OT: What mobile phone/carrier do you use?

[guncollector]

Just curious, what the techie readers and contributors to this "early adopters"-type forum use for their mobile phone and/or carrier? A short "why" wouldn't hurt either.

Me, I use any combination of the following depending on my frequent business travels:

- Nokia 3650 [GSM, tri-band, unlocked] (Symbian OS), loaded to the gills with apps. Used mostly with AT&T Wireless.
- Nokia 7210 [GSM, tri-band, unlocked], for low-drag type travelling. Used mostly with AT&T Wireless, and/or Foreign-Country SIM card (i.e. Swisscom, Orange, Sunday, etc.).
- Palm Tungsten W [GSM, tri-band, locked to AT&T], not really used much for voice, as much as for Data. Geez, I wish I could have a combination T/W-iQue device!
- Siemens S46 [TDMA dual-band/GSM dual-band], for use when travelling to known "poor GSM coverage" areas, as the phone automatically switches to the widespread AT&T "Digital" (TDMA) network when it can't find decent GSM signal.

How's about you guys (and gals)?

[reinbeau]

Originally posted by guncollector
How's about you guys (and gals)? I'm not very techie about my phone, it's a Nokia 1260, all I want is a phone, nothing else. Unfortunately I'm with AT&T, but that'll change in March when I can switch without paying the fee. I'm going to Verizon, the coverage around here is far better than anything you get with either AT&T or Cingular. Especially now that I can keep my phone number, which isn't critical for me, but I just don't wanna memorize another one! :D

[Pekkle]

XDA Phone from T-mobile, Running WM2003 T-mobile Beta firmware currently.

I must say, T-mobile has the best customer service around. Way better than ATT's poor customer service. with T-mobile they really care about their customer. (BTW, I don't work with T-mobile :D).

I use my Phone with unlimited GPRS ($19.99 beat that ATT!! hehehe) to browse internet and retrive my email every 5 mins. I some times use the MSN messenger to chat with my wife..

[sfakeith]

I'm LOVIN' my Sony Ericsson T610 Phone with T-mobile service. I also have the Unlimited GPRS plan (the best deal around!!!). I can check my email from my phone but I prefer to hook-up through infrared to my Ique. I can surf all day long on my 3600 hundred and I don't have to worry about how much data I'm burning through. Last night, I used my T610 to hook-up via bluetooth to my Dad's Compaq X1000 notebook computer. (I think that's the model number) He was so impressed. I think it's the best phone out there. And, you're right, T-mobile customer service is AWESOME.

[tecman]

I have AT&T for work and Verizon as a personal phone. I travel nationwide and the Verizon wins handsdown when it comes to performance in marginal areas, voice quality and getting dropped. Verizon's CDMA is much more graceful in handoffs and degrading in weak areas than the TDMA/GSM.

paul

[Moose Man]

Unfortunately, our company uses Sprint and I can not recommend them. Their coverage is ok but they have way more dropped calls and lost voice messages then any other carrier in my area. Lost voice messages: takes any where from 30 minutes to 4 hours to receive a voice mail. Once, while at the Sacramento Airport - I got a call that rolled immediately to voice mail - the entire time I was waiting for the call had very strong signal strength indication and never received the call. The next day - I got the voice mail indicator.


In my neck of the woods - ATT has the best coverage with their older TDMA network. Verizon has the best coverage with their 3G network. ATT just annouced nationwide EDGE technology which means that you connect to the internet at speeds in excess of 100K. This is their Mmode.

I like the features and benefits of the ATT phones more than the Sprint and Verizon - because they don't have BT technology - just pictures on their phones and ATT has both. Similar to TMobile but TMobile really doesn't have a presence in California.

[fulkrum90]

For what its worth.

I used to work for a company that did the technical support for all the American networks mentioned. I found the policies in place with T-Mobile really let me help anyone calling in with an issue. I have spent hours on individual calls fixing laptops and pdas just so the end user could enjoy the service. There was a great deal of job satisfaction working on T-Mobile calls.

I dont know what the coverage is like across the states but as far as getting support is concerned T-Mobile is tops in my eyes.

As for the ultimate Data communication device. My vote goes with either the new Sonyericsson P900 or the Ique in the Enfora GPRS portfolio. (Excellent solution)

[nparker13]

Mot. i90c w/ Nextel

B/c:
-Direct Connect (walkie talkie)
-only phone w/ speakerphone and voice dialing (at time of purchase)
-not color (great battery)
-nextel dialup
-love the phone and service

-nate

ps, i got the internet to work on my ique w/ my i90c

[toolbear]

Originally posted by nparker13
Mot. i90c w/ Nextel


ps, i got the internet to work on my ique w/ my i90c

However did you do that?
I am considering upgrading from my old Startac to the 90.

[nparker13]

Ok....heres the deal with the i90c. I'll get to the internet later:

First, as a gadget lover, I started looking for a phone with a built in speaker, voice activated dialing, internet capability, battery life, and flip style.
I love my i90c b/c it has all of that. The best built in speaker i have ever heard...voice activated dialing...internet capability (onboard or using cable)...a pretty good battery life (about 4 days normal use)...and a flip (i hate open phones)...PLUS...it has direct connect, free incoming minutes, a light sensor that turns off the backlight when not needed, one hand operation (can answer or dial a call w/o having to open phone), styles for different purposes (meeting, silent, normal, car...etc).
The bad: could be color (i90cl) but its a battery sucker, bigger screen could be used...thats it.
Bottom Line: Get it, you've been waiting long enough, i upgraded my v8160 (similar to startac but a little smaller), and have absolutely no complaints. Service is excellent, phone even better.

Now, what you've been waiting for: connecting your iQue to your i90c:

First, you need:
-Motorola i90c
-Garmin iQue
-Adapter Cable (http://www.gomadic.com/nei8topatuzi.html) or (http://www.thepocketsolution.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PSI-440)<--pocket solutions is cheaper, but customer service is non existant...very dissapointed, but got the product w/in 2 weeks
-Nextel service + DIALUP service
-Dialup internet service provider (I use Earthlink)
-Web enabled programs (see list below)

Then:
In the palm, you need to goto Prefs>Connection
Make a custom connection:
Name: (whatever)
Connect to: MODEM
Via: CRADLE/CABLE
Dialing: TOUCHTONE
Volume: (doesnt matter)
Goto details:
Speed: 19,200 bps
Flow Ctrl: AUTOMATIC
Init String: ATZ0&C1&D2&K3
Hit OKx2 to get to connection prefs
Goto network tab
Enter info
Hit connect
Wait a couple seconds, and i90c will show data call setup/connected, and once the palm dials and authorizes you are connected
You can use any programs that you have downloaded to do whatever, and it uses the existing connection (sort of like a TCP/IP on the computer).
I used:
Pocketflash
PocketLink
VFSFTP+
and Web Pro (downloaded from T3 update)
They are all OK, but havent found an outstanding browser. If you were to use one, use Web Pro...search the message boards for ways to find it from the T3 update, or someone reply to this telling you how.

Good luck, if you have any questions post up or email me (nparker13@aol.com). Good Luck!

-nate