be unlocked and /or settings setup to work on a gsm provider in america.

Then the question is will your provider store do that for you or no. How do you like your NEC 525? Most important does it have full duplex speakerphone like the Panasonic offering from ATT? If so then it has to be as good as the Pana and slightly better. But why can' tthey make it 65k external display like all the sprint phones? I have lmited time left on my trial with Sprint.

Is it worth switching to ATT only to have to use The NEC or Pana phone which are slightly inferior to The Sanyo vm4500 on sprint for the prospective of new NEC and Pana models and other possible docomo phones plus the ability to order jap gsm phones like the Sharp.

Or is it easier just stay with Sprint especially with the new Toshiba phone coming out for Sprint any day now which is also cam/video flip speakerphone with 65k external display but with the first 260k 2.2" main display in america.

I'm assuming for now the better choice is Sprint but just wondering ATT's prospects for the future and what the merge with cingular will bring

Posted by: Blazers4ever

Quote:

Originally posted by Quatre
If you want better wait a few weeks for Americas first 260k color screen at 2.2" the Toshiba 4050 for sprint has everything the sanyo vm4500 has but with teh bigger more color main display. Cheers.

I am VERY interested in this phone. But I won't sign with Sprint until they support handset originated SMS......

Posted by: Quatre

Quote:

Originally posted by Blazers4ever
I am VERY interested in this phone. But I won't sign with Sprint until they support handset originated SMS......

SMS for Sprint rolls out Jan. 24th , so you if you want to wait till then the Toshiba 4050 is sure to be out by then too.

Posted by: seedub

Quote:

Originally posted by Quatre
Actually the external display on that phone sucks it is only 4k compared to many Sprint phones that have 65k color external display just like main display. Also does that phone have speakerphone? and if so is it full duplex like the panasonic phone for att which has no color external display.

Basically if you want the best phone that is the Sanyo vm 4500 camera/and video phone flip with speaker phone and flash for camer and light for video and 65k color external display.

If you want better wait a few weeks for Americas first 260k color screen at 2.2" the Toshiba 4050 for sprint has everything the sanyo vm4500 has but with teh bigger more color main display. Cheers.

Well, I dont know if you meant that it will be the first 260k color 2.2" screen, but the LG VX6000 for Verizon has a 262k color screen. The LG is lacking the external color screen though. Personally, I would never go back to CDMA. Verizon and Sprint both stink in my opinion, and the customer service has always been horrible, even compared to what AT&T has had lately.

Posted by: MDDrew

Quote:

Originally posted by Quatre
who knows. but maybe i'm not clear. So for instance The Sharp gx-22 you can buy for use on american gsm isn't the same as they use there? in other words its not setup to be used on one of their carriers. maybe it is just blank. i thought it was same and just had to be unlocked and /or settings setup to work on a gsm provider in america.

Then the question is will your provider store do that for you or no. How do you like your NEC 525? Most important does it have full duplex speakerphone like the Panasonic offering from ATT? If so then it has to be as good as the Pana and slightly better. But why can' tthey make it 65k external display like all the sprint phones? I have lmited time left on my trial with Sprint.

Is it worth switching to ATT only to have to use The NEC or Pana phone which are slightly inferior to The Sanyo vm4500 on sprint for the prospective of new NEC and Pana models and other possible docomo phones plus the ability to order jap gsm phones like the Sharp.

Or is it easier just stay with Sprint especially with the new Toshiba phone coming out for Sprint any day now which is also cam/video flip speakerphone with 65k external display but with the first 260k 2.2" main display in america.

I'm assuming for now the better choice is Sprint but just wondering ATT's prospects for the future and what the merge with cingular will bring

for me my 525 is great but no speakerphone
aand as i understand it there is no GSM in japan and there never was,they had PHS. DoCoMo phones are W-CDMA anyway

Posted by: Blazers4ever

Quote:

Originally posted by MDDrew
for me my 525 is great but no speakerphone
aand as i understand it there is no GSM in japan and there never was,they had PHS. DoCoMo phones are W-CDMA anyway

It's called PDC. It's used by Vodafone (formerly known as J-Phone) and NTT DoCoMo for their 2.5G networks. NTT DoCoMo uses W-CDMA for 3G. Vodafone Japan's W-CDMA network should be up and running very soon, and it will be compatible with Voda's future European UMTS network. NTT DoCoMo's network won't be compatible unfortunately. One of the prices of being an innovator I guess.

