Bluetooth flip phone...

[Snowy_River]

Hi everyone,

I know that there's a thread elsewhere on a similar topic, but the core question seemed to get lost...

In a few months I'm going to be looking to get a new cell phone and having one that is bluetooth enabled in a must (for reasons that I won't get into), and what I'd really like is a flip phone. I've done some searching, but the only phones I've found that are bluetooth enabled are not flip phones.

So, does anyone out there know of a bluetooth enabled flip phone?

Thanks!

[MoparShaha]

The Motorola V600 (http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=247) is supposed to be out soon. It's a GSM phone though, so don't expect it to work with Sprint or Verizon. It's going to be released for AT&T, but you should be able to pick up an unlocked one on ebay and use it with any GSM carrier.

[saabmp3]

Are there any Verizon wireless bluetooth phones? Their service is excellent, but they always seem to have the bad phones for the market.

Ben

[MoparShaha]

Originally posted by saabmp3
Are there any Verizon wireless bluetooth phones? Their service is excellent, but they always seem to have the bad phones for the market.

Ben You're hitting a very sore spot there. You should come over to Howard Forums (http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=51) and hear us Verizon customers complain about the lack of Bluetooth. Almost everyday there's a new thread about the lack of Bluetooth. I have been very tempted to switch to T-Mobile so I can go online with my PB over BT, but I'm not going to abandon Verizon's excellent coverage. I've heard that VZW will get BT at the end of the year, as the newer EV-DO phones come out. Patience....:rolleyes:

[Ryan1524]

i totally reccommend the Z600. it's a Bluetooth Clamshell phone. and it works very well with iSync and macs, just like any Ericsson phones. but it's GSM, so maybe you should switch. i thnk GSM is much more convenient anyway, no need to call a CSR to switch phones, just pop the SIM anywhere you want. :)

[Toeknee]

Hey Ryan how much did the Z600 cost? Must already have it in canada b/c i wanna get it and AT&T cant say whether they'll get it. I want another Sony Ericcson to replace my T68i and im leaning toward the Z. I already have GSM and the 600 seems like a hauss fone.

[Ryan1524]

the cheapest retail price i've seen in Canada is 509CDN$ from www.puremobile.ca

i however, got mine for 432CDN$, so it's possible to haggle with some people and get a better deal. if you go www.howardforums.com and check their Marketplace or BST section, there might be some good deals. i 'think' i've seen some selling it in the states for around 350-400 USD.


so yea, the price is definitely falling, but not fast enough that it'll be worthless too soon. it's a great phone, so i'd say go get yours now. :) the screen is awesome and the RF is as good as the golden age of the R520m and T39m. i get signals everywhere except the subway, where nobody ever gets signal anyway. and the sound quality is very good. everybody told me they thought i was from landline. :)

[Snowy_River]

Thanks everyone. You've been incredibly helpful. I like the look of the Z600, and I may well end up going that route, especially if I can find a decent price on it. Again, thanks!

:)

[MoparShaha]

Where are you guys getting the Z600 from? It's the V600.

[adt]

The Sony Ericsson Z600 (flip mobile with bluetooth)
The Motorola V600 (flip mobile with bluetooth)

Both released or to-be-released early 2004.

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by MoparShaha
You're hitting a very sore spot there. You should come over to Howard Forums (http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=51) and hear us Verizon customers complain about the lack of Bluetooth. Almost everyday there's a new thread about the lack of Bluetooth. I have been very tempted to switch to T-Mobile so I can go online with my PB over BT, but I'm not going to abandon Verizon's excellent coverage. I've heard that VZW will get BT at the end of the year, as the newer EV-DO phones come out. Patience....:rolleyes:


Agreed. I'm going to hold out a while and wait until verizon get's their new highspeed dominating network updated before getting another phone. I just got a T730c this last week and love the thing so far. I can get online with a cable but I would really like bluetooth. Oh well I can wait. Blue tooth is just a power drain until all the bugs get worked out.

