vB Easy Archive - Looks like my dream of an MPx220 on T-Mobile may be over

Pages: 1

Looks like my dream of an MPx220 on T-Mobile may be over
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: conspiracy

I've been a Verizon customer for a number of years now and have grown weary of their games with phones (disabling parts of bluetooth, less than great pricing of plans and lack of decent smartphones (none with bluetooth).

So I decided to try T-Mobile and order an MPx220 thru Amazon. Well, I received my (temporary) T-Mobile phone the other day -- a Motorola V180. Seemed to work great in most of the places I'd need it too, except the most important one -- my house! No signal whatsoever, all calls fail and I can't call the phone. Verizon is fine in my area.

So my MPx220 is not even here yet and I don't think I'll be able to use it.

So I have a bunch of questions that hopefully some of you can enlighten me on:

1. Is there are chance the MPx220 would work when the V180 didn't? I think it might be quad-band where the V180 is tri. Would that make enough of a difference?

2. Would another carrier, such as Cingular/AT&T give me any better results or do all GSM providers ride the same network?

3. Any other suggestions? I need bluetooth and I'd like a smartphone. I'd really like to take advantage of T-Mo's pricing as weel, particularly for the 5-6 total phones I'd need.

Thanks for any help you can give me. I'm bummed right now.

Posted by: NooM

http://howardforums.com/showthread.php?threadid=506989

Posted by: craigg

The MPX220 may be better for you. If not then I would suggest Cingular. Depending on the area you are in you may find better coverage as well as Cingular has 800mhz bandwith which has superior building penetration. T-Mobile operates on 1900mhz and while they're the cheapest carrier sometimes you get what you pay for.

Posted by: aristoBrat

Quote:

Originally posted by craigg
Depending on the area you are in you may find better coverage as well as Cingular has 800mhz bandwith which has superior building penetration.

The only thing "superior" about 800mhz penetrating buildings is that it requires less towers.

A properly deployed 1900mhz network will penetrate buildings just as well as a properly deployed 800 mhz network.

But I do agree that Cingular may give better coverage. Their GSM network is more mature than T-Mobile's, esp after merging with AT&T's.

Posted by: conspiracy

Well, I'm giving Cingular a shot. Called the business side and I'm trying one test phone to see how it goes.

By the way, the rep I talked to said the MPx220 isn't available for them to give out yet ...

Posted by: PiTT

i had AT&T TDMA, never really worked in my area, my friends have verizon, they come to my house, they get about 1 bar, switched to Nextel, good service, but every couple minutes it would give me no service, so i switched to t-mobile, absolutely no signal in my house, switched back to nextel, got fed up with all their bs, no service and crappy voice quality, so....switched to AT&T/Cingular, got a 6620 which i love and always wanted, and the service is the best out of all of tehm so far, for the past month that ive had the phone, ive only been to one place where i had no signal, and i dont even remember where that was, i get service in my house, in a elevator, i went to las vegas over the weekend, all through the whole desert i had good signal, you cant go wrong with cingular/AT&T.....

Posted by: conspiracy

f-ing GSM blows. Cingular gets NO SIGNAL at my house either. Cannot place or receive a call.

I guess I'll have to return the MPx220 and settle for Verizon's crappy phones and expensive service.

F!!!!!!!

Posted by: aristoBrat

No GSM? Where the heck do you live?

Posted by: conspiracy

Quote:

Originally posted by aristoBrat
No GSM? Where the heck do you live?

Western Morris county, NJ. It's not all that rural. Very frustrating. I get signal as soon as I leave my street. Although it looks like I get no Cingular signal inside my building on Cingular either. Verizon blows them all away. Maybe I'll have to look into getting an i600.

Posted by: aristoBrat

I really liked the i600 -- got it the first day it was available. I never got over the pricetag, though. Ended up returning it at the end of the 14-day trial period.

I'm sorry there's no GSM that works in your area. CDMA providers really aren't the best for trying out the latest toys, although they usually eventually get them.

