Sony-Ericksson T637

[IJ Reilly]

Has anyone seen this phone yet? I was about to buy the T616, when I learned it had been discontinued for the T637, which is due out "any day now." I've seen a dummy of the T637 only at this point, so I don't know if it's functionally superior to the T616. So I am wondering if I should wait for the new model or try to find the old one at a good price.

[tekno_geek911]

It is better than the T616....It has better RF and a TFT display instead of an STN display.

[IJ Reilly]

Thanks, I expect it will represent some sort of improvement over the previous model, but I was really wondering whether anyone had seen and used one yet.

[micvog]

Check out http://www.infosyncworld.com/hardware/mobilephones/n/69.html IMO, the decision between a 616 and a 637 is not as clear cut. RF on the 616 with the latest firmware is actually very good, the battery life for the 616 is superior, and I personally prefer the looks of the 616 to the 637.

[IJ Reilly]

Thanks. I take it the T637 is the US equivalent of the T630. Tough choice and even harder to make since I haven't been able to get a price from Cingular on the T637. They sell the T616 for $112.50 on their web site (24 month contract).

[Flynnstone]

I just bought a 616. The sync'ing to Address Book ... via Bluetooth is .. well .. brilliant. I used to have (still have) and Motorola StarTAC. The StarTAC had the most asinine user interface. The only way to remove phone numbers (that I can tell) is to use a suitibly sized hammer :eek:

The 616 maybe too glossy and show scratches. Time will tell.
I really like the integration into OS X. :)

[Le Big Mac]

Thanks. I take it the T637 is the US equivalent of the T630. Tough choice and even harder to make since I haven't been able to get a price from Cingular on the T637. They sell the T616 for $112.50 on their web site (24 month contract).

That's what it is. It's not a major change of any sort. Maybe like getting a newer imac with USB 2.0 and a 20" screen instead of the previous version iwth a 17" screen and USB 1.1. But it should be out soon. Might as well wait, and see if they offer outstanding deals on "last year's" model.

[IJ Reilly]

I'm chomping on the bit to get a new phone, but no doubt I'll be better off in the long run if I can hold out for a couple more weeks. Can't wait to get my hands on that bluetooth sync!

[josepho]

The T61x was a great phone... still is in fact. The T63x is just the icing on the cake. The biggest differences you'll notice are the screen, and its responsiveness. Although the STN on the T61x was okay... it wasn't mindblowing. However, you get much better brightness and clarity on the new TFT screens of the T63x.

Of course, I'm talking about the T610 and T630, but there shouldn't really be any differences other than the frequecies supported.

I'd think you'll love it!

[IJ Reilly]

Now I'm also looking at the new Motorola v600, but I notice this isn't listed by Apple as an iSync supported phone. Does anyone have any experience with this phone?

[robeen]

dunno if anyone still following this thread. from what I have read t616 has pc5 and t637 pc4 - which is supposed to be better RF (more power I think). Its a hardware think and more than just software - but interested in knowing more about this pc4/5 business if anyone knows more.

Sony Ericsson says iSync works.

I jusr ordered one for $-25 (amazon, 1yr contract....)

at last - an up to date calendar and address book!

for my 2c - the motorola charging port stinks and I want out! so no 600 for me.

Rob

[tekno_geek911]

I like the T63x but I am buying a P900 or S700 when I have cash...I would still take the Z600 over the T63x or T61x anyday since its so rare,stylish&unique.

[applemacdude]

Can this phone play mp3?

[tekno_geek911]

Nope...Currently the only 2 SE phones that can play MP3/AAC are P800/P900(P900 has stereo MP3 ringtones!)

[rt_brained]

I've seen a dummy of the T637 only at this point, so I don't know if it's functionally superior to the T616.
My guess is a dummy T637 is not functionally superior to the T616...but I'm certain it would compare well against my Samsung.

[pinks]

Nope...Currently the only 2 SE phones that can play MP3/AAC are P800/P900(P900 has stereo MP3 ringtones!)

I just ordered my SE k700 which can also play MP3. Don't know if that's available in the US though!?

Al

[markjones05]

Im switching service in a few weeks when my plan with att is up and going to verison. Does anybody know which phone i can get that allows me to take pics and import them to my mac?

[aricher]

Now I'm also looking at the new Motorola v600, but I notice this isn't listed by Apple as an iSync supported phone. Does anyone have any experience with this phone?

I just purchased the Moto v600 and use it with Cingular as my provider. I've never been a fan of the S.E.'s phones - they feel like cheap kid toys to me. You are correct - the Moto v600 is not yet supported by iSync - this is only temporary. My guess is that Apple is going to release a massive iSync update soon (WWDC?) to fill in the huge gap it currently has in cell phones.

