Treo 700W Launch/Info/Reviews..............................

[HKINGS]

HKINGS, I'm curious to know more about this 25% discount you mentioned...

Did the Rep say that you needed to be on a 1yr contract to be eligible? I also noticed that you said you have an i600. Is this discount only available to those upgrading from another PDA phone? I never heard of such a discount...

I am getting the xv6700 and any additional discounts would make my life easier .

Good questions. There was no mention on what type of contract you needed to be on so I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it as in any case they may just re-extend any contract for 2 years from the point of sale.

I do think however that the fact I have a PDA/Smartphone type device might have something to do with it, because the first guy I talked to about this 2 weeks ago mentioned that it was a special 25% off PDA Upgrade Promotion. The second rep didn't mention that but made note I had an i600.

In any case it's worth a shot asking about the discount when the time comes. I'm definitely starting to lean towards the Treo 700w now... I think I want to get at least a screen protector in hand before I order next week, and maybe even start looking into a nice small form fitting case/skin.

Anyone have any suggestions or do I need to wait for all new 700w accessories as I heard the shape and exterior buttons , etc are a little different.

Thanks again!

[puma008]

Now does this do wireless sync with the email getting checked every hour or is this "always on"?

[Pinnacle]

Now does this do wireless sync with the email getting checked every hour or is this "always on"?

Wireless Sync is not "always on." It will poll your email accounts for the time interval that you set it to. It will allow for more frequent polling than every hour; you will probably be able to do every 15 minutes if you like.

I don't like Wireless Sync because it has zero support for HTML and attachments. You should look into a 3rd party Outlook Exchange service, like www.4smartphone.net. This will put all of your email accounts into one Inbox and give you the option of "push" through SMS (explained on their site) or frequent polling (which, to me, is much more reliable than SMS). Plus, they support HTML, attachments, everything that you want in a good email client. You can even check your email through any HTML or WAP browser with their service, as well.

[eleclipper]

VZW E YOU'RE FAMOUS EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU ENGADGET IS ALREADY CALLING YOU Veezy-E Can i become your agent or something?

[Mashie]

Mashie, you have another option instead of getting on a family share plan with 2 lines. Before I tell you the option, I need to explain phone swaps work on non-sim card based carriers like Verizon. CDMA based phones use an ESN (electonic serial number) or MEID (mobile equipment id) number to identify them and Verizon uses this number to route the calls to the appriopriate phone. Instead of swapping SIM cards like you would do with GSM/iDen based carriers, you can have a single line and simply change the ESN/MEID on your account each time you want to use a different phone. You can do this for free on Verizon's website through their online account access. So you can have a single line and on Sunday night or Monday morning change the ESN/MEID on your account to the one on your Treo 700w to use during the week and then on then on Friday evening/Saturday morning change the ESN/MEID to the one on your RAZR to use on the weekend. This also means that you can only get one phone at the discounted price (since you're only getting one line) when you port your number over and you'll have to pay full price for the other phone (or buy one from someone or get one on ebay, etc).

I'm not sure which option is cheaper - get a single line, pay less for monthly service, swap out phones but pay full retail price for the second phone or get 2 lines on the family share plan, pay more for monthly service but get both phones at the discounted price. There are 2 things you also need to keep in mind with these options. First with the family share option, you'll have 2 phone numbers. Second, with the single line option, you can take advantage of some plans that Verizon offers called the PDA/Smartphone Voice & Data Choice Bundles which give you voice minutes and unlimited data at a discounted price. You'll have to purchase a PDA/Smartphone like the Treo 700w in order to activate one of those plans on your account and you probably can't get a VCast plan added on (to use with the RAZR) since those plans are meant to be used with a PDA/Smartphone.

There is the third option which br8615 mentioned which is to get the America's Choice voice plan on the RAZR and the data only plan on the Treo 700w but then you'll have to carry both phones around with you during the week.

Let me try to compare monthly costs using 1350 voice minutes (1400 minutes on the family share option) and unlimited data.