Posted by: dumwaldo

Quote:

Originally posted by aristoBrat
I really liked the i600 -- got it the first day it was available. I never got over the pricetag, though. Ended up returning it at the end of the 14-day trial period.

samsung i600 - $650
included in the box - phone, standard battery, extended battery, dual slot desktop cradle, stereo hands free headset, leather carry case
accessories you will need to buy - standard SD Card (1GB card = $70 to $80)

motorolla MPX-220 - $500
included in the box - phone, standard battery, cables for power and sync connection
accessories you will need to buy - mini SD Card (512KB card = $65 to $70), extended battery (none available yet and if the mpx-200 is any indication one will not be made available, apparently 220 users will need to carry a spare battery if they have heavy power needs, desktop cradle (again i do not believe one even exists), handsfree headset with stereo earbuds for listening to music (you will need to shop around to find something that is compatible), and a leather case will probably set you back between $30 and $40.

so on one side we have a complete and well though out package that gives you everything you need except a memory card and the memory cards are plentifull and cheap for the i600.

then on the other side you have pretty much nothing more than a phone with the comperable accessories not even available in many cases. untill the mpx-220 can even offer the same accessories it is pretty difficult to do a price comparison but i am inclined to say the mpx-220 is more expensive than the i600. unless of course you know where to get a desktop charger, extended battery, decent leather case and stereo headset for less than $150.

ever hear the expression 'pay me now or pay me later'? because the only real difference between the two is the i600 asks you to pay now with no surprises down the road and the mpx-220 says pay me later if we ever get accessories available for the phone.

peace,
dumwaldo

Posted by: conspiracy

Quote:

Originally posted by dumwaldo
samsung i600 - $650
included in the box - phone, standard battery, extended battery, dual slot desktop cradle, stereo hands free headset, leather carry case
accessories you will need to buy - standard SD Card (1GB card = $70 to $80)

motorolla MPX-220 - $500
included in the box - phone, standard battery, cables for power and sync connection
accessories you will need to buy - mini SD Card (512KB card = $65 to $70), extended battery (none available yet and if the mpx-200 is any indication one will not be made available, apparently 220 users will need to carry a spare battery if they have heavy power needs, desktop cradle (again i do not believe one even exists), handsfree headset with stereo earbuds for listening to music (you will need to shop around to find something that is compatible), and a leather case will probably set you back between $30 and $40.

so on one side we have a complete and well though out package that gives you everything you need except a memory card and the memory cards are plentifull and cheap for the i600.

then on the other side you have pretty much nothing more than a phone with the comperable accessories not even available in many cases. untill the mpx-220 can even offer the same accessories it is pretty difficult to do a price comparison but i am inclined to say the mpx-220 is more expensive than the i600. unless of course you know where to get a desktop charger, extended battery, decent leather case and stereo headset for less than $150.

ever hear the expression 'pay me now or pay me later'? because the only real difference between the two is the i600 asks you to pay now with no surprises down the road and the mpx-220 says pay me later if we ever get accessories available for the phone.

peace,
dumwaldo

no bluetooth on the i600 right? I'd like to use my phone as a modem at times.

Posted by: dumwaldo

the i600 on sprint does not have the ability to be used as a modem in any way right now. that and the lack of a camera are the only real strong downsides to the phone.

Posted by: aristoBrat

I'm not sure where you got your prices, but here's what Amazon's selling them for:

WITHOUT NEW SERVICE

$679.99 i600
$399.99 MPx220
-----------
The i600 is $280 more

WITH NEW SERVICE

$449.99 i600
$199.99 MPx220
-----------
The i600 is $250 more

From reading reviews, people are getting as much (if not more) life from the MPx220 regular battery as the i600 with an extended battery. IMO, the i600 had to ship with an extended battery because the regular battery will *not* last a whole day with many users. The i600 extended battery also adds significant weight/bulk to the phone.

Cradles are gone. No new Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition phones are shipping with them. Instead, you get a USB sync/charge cable and an AC charger. The USB sync/charge cable does just that -- syncs AND charges the phone. Unlike the i600 cradle, it doesn't require that you plug the AC charger into it. (I always thought it was a pain to have to unplug the i600 AC charger from the back of the cradle anytime I travelled). In addition, if you sync regularly with two computers (i.e. home/work), buying a 2nd sync/charge cable is a LOT cheaper than a 2nd cradle/AC charger.

The MPx220, in addition to using BlueTooth headsets, has a 2.5MM jack and can use $10 stereo headphones just like the i600 shipped with. No need to "shop around for something compatible."

So basically, the only thing the i600 ships with that the MPx220 doesn't is a case, which Best Buy is already carrying.

I admire your defense of the i600. It IS a good phone. Even with the extra stuff it ships with, I don't think that it's worth paying $250 extra for, especially since it's lacking BlueTooth and a camera.

