Tek 'n Toys Now Offering the SP3i for a Pre-Order Price of $461 USD

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://estore.shopplex.com/app/storefront.aspx?cat_id=9&inv_id=41013170829101&modid=30214092059015&aid=5' target='_blank'>http://estore.shopplex.com/app/storefront.aspx?cat_id=9&inv_id=41013170829101&modid=30214092059015&aid=5</a><br /><br /></div>Our affiliate partner Tek 'n Toys is now offering the iMate SP3i for sale on a pre-order basis, and the price of $461 USD for an unlocked, tri-band phone is rather good. :-)<br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/sp3i.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br /><br />All the specs can be <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/sp3i.pdf">found in this PDF file</a>. You can <a href="http://estore.shopplex.com/app/storefront.aspx?cat_id=9&inv_id=41013170829101&modid=30214092059015&aid=5">order one today</a>. [Affiliate]

[impulse82]

I don't think this is quad band, I believe it is a tri band phone that is available either the 800 or 900 band. I would double check on this before placing an order.

[Jason Dunn]

I don't think this is quad band, I believe it is a tri band phone that is available either the 800 or 900 band. I would double check on this before placing an order.

Hmm - I was told it was a quad-band phone, but you're right, in looking at the PDF it says "Tri-band"....so now I'm confused...?

[mar2k]

If its 850/1800/1900 I'm sold.

If its 900/1800/1900 I'm back to square one since I don't have T-Mobile.

Which is it?

[brntcrsp]

both - they have two models accoring o the PDF - one that has 900 the other with 850 - now if it only had WMP 10 I'd be sold, although in another thread i-mate said they would release an update so it's looking likely that I found my next phone. too bad I just spent my cash on a new DSLR.

[mar2k]

I beleive the PDF is from iMate, not Tek n' Toys, so we still need to confirm the 850 band is included.

Someone please get on the phone with them and tell them if they want to make a lot of money to carry the one with the 850 band, otherwise no one will care unless they have T-mobile....

[mar2k]

I e-mailed them and they said it was the North American version with 850 band.

Interesting. Maybe this is the way to go instead of the Mpx220 for me.

[mar2k]

Somehow I'm still not convinced this has 850 band even though they are saying it does. There has never been FCC approval of this model, as far as I can see... :?:

[shk718]

if this is 850 - does anyone know if it will work with t-mobile (usa)?

[brntcrsp]

T-Mobile use the 1900 band, so yes this will work regardless if it is the US or world model.

[shk718]

ok i've been email a sales rep at tek n toys - they have them in stock and they are 850. he said they don't even have the 900.

[gcherian]

it would be great if they can just snap a picture of the box or under the battery just to prove the 850 band - and end this debate once and for all..

[mpaquette]

Forgive a smartphone newbie, but what is the difference between the SP3 and SP3i?

[Mike Temporale]

Forgive a smartphone newbie, but what is the difference between the SP3 and SP3i?

Very good question. This is where things get confusing...

The i-mate SP3 is the same design/phone as the Orange C500, Audiovox SMT5600, Qtek 8010, and Dopod 565. I'm sure this list will grow a little longer too. :?

The i-mate SP3i is the same design/phone as the T-Mobile SDA.

And underneath all that plastic, they all are based on the same prototype: HTC Typhoon.

[mpaquette]

And underneath all that plastic, they all are based on the same prototype: HTC Typhoon

So they are basically the same phone, they just look a bit different?

[shk718]

Sp3 has doesn't have a joy stick the sp3i does. i'm not sure how to insert an image but here are two links:

sp3i: http://estore.shopplex.com/app/storefront.aspx?cat_id=9&inv_id=41013170829101&modid=30214092059015&aid=5


sp3: http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,6451&sid=a89b4b71d0bed863b0c2e9f697ddb606


Their basically the same but the "i" verson is better for gaming. i played with the sp3 at a tech show in NYC yesterday - its a very nice phone - well built - nice finish - beautiful screen. I'm buying the "i" so i can play games on it.

[Mike Temporale]

basically, yes. However, carriers have modified certian features and settings. T-Mobile added a couple extra buttons on the front of their SDA; one for t-zones and I foget what the other one was for. The Audiovox has WMP 10, while the Orange C500 doesn't.

Check out this article (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,6341) for a good visual difference between the two designs.

[Mike Temporale]

Sp3 has doesn't have a joy stick the sp3i does.

Good point, forgot about that one. :)

Oh, and to insert images, get the URL of the image, and place that inside of the tags. like this:

[img]http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20041012-SMT5600AWSFromRightFrontSmall.jpg[/img]

Which ends up looking like this:

http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20041012-SMT5600AWSFromRightFrontSmall.jpg

[mpaquette]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm a current US T-Mobile subscriber, but I'm considering switching to AT&T for the Audiovox SMT 5600. Looks like it can be had for $149 when ordering online.

