vB Easy Archive - Who has the best PDA data service/packages?

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Who has the best PDA data service/packages?
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Posted by: Implicit

My contract is up and I have been drooling over a PDA-phone. I've been looking at the Treo 650 as the phone I would like once its available (unless someone could give a compelling reason why a Microsoft OS phone would be any better).

I currently have Cingular and have been pleased with their voice service but I have never used their GPRS stuff... I've heard that they do not have good data packages for the Treo phones in terms of price.

Anyway.... what are the pros/cons of each provider for using data services for both phone data and tethering?

Posted by: PabloTX

Sprint's pretty much the winner if all you are looking for is data. $15 for unlimited and they don't appear to care what you do with it.

Posted by: Implicit

I should have clarified... I'm only interested in GSM providers. Sprint's service is too unreliable for my tastes.

Posted by: superfire

Quote:

Originally posted by Implicit
My contract is up and I have been drooling over a PDA-phone. I've been looking at the Treo 650 as the phone I would like once its available (unless someone could give a compelling reason why a Microsoft OS phone would be any better).

I currently have Cingular and have been pleased with their voice service but I have never used their GPRS stuff... I've heard that they do not have good data packages for the Treo phones in terms of price.

Anyway.... what are the pros/cons of each provider for using data services for both phone data and tethering?

cingular might block out the 19.99 unlimited internet for tethering. tmo provides 19.99 true unlimited internet regardless you use it on treo or tethering

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally posted by superfire
cingular might block out the 19.99 unlimited internet for tethering. tmo provides 19.99 true unlimited internet regardless you use it on treo or tethering

You beat me to it! Now granted, T-Mobile is slow coming out with EDGE technology, but paying an extra $5 for unlimited data for phone and supported teethering to a computer and pda is worth it.

Posted by: Implicit

Quote:

Originally posted by superfire
cingular might block out the 19.99 unlimited internet for tethering. tmo provides 19.99 true unlimited internet regardless you use it on treo or tethering

I thought it was $30/mo for unlimited with T-mobile? How reliable is their service?

Posted by: Implicit

Data Access 10MB $29.99
Data Access 20MB $39.99
Data Access 40MB $49.99
Data Access 60MB $59.99
Data Access Unlimited $79.99

$80/month for unlimited data with Cingular... ugh!

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally posted by Implicit
I thought it was $30/mo for unlimited with T-mobile? How reliable is their service?

It's $30/mo for a data plan only. $20/mo if you have a voice plan. Still, for $30, it's hard to beat for the teethering purposes.

Posted by: Implicit

Quote:

Originally posted by candygogo
It's $30/mo for a data plan only. $20/mo if you have a voice plan. Still, for $30, it's hard to beat for the teethering purposes.

Sweet! I may be jumping from Cingular to T-Mobile.... Do they anticipate having the Treo 650 by the end of the month like rumored by Cingular?

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally posted by Implicit
Sweet! I may be jumping from Cingular to T-Mobile.... Do they anticipate having the Treo 650 by the end of the month like rumored by Cingular?

Cingular will get the 650 before T-Mo. I don't know the exact date, all I know is that it's coming out sometime this year on T-Mo.

Posted by: brightcell

Quote:

Originally posted by Implicit
Data Access 10MB $29.99
Data Access 20MB $39.99
Data Access 40MB $49.99
Data Access 60MB $59.99
Data Access Unlimited $79.99

$80/month for unlimited data with Cingular... ugh!

Implicit, you may want to check this:

https://www.cingular.com/media/media_purchase

For $19.99, Cingular offers Unlimited Internet access, 1500 SMS and 200 MMS; it's called Media Works.
If you like Cingular for your voice plan, you should stay with them.

I have T-Mo and like it but 1) Cingular should carry the Treo 650 by the end of this month and 2) they deploy(ed) EDGE.
I will probably switch to Cingular when the Treo 650 is available; T-Mo is disappointing regarding data (the best I get with GPRS is around 30-35 kbps).

Few more days to wait ;-)

Posted by: Implicit

Quote:

Originally posted by brightcell For $19.99, Cingular offers Unlimited Internet access, 1500 SMS and 200 MMS; it's called Media Works.
If you like Cingular for your voice plan, you should stay with them.[/B]

I've seen that package but I can't seem to get it on their website for even the Treo 600.

