vB Easy Archive - What's a Better choice - Cingular or Unlocked Treo 650

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What's a Better choice - Cingular or Unlocked Treo 650
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Posted by: HCM1

Is there an advantage of one over the other of having an unlocked Palm or an unlocked Cingular Treo 650? I'd like to understand if one may have some functionality limited (for example, I understand that Sprint limited what their release of the phone could do) or if there any concerns over being able to get future code upgrades and fixes.

I looked and did not see this covered. If it has been, I would appreciate a link. Thanks !

Posted by: the bishop

I didn't see it either.

I am picking up my cingular treo 650 today (paid $465 on ebay for it) and will have it unlocked courtesy of my bro who has cingular and is "about to travel overseas"

I think a couple of TMo peoples have the cingular one ... hence me going that route.

Skip paying $699.

Posted by: Ardy

Quote:

Originally posted by HCM1
Is there an advantage of one over the other of having an unlocked Palm or an unlocked Cingular Treo 650? I'd like to understand if one may have some functionality limited (for example, I understand that Sprint limited what their release of the phone could do) or if there any concerns over being able to get future code upgrades and fixes.

I looked and did not see this covered. If it has been, I would appreciate a link. Thanks !

Two main advantages, one monor one.

1. Unlocked meaning you can use any gsm sim card in it, as oppose to just Cingular. Generally good for overseas travel and/or people who are T-Mobile subscribers.

2. DUN (Dial Up Networking) meanig using your Treo 650 as a modem to connect your laptop to the internet.

3. Very minor and that is the Palmone logo (and the gray P1 color on top) as oppose to Cingular's logo (and the blue Cingular's color on top).

That's it as far as I know.

Posted by: the bishop

Is there a way to fix those omissions via firmware upgrade, or is that just how the phone is setup (missing hardware / internals to provide those functions)?

Posted by: ciaeyes

I have 2 cingular treo 650's, both unlocked from Cingular. Funny, they both used the same unlock code.......go figure??!!

Used one in Europe several times with no problems. However, you'll want to make sure that your call barring is not turned on for international calls. Otherwise you won't make any calls regardless of whose card you're using. Had this problem when in South America in Jan. of this year. To check what your phone is set to, go to the phone dial pad, hit menu, go to options and then to call barring. It will tell you which types of calls are barred currently. Don't forget to have this unlocked before you go overseas.

Amazingly, Cingular had no idea how to unlock the call barring, even though they set the password for it as the provider. After about a 45 minute call trying to track down a Treo "expert" (while I was in Argentina) they were able to unlock the call barring for international calls OTA in about 5 minutes.

As for DUN, there seem to be enough wireless networks available throughout the world in all major metropolitan cities (many of them free) that I've never had the need for DUN. Don't miss it, too slow for my liking.

Posted by: the bishop

Quote:

Originally posted by Ardy
Two main advantages, one monor one.

1. Unlocked meaning you can use any gsm sim card in it, as oppose to just Cingular. Generally good for overseas travel and/or people who are T-Mobile subscribers.

2. DUN (Dial Up Networking) meanig using your Treo 650 as a modem to connect your laptop to the internet.

3. Very minor and that is the Palmone logo (and the gray P1 color on top) as oppose to Cingular's logo (and the blue Cingular's color on top).

That's it as far as I know.

I was over at Treocentral, and after getting mine unlocked (m00t!) I found a non-BIOS hack that allows DUN to work, and also another install that can change the internal Cingular "welcome" messages to whatever you want -- I put mine back to Treo's normal ones.

Posted by: Ardy

Quote:

Originally posted by the bishop
I was over at Treocentral, and after getting mine unlocked (m00t!) I found a non-BIOS hack that allows DUN to work, and also another install that can change the internal Cingular "welcome" messages to whatever you want -- I put mine back to Treo's normal ones.

Yes, you can have it all at:
www.shadowmite.com

Posted by: oompah

You would probably receive more $$$$$ if you sold your unlocked phone.