[MoparShaha]

Originally posted by adt
The Sony Ericsson Z600 (flip mobile with bluetooth)
The Motorola V600 (flip mobile with bluetooth)

Both released or to-be-released early 2004. Ah, thank you. Didn't know about that phone. Everybody gets Bluetooth but me....:(

[GroundLoop]

Originally posted by MacBandit
Agreed. I'm going to hold out a while and wait until verizon get's their new highspeed dominating network updated before getting another phone. I just got a T730c this last week and love the thing so far. I can get online with a cable but I would really like bluetooth. Oh well I can wait. Blue tooth is just a power drain until all the bugs get worked out.

Does the T730 work with iSync at all? I am going to be switching to Verizon later this month and was seriously considering that phone.

Hickman

[benixau]

Just to clarify a little more:

Z600 = T610 w/TFT screen in a flip form and no joystick.

T610 has only got a CSTN screen (slower response - not as bright)

V600 = some other phone = moto is ok - but more people like blokia or se.

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by Brian Hickman
Does the T730 work with iSync at all? I am going to be switching to Verizon later this month and was seriously considering that phone.

Hickman

Yes it works great with iSync. I wish iSync was a bit more customizable on what it synced but that's not the fault of the phone.

I am very impressed with this phone and Verizon has a lot of software you can download from their Get It Now network. They have a few demo games as well. I have played demos of XIII and Splinter Cell on the T730 in the last couple days and I have to say the graphics and game play put the original Game Boy to shame and are pretty close to that of the new Game Boy. This is really impressive out of such a small device.

[ibookin']

Yeah, it's a big sore spot with us Verizon users. The re were actually 2 phones that supported BT on the Verizon network in the past (Sony Ericsson T61c and Motorola Timeport P270), but they're old with B/W screens, no games, etc, and they only support Bluetooth via attachments, the P270s being more elegant (battery attachment, nothing sticking out). Also, they're both candybar (non-flip) style phones, so they're not what you're looking for.

Sprint has the Sony Ericsson T608 in limited quantities, but it is a candybar.

Your best bet right now is to go with a GSM phone. Unless you live in a non-metropolitan area, in which case your GSM service is probably somewhat lacking.

[selloutvixen]

Originally posted by benixau
Just to clarify a little more:

Z600 = T610 w/TFT screen in a flip form and no joystick.

T610 has only got a CSTN screen (slower response - not as bright)

V600 = some other phone = moto is ok - but more people like blokia or se.

The tri-band Z600 is supposed to be leaps and bounds above the T610 or T616. With the palm applications and the gaming extras, it's a whole other level. The TFT is nice, though. Really really expensive if you need to replace it, though.

I have the V400, which is basically the V600 without bluetooth. It's an awesome phone, aside from lacking palm abilities. The ringtones are kind of lacking, but the TFT is bright as anything. (you could illuminate a small cave with this phone's brightness on LOW) The voice memos, picture caller ID, 1000 phone book capacity, calendar, alarm clock, currency converter, and quad band world roaming ability is awesome as well. On more of a style level, the V600 is a lot more attractive IMHO.

Both are excellent phones.. just a matter of your needs. I'd probably advise getting some kind of phone insurance if you get either of these, though. The TFT display alone could cost you a bundle to replace if it ever broke, so make sure the insurance covers this.

[Ryan1524]

the V600 is a heavy competitor for the Z600. however, here's the caveat, althou i'd love to get a V600, it costs DOUBLE that of the Z600, and we don't know how well the Bluetooth implementation is or how nice the new interface will be. it's stil a motorola. on the other hand, the Z's BT is rock-solid, and its interface is pure Ericsson (very nice). if the V600 shows to be a good player, i'm all for it. BUT then i'm already getting excited about the T650 and the GSM version of the S0505i. :D those two will give the V600 a run for its money. :D

[Sweetfeld28]

Could someone explane to me what the diffrece is between CDMA and GSM. My Sprint service expired after christmas, so i ported my number back to Verizon (they have the best service in my area). I replaced my old Sprint Samsung A500 with the Verizon Samsung a310s. I was lokking for a Bluetooth phone before i boght my Samsung phone, but Verizon only carries that Moto 710 (i think). Anyway, I would of liked to have gotten a Sony Erricson phone, but they are only used with AT&T and T-Mobile in my area. Their service supposedly sucks in my area.

I just wanted to know if i happened to get a Sony Ericsson (however you spell it) Z600 phone how well would it work around the Toledo, Ohio area? I assume that the GSM network has something to do with Satelite service. Would this mean i would have serice evreywhere?

