09-07-2005, 08:30 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Expansys UK Now Shipping iMate JASJAR for �664.95
"The i-Mate JASJAR is an ideal mobile device for email, Internet browsing and getting access to corporate LAN resources. Capable of Tri-band GSM/GPRS worldwide, it also features 180� rotating screen, full QWERTY keyboard, in-built Bluetooth and WiFi for inter-device connectivity. This device is SIM free and very similar to the T-Mobile MDA PRO, O2 Exec, Orange M5000 and Vodafone VDA IV. The device can be folded out to give access to the keyboard, or folded back for touchscreen-only use. A 1.3 megapixel camera is included, which can take both still pictures and video clips."
Expansys is infamous for pre-announcing products that aren't available for months, but they say they have 689 in stock, so this would seem to be legit. I just can't get over the price: with the US dollar in it's current weak state, this device is a staggering $1240 USD! It would cost $1474.81 in Canadian currency...I can buy two cheap laptops for that price. 8O I know this device is an impressive technological feat, but the price just seems insane to me. What are your thoughts? Will you buy one no matter the cost, or do you have a price threshold that you won't go over when buying a Pocket PC?
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09-07-2005, 08:37 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 349
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�565.91 is the selling price for US customers, which translates out to $1038.91 USD, plus shipping. If you're in the UK or areas subject to VAT tax, then you have to add the VAT, which would only then make it translate to nearly $1240 USD.
Please note that it's been confirmed in this HowardForums thread I started that for US customers who are considering it, the bottom line is: DON'T.
- It does not have 850MHz band support.
- It does not have EDGE support for faster broadband access.
- It has UMTS/WCDMA, but it's on the 2100MHz band that Cingular (who is the only UMTS-supported US carrier) does not use. So you'll never be able to use that feature in the US.
It's really a shame, as this device would have made a great impact here. What's funny is the video link on Expansys product page shows a guy in Chicago using this device, even though the notification icons during his calls are wrong. Ironically, there's no UMTS in Chicago either (according to Cingular's white paper on UMTS).
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09-07-2005, 08:38 PM
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Executive Editor, Android Thoughts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,233
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While I'd give nearly my right leg for this device, I'll wait until I actually hear of people getting them. Expansys has rubbed me wrong in the past with their "In Stock" claims. Besides, if they are truly rolling out, these babies should be popping up everywhere soon!
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Dr. Jon Westfall, MCSE, MS-MVP
Executive Editor - Android Thoughts
News Editor - Windows Phone Thoughts
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09-07-2005, 08:38 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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Re: Expansys UK Now Shipping iMate JASJAR for �664.95
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
I just can't get over the price: with the US dollar in it's current weak state, this device is a staggering $1240 USD! It would cost $1474.81 in Canadian currency...I can buy two cheap laptops for that price. 8O
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I agree fully, Jason. I think this is a great device, and it is going to make some folks very happy, but for many I think the price is just way to high.
I am curious to see how things go with this device in the coming weeks, over here in North America. With the high cost, large size, lack of 850mhz band, or EDGE, and the unlikelihood of any carriers picking it up, sales could very disappointing.
Dave
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09-07-2005, 08:46 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 533
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The HTC Universal is my first choice for my next device, but indeed, I have a price cieling. I do believe the price will come down, especially after a US Wireless carrier offers it.
On a side note, did anyone else watch that video at the bottom of that expansys description? I had never seen it before, and it highlighted a feature of WM I hadn't heard of before: Remote Device Hard Reset (in case its lost or stolen). I thought I knew almsot everything there was to know about WM5, but alas that's not the case. Who knows, maybe that was old news to everyone but myself, but if not, that video should be the subject of a PPCT front page post!
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09-07-2005, 08:55 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by brianchris
Remote Device Hard Reset (in case its lost or stolen)
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That is new feature of Exchange SP2 and WM 5.0
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09-07-2005, 09:00 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 256
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Mine arrives tomorrow am :0). Expansys have always been brilliant in my experience.
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09-07-2005, 09:17 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,202
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I think the reality for many of us in the US is that this device could be a great PDA, but not phone. I'm strongly considering a purchase without intending on every using the phone portion of the device. It's too bad someone can't make a clamshell, qwety PPC with top of the line specs like this one has. The reality for me is that it's too big to use as a phone anyway, though if it offered high-speed internet access in the US that would be all the better.
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09-07-2005, 09:29 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,041
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Way too much money.
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09-07-2005, 09:31 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 6
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Raphael143
�565.91 is the selling price for US customers, which translates out to $1038.91 USD, plus shipping.
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8O
It's nice, but it's just too rich for my blood. I'm hoping the HTC Apache/PPC-6700 will be more reasonable price-wise.
It seems that as pocket PC phones get into the same price level as full-size computers, the phone carriers that sell them are going to have to start offering some type of installment payments. I just bought a Dell laptop ($1400) with a Dell account that allows me to pay same as cash anytime before January 2007. If carriers allowed these sorts of setups, it seems they'd get more buyers, but they don't seem to see any difference between buying a $39.99 cell phone and a $650 pocket PC phone.
Of course, if carriers are doing these types of deals and I'm just in the dark, please let me know!
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