11-07-2006, 09:00 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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LAPTOP Magazine Reviews Cingular's 8525
"Less than a year ago, Cingular�s 8125 (in stores November 16th) impressed us with its processing power, slide-out keyboard, and built-in Wi-Fi. But we preferred the Sprint and Verizon versions of this HTC-made device because they supported faster cellular data services. The Cingular 8525 Pocket PC answers the call for more speed by being the first smart phone in North America to support HSDPA, Cingular�s mobile broadband network, and the first 3G-enabled PDA in the U.S. to have international 3G capabilities. Add in a couple of other welcome refinements and you have one of the most versatile Windows Mobile devices money can buy."
Laptop Magazine has a brief, but informative 8525 review. Among the more interesting points: HSDPA performance is very good, and even decent over a Bluetooth connection to a laptop, although its coverage is still fairly small in the US. Battery life is good, and the camera is apparently very good. I'm still waiting to see a more detailed review, but I have to admit I'm tempted by this device. 
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11-08-2006, 05:28 AM
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Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 899
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Interesting that the 8125 arrived exactly a year ago Nov 16.
Anyways, the article seems to imply that you can tether the 8525 to your laptop with the $40/month PDA Connect plan (instead of the $60/month Laptop Connect plan)?
I guess Laptop Connect is meant to be used with a cellular data PC Card, where your laptop gets the full HSDPA speed. Whereas the article mentioned that the 8525-as-Bluetooth-modem method is considerably slower (is it because Bluetooth's max bandwidth is slower than the HSDPA max?).
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11-08-2006, 04:32 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 34
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I will def get this device.
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11-10-2006, 03:02 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 267
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I think Bluetooth is the limiting factor when tethering. I have an LG CU500, which I use with the laptop connect plan. I tether with a cable and get great speeds.
By the book, Cingular requires a laptop connect plan if you use a laptop, whether you connect with a card, or are tethered to a 3G phone, such as the CU500 or the 8525. The reason is that you are likely to use much more bandwidth with a laptop, despite both the PDA and laptop plans being "unlimited" use. There are people who get away with using just the PDA plan, but there are also people who get caught and shut down.
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11-11-2006, 11:53 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 425
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Is it also an HTC Wizard, like the 8125 and my T-Mobile MDA? No other changes besides working on the HSPDA network?
Since T-Mobile uses some of Cingular's towers, would T-Mobile users be able to access HSPDA as well?
Anyone know when T-Mobile will be officially rolling out their HSPDA service?
On Cingular, will it cost more to connect via HSPDA than to connect via EDGE?
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11-12-2006, 02:12 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by maikii
Is it also an HTC Wizard, like the 8125 and my T-Mobile MDA? No other changes besides working on the HSPDA network?
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No, it's the Hermes. There are various significant changes, including a new processor.
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Since T-Mobile uses some of Cingular's towers, would T-Mobile users be able to access HSPDA as well?
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Unlikely. I think T-Mobile's roaming agreements would only cover GPRS/EDGE.
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Anyone know when T-Mobile will be officially rolling out their HSPDA service?
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I think we posted an article about it. If I remember correctly, sometime next year.
--janak
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