Cingular 2125 (HTC Tornado) Smartphone Expected Soon

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=761640' target='_blank'>http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=761640</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20051102-Cingular2125.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br /><br /><i>GPS,</i> a reader over at Howard Forums, posted the image above along with a full list of specs. The phone is based off of the Orange C600 (AKA the HTC Tornado), but has the extra hump at the top of it. The <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9080">FCC documents</a> on this phone seemed to indicate that this hump was for the WiFi Antenna. However, the specs provided over at HoFo don't mention anything about WiFi. :? On the brightside, we won't have to wait much longer as the phone is scheduled for a "All Channel Launch" on November 18th. :mrgreen: The phone appears to be very nicely priced at $349 without a contract and $299/$249 with a 1 or 2 year contract. The full technical specs are listed below, as quoted on Howard Forums. <!> <br /><br /><b>TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS</b><br /> Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Edition<br /> TI OMAP 850 200 MHz Processor<br /> 64MB SDRAM / 64MB Flash ROM<br /> GSM / GPRS Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz<br /> Global roaming capability<br /> EDGE class 10 – wireless data @ 70 to 135 kbps <br /><br /><b>FEATURES</b><br /> 2.2” QVGA 64K Color TFT Screen<br /> 1.3 Megapixel Camera with Camcorder / Night Mode<br /> Bluetooth 1.2 / Infrared / Mini-USB / Mini-SD<br /> Internal Antenna with External Antenna connector<br /> External Stereo Audio Jack<br /><br /><b>Corporate and Personal Email Solutions</b><br /> XpressMail / GoodLink / ActiveSync<br /> Office Mobile (Outlook/Word*/Excel*/Internet Explorer)<br /> Windows Media Player 10<br /> Audio: MP3/ AMR / AAC / WAV / WMA<br /> Video: MPEG-4 Streaming/ H.263 <br /> Pocket MSN (Hotmail/MSN Messenger)<br /> MMS / Java / Voice Dialer** (For voice dialer, is says "Optional-On CD- Rom"...whatever that means)<br /> 1150mAh Li-ion Battery -- 4 hrs talk / 6 days standby<br /><br /><b>DIMENSIONS</b><br /> 116mm(L) x 46mm(W) x 17.5mm(T) <br /> 106g with Battery Pack

[apeguero]

Why the hump if no Wi-Fi? Anyhow, this phone would be useless to me unless a program that synchs up automatically with MS Money exist. I think I'll keep my Treo until the Treo 700w comes out for Cingular.

[xultar]

http://home.ripway.com/2003-11/38936/FAINTx.gif

[xultar]

Why the hump if no Wi-Fi? Anyhow, this phone would be useless to me unless a program that synchs up automatically with MS Money exist. I think I'll keep my Treo until the Treo 700w comes out for Cingular.

Apparently you are smoking CRACK! useless if it doesn't sync up with MS Money. (People still use that crap?)

Did I say that out loud? :lol:

[mar2k]

Makes you wonder if they did a complete reversal on the Wifi at the last minute as the C600 does not have this hump. I can't say I am a fan of the hump unless it has some useful function like better RF reception. Who knows, maybe the FCC documents are correct, that is the hardware that was approved and the Wifi is just disabled in software. If that little fantasy comes true then its only a matter of a few days after its release that someone gets the Wifi working, guess we'll see.

I find it odd that Cingular would not want the Wifi on the 2125. I guess they want you to buy one of their pricey data plans. The 8125 has Wifi and that unit has a full keyboard - someone purchasing that would be more likely to use the web browser, IM, etc than someone picking up the 2125. In other words someone getting the 8125 would be more likely to be interested and purchase a data plan than someone with the 2125 smartphone, yet they enable Wifi on that one and not the 2125. Makes no sense to me.

[yoos]

I would like this phone, but not with the hump! that hump is ugly! I mostly want the edge, but that hump still may turn me off on the phone

[mpaquette]

How about a nickname for this "thing?" The Elephant Man phone or the hunchback of Cingular? That hump makes that phone fugly. :lol:

[Bill Harrison]

Call me stupid, but have not most of the phones shown had this hump whereas the release versions did not?

Is it possible that the "preproduction" units have this hump for some reason, unbeknown to us, and that is the version sent for FCC testing?

Either way, faster edge means more to me than wifi. I would rather have faster speed anywhere than just faster while in the office or at home, or in a wifi spot. And this phone looks to have everything my Smt5600 has, and makes it better!

FS: One 2 month old SMT 5600 :P

[possmann]

same thing that T-mo is SUPPOSE to launch - but apparently the folks over at T-mo are OUT to LUNCH. AUGH!

