Cingular Makes the Audiovox SMT 5600 Official

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050504/sfw055.html?.v=8' target='_blank'>http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050504/sfw055.html?.v=8</a><br /><br /></div>Last week we got word that the <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8174">SMT5600 had resurfaced on the Cingular network,</a> but even with all of you looking for it, we just could not find it. The one thing that bothered me the most since that announcement was the lack of a press release. I have checked the Cingular press site everyday since, and there is still no mention of it. Finally, the press release has been found! It was issued at 9:00am EST this morning. There is no mention of when the phone will be in stores, but it does confirm the $199.99 price, and the features have not changed. From Bluetooth, to Windows Media Player, to Tri-Band, to embedded camera, it's all the same. It appears the only difference will be the branding on the phone. You can now expect the Audiovox to sport the cool Cingular logo. ;) Here's a short clip from the press release.<br /><br /><i>"Cingular Wireless, the largest wireless carrier in the United States, and UTStarcom Personal Communications Division (formerly Audiovox Communications Corp.), a division of UTStarcom, Inc., today announced the availability of the Audiovox SMT 5600 Smartphone to all Cingular Wireless customers. ..."The Audiovox SMT 5600 continues to be widely popular and we are happy that Cingular Wireless' customers will now have access to this state-of-the-art, award-winning handset," said Philip Christopher, president, UTStarcom Personal Communications Division."</i>

[Jerry Raia]

This is almost too late. Especially if the phone can't be upgraded to the upcoming new version of Windows Mobile. Does anyone know if it can be?

[Mike Temporale]

This is almost too late. Especially if the phone can't be upgraded to the upcoming new version of Windows Mobile. Does anyone know if it can be?

Technically, any Smartphone can be upgrade. The question is, will they release the upgrade? ;) And my guess is no. :(

As for being too late, I don't think so. Magneto is expected to be released soon, but I don't expect to see any phones running it for a number of months yet. Last year WM 2003SE was released in March and we didn't see any phones until the fall. :?

[Jerry Raia]

This is almost too late. Especially if the phone can't be upgraded to the upcoming new version of Windows Mobile. Does anyone know if it can be?

Technically, any Smartphone can be upgrade. The question is, will they release the upgrade? ;) And my guess is no. :(

As for being too late, I don't think so. Magneto is expected to be released soon, but I don't expect to see any phones running it for a number of months yet. Last year WM 2003SE was released in March and we didn't see any phones until the fall. :?

I remember there were some Pocket PC's that couldn't upgrade because they didn't have enough flash ROM to go from 2002 to 2003. For a few months I might hold out instead of buying 2 new phones.....

Ok who am I kidding? Curse them for making me buy all these phones!
:crazyeyes:

[David McNamee]

Last year WM 2003SE was released in March and we didn't see any phones until the fall. :?

And the the North American carriers didn't exactly trip over each other racing to get the phones out, did they?

[Ed Hansberry]

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/images/smiles/alfdance.gif

[possmann]

well that is the icing on thye cake to switch to Cing from Tmo. I don't see anythingcoming from Tmo in the next several months so it's off to Cing I go.

I agree about the upgrade and magneto comment - it's going to be at least a year before we see any new hardware (here in the US) that has magneto on it so I know I can live that long with this fine little device - finally - sigh...

[Mike Temporale]

I know I can live that long with this fine little device - finally - sigh...

It's been a long wait for you. I hope you'll find that it was worth it. ;)

[Jerry Raia]

I just bought one at a Corporate Cingular store in Thousand Oaks CA. They told me hey had 4 left. The devil made me do it I tell ya!!!

What a nice phone this is. Excuse me while I do a dance on my MPx220.
:grinning devil:

[Mike Temporale]

I just bought one at a Corporate Cingular store in Thousand Oaks CA. They told me hey had 4 left. The devil made me do it I tell ya!!!

What a nice phone this is. Excuse me while I do a dance on my MPx220.
:grinning devil:

Wow Jerry! This is unexpected. As much as you hated the MPx220, I didn't see you running out and buying anything else. I'm a little shocked and surprised. 8) :wink:

[Jerry Raia]

Yeah it's a great little phone. I've been installing stuff all afternoon! It was a spur of the moment thing. I just couldn't suffer the MPx220 anymore so off to ebay it goes. This is my first candy bar too. What do you use for a screen protector if any?

