vB Easy Archive - Does anyone know if Best Buy will be carrying the Siemens SX66?

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Does anyone know if Best Buy will be carrying the Siemens SX66?
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Posted by: flowergemw2000

Does anyone know if Best Buy will be carrying the Siemens SX66?

I heard that they would be but after calling around to multiple Best Buy stores and their 1-888 number, they were going to have it in store but they decided to carry it only online but it's still not there. Calling 1-888-Best Buy didn't help either. They just don't know.

Does anyone have any word on this? I am a gadget freek and tend to buy high dollar electronics but worry when I can't get a warranty on it. Cingular said they're not covering it because their carrier does not cover this item because of the PDA part of the combo PDA/phone.

Any idea would be greatly appreciated.

Posted by: Laurent

The SX66 was supposed to be carried in the stores and available mid-november. it all got delayed for some reason (firmware issues has been mentioned to me).

Since then, no one seems to have it in stock and it looks like a ghost part number at Best Buy. I wouldn't holdmy breath, but who knows.

Laurent

Posted by: flowergemw2000

Thanks for the update. I guess I'm going to take my chances with this expensive but oh so lovely new 'toy' without any fall-back net of a warranty.

I just hope that it won't go berserk on me after the 1 year mark.

Posted by: ASimpleFarmer

i want that phone too...and we all know how bestbuy has better prices

Posted by: flowergemw2000

I want to hold out for BestBuy but I'm getting close to the end of my 30-day trial period with Cingular and have to decide if I want to return it, use my old phone until it's available at BestBuy (and have SX66 withdrawals for who-knows how long), or just keep the one from Cingular and pray that nothing will go wrong.

Posted by: strikeIII

i live in the chicago land area and a cingular rep. said that Best Buys out here will not have the SX66, at least not anytime soon.....

Posted by: flowergemw2000

I appreciate the information. I guess I will just have to take my chances with the one that I have. Thank you all for responding to my thread.

Posted by: kdowling

On January 5th Cingular officially announced the Siemens SX66 (just about the same time they took it off their web site).

Email Ritch Blasi (ritch.blasi@cingular.com) and Jacob Rice (jacob.rice@siemens.com) from Cingular to complain at the lack of these phones on the market .

PRESS RELEASE
Sleek New SX66 Combines World Phone and PDA with the Familiarity of Microsoft
Windows Mobile Software to Create an Indispensable Productivity Tool

ATLANTA, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless and Siemens
Communications today announced the availability of the Siemens SX66 Pocket PC
Phone. Sold through Cingular, the SX66 with Microsoft's Windows Mobile 2003
Second Edition Software delivers voice, data, an integrated keyboard and Wi-Fi
capabilities.
The SX66 combines a quad-band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) GSM "world phone"
and wireless PDA in a portable office workhorse mobile professionals can use
to stay connected working from home, in the field or when traveling around the
world. Cingular customers can use the Siemens SX66 to access their calendar,
inbox, contacts, tasks, Cingular's Xpress Mail, browse the Internet, and
access corporate networks via a virtual private network (VPN).
The device allows customers to tap into the benefits of high-speed
wireless connectivity via Cingular's GPRS network, as well as via Wi-Fi.
Additionally, the Siemens SX66 offers integrated Bluetooth(TM), for wireless
connectivity of headsets and peripherals, and Windows Mobile software with the
integrated and familiar pocket versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, MSN
Messenger, Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player.
"Business travelers want the productivity tools on their wireless devices
to look, feel and act like the ones they use at the office," said Jeff
Bradley, Vice President of Cingular's Business Markets Group. "Cingular,
Siemens and Microsoft have collaborated to give our customers a remarkable new
voice handheld with Windows Mobile functionality, plus just about every
feature they could want, that will become a mobile extension of their
offices."
The SX66 is a slider-type device with a hidden QWERTY keypad that can be
pulled open for easy use of email, messaging and Pocket Word and Excel, a
speakerphone, and a voice memo recorder. Unlike other PDAs on the market,
the SX66's innovative sliding keyboard design gives customers access to a full
screen. The display on the SX66 is a 3.5 inch transflective TFT-LCD color
touch screen that supports up to 64,000 colors with up to 240 by 320 pixels
resolution. Other features include MMS, an integrated MP3 stereo player and
video playback.
The SX66 is powered by an Intel(R) PXA263 processor at 400 MHz and has up
to 128MB of internal memory, which is ideal for enterprise customers who need
to load applications on the device. It also comes with an SD slot for flash
data storage, plus infrared data (IrDA(TM)) interface and USB synchronization
station for data transfers. The device provides up to eight days of standby
time and up to four hours of talk time in a small package weighing 7.4 ounces,
measuring approximately 2.82 (W) by 4.92 (H) by 0.74(T) inches. A battery,
headset, spare stylus, travel charger, DC jack converter and a carrying case
are included with the SX66.
"Siemens is committed to offering technological solutions that simplify
the complexity of life and helps users be more efficient in their professional
lives," said Bernt Klein, senior vice president and general manager, Mobile
Devices North America, Siemens Communications, Inc. "The SX66 extends our
selection of business solutions in North America and offers users world-class
performance from a powerful, elegant business device."
The SX66 features the compact Microsoft Windows.NET(TM) Framework, which
allows existing IT investments in .NET applications to easily be leveraged and
extended to mobile users.
Additionally, with Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition Software from
Microsoft, the SX66 delivers exceptional entertainment capabilities along with
the power of productivity. The software provides seamless synchronization
with digital media allowing users to enjoy their music or videos wherever they
are.
"The marriage of innovative hardware from Siemens with Windows Mobile
software enables Cingular's customers to be more productive by easily
accessing their essential information and data in a familiar and integrated
way. Through the power of software, Cingular customers can do even more by
enjoying digital entertainment including music, videos, games and photos,"
said Suzan DelBene, corporate vice president of marketing for the Mobile and
Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft. "Microsoft is extremely excited about
our collaboration with Siemens and Cingular to deliver a truly compelling
mobile experience with the Siemens SX66 on Cingular's advanced GSM/GPRS
network."

