Siemens SX66 'Officially' Announced By Cingular

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/01-05-2005/0002770022&EDATE=' target='_blank'>http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/s...02770022&EDATE=</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Cingular Wireless and Siemens Communications today announced the availability of the Siemens SX66 Pocket PC Phone. Sold through Cingular, the SX66 with Microsoft's Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition Software delivers voice, data, an integrated keyboard and Wi-Fi capabilities. The SX66 combines a quad-band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) GSM 'world phone' and wireless PDA in a portable office workhorse mobile professionals can use to stay connected working from home, in the field or when traveling around the world. Cingular customers can use the Siemens SX66 to access their calendar, inbox, contacts, tasks, Cingular's Xpress Mail, browse the Internet, and access corporate networks via a virtual private network (VPN)."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20041211-CingularSX66.jpg" /><br /><br />Not sure why Cingular waited this long to announce it, as it appeared on their website <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=35377">quite some time ago</a>. :confused totally: Perhaps this means it's now readily available in stores?

[edstern]

Announced but Buggy. I bought one form Cingular amost as soon as they had it available, but be warned, while this is a great design there are a few bugs or logistics problems. Other than the fact that the sales reps don't know where the "on" switch is there are some issues.

1. We all know that this device is a battery hog. But =don't try and actually get a spare battery. Nobody out there has them, not even cingular. Oh yeah and if you want a 2nd AC charger don't try and get it from cingular either. I was able to get a greta little 3rd party combo Dc/AC charger from Boxwave.com - thank god for progressive money hungery 3rd party companies.

2. It seems we have a licensing issue with the unit. My Bluetooth has "expired" on the unit. cingular is still trying to figure that one out. (not to mention I get lots of static on my blue tooth headset when using this unit (when I use the same headset onaother bluetooh device in the same place it's fine). I also wish the thing came with voice enabled dialing... oh well

3. I'm using Active sync over their network to sync my email calendar etc on my exchange server, but I've hit some minor problems along the way. The switching between WiFi and cellular on occasion locks up requiring a soft reset.

4. Perhaps the biggest pain is that even with the options set to "not let any buttons work if the main button is off" is set it seems some of ht ebuttons will turn the unit on if depressed long enough.. You'd think "OK no biggie" but in the case that comes with it, the case presses the buttons.

All in all a greta device and great design... just some fustrations along the way.

[stevew]

Batteries are available online. I just cant remember at the moment where I seen it. I'll let you know where when I get a minute to check. I haven't had any problems with mine at all. Although I havent used bluetooth that much. The battery for me is fine. Of course if you use bluetooth, WiFi and use the phone a lot throughout the day it will use a lot of the battery but that's to be expected with any device. I still get a good day of use with a charge and using it heavily. It's the best device I've had to date and I'm very pleased with it.

[B]

Anybody know of any plans to bring a camera version of this out (either on Cingular or another network)? So close to buying it, but really wanted a version of the Blue Angel with the camera.

[mjaffe]

Verizon is where I got my battery....same one..of course
M

[alabij]

Will T-Mobile carry this device. Any rumours. Considering the failure of the HP6315 I'd hope so.

[Jason Lee]

Announced but Buggy. I bought one form Cingular amost as soon as they had it available, but be warned, while this is a great design there are a few bugs or logistics problems. Other than the fact that the sales reps don't know where the "on" switch is there are some issues.

1. We all know that this device is a battery hog. But =don't try and actually get a spare battery. Nobody out there has them, not even cingular. Oh yeah and if you want a 2nd AC charger don't try and get it from cingular either. I was able to get a greta little 3rd party combo Dc/AC charger from Boxwave.com - thank god for progressive money hungery 3rd party companies.

2. It seems we have a licensing issue with the unit. My Bluetooth has "expired" on the unit. cingular is still trying to figure that one out. (not to mention I get lots of static on my blue tooth headset when using this unit (when I use the same headset onaother bluetooh device in the same place it's fine). I also wish the thing came with voice enabled dialing... oh well

3. I'm using Active sync over their network to sync my email calendar etc on my exchange server, but I've hit some minor problems along the way. The switching between WiFi and cellular on occasion locks up requiring a soft reset.

4. Perhaps the biggest pain is that even with the options set to "not let any buttons work if the main button is off" is set it seems some of ht ebuttons will turn the unit on if depressed long enough.. You'd think "OK no biggie" but in the case that comes with it, the case presses the buttons.

All in all a greta device and great design... just some fustrations along the way.