For the time being I'm using "OnSync" - found it on version tracker after seeing it name-check in some cell forums. OnSync works with the v600 but is a bit cumbersome compared with iSync.

As far as the Moto v600 goes, it's the best phone I've ever owned - It has the works - beautiful screen, mp3 ringtones, takes great pictures (for a phone) - zoom lens. S.E.'s phones take very, very crappy pictures.

Oh yeah, speaking of pictures, I am able to transfer the photos and voice notes to the Mac just by going into Bluetooth in my network settings.

I can't get over how great this phone is. Come on Apple - please update iSync and make this phone work seamlessly

[tekno_geek911]

I just ordered my SE k700 which can also play MP3. Don't know if that's available in the US though!?

Al

The K700 is really nice but it only has 32MB memory and no expansion slot so its not really an MP3 player....Not sure if it has MP3 ringtones though.

[Lyle]

Now I'm also looking at the new Motorola v600...It sounds like I'm about two months behind you, IJ. ;)

I was at our Cingular store today (I'm considering switching from Sprint) and was also eyeing the Sony Ericsson T637 and the Motorola v600 since they appear to be the only Bluetooth-enabled phones there. Did you ever decide, or are you still shopping around?

[Ryan1524]

sweet sweet phone. the RF is rock solid, thx to 850. BT is standard SE (ridicolously nice). and the casing is pretty nice in black. audio quality in and out is pretty good. this has also been an SE tradition since the T39m even.

SE T637 is a solid phone for a great price. go get it. :)

[kugino]

i had the t68i and just bought the t637. from what i've read, the t637 mainly has the upgraded screen and RF over the t616...BUT, it's also the first SE phone that incorporates the talk-over-wireless feature for future use when cingular, at&t, t-mobile have this.

it's also pretty sleek in black...the memory is still only 2MB and the camera is still only .1 megapixels...there's also the ability to increase pictures to 640x480 via an interpolation process, but there's no more added information so the pictures are still terrible.

i've read that the upgraded firmware t616 is just as good, minus the newer screen, so i don't know if you'd want to spring the extra money just for the screen and a feature (talk over wireless) that isn't even available yet. but, i did...

[Lyle]

SE T637 is a solid phone for a great price. go get it. :)Yeah, after my previous post I read elsewhere that the Motorola v600, although Bluetooth capable, doesn't really place nice with iSync yet. So that narrows the field down from two phones to this one. ;)

Does the iSync synchronization between Address Book/iCal and the T637's contacts & calendar applications work well? Sorry to pester you, it's just that none of my officemates seem to have one of the Sony-Ericsson phones for me to take a look at.

[kugino]

Yeah, after my previous post I read elsewhere that the Motorola v600, although Bluetooth capable, doesn't really place nice with iSync yet. So that narrows the field down from two phones to this one. ;)

Does the iSync synchronization between Address Book/iCal and the T637's contacts & calendar applications work well? Sorry to pester you, it's just that none of my officemates seem to have one of the Sony-Ericsson phones for me to take a look at.

iSync works fairly well...the main problem i have with it is that it is really slow...but, with one click of a button, i can sync with .mac, my bluetooth phone, my palm, and my ipod at the same time. it's more of a convenience thing...bluetooth isn't the fastest way to transfer files and information, but it is really convenient. i actually find more use out of my phone as a remote using Romeo (or Salling clicker, though you have to pay for that)...

but, isync looks as though it will be absent in tiger, but the sync ability will be built into the OS...i imagine that there will be a way to sync our bluetooth phones straight from the OS, maybe a system pref or something...

[IJ Reilly]

Yeah, after my previous post I read elsewhere that the Motorola v600, although Bluetooth capable, doesn't really place nice with iSync yet. So that narrows the field down from two phones to this one. ;)

Does the iSync synchronization between Address Book/iCal and the T637's contacts & calendar applications work well? Sorry to pester you, it's just that none of my officemates seem to have one of the Sony-Ericsson phones for me to take a look at.

I've had the T637 for a couple of weeks now, and I'm very happy with it, though I will have to admit it's the first fully-featured phone I've owned, so I'm bound to be impressed. Bluetooth is IMO a very cool feature, and I just love to show off how nicely it integrates with the Mac. Using Salling Clicker or Romeo to control the Mac from the phone is a wonderful parlor trick. I can't wait until I get to use it in a Keynote presentation.