[Mike Temporale]

I'm using the JAVOscreen ones. I found that they fit better than the Martin Fields ones. 8)

[jfreiman]

They have them in San Francisco's 101 California Street store (Pine &amp; Front). They have "a few" in stock.
415-743-3180

[Jerry Raia]

As a side note, while I was at the store I was talking about the problems with the MPx220 and the salesperson said "yeah they were recalled". SO next time you get some gas from Moto or BestBuy or anybody else that they weren't recalled you can smile at them.

[Number 6]

:clap: :clap: :clap:
I just checked the Cingular page for my zip in RI and they are showing the SMT 5600 on the Phones page Now as a phone to buy!! I'm going to be moving to Cingular from Verizon!
:D :D :D

[PCMAN]

SMT5600 NOW IN THE PHILLY S. JERSEY AREA
08081

$199 AFTER REBATE

[jake080]

Available in central texas!

any idea how long till amazon gets it?


(im switching from verizon too! w00t w00t)

[Jerry Raia]

It's on the California/Nevada web site now.

[spokrie]

I can see it in Michigan, and the MPx220 is now gone from the site. Hey Jerry want two 220's for eBay? I'm tired of feeling like a stepchild to Cingular.

[Number 6]

As a side note, while I was at the store I was talking about the problems with the MPx220 and the salesperson said "yeah they were recalled". SO next time you get some gas from Moto or BestBuy or anybody else that they weren't recalled you can smile at them.

I noticed when I was in Best Buy yesterday that they've taken the MPx220 off of their display of Cingular phones also. I guess it really has fallen off of the face of the earth. Dodged a bullet there, that was the phone that I was going to buy until I started reading the reviews and comments about it on this and other forums.

[Jerry Raia]

Until I bought the SMT5600 I had never actually even seen one. What a difference in quality and features. The MPx220 just doesn't measure up.

[Mike Temporale]

Until I bought the SMT5600 I had never actually even seen one. What a difference in quality and features. The MPx220 just doesn't measure up.

That's all HTC. They've done an excellent job on this phone. 8)

[ThatTree]

At last the 5600 shows up under Phones &amp; PDAs if you enter a Philadelphia-area zip code (try 19104).

[tasi]

I've had an AT&amp;T plan and the AT&amp;T branded phone since it came out, and I was waiting for Cingular to officially support it.

Now that it has, does anyone know if Cingular will let me trade in my AT&amp;T branded SMT5600 for the Cingular branded SMT5600? Or would it just be easier for me to follow one of the online guides available, unlock the phone, and change the settings myself?

I'd like to switch from my current AT&amp;T plan and move over to a Cingular plan.

Besides the rollover minutes, is there any advantage? Should I just stick with the AT&amp;T plan? Are data rates any better with a Cingular SIM card? Is GPRS coverage any better with a Cingular SIM card?

Any help will be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

T.

[promano]

I've had an AT&amp;T plan and the AT&amp;T branded phone since it came out, and I was waiting for Cingular to officially support it.

Now that it has, does anyone know if Cingular will let me trade in my AT&amp;T branded SMT5600 for the Cingular branded SMT5600? Or would it just be easier for me to follow one of the online guides available, unlock the phone, and change the settings myself?

I'd like to switch from my current AT&amp;T plan and move over to a Cingular plan.

Besides the rollover minutes, is there any advantage? Should I just stick with the AT&amp;T plan? Are data rates any better with a Cingular SIM card? Is GPRS coverage any better with a Cingular SIM card?

Any help will be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

T.

Stay with your AT&amp;T Plan !!!
Don't change to Cingular just yet.

You still have Unlimited Nights and Weeknds, and free AT&amp;T/Cingular in-network calls, and whatever bonus minutes you have.
I got my SMT5600 last October on the AT&amp;T 900 minute $59.99 plan and added my wife for $10/month.
Got the $24.99 unlimited data plan for browsing.

If I were to transfer to Cingular now, I would gain rollover, and lose all of my bonuses !
I don't want to do this since I am currently using up all of my bonuses
each month and only about 100 of my 900 minutes.
Do a GOOD comparison of what you have now vs what Cingular will give you
and let the Cingular Salesperson tell you which is the better deal.
So far, every time I've checked, they have told me don't switch just yet.
My plans required me to sign up for 2 years.
I've got 2 years to decide when is the right time to switch...

Pete...