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by Sweetfeld28
Could someone explane to me what the diffrece is between CDMA and GSM. My Sprint service expired after christmas, so i ported my number back to Verizon (they have the best service in my area). I replaced my old Sprint Samsung A500 with the Verizon Samsung a310s. I was lokking for a Bluetooth phone before i boght my Samsung phone, but Verizon only carries that Moto 710 (i think). Anyway, I would of liked to have gotten a Sony Erricson phone, but they are only used with AT&T and T-Mobile in my area. Their service supposedly sucks in my area.

I just wanted to know if i happened to get a Sony Ericsson (however you spell it) Z600 phone how well would it work around the Toledo, Ohio area? I assume that the GSM network has something to do with Satelite service. Would this mean i would have serice evreywhere?

Okay to clear things up cell phones do not work with satellites period.

For an explanation of all the different cell phone technology abbreviations heres a good site I found searching on google just now.

http://www.cellularfone.us/resources/cellular_access_technologies.php

It looks like to me you may have some pocket of area that aren't covered by digital. In this case you would want a tri-mode phone that is analog capable so that you can travel through these areas and still have service. I live in Oregon and the better half of the state is not covered in Digital and I travel out there so I have to have a Tri-Mode phone. From what I have seen there are no analog capable Tri-Mode phones with cameras or blue-tooth. Even if there are the Verizon is the best provider in Oregon for digital and analog coverage and they don't have those phones.

[ibookin']

Originally posted by MacBandit
Okay to clear things up cell phones do not work with satellites period.

From what I have seen there are no analog capable Tri-Mode phones with cameras or blue-tooth.

Verizon has the Audiovox CDM-8900, which has a camera and is tri-mode. No Bluetooth, though. It's supposedly not as good as it's competitor, the LG VX6000, though, which is digital-only.

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by ibookin'
Verizon has the Audiovox CDM-8900, which has a camera and is tri-mode. No Bluetooth, though. It's supposedly not as good as it's competitor, the LG VX6000, though, which is digital-only.

Yes, thanks I've already made my choice for phones but it's good to know that such a phone does exist.

Has anyone else noticed that there are now tri-mode phones on the market that are marketed as being digital only?

[smknappy]

What are the expected retail costs for the v600 and z600?

It sounds like the z600 will likely sync much smoother with the mac... is that correct?

Also, will both function as a wireless modem for my powerbook? Thanks!

[Ryan1524]

V600 retails at around 749USD, Z600 as around 400USD. :)
we don't know how well the BT and sync system works in the V600 yet, but the Z600 is definitely very very solid. Ericsson was one of the main players in the BT consortium, so they know their BT and it's alays worked flawlessly, even from the very first BT phones like the R520 and T39. and the T6xx and Z600 is definitely a solid performer in terms of BT and compatibility with iSync and macs. so you have nothing to worry about if you choose Ericsson (or SE now - but i like to believe that all the technology are still more driven by Ericsson and looks by Sony).

and when price comes into play, it's a no brainer. :D

of course, there's the T650 and the GSM version os S0505i coming. they will supposedly have:
-MP3 support
-1.3 MP camera
-higher memory or maybe even expandable
-Video recording/playback
-new BT that goes up to 100ft (or 100m - mobile-reviews wasn't clear about this)
-Bluetooth protocol 1.2
-Quad-band (850/1900/900/1800 - the whole nine yards)

but supposedly they'll come either Q3 or Q4 2004. so i guess the Z600 should be a nice phone to use until these bad boys come along. :D

[djbahdow01]

Originally posted by Ryan1524
V600 retails at around 749USD, Z600 as around 400USD. :)


I don't think the V600 retails for 749USD.
CNET.com has it priced at 250USD.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3504_7-5021180-1.html?tag=cnetfd.sd

[Ryan1524]

wow. where can i get it for that price, i'll take 5.

the V600 is incredibly new and cNet is a dumbass. i looked all over the place and i know cellphones. that thing cost over 700$. otherwise i'd have gotten me one. :D besides, the V600 i'm talking about is unlocked, unbranded, and uncustomized. such pure verison usually cost more than locked ones from providers who can subsidize them. so yea, for now, they cost that much. but if you find a place that sells it for that cheap, please let me know. :D althou it'll most likely be scam. ;)

[Snowy_River]

I couldn't agree more. If anyone finds either the V600 or the Z600 for under $300, please let me know.