[tulrich]

Expansys US is also offering this phone for $459.95 with a Nov. 8 availability date.

http://www.expansys-usa.com/product.asp?code=I-MATE_SP3I

[Mike Temporale]

Expansys US is also offering this phone for $459.95 with a Nov. 8 availability date.

http://www.expansys-usa.com/product.asp?code=I-MATE_SP3I

Word of warning: Expansys is selling the European version (900) versus the North American version which has the 850 band. :D

[mrlawrence]

For those on AT&amp;T and looking to purchase the Audiovox version, this pricing for the North American Version is much better than what you would get from AT&amp;T as a consequence of the requirement that you must, for the life of the phone on the AT&amp;T network, keep a minimum Data plan of $20/month, in addition to the fact that your current voice minutes will be reduced. Ultimately, if you plan on using the phone for more than 12 months and aren't convinced you need the data plan, you are better off buying this phone here and using your existing GSM chip.

[jholly]

I just used the "Live Help" feature on the Tek N Toys website. I asked about the 850 vs. 900 band issue and the reply was that all SP3i's have a switch in them that allow you to manually change them between 850/1800/1900 and 900/1800/1900.

I've never heard of this before, but it may explain why there was some confusion regarding this phone's "quad-band" capabilities.

If someone else could confirm this by using the Live Help feature, too, that would be great.

Of course, if someone can verify this "switch" from another source, that would be even better.

jholly

P.S. I was also told that the SP3i would ship to customers on Thursday, October 21st. I've never used Tek N Toys before, so I don't know how reliable this information is. Given that SmartphoneThoughts mentioned them, I figured it is.

[mar2k]

I just used the "Live Help" feature on the Tek N Toys website. I asked about the 850 vs. 900 band issue and the reply was that all SP3i's have a switch in them that allow you to manually change them between 850/1800/1900 and 900/1800/1900.

I've never heard of this before, but it may explain why there was some confusion regarding this phone's "quad-band" capabilities.


Hmmm, I want to place an order, but I'm still skeptical until someone confirms these do have 850 band. The comment about the switch seems sketchy unless they are talking about a switch that is set internally at the factory.

If these aren't shipping until the 21st, I'm going to check out the MPx220 this week. My local Best Buy still does not have them but I am sure they will after the "official" release date. Then I can decide. Hopefully someone will get to the bottom of the 850 band debate about the SP3i though. Tek n Toys sounds convincing that they do have 850 band, but I'm still a but uneasy until confirmed by an end user.

[elee102]

I just used the "Live Help" feature on the Tek N Toys website. I asked about the 850 vs. 900 band issue and the reply was that all SP3i's have a switch in them that allow you to manually change them between 850/1800/1900 and 900/1800/1900.

I've never heard of this before, but it may explain why there was some confusion regarding this phone's "quad-band" capabilities.

If someone else could confirm this by using the Live Help feature, too, that would be great.

Of course, if someone can verify this "switch" from another source, that would be even better.

jholly

P.S. I was also told that the SP3i would ship to customers on Thursday, October 21st. I've never used Tek N Toys before, so I don't know how reliable this information is. Given that SmartphoneThoughts mentioned them, I figured it is.

I went ahead and used the live help feature on their site and was told the same. But it looks like Jason has confirmed with Tek n Toys that this is indeed a 850/1800/1900mhz phone on the front page. I might have to take the plunge to find out myself!

[mar2k]

A bit off topic, but isn't it nice to be worried about WHICH Smartphone to buy in North America, rather than wondering if one will ever be available?
:D

[Jason Dunn]

I've confirmed that they're selling two versions, and the one for use in North America is 850/1800/1900. So it's tri-band, not quad-band like I originally thought.

[Jason Dunn]

A bit off topic, but isn't it nice to be worried about WHICH Smartphone to buy in North America, rather than wondering if one will ever be available? :D

Indeed, that's a nice problem to have. ;-)

[gcherian]

I've confirmed that they're selling two versions, and the one for use in North America is 850/1800/1900. So it's tri-band, not quad-band like I originally thought.

So what is with the live help telling people that there is a switch ? I think it is just a imaginative customer representative :) With Thoughts media to backup I am going to go ahead and place the order with them - is there a link for us to use so that this site gets the credit for the sale ?

George

[Jason Dunn]

So what is with the live help telling people that there is a switch ? I think it is just a imaginative customer representative :)

Ok, so it turns out there IS software switch on the phone - I keep getting incomplete info.

In terms of ordering the phone, please use this link:

http://estore.shopplex.com/app/storefront.aspx?cat_id=9&inv_id=41013170829101&modid=30214092059015&aid=5

Thanks! :-D