Audiovox SMT5600 Will Be Available On AT&T Soon

[Kris Kumar]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.audiovox.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=13720&langId=-1' target='_blank'>http://www.audiovox.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=13720&langId=-1</a><br /><br /></div>The Smartphone drought in the US is coming to an end. :) Pretty soon we will be facing a different kind of problem, a problem everyone will love to tackle. The problem: <i>"Which Smartphone should I buy?"</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/SMT5600ATT.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />Audiovox is announcing on it's website that the SMT5600 will be available on the AT&amp;T Wireless network. Audiovox SMT5600 is identical to the SPV C500, except that the SMT5600 is aimed at the American market; it supports the 850/1800/1900 bands. It's twin the SPV C500 has received near perfect scores in all the reviews. So this news along with the MPx220 announcement will surely excite everyone in North America, who have been waiting eagerly for the next generation of Smartphones. I wonder what the sticker price would be for this model? Let's hope that AT&amp;T will try to emulate the pricing strategy demonstrated by Orange and T-Mobile in Europe.

[Jason Dunn]

So here's the thing that confuses me - that's the same model as the C500, a.k.a. the SP3. According to the PDF spec sheet I have about the SP3, it's NOT quad band, meaning it doesn't support the 850 band...yet this phone appears to. So I'm a bit confused...

[gcherian]

That is the only difference - 850 replacing the 900 band while branding it as Audiovox.

George

[rkdiddy]

Jason,

The answer is they are both tri-bands. The SPV c500 and sp3 supports 900/1800/1900. The Audiovox supports 850/1800/1900.

If you were to buy a unlocked c500 or sp3 you would be able to use it on t-mobiles network no problem. However Cingular and ATT use a combination of bands which includes the 850. So it would work on C and A but you wouldn't utilize the full network.

Hope that makes sense. :D

[Kris Kumar]

So here's the thing that confuses me - that's the same model as the C500, a.k.a. the SP3. According to the PDF spec sheet I have about the SP3, it's NOT quad band, meaning it doesn't support the 850 band...yet this phone appears to. So I'm a bit confused...

Here is link to the FCC documents. (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6196) :-)

I am impressed with HTC, they have covered "almost" all the bases. "Almost" because I am waiting for them to announce a Quad Band model. And that will definitely shake up things. Oh, they need to put out a clamshell model also.

[Kris Kumar]

The one thing I hate about these new HTC models C500, SMT5600 etc. They do not come with a cradle, only the mini-USB cable. :-(

However I was checking out the Quick Start Guide, (http://www.audiovox.com/manuals/owners/SMT%205600%20QSG%209-7%20FINAL.pdf) the phone kit includes a carrying case. :-)

[mar2k]

I wonder if anyone will be offering this phone unlocked without the AT&T branding. I see MobilePlanet is selling the Voq unlocked and unbranded. I would buy this phone in a heartbeat if it were offered through Cingular.

[Jason Dunn]

That is the only difference - 850 replacing the 900 band while branding it as Audiovox.

Right, but what I'm saying is that it's a bit strange that this Audiovox has different hardware from what the C500/SP3 has...usually HTC has exactly the same hardware with different names stamped on the outside. This is a unique play that I haven't seen before...

[Kris Kumar]

Not sure about HTC. But Nokia and other cell phone manufacturers do have models for US and European markets that are identical except for the radio module. The body style, features etc. are all the same. It's only natural for HTC to follow the other manufacturers now that it is trying to become a bigger player.

[encece]

That is the only difference - 850 replacing the 900 band while branding it as Audiovox.

Right, but what I'm saying is that it's a bit strange that this Audiovox has different hardware from what the C500/SP3 has...usually HTC has exactly the same hardware with different names stamped on the outside. This is a unique play that I haven't seen before...

Is that really true? Wasnt the US Version of the MDA PPCPE device, 800 & 1900 bands, when the European version was 900 & 1800???

[possmann]

sigh - AT&T again... I really cna't wait to hear something from T-Mo USA (soon)...

[rkdiddy]

If you have t-mobile you're already golden. You have tons of choices.

a). Purchase a sim unlocked spv c500.
b). Purchase a sp3 (sames as spv c500...put not carrier specific).
c). Purchase a sp3i (sames as spv c500 but with joystick...but not carrier specific).

or d). Wait for t-mobile to release the "feeler".

It is the ATT/Cingular folks that have to wait!

[possmann]

you know... I'm actually considering the MDA mini - or whatever they are calling it... i-jam etc... I like the voice capabilty that the pocketpc phone editions offer and frankly am a bit upset that no one has that setup for the smartphone OS/community yet - sigh. It seems like a "natural" fit and a bigger NEED for phones to have that capablity...

[smartphone fan]

I wonder if anyone will be offering this phone unlocked without the AT&T branding. I see MobilePlanet is selling the Voq unlocked and unbranded. I would buy this phone in a heartbeat if it were offered through Cingular.

Just wait a few months. When Cingular's acquisition of ATT Wireless closes, ATT will be cingular. This phone will work on Cingular then. . .