vB Easy Archive - Which service in the US?

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Which service in the US?
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Posted by: ashVID

Just got a P900 and am out of my Nextel contract, THANK GAWD! Who should I go with? Verizon is not an option where I live, I use LOTS of data so ATT is pretty much out of the picture... I have narrowed it to Cingular and Tmobile. Problem is that I am not sure I can get the $20 per month data plan on Cingular with a P900.... any thoughts or suggestions??

ash =o)

Posted by: Sfkn2

Quote:

Originally posted by ashVID
Problem is that I am not sure I can get the $20 per month data plan on Cingular with a P900.... any thoughts or suggestions??

ash =o)

Then go with T-Mobile.. You knew the answer even before you asked.

Posted by: haritia

P900 does not do 850Mhz.

Posted by: ashVID

LOL... looks like t-mobile it is... Forgot that Cingular is 850 in some markets... Any reason NOT to go T-Mobile?

ash =o)

Posted by: cmc0

Wirelessly posted (SonyEricssonP900/R102 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.0)

no reason to not go with tmobile where u get more

just make sure to take the free phone as a backup when u sign up.

Posted by: CSGiles

If a newbie can be forgiven a dumb question...

Looking to upgrade to a smartphone (from carrying a high end PDA --Sony Clie NX80--and a high end cell phone).

From what I can see the Sony/Ericsson P900 might be a good choice, despite having to rebuy my PDA software.

What I am puzzled with is how you use it with your existing Carrier. I use Verizon which is the best connection in my area. But as far as I can see Verizon doesn't support the P900. Can I just buy it and program it to use my Verizon account? Do I have to change carriers?

Many thanks!
Scot

Posted by: TotalDistinction

If you're with Verizon, no you cannot. Verizon is a CDMA wireless carrier. To get the flexibility to change phones on the fly, you will need to use a GSM carrier such as T-Mobile or Cingular in the U.S.

GSM uses SIM cards that allow you to remove those cards from one GSM compatible phone, re-insert them into another GSM compatible phone and "bingo", you can use the phone.

The P900 is a GSM compatible phone.

Quote:

Originally posted by CSGiles
If a newbie can be forgiven a dumb question...

Looking to upgrade to a smartphone (from carrying a high end PDA --Sony Clie NX80--and a high end cell phone).

From what I can see the Sony/Ericsson P900 might be a good choice, despite having to rebuy my PDA software.

What I am puzzled with is how you use it with your existing Carrier. I use Verizon which is the best connection in my area. But as far as I can see Verizon doesn't support the P900. Can I just buy it and program it to use my Verizon account? Do I have to change carriers?

Many thanks!
Scot

Posted by: ashVID

Will any t-mobile sim work? What about the Sidekick? My friend says the sim from it will work in his other phones but he gets PHONE ONLY, no data...

ash =o)

Posted by: CSGiles

Many thanks for the clarification about service providers.

I can just change carriers. Verizon is best in Chicagoland but I've used Cingular and they are not bad either. I'd have to pay a penalty fee to get out of my Verizon contract but that's not an issue in a productivity-related matter.

Might I ask for a bit more informaiton from p900 users?

My time management system (David Allen's GTD) requires that my Task List use categories. I currently keep my data in Microsoft Outlook and sync to my Palm. I've heard that the outlook to P900 sync software is weak and that categories from Outlook tasks will not sync to the P900. Is this true, and if so is there better sync software I can get? Not being able to sync categories would be a big deal.

Finally, if I decide to convert, can I just walk into a Cinguilar store, order the P900, open and account and swap my phone number, or do I have to open a Cingular account, order a P900 on my own and learn how to activate it?

Many thanks!
Scot

Posted by: TotalDistinction

In the U.S. (I'm from Canada using Rogers Wireless), you should be able to port your phone number from your existing provider to a new provider. Open an account and take the SIM card and put it into any phone you desire. If Cingular offers the P900, you might be eligible for a subsidy on the phone if you commit typically for 2 years on a contract. Even if Cingular doesn't offer the P900, you might be eligible for a subsidy on one of their phones. That's really up to you.

If your end desire is the P900 and Cingular does not offer it, then you will need to purchase the P900 separately and simply put the new SIM card into it.

As you can tell, I use the P900 and the sync software is weak. Especially if you want to categorize tasks, the sync software provided cannot do that. I'm actually waiting for a 3rd party company to release an improved version of a sync software compatible with the P900.

Alternatively, you can check www.mightyphone.com to see if this sync service offering might satisfy your needs. I don't know if it can categorize your tasks as you desire.

Overall, I really like the P900. I use it at work and I wish that the sync software was stronger. But I'm willing to wait. It will come - one day.

Outside of the Treo 600 which doesn't support Bluetooth, I don't know that there is a viable alternative to the P900 if you want a good smartphone. I'm also waiting for Motorola to release their next Smartphone to see if it better serves my sync needs than the P900.

Quote:

Originally posted by CSGiles
Many thanks for the clarification about service providers.

I can just change carriers. Verizon is best in Chicagoland but I've used Cingular and they are not bad either. I'd have to pay a penalty fee to get out of my Verizon contract but that's not an issue in a productivity-related matter.

Might I ask for a bit more informaiton from p900 users?

My time management system (David Allen's GTD) requires that my Task List use categories. I currently keep my data in Microsoft Outlook and sync to my Palm. I've heard that the outlook to P900 sync software is weak and that categories from Outlook tasks will not sync to the P900. Is this true, and if so is there better sync software I can get? Not being able to sync categories would be a big deal.

Finally, if I decide to convert, can I just walk into a Cinguilar store, order the P900, open and account and swap my phone number, or do I have to open a Cingular account, order a P900 on my own and learn how to activate it?

Many thanks!
Scot

Posted by: cmc0

Quote:

P900 is GSM900/1800/1900. Cingular GSM in Chi-Town is GSM850. T-Mobile GSM is 1900. P900 won't work on Cingular in Chicago. Port over to T-Mobile instead.

Posted by: namlas

Hello,

Sorry for bumping this up, but I have a newbie question and this seems to be the best thread to ask in.

I'm currently a nextel customer and am looking to purchase a SE P900 to use -- I know that the P900 is a GSM phone and that nextel also uses GSM technology... does anyone know for certain whether or not the P900 can be used with nextel service?

My other option is to go with AT&T but their network, at least in my immediate area (Scranton, PA and NYC on other times), is horrible.

Posted by: sdsviet

no nextel will not work. its a different gsm/iden carrier. u will need to use tmo or cing. i used to be a nextel customer also. i've tried putting the sim in there and it definately does not work.

Posted by: Tha Villain

Am I hearing (or reading) this right?

The p900 won't work on AT&T at all?

I have AT&T in Los Angeles and I'm pretty sure its GSM 850 here. So if I get the p900 (GSM 900) it won't work at all?

That sucks...

I guess I better find another phone...