Go to Cingular.com, put in your zip, pick the Treo 600, pick the 450 min plan, and there is no "MEdia Works" package as an option.

Start over, pick say the T637, pick the 450 min plan, and when you get to the options page "MEdia Works $19.99" is sitting right there.

It seems they are getting sneaking and not allowing Treo users to take advantage of unlimited GPRS for cheap....

Anyone else have a similar experience or any other info on this?

Posted by: brightcell

Interesting,
It's not showing after choosing the Treo 600 and voice plan but it's there on Cingular (Corporate site) !

Well, I would do that then:
Go there: http://www.cingular.com/media/media_net
and sign up online for the Media Package.

Worst case, add it to your actual phone and then get an unlocked Treo and use your SIM.

Posted by: candygogo

The whole gist of this is: If you only want the data on your phone, then Cingular is the way to go. The EDGE speed is attractive, and especially if it comes with the amount of sms and mms. I'm not familiar with the Mediaworks package, but especially if you have a smartphone, you could take adavantage of the features. However, if using the data on other devices is important to you, then T-Mobile is a great pick. You get decent speeds, especially if you have a class 8 or 10 phone (Series 60 Smartphones like Nokia 6600 and 3650 are only 6). It also depends on how much you want to spend monthly for this.

Posted by: Implicit

candygogo I hear what you are saying... but it seems there is no way to get a new line of service for a Treo 600 or 650 with the MediaWorks package. Thus for unlimited data is $80/month which doesn't make Cingular very attractive....

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally posted by Implicit
candygogo I hear what you are saying... but it seems there is no way to get a new line of service for a Treo 600 or 650 with the MediaWorks package. Thus for unlimited data is $80/month which doesn't make Cingular very attractive....

We agree on that point, about the data package price from Cingular.

Didn't you have your eyes set on the Treo 650? Like I mentioned, the release date for it from T-Mobile isn't available. If you still want the 600, then the $20 data plan might fit your needs better ($30 if stand alone.)

If you want sms, the prices start at $2.99/ 300 and go to $9.99 for unlimited (don't know how long the unlimited promo is going to last.) there's also a $6.99 option for 1000. I remember mms is about $2.99 for 25.

Posted by: Implicit

Quote:

Originally posted by candygogo
We agree on that point, about the data package price from Cingular.

Didn't you have your eyes set on the Treo 650? Like I mentioned, the release date for it from T-Mobile isn't available. If you still want the 600, then the $20 data plan might fit your needs better ($30 if stand alone.)

If you want sms, the prices start at $2.99/ 300 and go to $9.99 for unlimited (don't know how long the unlimited promo is going to last.) there's also a $6.99 option for 1000. I remember mms is about $2.99 for 25.

I'd like the 650... but by pricing out packages on the 600 I feel that is a good gauge on what plans for the 650 will be...

Posted by: brightcell

Quote:

Originally posted by candygogo
The whole gist of this is: If you only want the data on your phone, then Cingular is the way to go. The EDGE speed is attractive, and especially if it comes with the amount of sms and mms. I'm not familiar with the Mediaworks package, but especially if you have a smartphone, you could take adavantage of the features. However, if using the data on other devices is important to you, then T-Mobile is a great pick. You get decent speeds, especially if you have a class 8 or 10 phone (Series 60 Smartphones like Nokia 6600 and 3650 are only 6). It also depends on how much you want to spend monthly for this.

Candygogo,
I remember trying a Nokia 6620 on AT&T and I was able to browse at EDGE speed. Do you know if EDGE is working on Cingular in NYC ?

Implicit,
If you go on Amazon and choose the Treo 600 on Cingular, it's possible to add Media Works.
On Treocentral.com, few reported to use this data plan with the Treo.
I am sure you can add it with the Treo (maybe by going to Cingular's website after buying it).
Ask about it in a Cingular store.

Posted by: candygogo

Quote:

Originally posted by brightcell
Candygogo,
I remember trying a Nokia 6620 on AT&T and I was able to browse at EDGE speed. Do you know if EDGE is working on Cingular in NYC ?