As has already been mentioned, Bluetooth isn't speedy, but after the first sync, that doesn't really matter, unless you make a lot of changes and need to sync every day.

You can sync phone numbers and e-mail addresses with the phone, but that's all. This is good enough for me, but I guess I won't be giving up the PDA as soon as I'd hoped. Also, the memory is limited to something on the order of 500 contacts, so if you've got a big address book, you'll want to create a group just for the mobile phone.

I don't think the phone's calendar handles multi-day events properly, or so at least I've heard. I honestly haven't checked into that myself.

[IJ Reilly]

i had the t68i and just bought the t637. from what i've read, the t637 mainly has the upgraded screen and RF over the t616...BUT, it's also the first SE phone that incorporates the talk-over-wireless feature for future use when cingular, at&t, t-mobile have this.

it's also pretty sleek in black...the memory is still only 2MB and the camera is still only .1 megapixels...there's also the ability to increase pictures to 640x480 via an interpolation process, but there's no more added information so the pictures are still terrible.

i've read that the upgraded firmware t616 is just as good, minus the newer screen, so i don't know if you'd want to spring the extra money just for the screen and a feature (talk over wireless) that isn't even available yet. but, i did...

Yeah, isn't the camera awful? Good thing I don't care! In fact it's so bad, I take pictures of people and download them to the Mac just for laughs. Nobody is flattered.

I believe the RF on the T637 is better than the T616 and don't see how a firmware upgrade could help the older phone, but I could be wrong. The screen certainly is, and this was one of the main beefs people had with the T616 -- hard to read in daylight. In any event, I think you'd have a hard time finding a T616 now. They are discontinued.

[Lyle]

... I just love to show off how nicely it integrates with the Mac. Using Salling Clicker or Romeo to control the Mac from the phone is a wonderful parlor trick...I keep seeing references to Sailing Clicker, I guess I'm going to need to check into that next. ;)

You can sync phone numbers and e-mail addresses with the phone, but that's all.Just to confirm: You're saying that when synching contacts from the Mac's Address Book to the phone, it does transfer the person's e-mail address and phone number(s) but doesn't (or can't) transfer other contact info, like the person's mailing address? Is that just a limitation of the software on the phone (i.e. it doesn't have any way to display addresses, so there's no point?)

Also, the memory is limited to something on the order of 500 contacts, so if you've got a big address book, you'll want to create a group just for the mobile phone.OK.

I don't think the phone's calendar handles multi-day events properly, or so at least I've heard. I honestly haven't checked into that myself.I read that too (about not handling multi-day or "all day" events properly). Maybe there's a workaround out there.

Thanks very much for all the information. I suppose I'll be switching over in the next week or so.

[IJ Reilly]

I keep seeing references to Sailing Clicker, I guess I'm going to need to check into that next. ;)

Just to confirm: You're saying that when synching contacts from the Mac's Address Book to the phone, it does transfer the person's e-mail address and phone number(s) but doesn't (or can't) transfer other contact info, like the person's mailing address? Is that just a limitation of the software on the phone (i.e. it doesn't have any way to display addresses, so there's no point?)

OK.

I read that too (about not handling multi-day or "all day" events properly). Maybe there's a workaround out there.

Thanks very much for all the information. I suppose I'll be switching over in the next week or so.

Also look for Romeo. It's free.

Right about the address book. Apparently it's limited to names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Also title and organization can be displayed.

[MacFan26]

Anyone know if it's possible to get this phone with T-mobile? I've checked on Amazon and it's only available for AT&T, but does that mean you can't use it with other service providers? :confused:

[pivo6]

Anyone know if it's possible to get this phone with T-mobile? I've checked on Amazon and it's only available for AT&T, but does that mean you can't use it with other service providers? :confused:

You can use it with T-Mobile, provided you find an unlocked one. Check out Howard Forums (http://www.howardforums.com/) for additional info.

[micvog]

Anyone know if it's possible to get this phone with T-mobile? I've checked on Amazon and it's only available for AT&T, but does that mean you can't use it with other service providers? :confused:

The T-Mobile version will be the T630; you might want to try looking for that phone. The difference between the the T630 and the T637 are the frequencies supported. Both support GSM 1800 and GSM 1900, however the T637 uses the mostly-American GSM 850 while the T630 uses the mostly-European GSM 900. You might want to check to see what T-Mobile is using where you live. If they are primarily GSM 900, the T637 would be useless on their network.

[MacFan26]

Thanks, I'll probably end up going with the T610 since I need to get a new phone soon. I'd like to get a Z500a from sony/ericsson, but I don't want to wait for it to come out. At least the T610 works with iSync :)