vB Easy Archive - Got a free 650

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Got a free 650 - Need some advice
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Posted by: Mattazuma

I won a free 650 (a long story for another day). It is Cingular branded. I currently have T-Mobile service and am not under contract.

So am I better off switching my service to Cingular or unlocking the phone & staying with T-Mobile?

Also, I read somewhere about issues with the bluetooth DUN profile. I am going to need DUN for a couple of weeks this summer.

Thanks,

Matt

Posted by: tonydrone

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattazuma

I won a free 650 (a long story for another day). It is Cingular branded. I currently have T-Mobile service and am not under contract.

So am I better off switching my service to Cingular or unlocking the phone & staying with T-Mobile?

Also, I read somewhere about issues with the bluetooth DUN profile. I am going to need DUN for a couple of weeks this summer.

Thanks,

Matt

i would definitely switch over to Cingular, you'd be able to take advantage of
the Edge network. It will make web browsing much more enjoyable.

As for BT DUN, go to Shadowmite's page , scroll to the bottom,
and download the patch for "GSM".
Install that on your SD card, and copy
it over to your Palm memory, and your set.

Posted by: jleecong

Depends wich service works best for you. Also depend on how much you like to pay for data. T-Zones = $4.99, MediaNet = $19.99, T-Mobile Internet $19.99, Cingular Data Connect $44.99.

I myself use a Cingular branded 650 with T-Mobile and have been very happy.

As for the DUN patch....
http://shadowmite.com/p-f.html

Posted by: jleecong

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonydrone

i would definitely switch over to Cingular, you'd be able to take advantage of
the Edge network. It will make web browsing much more enjoyable.

I would test EDGE first. I have edge shown as available in my area (Cingular Coverage map) but my Treo 650 or MPx220 didn't ever show any signs of EDGE and speed test show Cingular slower than TMO.

Posted by: tonydrone

I definitely don't wanna argue about which service provider is better,
the fact is if you're on t-mobile, you wont be able to take advantage of edge, bottom line.....and, You get what you pay for.

Edit: If internet is a big deal for you, in my humble opinion, I'd say switch to Cingular. You also should post your where abouts on your profile.

Posted by: jleecong

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonydrone

I definitely don't wanna argue about which service provider is better,
the fact is if you're on t-mobile, you wont be able to take advantage of edge, bottom line.....and, You get what you pay for.

Edit: If internet is a big deal for you, in my humble opinion, I'd say switch to Cingular. You also should post your where abouts on your profile.

Sorry wasn't trying to "battle". I agree it's a pissing match for which carrier is best. I think it is VERY area dependant and if you travel to rural areas. Since I'm on the old Powertel network that TMO bought I don't give TMO credit for the good coverage I have. I was using Powertel before I had ever even heard the name Cingular or T-Mobile.

Since we don't know where the OP is I was just suggesting to verify coverage before walking into a store and saying "Well this guy on the forums told me I would have EDGE" :rolleyes2

I'm also having Cingular DATA problems at the moment.

Posted by: Mattazuma

I am in Chicago. Pretty sure Cingular has EDGE here.

I am trying to get T-Mobile to unlock the phone. We'll see what happens.

For me, I can't justify the extra $25 a month for Cingular data.

Hopefully T-Mobile's EDGE service will roll out this year.

Matt

Posted by: tonydrone

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattazuma

I am in Chicago. Pretty sure Cingular has EDGE here.

I am trying to get T-Mobile to unlock the phone. We'll see what happens.

For me, I can't justify the extra $25 a month for Cingular data.

Hopefully T-Mobile's EDGE service will roll out this year.

Matt

I heard 2007. hopefully 4 you i'm wrong.

Posted by: Mattazuma

There is a small argument going on in the T-Mobile forum about when T-Mobile EDGE is rolling out. The two sides say either Q3-05 or Q1-06.

We'll see what happens.

Posted by: powertoburn

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

I was able to get Cingular to unlock my Treo 650 from AT&T and using it with T-Mobile. EDGE seems to be working while on Cingular which is T-Mobile towers in Pasadena, CA. But, when using my T-Mobile sim the speed is not EDGE but the latency seems to be better. I use the $19.99 T-Mobile Internet plan. With Cingular I use the $19.99 MediaWorks with unlimited data before the rules were changed. I upgraded the firmware to 1.23 and this enabled BT DUN and removed Cingular customization.

Posted by: Mattazuma

Other than the BT DUN, what else does the 1.23 firmware give you?

Posted by: DigitalJEM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonydrone

i would definitely switch over to Cingular, you'd be able to take advantage of
the Edge network. It will make web browsing much more enjoyable.

Cingular's internet is also quite a bit more expensive than Tmobile's too. And Cingular's unlimited data for PDA's is $40/month from what I saw on their website. (ouch)

Edge may be nice, but it may not be worth the extra price unless you use it alot.

Personally, I'd unlock it, use it on Tmo until your contract expires (if you have one) and then play the field. Since they all give you a 14 day (or so) grace period, you can try Cingular then, and if it doesn't work out you can cancel and you'll still get to keep the phone (since it's yours anyway).

Posted by: sakic_lanche19

just a note. you don't HAVE to have the PDA internet feature with the Treo 650 for Cingular. You can take advantage of the Media Net Unlimited package for $19.99. When you activate just use a different phone model and then switch the SIM.