Posted by: Foxman13

You might try reporting a hole in service to Cingular. They are pretty good about addressing lapses in coverage. I did this along time ago, so I don't recall exactly what number to call, but I am sure customer service can help you.

Posted by: strrlvr

I have a tri-band mpx200. I get bad service in and around my house. In fact I get bad reception almost everywhere that my wife's little Samsung phone gets great service.

Do you expect the mpx220 to improve this for me? Is it really this much better recpetion-wise???

Posted by: aristoBrat

The reviews I have read say that the MPx220 is a LOT better than the MPx200.

Folks were comparing it to the Nokia 6600 series, which is outstanding.

Posted by: dumwaldo

Quote:

Originally posted by aristoBrat
I'm not sure where you got your prices, but here's what Amazon's selling them for:

the i600 sells for $500 as a new activation direct from SprintPCS or Verizon, the carriers that support the phone. without activation they are both getting $650 for the phone.

the mpx-220 has only sold in one official outlet so far and that is best buy. you can not even get the phone from cingular, the carrier that supports it so there actually is no official price point for the handset yet. maybe if the phone is ever actually released i will be able to quote a specific price point. best buy was selling the phone for $350 as a new activation and $500 as a straight out purchase so thats as close to a legitimate price as i could come up with. ironically $350 is the same thing amazon charges for the phone as a new activation.

you seem to have mistaken a 2 week offer for a mail in rebate direct from amazon as part of the price. if i can find the i600 on trader bobs awsome deals website for $300 does that mean i can say the phone only costs $300?

the difference between the two phones is $150.

BTW
i work in NYC every day. you know that big city with all the big buildings and 3 cell phone shops on every block. your cavalier comment of "has a 2.5MM jack and can use $10 stereo headphones just like the i600 shipped with" is seriously ill informed. STEREO earbuds are actually quite difficult to come by. i have been into literally hundreds of cell phone stores in NYC and never seen a pair for sale. now if you want something like what the i600 ships with then you will not only need to find a set of STEREO earbuds but you will need a set with an inline volume control and talk button on the mic. find that for $10 and i will buy 10 of them.

peace out,
dumwaldo

Posted by: Darth Treg

The i600 is an excellent phone if released last year. It's a great design but the MPX220 trumps it both in looks and functionality, not to mention portability.

Posted by: dumwaldo

well the looks part is a personal taste thing so thats pretty subjective. i consider myself an adult to i like the sophisticated look of the i600. the mpx-220 has alot more of that bling quality.

functionality, well i would be insane to try and argue that one. the 220 has bluetooth, a camera, can be used as a modem... i will definatley grant you thast the 220 has more functionality. the important thing to keep in mind about that functionality is how much each individual might need the differences in functionality. sometimes using the phone as a modem and the camera are not important features to people.

the thing about your post that really left me puzzled though was the bit about portability. are you trying to say the larger mpx-220 is somehow more portable than the smaller i600? were you trying to make a point about the GSM mpx-220 being easier to transfer to another carrier than a CDMA i600? what is it you are trying to say?

peace,
dumwaldo

Posted by: iJITSU

Quote:

Originally posted by strrlvr
I have a tri-band mpx200. I get bad service in and around my house. In fact I get bad reception almost everywhere that my wife's little Samsung phone gets great service.

Do you expect the mpx220 to improve this for me? Is it really this much better recpetion-wise???

any phone phone with 850 is going to get you better overall coverage, and in many areas will improve your receptions assuming that 850 is available in that area. I used the mpx200 on ATT in Houston and got mediocre reception at best. I then used an smt 5600 and got stellar reception. Could be the difference in phones or the 850 bandwith. Regardless, the mpx220 has a more pronounced antenna and should be better.

Posted by: miZzgirl

hi guys, i need help. i purchased my mpx220 around October, what i need to ask if i should exchange the phone for the 1.3 f/w. i heard that 1.3 and the mini sd doesn't seem to work or has problems, which is one of my worries. i don't have much complain about my 0.342 vers., i was luck out. anyway, i called bb 1888 number and they told me to take my phone over to Advantage Communications (Everett, WA) and have it flash by them. Moto told that they can't replace my phone??!!! and Cingular wouldn't even help because, i dont have plan with them (under T-mo). What do i do?? I rather just have a brand new phone sent to me. Should i wait until BB local stores have them in stock to replace it?

