vB Easy Archive - Cingular Mpx220 - How do I sych time to network?

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Cingular Mpx220 - How do I sych time to network?
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Posted by: rayhurst

I recently took the plunge into a Mpx220 on Cingular (was using a Samsung a500 on Sprint) and I have a simple question I cannot answer: How do I set the phone to automatically synch the time no matter what time zone I'm in?

I went to Phoenix last weekend from OK and when the plane landed and I turned on the phone, it still showed CST. I've searched through every menu and sub-menu in the phone and I cannot find a setting for this (there is one to synch time when Activesynching via computer, but not to Cingular). When I was on Sprint, my phone did it automatically.

Any ideas?

Posted by: subVert

I was spoiled by Sprint in the same way. I just switched from Sprint to Cingular and now I suspect that the automatic time setting was a feature of the CDMA network. All my friends with Cingular or T-Mobile tell me that they have always had to set the time manually. I hope I'm wrong and that someone knows how to do it because I really miss that feature.

Posted by: rayhurst

Thanks for the reply. I have a feeling you're right, but I hope you're wrong!!

For those of us that travel a ton on business (one of the reasons I wanted the Mpx220 in the first place) it is so convenient to have the phone automatically set the time to local without ever having to worry about which areas do not follow daylight savings or weird parts of country where the time zone does not run straight north-south.

I am not a techie, but I find it hard to believe that GSM is not capable of this basic functionality and CDMA is. It seems like something 46 million Cingular subscribers would demand.

Posted by: DaleJr#8

Quote:

Originally posted by subVert
All my friends with Cingular or T-Mobile tell me that they have always had to set the time manually.

not true. (at least not totally.)

I have NEVER had to manualy set the time on any of my GSM Nokia phones.

however, I did have to set the time with my current MPx220 so maybe it depends on the phone maker.

Posted by: mtf97tj

Windows Mobile 2003 SE or any WM for that matter does not have this ability. It is a software issue not a network issue.

Posted by: gacajun

I agree. I have had Cingular for several years and on my Nokia and Motorola phones I could autosynch the time. The MPx220 does not have that feature. It is a function of phone, not the cellular carrier.

Posted by: AlbertoM

Actually, it is a function of the fact that the smartphone has a calendar. Changing the time and/or the date can potentially affect all appointments in the system. Does it only change the time on the phone, or the time on the appointments, does it change the appointments to the new time zone, which matches which....etc. So it is safer to leave it up to you.

And yes, both GSM and other Motorola and Audiovox phones have this feature, not PDA/Smartphones....

Posted by: subVert

Quote:

Originally posted by mtf97tj
Windows Mobile 2003 SE or any WM for that matter does not have this ability. It is a software issue not a network issue.

Thanks for the clarification. Now I guess I'll just have to hope for a software upgrade.

Posted by: AlbertoM

Quote:

Originally posted by subVert
Thanks for the clarification. Now I guess I'll just have to hope for a software upgrade.

This will not be included in a software update, and I never heard of it included in a firmware update either. Again, this is not common with smartphones.

Posted by: Surfster

Informative thread. I, too, have wanted this network-time-synch functionality. My Motorola T720 couldn’t do it with AT&T. I forget the reason. Good points raised in this discussion.

Posted by: nrd1dwl

So why it is called SmartPhone? Time sync is a very basic functionality.

Posted by: mtf97tj

Quote:

Originally posted by AlbertoM
Actually, it is a function of the fact that the smartphone has a calendar. Changing the time and/or the date can potentially affect all appointments in the system. Does it only change the time on the phone, or the time on the appointments, does it change the appointments to the new time zone, which matches which....etc. So it is safer to leave it up to you.

And yes, both GSM and other Motorola and Audiovox phones have this feature, not PDA/Smartphones....

Good points, not to mention how would it sync with the computer if the time was not the same???

Posted by: AlbertoM

Quote:

Originally posted by nrd1dwl
So why it is called SmartPhone? Time sync is a very basic functionality.

Because it combines functions of a PDA and a cell phone. To some. the time sync is a basic functionality. To some it is not. I don't need it, and when I travel I simply remember the time difference when using the computer - as to telling the time -- heck, I use my watch!

Posted by: AlbertoM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtf97tj
Good points, not to mention how would it sync with the computer if the time was not the same???

Indeed. In my case, as I sync with the desktop several times a day, I have a program in the computer called Socket Watch from Robomagic. (There are many such programs) About every 60 minutes it will reach out and sync the desktop with one of many atomic clocks hooked to the internet. Then whenever I sync the phone it is automatically set to the exact time. Corrects to daylight saving too.

When I travel to different time zones, I set my watch, but my smartphone remains unchanged, and then I easily keep tract of events back home. Easy math to do too.

Posted by: StefanBuchman

I created a little .NET app that syncs time with SNTP servers on the net.

It establishes a GPRS connection on the phone and synchronizes time... no need to dock.

Let me know if you're interested.

- Stefan

Posted by: rayhurst

so it sounds like this is mainly a problem with using a Smartphone with Pocket Outlook to make sure the change in time zones does not whack out your calendar appointments. is that right? If so, that is just stupid. There are numerous solutions that could fix this. Here's at least 2:

1. Make Pocket Outlook smart enough to know what time zone you are in and allow users to choose the option of always showing calendar appts in local time or home time.

2. Add a "second clock" that shows the curent time at your location and always maintain your "home time". Have option to show either.

Since this was deisgned with the business person in mind and most/many of us travel constantly, having a dynamic clock is often a necessity. Seems like a small thing to ask...