SPV e200 Officially Announced. Bluetooth, Camera Built In.

[David McNamee]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/4176.html' target='_blank'>http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/4176.html</a><br /><br /></div>This phone has been in the rumor mill for a while as either the SPV 2 or the SPV C200. Orange's new Smartphone will be dubbed the SPV e200. This is the third in the line of Smartphones from HTC, and it looks like a real winner. It has been confirmed that the phone will include Bluetooth and an integrated camera - two features Smartphone enthusiasts have been clamoring for. <br /><br />The phone will also ship the Smartphone 2003 operating system. That is big news for developers who now have a real device that includes the .NET Compact Framework. The 2003 OS also includes an improved inbox that supports multiple accounts and integrated MMS. <br /><br />This should get some excitement going for the platform again - especially with the addition of Bluetooth and a camera!<br /><br />The SPV e200 will be available from Orange this November. My question is: how do I get one of these in the US? :D<br /><br /><b>UPDATE:</b> Paul O'Brien gives a quick first-hand account of the SPV e200 in <a href="http://smartphone.modaco.com/viewtopic.php?t=94286">this MoDaCo post</a>.

[TomB]

David, or anyone here, I am a cell newbie so help me on this. All of the stuff I see here on Orange is interesting, but they are a provider in the UK right? None of their stuff is usable in the Americas right? So does this mean Smartphone Thoughts has a big UK following, or are these posts just informational for non-UKers, or can these phones actually be used in the USA and Canada with local providers?

[David McNamee]

David, or anyone here, I am a cell newbie so help me on this. All of the stuff I see here on Orange is interesting, but they are a provider in the UK right? None of their stuff is usable in the Americas right? So does this mean Smartphone Thoughts has a big UK following, or are these posts just informational for non-UKers, or can these phones actually be used in the USA and Canada with local providers?

Our readership stretches from Melbourne to Kandahar to London to Calgary to Kailua, Hawaii. We try to cover Smartphone news no matter what geographic location it occurs.

The phones themselves can be used in North America if they support the GSM standard. There are two main cellular standards - GSM and CDMA. GSM service providers in the US include ATT&T, T-Mobile, and Cingular. The CDMA providers are Verizon and Sprint. Not only do they need to support GSM, but they need to support (someone may need to correct me, I always get it confused) the 850 and 1900 bands. CDMA phones are generally hardwired to the provider's network.

[Janak Parekh]

Not only do they need to support GSM, but they need to support (someone may need to correct me, I always get it confused) the 850 and 1900 bands. CDMA phones are generally hardwired to the provider's network.
Almost. GSM in the US was traditionally 1900MHz only, and T-Mobile still has a 1900MHz-only network (and it will probably be so for the foreseeable future, as they have no 800MHz licenses). AT&T and Cingular also had only 1900MHz GSM until use of 800MHz was approved by the GSM association about a year ago, so you'll still see some single-band phones (or 900/1800/1900 phones) through those providers. Now that they have 800MHz frequencies, they're trying to promote dual-band (800/1900) or quad-band (800/900/1800/1900) phones. So, any triband European phone will work just fine on T-Mobile... and AT&T/Cingular might be OK with it (not sure about that, though).

As for CDMA, it's a bit murkier than you suggest. Just like GSM phones, they can be reprogrammed for different providers, although the process is clunkier and hidden. CDMA phones are provider-locked just like GSM phones, and can be unlocked and programmed on another provider if the other provider will accept it. For example, a number of people have gotten Sprint phones unlocked and working on Verizon in the past. Verizon/AllTel/etc. don't care as much whose phone you activate. Sprint, OTOH, is draconian -- they will only activate Sprint phones on their network.

--janak

[David McNamee]

Almost.

Thanks, Janak! :D

[TomB]

Thanks! To sum this up, the SPV e200 will work on T-mobile and maybe AT&T/Cingular if it can be unlocked? If so, who does this? Is it legal to have this done? If so, why are these silly phones locked in the first place?

I take it that a dual band or triband phone's only use is to work on other systems? In other words you wouldn't need a triband phone to stay in coverage if you where an AT&T user, because they would only be using one frequency. Right? Or is the best bet to wait until the provider you want gets the smartphone you want? Sorry for the newbie questions (where did you folks pick up all this information? Are you in the business?

[Robert Levy]

An unlocked e200 will work on AT&T, Cingular, or T-Mobile in the US. Devices typically come locked when you buy them from an operator as part of a service contract. The operator will subsidize the cost of the device if you agree to stick with them for a certain number of months. Locking the device then just keeps you from using the device on another network.

[Gorskar]

the e100 could be unlocked by a procedure of replacing the bootloader with an older version. If you dont have an older phone (SPV) to copy the old bootloader off then you would need to download an old bootloader, and then transfer it to an SD card, which requires a SD card reader and a full version of winhex. Then you can downgrade the bootloader by using a program called USBterm.

THEN you can run another program (SPVunlock) to get your unlock code!

Maybe this same, fairly complicateed method would work for the e200 too, as they are in the same family, so may still be running compatible bootloaders. We'll have to see.

[werb]

the e100 could be unlocked by a procedure of replacing the bootloader with an older version. If you dont have an older phone (SPV) to copy the old bootloader off then you would need to download an old bootloader, and then transfer it to an SD card, which requires a SD card reader and a full version of winhex. Then you can downgrade the bootloader by using a program called USBterm.

THEN you can run another program (SPVunlock) to get your unlock code!

Maybe this same, fairly complicateed method would work for the e200 too, as they are in the same family, so may still be running compatible bootloaders. We'll have to see.

Or you could just purchase an unlocked one :D (affiliate link) http://estore.shopplex.com/app/storefront.aspx?cat_id=162&inv_id=31010100550749&modid=30214092059015&aid=5

Use the COD option at check out and continue to the end of the process. When the product appears in our warehouse you will be notified. No money will be withdrawn untill the product is ready to be shipped!

[Janak Parekh]

I take it that a dual band or triband phone's only use is to work on other systems?
Not necessarily. Various US and European providers use multiple bands to increase coverage. Note that there can be different kind of dual-band/tri-band phones: for example, in Europe 900/1800 is the standard, and in the US we're seeing more 800/1900 phones. There are also 900/1800/1900 and 800/1800/1900 phones. Confused yet? Just wait until we start using 3G frequencies (like 700MHz or 2100MHz)...

In other words you wouldn't need a triband phone to stay in coverage if you where an AT&T user, because they would only be using one frequency. Right?
If the AT&T towers in the area use 1900, then a 1900, 800/1900 or 900/1800/1900 phone would work great. I believe most of AT&T's and Cingular's coverage is still 1900, although their 800 coverage is increasing.

Or is the best bet to wait until the provider you want gets the smartphone you want? Sorry for the newbie questions (where did you folks pick up all this information? Are you in the business?
If you're willing to wait, that might be a bit better, although GSM promotes phone interoperability. My first T68 was purchased overseas years ago and it worked just fine here on T-Mobile.

--janak

[wocket]

I've been asking about the E200 in Orange shops here in the UK and nobody knew anything. Seems you guys have more info than Orange :D

I've left a message with one of the shops to call me as soon as they get their hands on one. I'm due to upgrade (again) and this seem to fit my bill perfectly. Mind you I said that about my last phone.

[ricksfiona]

This is going to be my November Christmas present! I just wonder the cost...