Family Share Plan with 2 lines, 1400 minutes and unlimited data on one line.
$89.99/month + $44.99/month = $134.98/month
Singe line with PDA/Smartphone Voice & Data Choice Bundle with 1350 minutes and unlimited data
$109.99/month
Two lines, one with 1350 minute America's Choice plan and the other with data only
$79.99 /month + $49.99/month = $129.98/month

It appears that the single line with PDA/Smartphone Voice & Data Choice bundle will give you the cheapest monthly cost but you'll have to pay full price for one of the phones and you probably won't be able to get a VCast plan to use with the RAZR.

If you want more information on ESN/MEID, PhoneScoop has a great article at the following link which explains it.

http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/meid/index.php?p=p1

Sorry for the long post and I hope I didn't confuse you.

Thanks for the info Sam! It is good to know I can just switch ESN numbers for the phone I want to use. Do you know how long it normally takes for the service to switch over?

[br8615]

The esn switch is preety quick, but would result in other problems, such as you can't have the PDA/unlimited data on a non PDA phone, and you also can't have VCAST on a non VCAST phone. This is basically what would happen by switching between these two types of phones. Treo 700w to XV6700 would be no problem and RAZR to E815 would be easy, but crossiing PDA to phone causes issues. And for the money, it simply isn't worth it!

[Sam K]

The esn switch is preety quick, but would result in other problems, such as you can't have the PDA/unlimited data on a non PDA phone, and you also can't have VCAST on a non VCAST phone. This is basically what would happen by switching between these two types of phones. Treo 700w to XV6700 would be no problem and RAZR to E815 would be easy, but crossiing PDA to phone causes issues. And for the money, it simply isn't worth it!

br8615, are you saying that if I have the PDA/unlimited data plan and I switch my ESN to a non PDA phone like the RAZR, it will cause billing issues? Or will it prevent me from switching to the ESN of the RAZR all together?

As far as not being able to have a VCAST plan, that doesn't really matter to me. The only thing I do on the weekends with my phone is make calls, send/receive text messages and occasionally use the built in browser.

[808e46m3]

Nine days left until January 5th! I wonder if there will be sufficient supply on hand or do you guys think there will be shortages for a while?

[cyphernet]

I hope not I'm crazy and i will choke someone. lol jk
but i hope not. I'm thinking about calling the business Chanel and having my rep ship me one over night on the 5th. You know that the stores have to have um by now. Xbox 360 was in a week before it came out.

[HKINGS]

FYI, Part 2 of the review on Treonauts is up:

http://blog.treonauts.com/

You can tell this guy is used to using the Palm OS and not the Windows Mobile platform. I actually like the way the Contacts and Calendar work on my i600 Smartphone vs my friends Treo 650.

[cyphernet]

i agree i have been a child of outlook since well since i first used outlook so i see no problems.

I currently have a ipaq too

[cyphernet]

One question
I work at a place with exchange 2003 sp2
How does this device receive in real time

[carioca_fl]

I am debating between the 650 and the 700w.
My elegible date for the NE2 is exactly on January 5th! Will the VZW stores already have the 700w on that date?

Or am I better off ordering it by phone and getting it overnighted?

In case anyone missed that...

Will the phone be available for retail stores ON the 5th of January?

[Mashie]

One question
I work at a place with exchange 2003 sp2
How does this device receive in real time

If the device ships with MSFP (Messaging and Security Feature Pack) then when you put in your server information in activesync you have the option to get get mail "when new message arrives". With Exchange 2003 SP2 on the back end your device will get a dedicated IP address and e-mails will arrive directly to your device.

If the 700w does not ship with MSFP then we have to wait for Verizon to release a software update that includes MSFP. With out it you can set the device to Poll your account every 5 min or longer to get messages so there is only a short delay.

Look over in the Pocket PC forum for many threads on this very subject.

[Mashie]

Just read this; sorry
Storage:
62.95MB Total
in use 12.21
Free 50.74

Program:
Total: 25.45MB
In use: 15.91 MB
Free: 9.54 MB

thats with all running programs stopped

This actually does concern me. If you look at all the other WM5 devices they are 128MB ROM, 64MB RAM. I really hope memory for runnign programs doesn't become an issue.

Can you open up a bunch of different programs, include IE, WMP, Inbox Word and see how the device does?

