vB Easy Archive - Is Cingular getting the Sony Ericsson W800i or W800c

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Is Cingular getting the Sony Ericsson W800i or W800c
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Posted by: bokaboi69

Hello,

Was just wondering if Cingular will be picking up this handset. If not are there any new Cingular handsets coming out within the next two months?

Posted by: Serifan

I have heard rumors of Cingular getting the W800i, but those are unsubstantiated rumors at best. I know, for sure, that if they do release the W800i I'll camp out in from of the store and make sure I'm first in line.

Posted by: powertoburn

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/hspr-H102; Blazer/4.0) 16;320x320)

The phone is supposed to be avaliable directly from Sony Ericsson. I doubt Cingular will carry since the phone lacks 850MHz.

Posted by: hatoncat

No. SEMC has stated they have no plans to bring it to any U.S. carrier at this time, or any variant of it at this time. You will have to buy it unlocked, and be prepared for major coverage holes thanks to no 850.

Posted by: Serifan

Well, hatoncat, that crushed my dreams. Anyway, I'm not sure why all these companies don't just make quad-band phones. Not only would it save them the time, money, and effort of making two or more versions, but also it could potentially mean more sales, since anyone, anywhere, who wants a GSM could buy one.

Posted by: bokaboi69

No,

Theres two versions for a reason.

The W800c is for Europe/Asia and operates on GSM 900/1800/1900.

But, the W800i is the American Version, and operates on GSM850,1800,1900.

Posted by: Serifan

Quote:

Originally Posted by bokaboi69

No,

Theres two versions for a reason.

The W800c is for Europe/Asia and operates on GSM 900/1800/1900.

But, the W800i is the American Version, and operates on GSM850,1800,1900.

Perhaps you know something that we don't, but according to the SE website, the W800i is GSM 900/1800/1900. Even if you are right, you are basically making my point, which was to say that if they had just made it quad-band, they wouldn't have to make two versions. I just don't see how it's in anyway cost effective to make two or more versions. Anyway, even if the W800i is supposed to have 850Mhz that doesn't guarantee that Cingular will carry it. Cingular doesn't carry the SE P910a or the Moto V635 or A780 or certain other phones that support the 850MHz frequency.

Posted by: Bracmobil

Quote:

Originally Posted by iGambit

From what I have seen from Moto's and others, Quad bad phones have more problems. Their firmware is usually loaded with problems and/or have weak RF's.

Posted by: Baggio

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bracmobil

From what I have seen from Moto's and others, Quad bad phones have more problems. Their firmware is usually loaded with problems and/or have weak RF's.

And you think that's related to being a quad band phone?

The V635, Razr, and even my old V400 all had good RF. The buggy firmware the Motos have is usually the Cingular branded firmware. I willing to bet it is Cingular causing these issues, because it seem like the unbranded unlocked versions of the Motos work 100 times better than the Cingular versions.

Posted by: Serifan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baggio

I agree completely. My V3 and my friend's V635 get excellent reception. I have also had unlocked, non-Cingular version of phones that performed better than the ones Cingular carried. SE, Samsung, and Nokia need to get with the program and begin to release some quad-band GSM phones; that would multiple my options 100 times. PalmOne, Motorola, and Sharp have done it. Oh well, a man can dream.

Posted by: Seltzer

Quote:

Originally Posted by iGambit

SE, Samsung, and Nokia need to get with the program and begin to release some quad-band GSM phones; that would multiple my options 100 times. PalmOne, Motorola, and Sharp have done it. Oh well, a man can dream.

Nokia really needs to pick it up in this department...

Posted by: hatoncat

Quadband chipsets are more expensive, require more testing (because you have to test the extra band) and require more regulatory approval. If you know you're not going to launch a device in a particular market, adding support for it anyways is extremely expensive with little return on investment.

Posted by: Serifan

I agree that they are more expensive, require more testing, etc., but if a company produces a quad-band phone, the fact that anyone, anywhere, who wants a GSM phone can buy one could potentially mean more sales. Even if the phone is not meant to be released in a certain market, people in that market could still buy it and use it, with no concern for the frequency (since it's quad-band). We are in 2005, and granted there are many people and places that are still not connected, but so many people are connected that once a phone is released they can and will find someway to purchase it.

Posted by: n3985

Quote:

Originally Posted by bokaboi69

No,

Theres two versions for a reason.

The W800c is for Europe/Asia and operates on GSM 900/1800/1900.

But, the W800i is the American Version, and operates on GSM850,1800,1900.

Usually a "c" ending denotes Chinese market, with Chinese language support.

Posted by: DonaldMick

Doesn't SE use the "a" to indicate American versions? (P910a, S710a...)

And if there's a W800a, I'm all over that.

Posted by: hatoncat

The new naming scheme is to add 10 and an a for devices that have been heavily modified for american use (P910a added 850, S710a traded FM for EDGE & 850)...

There is no W800a, there is no W810a, SEMC has said there is no plans to develop either at this time.

Posted by: michael_gomez

I have the w800i with Cingular and am having signal strength issues. I got it at a Sony store in L.A. It will show 5 bars and then go down to 0 bars in the same location. It will do this all over town.
I sent it back to Sony and they said they fixed it. It still has the same issues. No fix. The Repair center gave it back with a chip on the plastic where it looks like they tried to pry it off. No it dose not seem to snap together like it did when it was new .I'm pissed to say the least. I have to send it back again before they will consider a replacement . I'm using the w600i now while I wait. I like it , but I want my w800 to work too. I use a Mac and find sony phones to work great with them I hope Sony will do the right thing and not tic me off some more.

Posted by: xj911

http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_Ericss...l?autoplay=true

Cingular?