FCC Approves 850Mhz Version of HTC Typhoon - Audiovox SMT5600

[Kris Kumar]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=987982&fcc_id='NM8TP'' target='_blank'>https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=987982&fcc_id='NM8TP'</a><br /><br /></div>HTC Typhoon is known by many <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6087">names</a> Orange SPV C500, i-mate Smartphone 3, Qtek 8010 and Dopod 565. This amazing model has fascinated everyone, even us folks in the USA. Who are very tempted to buy this Smartphone but are holding onto their wallets because this phone is a Tri-Band model and does not support the GSM 850Mhz frequency which is now being used by AT&amp;T and Cingular. Well restraining orders on your wallets can be called off, because it seems that the <i>FCC has cleared a Tri-Band version that includes the 850Mhz band</i> instead of the 900Mhz. :) <br /> <br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/HTCTPUnknownLabel2.JPG" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />It is not 100% clear who the vendor is or what the model name is. But by looking at the FCC documents it seems that this is an <b><i>Audiovox SMT5600.</i></b> It carries the FCC ID NM8TP, which represents the HTC Typhoon. The <a href="https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/forms/blobs/retrieve.cgi?attachment_id=465292&amp;native_or_pdf=pdf">SAR Report</a> document reveals that this is an Audiovox phone with support for the 850Mhz band. And the <a href="https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/forms/blobs/retrieve.cgi?attachment_id=465285&amp;native_or_pdf=pdf">Antenna Information</a> document clearly mentions that it is a Tri-Band GSM phone with 850Mhz support. This means that the Motorola MPx220 has to face a tough competitor. :-) I wonder if this would force Motorola to bring down the price on its model.<br /><!> <br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/HTCTPUnknown2-small.JPG" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/>

[Kris Kumar]

Audiovox's entry into the Smartphone market, came without warning. Last year when Sierra was joining the Microsoft camp, there was a lot of buzz in the air. In case of Audiovox I have not seen any Microsoft - Audiovox press release. Is it because they already have partnership with Microsoft on the Pocket PCs?

[mar2k]

Great news! The 850 band was the missing ingredient but no more. I guess the only remaining question is who will carry it and how quickly can it be FedExed to my front door.... :D

Let's hope this is really coming out and soon and is not just a teaser....

[Bushrod]

Very exciting news!

[Mike Temporale]

I wonder what this means for the QTEK, iMate, and others? Are we going to see a North American version that includes the 850 range on those devices too? Or just the Audiovox?

[Kris Kumar]

I wonder what this means for the QTEK, iMate, and others? Are we going to see a North American version that includes the 850 range on those devices too? Or just the Audiovox?

I was going thru the i-mate SP3 (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6102) info and the info on the site didn't mention the 850Mhz.

And now it seems stupid, if they sell a European version in the US when HTC has a US version of the same phone.

But overall I would still prefer the MPx220 because it is Quad band. I need the European/Asian frequencies (900/1800 along with US ones 850/1900).

But hey, if the price is right, I might take the plunge and go for this one.

[encece]

I was just talking to someone yesterday saying that the only thing holding me back from buying a C500 is the missing 850 band.

I'm going to bet that the carrier is AT&T since TMobile currently have no Audiovox phones in their lineup and AT&T carries the Audiovox 4100 which I just looked at the other day and am very tempted to buy because of it's tiny size (for a ppc). But the lack of BT and Camera make it not worth it in the longer run.

Come on AT&T...get this to me SOON! The MPx220 is nice...but this is NICER!

[aristoBrat]

It'd be very irritating for AT&T to get TWO new WM Smartphones coming up shortly here.

T-Mobile needs to get goinggggggggggggggg! :D

[Kris Kumar]

Come on AT&T...get this to me SOON! The MPx220 is nice...but this is NICER!

I agree the carrier most likely will be AT&T.

And I am hoping that with this phone, AT&T will have a low cost Smartphone and a high end/high cost Smartphone. The latter will be the MPX220. It will be good to see Orange style pricing of Smartphones in the US.

Somehow I feel that T-Mobile will not release any Smartphone till X'Mas. And the one thing that will convince T-Mobile to carry Smartphone is Wi-Fi support. If Motorola or someone comes out with Wi-Fi adapter or SD card. Then T-Mobile will grab the model. I feel their strategy is to move towards unifying the Hotspots with the Cell infrastructure. Just my 2 cents.

[encece]

I totally agree about your TMobile points. WiFi is key for them which up until now has a=had them focused on PDA offerings.

As a side note....I wonder what things like Philadelphia (possibly...probably not) adding citywide Wifi would do to their wifi business?

[Kris Kumar]

Well I spoke too soon. T-Mobile has finally announced a Smartphone for its lineup.
http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=41265

[ricksfiona]

I'll stick with the 900Mhz version thank you very much... T-Mobile has been rated top cellular provider for the past few years and they've proven it to me time and time again...

900MHz is just TOO handy if you travel even just a little.

[Kris Kumar]

900MHz is just TOO handy if you travel even just a little.

I agree. I travel to India and they use both 900&1800 bands over there. So I need a Quad Band phone. :-(

I had a tough time when I was traveling this summer with my MPx200, its 900Mhz band is non-functional. That's how I realized the importance the 900 band.

[SquiSh1717]

I have a beta unit of the SMT5600 (AWS branded), and it is performing exactly as anticipated at this point. There are a few bugs in the pre-release ROM, but aside from that, this thing will run circles around the MPX200. It looks as though Audiovox is learning from the mistakes it made on the 4100, Not a bad product!

[Kris Kumar]

I have a beta unit of the SMT5600 (AWS branded), and it is performing exactly as anticipated at this point. There are a few bugs in the pre-release ROM, but aside from that, this thing will run circles around the MPX200. It looks as though Audiovox is learning from the mistakes it made on the 4100, Not a bad product!

Does it have the same gaming bug as the C500?

How is the RF compared to the MPx200?