[PPCMD]

I have to agree, at this point I am open to several options. (1) We will have enough RAM and the 32MB is a typo (not likely), (2) PPCtechs will offer a 64MB upgrade and (3) the low amount of RAM is simply from early models and neither Palm or Verizon is raising a stink about the write ups.

So if VZWEmployee could sneak a picture of a device in or out of its box that would be HUGE.

[Mashie]

I have to agree, at this point I am open to several options. (1) We will have enough RAM and the 32MB is a typo (not likely), (2) PPCtechs will offer a 64MB upgrade and (3) the low amount of RAM is simply from early models and neither Palm or Verizon is raising a stink about the write ups.

So if VZWEmployee could sneak a picture of a device in or out of its box that would be HUGE.

Agreed PPCMD. I am hoping PPC Techs will offer the memory upgrade

On another note, I took the plunge and ordered my RAZR and FS plan this afternoon. After I get the 700w from work I will port over my other number and be able to use both phones

[mpaque]

128MB Flash/60MB RAM

This is what VZW E listed in the specs when this thread was started. Maybe these screenshots are from pre-production units with lower amounts of ROM & RAM? I don't see how 32MB or RAM is going to be enough on this device.

[Mashie]

This is what VZW E listed in the specs when this thread was started. Maybe these screenshots are from pre-production units with lower amounts of ROM & RAM? I don't see how 32MB or RAM is going to be enough on this device.

I hope you are right, becuase what is being listed is not nearly enough memory to run the device with additional programs effectively.

[mpaque]

VZW E or someone who works for Verizon, will you look up the information on the 700w and clarify the amount of RAM/ROM?

[KeilwerthSX90R]

This is what VZW E posted to begin the thread:
128MB Flash/60MB RAM

I imagine he got this from Infomanager or whatever the VZW system is.

[Mashie]

This is what VZW E posted to begin the thread:
128MB Flash/60MB RAM

I imagine he got this from Infomanager or whatever the VZW system is.

I am guessing that this would translate to
128MB ROM for OS and program installation since WM5 uses rom for persistant storage
64MB RAM for program memory

I don't think it is possible with memory steps to get to 60MB but rather 64.

If thsese are the memory specs then it would be in line with all other WM5 devices and it will perform nicely.

[PPCMD]

The one thing we need is the one thing those in the know cannot provide. The final list of specs especially the memory and processor. Maybe, just maybe someone can and end the speculation.

[RuBiCaNT5X]

I am guessing that this would translate to
128MB ROM for OS and program installation since WM5 uses rom for persistant storage
64MB RAM for program memory

I don't think it is possible with memory steps to get to 60MB but rather 64.

If thsese are the memory specs then it would be in line with all other WM5 devices and it will perform nicely.

It's probably a typo...

[timGSU]

I guess infomanager with the specs listed isn't reliable PPCMD?

[VZW E]

I am guessing that this would translate to
128MB ROM for OS and program installation since WM5 uses rom for persistant storage
64MB RAM for program memory

I don't think it is possible with memory steps to get to 60MB but rather 64.

If thsese are the memory specs then it would be in line with all other WM5 devices and it will perform nicely.

it is in fact 128/64. I believe 4mb is reserved all together so they don't list it as available. By the way I have changed my name in case no one noticed. I think it would be better if everyone just knew me as VZW E instead of my old name.

[CDTV]

So as far as 1st place to find 700w (in order of likleyhood of being 1st in line), is it?:
A) Know (or sleep with) a VZW business rep
B) The 800 #
C) VZW website
D) Internet
E) VZW Store...right?

[carioca_fl]

VZW E, thanks for the great info. I'll ask my question again:

Will the 700w be in stores ON January 5th?

[VZW E]

VZW E, thanks for the great info. I'll ask my question again:

Will the 700w be in stores ON January 5th?

Yes it should but in limited quantities. I would definitely call first.

[Asidiko13]

Yes it should but in limited quantities. I would definitely call first.

Any chance that the 1st set released may not be completely crippled? I herard that happened with e Razr's when they were released. Something about the ones that Best Buy got were unlocked or had full bluetooth.

If I'm wrong, I apologize in advance.