Implicit,
If you go on Amazon and choose the Treo 600 on Cingular, it's possible to add Media Works.
On Treocentral.com, few reported to use this data plan with the Treo.
I am sure you can add it with the Treo (maybe by going to Cingular's website after buying it).
Ask about it in a Cingular store.

I'm not too sure, but I understand that Cingular/AT&T has EDGE deployed all over. It's just T-Mobile that's dragging it's heels.

Posted by: brightcell

Quote:

Originally posted by candygogo
I'm not too sure, but I understand that Cingular/AT&T has EDGE deployed all over. It's just T-Mobile that's dragging it's heels.

Hopefully next week, I will find out for EDGE if I see a 650 in Cingular stores.

T-Mobile dragging its heels : no kidding !!
That's why I may leave them for Cingular.

Thanks for you info.

Posted by: oenophile

I'd like to get the unlimited data/MediaWorks ($19.99) package when I buy my new Treo 650. I currently have a SE T616 w/AT&T SIM. Normally, I'd just go to the Cingular store, buy the Treo 650 and tell the person at the store to change my plan to MediaWorks. However, folks here (and other boards) seem to indicate that the sales rep won't let me have the MediaWorks package.

Is that correct? Can I not simply go to the store and add the MediaWorks pacakage when I buy the 650?

If that's right, is there a better way to do this? (Keeping in mind the 650 will be a locked phone and I only have an AT&T SIM for my t616.)

?

Thanks for any responses...

Posted by: brightcell

Quote:

Originally posted by oenophile
However, folks here (and other boards) seem to indicate that the sales rep won't let me have the MediaWorks package.

Is that correct? Can I not simply go to the store and add the MediaWorks pacakage when I buy the 650?

If that's right, is there a better way to do this? (Keeping in mind the 650 will be a locked phone and I only have an AT&T SIM for my t616.)?

Thanks for any responses...

I read that many times.
I suggest you try it first ( get the Cingular 650 from a store and ask for the MediaWorks plan).
BTW, this data is not available for the 600 on Cingular.com but it is on Amazon !
Any you can't have it that way then Plan B (

my strategy), get a phone with the biggest rebate I can find ( Amazon is good for that) and sign up for a voice plan & MediaWorks.
Get the Cingular Treo 650 (without any plan - the rebate will pay for the higher cost) and then switch the SIM.
Et voila !!

Posted by: Implicit

This may be covered elsewhere... but what information is contained in the SIM? Thus when you connect to the network does your SIM ESN just regiester with what packages/options they have on file -- regardless of what actual equipment you are using? In other words, is there anything special on the Cingular side of things they would have to do to enable unlimited GPRS other than just having a valid SIM that has the MediaWorks package?

Posted by: brightcell

As far as I know, Cingular doesn't check for that.
GSM is not CDMA; where every phone as to be activated in order to be recognized by the network.
Check on Treocentral.com, many are doing that already with their 600.

We will see what Cingular offers as data plan for the 650 when it comes out !
Something interesting though; Cingular.com doesn't offer the MediaWorks plan for the 600 but it is available on Amazon and after checking, it's possible to add this plan through Cingular Corporate site. Go figure !

Posted by: oenophile

Couldn't I just go to the Cingular store today, ask them to migrate me to cingular on my T616 and give me MediaWorks, have them give me a new Orange SIM, and drop it in my t616 (which is unlocked). Then, I'd have MediaWorks, I could just buy the Treo 650 and drop in the SIM from my t616 into my Treo 650 and, wala, I'm done. ??

Posted by: brightcell

Quote:

Originally posted by oenophile
Couldn't I just go to the Cingular store today, ask them to migrate me to cingular on my T616 and give me MediaWorks, have them give me a new Orange SIM, and drop it in my t616 (which is unlocked). Then, I'd have MediaWorks, I could just buy the Treo 650 and drop in the SIM from my t616 into my Treo 650 and, wala, I'm done. ??

Definitely !!
You never mentionned that your SE 616 was unlocked.
Sounds like a good plan

Posted by: Implicit

Letstalk.com will let you add the Treo 600 with Media Works for $20 with a 1 year or FREE Media Works with a 2-year contract. Hopefully it will be the same for the 650...