T-Mobile Joins The Smartphone Camp - Announces SDA

[Kris Kumar]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.smartphone-web.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=545&mode=&order=0&thold=0' target='_blank'>http://www.smartphone-web.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=545&mode=&order=0&thold=0</a><br /><br /></div>The moment we all have been waiting for is finally here. T-Mobile has decided to add a Microsoft Smartphone to its cell phone lineup. T-Mobile has announced in its September flyer the <i>T-Mobile SDA</i> Smartphone, which is an <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,6158">HTC Feelers</a> device. Also known as the Qtek 8020. <br />:clap: <br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/TMobile-SDA.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />T-Mobile till recently had been taking a cautious approach and was staying away from launching a Smartphone because of device stability and concerns regarding the potentially higher volume of customer support calls it may generate. Good to see that they have overcome their concerns and are planning to launch a device which will be a guaranteed hit. T-Mobile is known for its aggressive pricing (EUR 269.95 without contract) and low data rates. Both of which will fuel the Smartphone growth. It is not clear if the announcement is for European launch only or if it covers the US market also. The translation of the Smartphone-Web.com news article can be viewed <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smartphone-web.com%2Fmodules.php%3Fname%3DNews%26file%3Darticle%26sid%3D545%26mode%3D%26order%3D0%26thold%3D0&amp;langpair=de%7Cen&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8&amp;prev=%2Flanguage_tools">here.</a><br /> <!> <br />T-Mobile SDA is an HTC Feelers based device. It is very similar to the highly praised SPV C500. It has the same specifications, except for the body style and has a joystick instead of the joypad. :) The C500 joypad has not been well received by the reviewers because its design makes gaming cumbersome. <br /><br />Looks like the year 2004 will end with lots of Smartphones on the market. We would not only be able to pick the Smartphone we like but also activate it on our favorite carrier. And with T-Mobile launching the Smartphone, we all know who that favorite carrier is going to be. ;-)

[Kris Kumar]

Well now we know why Motorola scrapped the MPx100. T-Mobile was planning on going with a much slimmer and lighter device. With much better battery life and performance.

[aristoBrat]

The extra buttons look ... uuhhhh interesting?!?! :)

I &lt;pray> that T-Mobile picks this up for the US. T-Mobile in Europe has always had a seperate phone line-up...

[Bushrod]

I really like that background picture!

[Kris Kumar]

The extra buttons look ... uuhhhh interesting?!?! :)


In my excitement, I totally missed it. Looks like its dedicated for T-Zones and Voicemail/Email.

[aristoBrat]

The extra buttons look ... uuhhhh interesting?!?! :)


In my excitement, I totally missed it. Looks like its dedicated for T-Zones and Voicemail/Email.
Yup.

Looks like the top row is soft button#1, home, back, and soft button#2.

Apperance wise, I think I like the Audiovox one better, but I'm not complaining. :D

[Kris Kumar]

Its not Quad-Band :-(

But glad that T-Mobile is joining the bandwagon. This will put a check on AT&T. And I am assuming that when the phone is launched in US, it will be the 850Mhz/US version.

[aristoBrat]

Its not Quad-Band :-(

But glad that T-Mobile is joining the bandwagon. This will put a check on AT&T. And I am assuming that when the phone is launched in US, it will be the 850Mhz/US version.
I think it's "IF" the phone is launched in the US. T-Mobile Germany's always had a different lineup of phones than the US has had. :(

[Kris Kumar]

I think it's "IF" the phone is launched in the US. T-Mobile Germany's always had a different lineup of phones than the US has had. :(

I feel that the Smartphone market in US is warming up. By X'Mas things would be different. And I don't think T-Mobile would want to sit on the sidelines if these devices can let them earn an extra $20 a month per subscriber. That is $240 per year per subscriber.

But I know..it is all pure speculation. You can never predict what is going on inside the minds of carriers and in their board room meetings. :-( So here wishing that the IF comes true.

[aristoBrat]

On the (somewhat) brigther side, there's a post at MoDaCo that says that the "contract free" one is sim unlocked, so ... :)

I'm not above ordering it overseas and waiting weeks for it to ship. Well, as long as it doesn't cost the US$115 for shipping that Orange wants to mail a developers C500 kit over here. Agggh!

[possmann]

VERY good news....

Anyone get any confirmation on this yet? European users have always been heavier phone users than the US so it would make sense that hit that market first... I would LOVE to hear that they would hit both the US and the Euro market at the same time althought I'm very sceptical of that happening.

Actually this is the first I've heard about the HTC phone. I was really sold on the 220 but knowing that T-mo wasn't going to offer and now may offer this... I may find myself switching back to the candy-bar style...

[aristoBrat]

Possman, I've been using a HTC phone (e100) for the last year and I love it. The build quality and RF reception are OUTSTANDING!

I'm still going to consider the MPx220 (since a few reviews said that its RF reception are better than the MPx200), but I'm definately leaning towards HTC at the moment.

[Kris Kumar]

One "possible" advantange for buying an HTC phone is access to software updates.

Motorola and AT&T Smartphone means MPx200 like treatment. :-( I am still waiting to see if AT&T will cripple the Quad Band on the MPx220 like it did for the originally Tri-Band MPx200 and made it a dual band phone.

[possmann]

good points - it will be interesting to see what T-mo does in the next several weeks regarding this phone. I'm surprised we don;t hear much more about it...