They just don't get it do they? Hump or no Hump - I am so upset with T-mo's lack of vision adn leadership in the marketplace here in the USA that if this comes out before T-mo I am seriously going to hop the fence. I've been a loyal T-mo customer for 5 years now - long time for anyone to be with just one carrier - too bad that their lack of leadership in regards to PROVEN technology has pushed me over the EDGE (sorry for the pun).

Is anyone from T-mo out there reading this? You should be embarrased.

[mpaquette]

EDGE will be nice, but I want WiFi as well so my next phone has to have both. WiFi is nice traveling since many hotels have WiFi access and it's faster than EDGE.

Possmann - T-Mobile did drop the ball in regards to EDGE. I was a loyal T-Mo subscriber for nearly 3 years, but jumped to the big orange splat earlier this year. Now all I need is an EDGE capable phone :D

[Rebecca]

I really hope the ugly hump is just for the pre-production model or some kind of optional attachement. It makes the phone FUGLY :x

[Rebecca]

HEy guys!

The foolks at engadget say the ugly hump is an add on to add Wi-Fi http://engadget.com/entry/1234000437066237/#comments

I hope that's right and it is not part of the phone itself.

[Kris Kumar]

The FCC documents (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9080) on this phone seemed to indicate that this hump was for the WiFi Antenna. However, the specs provided over at HoFo don't mention anything about WiFi. :?

The FCC documents belong to the T-Mobile SDA that will be launching in USA, hopefully soon. The body styling of this Cingular 2125 does not match the one pictured in the FCC docs. ;-)

So all of you waiting for T-Mobile to launch the WiFi Smartphone, don't worry. That includes you too, Possmann. :-) We will just have to be patient. ( :twisted: )

[Kris Kumar]

Here is the link to our T-Mobile FCC story. (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9395)

If you remember, when we first hit the HTC Tornado FCC documents, the photos were marked as confidential till Sept 30th. Then around middle of October once the documents were public we realized that it was T-Mobile SDA.

As for this Cingular Smartphone having Wi-Fi or not. Seems to me like it has Wi-Fi because of the hump. But Cingular may have disabled it in the firmware. It makes business sense for T-Mobile to have Wi-Fi in their phones (they have Wi-Fi hotspots) but Cingular doesn't have that advantage.

[Kris Kumar]

Possmann - T-Mobile did drop the ball in regards to EDGE. I was a loyal T-Mo subscriber for nearly 3 years, but jumped to the big orange splat earlier this year. Now all I need is an EDGE capable phone :D

T-Mobile doesn't have the best coverage, but for whatever coverage they have, I thought 90% of it had EDGE now. I remember posting a story. Oh, here (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9168) it is. :-)

[Jerry Raia]

I saw on Cingulars web site a reference to a data plan with WiFi. If not this phone perhaps another is on the way.

[Rebecca]

Any definite info on the ugly hump?

Is it optional or part of the phone?

[Jerry Raia]

I think it would grow on you after a while. Kinda like the hump on the phone. :lol:

[me]

Wasn't this the phone that was supposed to come out first on T-Mobile?

Why do they always end up coming out first on Cingular, even if the first announcement says T-Mobile?

[Jerry Raia]

Why do they always end up coming out first on Cingular, even if the first announcement says T-Mobile?

That's one thing I really like about Cingular. They tend to lead the pack with the new devices.

[Sven Johannsen]

If the hump has anything to do with WiFi, hopefully it contains more battery. For those that have WiFi capable PPCs, I would bet short battery life is high on everyone's list of complaints. Smartphones as a whole aren't stellar when it comes to battery life anyway. Stick WiFi in there with the stock battery and you'ld be advised to carry a spare, or stick close to power.

[sigmamason]

Is this phone still confirmed for launch on the 18th? Thinking of giving up on the Nokia 6682 and switching over to either a Treo 650 or the HTC 2125.
I like the Nokia but the myriad of problems are just bothersome...

[Mike Temporale]

I don't think it was ever confirmed for the 18th. It has been rumored for the 18th. ;)

[jfreiman]

I love how someone leaks information on a products release date and then you hear nothing!

I too am hoping that the Cingular 2125 comes out on the 18th!

I check Google News every day as well as around 5 other sites specifically for more release information on the 2125.

-JOhn

[jfreiman]

Well, I've visited two Cingular stores today - one company owned store and that is a franchise in addition, I called the Cingular sales department - none of the locations have been told of the phone yet.

I'm still hoping that it does get released tomorrow (Friday the 18th) and that I can pick it up somewhere.

If not I'll buy some more equiptment for my Media Center PC. ;-)

-John

[edh72]

I went to my local Cingular (company owned store) today, and they did not have it. The sales guy was a techie, and was waiting on it too - but did not have any infor from corporate. He also knew that none of the local reseller stores had aything yet either.