Posted by: Quatre

Quote:

Originally posted by seedub
Well, I dont know if you meant that it will be the first 260k color 2.2" screen, but the LG VX6000 for Verizon has a 262k color screen. The LG is lacking the external color screen though. Personally, I would never go back to CDMA. Verizon and Sprint both stink in my opinion, and the customer service has always been horrible, even compared to what AT&T has had lately.

Interesting. I thought i saw that mentioned somewhere that the LG VX6000 camera phone for Verizon was 262k colors but I just assumed that wasn't true because it is such a crappy phone. My fiance has this phone so i know and she has been trying to get me join Verizon even get that phone. I just am really not impressed with it and it has no speakerphone and is just gay as I really dislike Verizon too. LG is a crappy phone maker and that only makes it worse that the screen is 262k colors and still my Sanyo vm4500 video phone for sprint looks better on top of having speakerphone and being a better all around phone.

Are there any other phones in America with 262k color, or is Toshiba 4050 for Sprint going to be the second after the Verizons LG and i guess it is the first with 2.2" screen period?

Also as far as the confusion with GSM and whether japan uses it. I guess i was mistaken that was just what i understood. I still think there are some parts of japan that use gsm or something or at least there are jap phones that are gsm capable but i never heard of japan using cdma phones. Is it a different type of cdma or is it then possible we could get a japanese cdma phone for use on either sprint or verizon with some unlocking and other setup?

I know though that ATT is affiliated with DoCoMo in japan and share some phone manufacturers IE. NEC and Panasonic and some apps/games etc. I feel that they are the best in japan and have the best phones so i was interested in the carrier here that is affiliated with them (ATT) But the NEC 525 with sub par only 4k external display and no speaker phone is not an option and the Panasonic gu87 or whatever has great full duplex speakerphone but no color external display just sub lcd so also not an option. The only reason to go with ATT for me would be for future offerings from NEC and Pana and/or to order teh Sharp GX-22 camera phone with better camera then anything here and 262k large (i think 2.2") screen, but that is costly to order/import and some trouble to unlock setup, though there are ppl that have it and use it on all 3 american gsm providers.

Still right now, the best phone sold in america is Sprints Sanyo vm4500 and any day with teh release of the Toshiba 4050 also for Sprint will be the new best phone in america, i think it is safe to stay with Sprint if you want the best phone and i have to say for me the signal has been way better then Nextel who i ported from and in comparing with my fiance's LG phone for verizon, I have had signal everywhere she has except in interior buildings with no windows like department stores and there i pick up verizons signal with the option i have which yes its $5/mo but it gaurantees i have signal everywhere sprint and verizon have signal and now yesterday i noticed one place we were at that I/Sprint had signal and Verizon did not.

So the excuse that Sprint doesn't have good signal is not valid and in my area it is not only a close second but so far may actually be as good or better then Verizon.

So we will see if Verizon gets any better phones in the future whether phones that sprint already has as with teh rumor of VErizone getting the Toshiba phone but not until like 6 mo later which would be verizons best phone but by then sprint may have something better or if Verizon would start getting phones from their affiliate Vodaphone (the second best in japan but phones all look the same though) but in the meantime they have nothing worth joinging for.

The only reason i would join Verizon is because my fiance and our families and other freinds are on Verizon so for the mobile to mobile and i would only do it if i can use my Sprint phone(s) on it which supposedly there is a way(s) but i have to look into that adn what the drawbacks might ie. no video mail etc as verizon has no video phones etc.

Also though ATT is promising with NEC and Pana phones and the ability to order teh Sharp phone. The current nec and Pana phones are not cutting and fall short to teh sprint phones and the Sharp is too costly to import. Also now with finding japan doesn't really use gsm and wont be other many phoens to import it is not worth it until ATT gets new better models from NEC and Pana that compete with teh Sprint models.

So for now I stay with Sprint. Best phones, second best signal.

Posted by: Blazers4ever

Quote:

Originally posted by Quatre
Also as far as the confusion with GSM and whether japan uses it. I guess i was mistaken that was just what i understood. I still think there are some parts of japan that use gsm or something or at least there are jap phones that are gsm capable but i never heard of japan using cdma phones. Is it a different type of cdma or is it then possible we could get a japanese cdma phone for use on either sprint or verizon with some unlocking and other setup?

Actually Japan does have CDMA from AU (by KDDI). They offer what they call "global passport" phones that will work here in the U.S. and many other countries. I'm not sure if you could activate one of these phones on Verizon, though (probably not).

http://www.au.kddi.com/

Japan has never used GSM and probably never will since they are on their way to 4G. GSM would definitely be a step backwards.