The ipaq and toshiba chagers will work but you do have to have the flat plug that came with the sx66... I could really use a second on of those.

Bluetooth expired?! wow that sucks.. Have you tried hard resetting the device?
I have noticed the static problem with a bluetooth headset but only when i get too far away from the phone. I am rather unimpressed with the range. I could walk halfway across my house with my v600 and headset. The same headset and my sx66 can make it across the room from each other before i start getting a little static. If you have any wifi in the area it may cause some static as well.
And the no voice dial bites but this is the way with all ppcpe and smartphones right now.

I have never had any lockups due to any wireless. I have had to go in and tell it to use work not media works from time to time to get inbox to connect.

I cannot get mine to turn on with the button lock on. I held down several different buttons for about 5 min. (that's all the time i could stand to do it lol) and the device would only come on when i pressed the power button.


This is my first pocket pc phone and i love it. I got it under the premiss that i could return it in 30 days for a full refund so i could just try it out. I didn't know if i could live without my 2215. Mostly no nevo or CF slot. I've used it for almost a month now and don't think i could go back. :) The 128mb of ram is enough to keep me from going back to my 2215. LOL It's way faster than my 2215 also. I do miss the nevo and the CF but i suppose i'll survive. especially since i now carry the sx66 and my veo 130s SD camera instead of my v600, 2215, wifi CF card, clip on thumb keyboard.... Much nicer. :)

[PdaAddict]

Nice device but the screen has a yellow tint. Does anyone else notice that? I have been using AXIM X50V so maybe that's why I cannot get used to a QVA screen again. Also, my keyboard seems loose and made scraches on the sides of the keyboard. Anyone else has this problem? Maybe I should exchange it again. :?:

[Jason Lee]

Nice device but the screen has a yellow tint. Does anyone else notice that? I have been using AXIM X50V so maybe that's why I cannot get used to a QVA screen again. Also, my keyboard seems loose and made scraches on the sides of the keyboard. Anyone else has this problem? Maybe I should exchange it again. :?:

My first thought was that the keyboard was a kinda loose. After a months worth of use it has not gotten any looser. It is just made that way. There is a slight side to side wiggle when slid closed, but again they all do that. and yes, i have a scuff on the rigth side of the keyboard.
I do think i would prefer if it slide and clicked into position. But the device feels very solid and well built like all HTC devices. I love the metal ring around the front edge too. Nice touch. :)

Yep the screen has the yellowish tint from off angles like all the 4000 and 1900 series ipaqs but it is soooo much better, brighter, richer colors, than my 2215 screen. I have yet to even see a vga screen but would really love to have one bot none of the new devices with vga have enough ram, except the new asus with wireless... But i has no phone... I am afraid that there will always be compromises when buying all in one devices. :( This is the first ppcpe that really hasn't been too much of a compromise for me. None of the new like of regular pocket pcs interested me enough to leave my 2215. They just aren't worth upgrading to. So i chose the sx66. I'll use it for a year or so until the next gen with the new windows mobile os comes out and see if there is anything i like then. Very tough decision though. :)

I have yet to let my fiance have my 2215... just can't let go.... :)

[stevew]

[/quote]I have yet to let my fiance have my 2215... just can't let go.... :)[/quote]

I still have my 2215 also that I've been meaning to sell on ebay for a month now. I just can't seem to part with it. I keep telling myself I'll keep it for a back up PPC in case something happens to my sx66 :)

[muntaser7]

Enjoy this great device on the slow a$$ GPRS.....
I tried it on T-mobile and I almost bashed it against the wall.

[stevew]

Enjoy this great device on the slow a$$ GPRS.....
I tried it on T-mobile and I almost bashed it against the wall.

I'm very pleased with the speed of the GPRS connection. On almost any mobile friendly site there is an initial 2 second lag when first clicking on the site then the whole web page downloads almost instantly. ESPN takes about 2 seconds to completley download and the same for a weather radar pic from accu-weather. I can tell you there is a big speed difference between the Cingular Media Works package and the PDA add-on package. I had both and the PDA package is much faster. It's also 20 bucks more a month but its worth it to me.

[stevew]

Batteries for sx 66. Didn't see anything saying they were not in stock.

http://www.imatephonestore.com/productList.asp?itemType=BATTERY

[JohnJohn]

www.audiovox.com for batteries, chargers, etc.

You can get sync cables from boxwave: http://www.boxwave.com/products/minisync/minisync-retractable-cable-siemens-sx66-pocket-pc-phone_457.htm

FYI