He said the computer had pricing info, but no ETA. He said they generally get an ETA when the product is 2-4 weeks out so it may be at least that long before they had it.

Sigh....

[Mike Temporale]

I went to my local Cingular (company owned store) today, and they did not have it. The sales guy was a techie, and was waiting on it too - but did not have any infor from corporate. He also knew that none of the local reseller stores had aything yet either.

He said the computer had pricing info, but no ETA. He said they generally get an ETA when the product is 2-4 weeks out so it may be at least that long before they had it.

Sigh....

That sucks. :( Did he share the pricing info? Just wondering if that's any different than what we have heard.

[Jerry Raia]

This kind of figures. The 6515 was showing up on the web page weeks before it hit the stores.

[nobody]

Is it here yet? Can't wait.

[rperalta]

I have a B2B account and have spoken to about six different reps. They never heard HTC 2125 &amp; 8125 before and it takes them a long time to search before they find the new HTC devices. Four of them said check on Monday because that's usually when they release new devices. So let's wait until Monday ...unless somebody would know it first and hope to post it here.

Btw, the Audiovox SMT5600 was sold first for B2B customers in 2004. I purchased mine on the first day B2B Sales and locals store did not even have them until two weeks after. Hope this is not the case this time so eveyone can enjoy it.


Regards,
Robert

[brutallyhonest]

Robert,

Actually the Audiovox SMT5600 was not launched B2B first for customers in 2004. Check your dates on that one.

As far as the 2125 goes, an actual B2B rep with some clout provided information that the 2125 has no date yet for release and it is looking like an early January release. The device may be upgraded to an Edge Class 12 device instead of a Class 10 and that might be part of the hold-up.

He did say the 8125 has a good chance of going live tomorrow, but not the 2125. In addition, it was reaffirmed that the device is not advertised as having wireless.

As far as I am concerned, write to the marketing departments of all of these carriers and tell them to start selling real phones. Boycott this device and purchase a SP5 instead.

Lastly unless you are actually talking to a B2B rep don't even bother as they know next to nothing and are kept in the dark often until the day before release. What we need is someone who knows a product manager at Cingular.

[Jerry Raia]

The device may be upgraded to an Edge Class 12 device instead of a Class 10 and that might be part of the hold-up.

What is the difference between the two?

[alanjlane]

Boycott this device and purchase a SP5 instead.


Interesting that you suggested the SP5. I was just looking at it this weekend, but figured I'd wait for the 2125. Tell me why you think the SP5 is better?

[Mike Temporale]

Boycott this device and purchase a SP5 instead.


Interesting that you suggested the SP5. I was just looking at it this weekend, but figured I'd wait for the 2125. Tell me why you think the SP5 is better?

The SP5m is unlocked so you can take it any carrier and it has WiFi. If you want to know more about it, watch for our upcoming review. :D

[cmorris]

One good reason to wait for the Cingular version is to get a cheaper price if you are signing up for a new contract.

[alanjlane]

The SP5m is unlocked so you can take it any carrier and it has WiFi. If you want to know more about it, watch for our upcoming review. :D

I'm very interested in your review of the SP5. Where will it be posted, and when? Thanks.

[Mike Temporale]

The SP5m is unlocked so you can take it any carrier and it has WiFi. If you want to know more about it, watch for our upcoming review. :D

I'm very interested in your review of the SP5. Where will it be posted, and when? Thanks.

Keep an eye on the front page. It won't be much longer now. ;)

Opps, little correction here: We've got a review of the SP5m coming up. It's the same phone, just differnet body. :)

[Rocco Augusto]

The device may be upgraded to an Edge Class 12 device instead of a Class 10 and that might be part of the hold-up.

the hold up was there was never an official release date for the c600 or the wizard. the 11/18 release date was just an internet rumor that was flying around. today was the first day the cingular corporate office in my city even heard anything about any new smart device being released and that is the wizard, which im told to expect in time for the christmas season... still there is no c600 anywhere in sight on cingular product roadmaps though :(

when it does get released though im sure there will be an official announcment from cingular at least a week ahead of time because that is how long it usually takes all the stores to get our collateral and brochours and promotional material and phones before an phone hits the retail market.

RUMOR: has it that the company CarToys (in the Pac NW) has bought a bunch of i-mate products from microsoft to sell in their stores including the wizard and sp5/sp5m. they will be selling the sp5(m) for around 350 without a contract. I havent had time to confirm this though but i live like right accross the street from a CarToys so ill check it out tomorrow... and might possibly post a confirmation from a new phone :twisted:

RUMOR KILLER: Went to CarToys, theyre only selling the old 2003SE stuff from i-mate. nothing new :(