Here is (http://www.4cellular.com/search/phone_detail.cfm?ID=117&CFID=546622&CFTOKEN=98310535) the V600 at retail price. $789.99.

Ouch!

If this phone is supposed to be a direct competitor with the SE Z600, then I'd imagine they'd have to lower their prices. I mean, really, from what I see on the spec sheet it hardly seems that it would be worth nearly twice as much...

[smknappy]

Can anybody tell me what carriers would currently be able to support the z600? Is there any chance of getting them to subsidize part of the cost?

I currently have sprint and it would be great if I could stay on my same plan and use the vision for unlimitted wireless.

[Ryan1524]

US providers: ATT, T-Mobile, Cingular
Canadaian Providers: Rogers ATT, Microcell/Fido

[smknappy]

Originally posted by Ryan1524
US providers: ATT, T-Mobile, Cingular
Canadaian Providers: Rogers ATT, Microcell/Fido

Can we expect any of these guys to start selling the Z600 themselves anytime soon?

Thanks! :)

[smknappy]

Another question: Is there anywhere I can go to actually check one of these out and play with it a bit?

[mmmdreg]

The Sony Ericsson's are the best IMHO. I've used a range of phones. Samsung's screwed in their head UI wise, Nokia is just crap these days, moto and siemens and stuff just don't do it for me.. etc etc.

[Ryan1524]

Originally posted by smknappy
Can we expect any of these guys to start selling the Z600 themselves anytime soon?

Thanks! :)

highly doubt it.

i heard T-Mobile is releasing the Special Black edition of the T630 (candy-bar Z600, much like an upgrade from the T61x, but with slightly weaker RF and i think some people said the screen too) but unfortuantely, T-mobile stuffed the UI with their ugly pink stuff. so if you do get it, there will be some icons and buttons that are customized to go to T-Zones, and they're PINK. so it kinda ruins any theme you'll put on it. unless you unlock and decustomize it. :)

[smknappy]

Originally posted by Ryan1524
highly doubt it.

i heard T-Mobile is releasing the Special Black edition of the T630 (candy-bar Z600, much like an upgrade from the T61x, but with slightly weaker RF and i think some people said the screen too) but unfortuantely, T-mobile stuffed the UI with their ugly pink stuff. so if you do get it, there will be some icons and buttons that are customized to go to T-Zones, and they're PINK. so it kinda ruins any theme you'll put on it. unless you unlock and decustomize it. :)

So best bet is to buy one already onlocked then? Is eBay the place for this, or somewhere else good?

Also, has anyone here had the opportunity to actually play with one of these and would like to share their impressions?

[carbonmotion]

US is really behind on bluetooth tech, when my dad was in europe , the audi a6 rental that he drove was bluetooth enabled. the audis here are not.

[benixau]

Originally posted by carbonmotion
US is really behind on bluetooth tech, when my dad was in europe , the audi a6 rental that he drove was bluetooth enabled. the audis here are not.

Amen.
BT is the way to go for small devices connectivity - here is the pipe dream that will eventually occur:
-Leave home
-Goto office - contact appts. synced as you enter and walk to your pc/mac
-Get call - BT headset anounces name of caller, you say answer or reject.
-Make call - Say name or dial it on your PDA and your phone will transfer it to your headset.
-Walk out of office w/all contacts+PIM synced
-Get home - as enter door/into BT range all data syncs.

When you get into the car your phone will automatically transfer all calls to the car phone and alllow voice dialling from the car phone that has BT (check nokia solution - it is very good - except its nokia (cant win em all)).

The best bit - the phone never leaves your pocket except to go on charge.

[MacBandit]

Anyone else hear about the latest trend in hacking? They are hacking into peoples bluetooth phones and stealing contacts and such. Somehow they can even locate the phone if you have bluetooth broadcasting turned off.

[hesitaliandad]

on phonescoop (http://www.phonescoop.com) they just put up a listing for the first verizon bluetooth phone. motorola v710. looks pretty good. it'll probably be years before we see it, thanks to verizon's testing policy. love their network, hate their phones.
motorola v710 (http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=475)