Posted by: ibclubbin

Quote:

Originally posted by dumwaldo

the mpx-220 has only sold in one official outlet so far and that is best buy. you can not even get the phone from cingular, the carrier that supports it so there actually is no official price point for the handset yet. maybe if the phone is ever actually released i will be able to quote a specific price point.

im the assistant manager for a Cingular Blue store in Somerset county...we will have Cingular Branded MPX220s by the end of this week most likely...there are two in my in transit inventory

Posted by: Darth Treg

Quote:

Originally posted by dumwaldo
well the looks part is a personal taste thing so thats pretty subjective. i consider myself an adult to i like the sophisticated look of the i600. the mpx-220 has alot more of that bling quality.

functionality, well i would be insane to try and argue that one. the 220 has bluetooth, a camera, can be used as a modem... i will definatley grant you thast the 220 has more functionality. the important thing to keep in mind about that functionality is how much each individual might need the differences in functionality. sometimes using the phone as a modem and the camera are not important features to people.

the thing about your post that really left me puzzled though was the bit about portability. are you trying to say the larger mpx-220 is somehow more portable than the smaller i600? were you trying to make a point about the GSM mpx-220 being easier to transfer to another carrier than a CDMA i600? what is it you are trying to say?

peace,
dumwaldo

I stand corrected. The difference in size is negligible with the MPX220 being just a few mm tallers but a tad narrower. So portability isnt an issue.

Posted by: conspiracy

SUCCESS with Cingular!!! get 2-3 bars at my house when I got ZERO signal (could not place or receive calls).

The problem was that the phone Cingular sent me (V220) was defective. Once we figured that out and they activated my card, I slapped it into the MPx220 and I was golden!

Now I'm in return hell -- cancelled and am returning T-Mo phone, getting replacment v220 and sending back defect to Cingular and returning MPx220 to Amazon so I can get one cheaper thru Cingular and get servicing/insurance on it.

I need to catch up -- f/w .342 seems fine on the MPx -- is 1.30 that much better? Only camera fixes?

If there are any Cingular reps out there that want a new account and 5-6 phones to start, let me know.

Posted by: aadadams

Quote:

Originally posted by conspiracy
SUCCESS with Cingular!!! get 2-3 bars at my house when I got ZERO signal (could not place or receive calls).

The problem was that the phone Cingular sent me (V220) was defective. Once we figured that out and they activated my card, I slapped it into the MPx220 and I was golden!

Now I'm in return hell -- cancelled and am returning T-Mo phone, getting replacment v220 and sending back defect to Cingular and returning MPx220 to Amazon so I can get one cheaper thru Cingular and get servicing/insurance on it.

I need to catch up -- f/w .342 seems fine on the MPx -- is 1.30 that much better? Only camera fixes?

If there are any Cingular reps out there that want a new account and 5-6 phones to start, let me know.

Currently, you cannot insure the MPx220 through Cingular. I have used both 1.30 and .342. 1.30 improves volume a bit more and some bluetooth bugs were eliminated as well as improving the camera.

Posted by: conspiracy

Quote:

Originally posted by aadadams
Currently, you cannot insure the MPx220 through Cingular. I have used both 1.30 and .342. 1.30 improves volume a bit more and some bluetooth bugs were eliminated as well as improving the camera.

what? you're kidding! Cingular is offering a flip phone and aren't offering a warranty/insurance plan? So what's the deal then? How long do you have it before they won't replace it? Stupid.

Posted by: aadadams

Quote:

Originally posted by conspiracy
what? you're kidding! Cingular is offering a flip phone and aren't offering a warranty/insurance plan? So what's the deal then? How long do you have it before they won't replace it? Stupid.

Cingular will service your warranty for you through exchange by mail (XBM) for the duration of the manufacturers warranty, but if it gets wet, is stolen, or lost they will not replace it. Unfortunately this exclusion applies even if the CSR sells you the insurance. I have read one report in which the agent sold the person insurance and the person lost the phone almost immediately. Lockline agreed to replace it but of course they do not have any refurbs yet so the lockline manager called the store manager and asked him to swap it out for the customer. The store manager refused. So the person has no replacement phone at this point. Best bet is not to rely on the insurance and proceed with extreme caution with respect to the care o your MPx220. Some time soon, there will be insurance plan revisions that will include these and other phones but it has yet to happen.