ABOUT CINGULAR WIRELESS
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States,
serving more than 46 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between SBC
Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the
largest digital voice and data network in the nation. Cingular is the only
U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets
customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are
available at http://www.cingular.com. Get Cingular Wireless press releases
e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://www.cingular.com/newsroom.

ABOUT MICROSOFT
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential.
Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of
Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

ABOUT SIEMENS
Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) is one of the largest global electronics and
engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $91.3 billion in fiscal
2004. Founded more than 150 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas of
Automation and Control, Information and Communications, Lighting, Medical,
Power and Transportation. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York
City, Siemens in the USA has sales of $16.6 billion and employs 70,000 people
throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Eleven of Siemens' worldwide
businesses are based in the United States. With its global headquarters in
Munich, Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 430,000 people in 192
countries. For more information on Siemens in the United States:
http://www.usa.siemens.com

ABOUT SIEMENS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Siemens Communications, Inc., offers its customers a broad portfolio of
communication products and services and is a leader in convergent
technologies, products and services for wireless, fixed and enterprise
networks. The company's portfolio ranges from devices for end users to complex
network infrastructures and complementary services for enterprises, carriers
and service providers. Siemens Communications, Inc., is headquartered in Boca
Raton, Fla. For more information, visit
http://www.usa.siemens.com/communications

Any statements in this document that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties; actual
results may differ from the forward-looking statements. Siemens AG undertakes
no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these
forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances
after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Siemens is a trademark of Siemens AG. All other trademarks are the property
of their respective owners.

* Some phone features such as phone book, text and multimedia messages,
images, calendar and to-do notes, data saved, games and applications may share
memory (storage space). Use of these features may reduce the memory available
for any features sharing memory. See the user guide for details and additional
information.
** User must obey all applicable laws, including all laws pertaining to
intellectual property and copyright, in use of this feature or accessory.
Please note that in some jurisdictions it may be unlawful to record a phone
conversation or take a picture without notice to or the consent of all
participants.
*** Accessory selection is subject to change without notice and
availability may vary depending on service provider. Please check with service
provider for availability.
**** Operation times vary depending on network conditions, SIM settings,
charging, battery condition, how phone is used and other factors. Some
activities, such as playing games, accessing the Internet or using other
features, reduce talk and standby time.
***** This feature is network dependant. Consult wireless service provider
for availability and any associated fee.

Ritch Blasi
Cingular Wireless
908-696-4242
ritch.blasi@cingular.com

Jacob Rice
Siemens Communications
858-337-7900
jacob.rice@siemens.com

Posted by: flowergemw2000

Thank you kdowling for the article, especially the contact information. I most definitely sent each of them an email, inquiring on the SX66.

I've been enjoying the SX66 so much that my husband now wants one. And I talked to two other people and now they want to get it too (I think I should get commission from Cingular for every sell I make for them). I most definitely want his to have a better warranty coverage than that limited 1-year warranty from Cingular.

It really sucks that Cingular insurance carrier would not cover this excellent product just because of the PDA part of it.