Planning to Buy a Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone?

[Mike Temporale]

At this point, I think it's fairly obvious that all the carriers and manufacturers are not planning to release a Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrade for their Smartphones. I can certainly understand that it would cost a fair amount of time and energy to test and rollout such an upgrade, however, I feel that this investment would be more than returned through customer satisfaction and loyalty. Sadly, I guess these aspects are not seen as a valuable asset. :(

With no upgrade path in site, what are you planning to do when Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphones finally hit the streets? I know that some of you refuse to buy a new phone each year and would rather try to hold on to your existing phone for a couple years, at the minimum. While others, like to jump from phone to phone as soon as something better comes along. While I usually try and hold onto my devices for a little while, I fully expect to drop some hard earned coin on a WM5 device soon after they are released. So what about you? I encourage you to vote on the poll, and then take a second and let us know why you voted the way you did. :)

[ARW]

I would love to buy one, but at the rate VZW releases phones and at the prices they charge I feel I'm kind of forced into a slow upgrade cycle. I figure it'll be at least two years before they have a 5.0 device, based on how quickly they've released earlier Win Mobiles devices.

If by chance Cingular added network coverage in a few areas that I frequently travel I'd jump ship in a heart beat and get something like the SMT5600 or whatever replaces it.

To comment on the bigger picture, if the market were to be opened somehow so that you could buy a phone independent of the carrier and thereby avoid all the proprietaryness then I'd be much more likely to upgrade phones, opt in for data plans and probably spend more money on "the pipe." Alas, I don't think the US carriers get this as they're too busy with their walled gardens.

[Rocco Augusto]

i plan on getting a WM5 device but I'll prolly hold out for 6-12 months after theyre released. Main reason is I know I'll get a device that I'll love and then an even better device will get released for that carrier. (ie - mpx220 rocked but than cingular released the 5600 ;))

I'm just gonna wait till their is a variety of WM5 phones so when I do get a new one I'm not gonna suffer the dreaded buyers remorse ;)

-opti-

[keirmeister]

I have an SP3i. I love it. I would love it more if it had QVGA. I-Mate/HTC/whatever could have invested the time and energy in providing an upgrade...especially for a $450 phone. But oh well. A higher-res screen is all I ask for. Maybe if they make a newer model with similar appearance, I may upgrade.

But failing that, I may just get a good PocketPC.

- Keirmeister

[Stinger]

Does having the latest version of the OS on your phone really matter? Do you really gain that much? Once it reaches a certain maturity, then I'm not so sure it does.

Look at Symbian. The newest announced version is v9 (on which the Nokia N91 is based), but companies like Sendo, Fujistsu and Mitsubishi are still releasing phones based on v6.1 and persumably people are still buying them.

If the OS version gives you the features you want and is stable, why upgrade?

[Spatulator]

The software included with windows mobile 2003 by microsoft is pretty bad. However once tweaked thoroughly and after adding lots of more refined 3rd party apps, win mobile 2003 has everything I need and is quite intuitive. Granted its alot of work to weed through all the offerings out there and find what is right for you, only the enthusiast will bother and end up with a functional smartphone using all of its resources as a converged device. If win mobile 5.0 is more polished and includes more usable intuitive apps it will be a good draw for the casual smartphone user who may have been put off by wm 03'.

[[email protected]]

Waiting for:

QVGA
3G
QWERTY

How about this formfactor:

http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/handphones/0,39001713,39093992p,00.htm

[Mike Temporale]

How about this formfactor:

http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/handphones/0,39001713,39093992p,00.htm

HA! Looks like someone was watching Motorola's efforst with the MPx closely. The bottom of this seems a little thick, but it would be interesting to see a WM device like this. 8)

[sojourner753]

Its unlikely that I'll buy a new smartphone. 5600 has pretty much all I need. Today I use it primarily as a data access device. I am however, considering a WM Phone Edition.

[Jerry Raia]

I have to have the latest when it comes out. Thats why I ran out and got the MPx220 the day it showed up in the local BestBuy. Hmmmm, ok well maybe that didn't work out so well but I still have to be an early adopter. Its in my blood. :mrgreen:

[alex_kac]

If the OS version gives you the features you want and is stable, why upgrade?

I'd say the #1 reason for most people who aren't technologists, geeks, or what-not is that third party apps either require the new OS, or offer new features only on that OS. In the case of WM5, it provides some major usability improvements to the phone side as well.

But as a developer for WM5 stuff, I can say that anyone who really wants or actually needs reliable task alarms, synching contact pics, more Contact fields, and the possibility of future custom field synching will be more desirous of this upgrade than those for whom these are not a big deal.

[gcherian]

Alex - when is WebIS coming out with smartphone software and what is the application going to be? I did not ask 'if' for I am assuming that you guys are already cooking something good.

George

[Vidproducer]

My Brother got 2 SMT5600's recently and I decided to get the same good deal, finally giving up my StarTac (and an Audiovox CDM4000) that I've been using for quite some time. I'm also switching carriers of my own accord for the first time ever since I had my first Audiovox bag phone. I specifically waited until there was a phone and deal that was too good to pass up. I intend to do the same now, and there is no way I can see that I would intentionally change before my two year contract is up and have to pay the termination fees.

In the case of the SMT5600, if it is capable of handling Windows Mobile 5.0 memory wise, I think it's in the best interest of HTC, Audiovox, Cingular and Microsoft to support what is apparently a solid product that is unusual in the sense that it is a proven product, having been on the market through various carriers worldwide, but still new from Audiovox, and currently being heavily promoted by Cingular and Microsoft. I will just begin using these two new phones this week after they arrive Monday or Tuesday, and I will soon be a version behind in OS. Not really a big deal, but I can say that I feel a whole lot better about my investment in my Dell Axim X50v knowing that the upgrade to WM5 is going to happen. Dell will be a long term winner with the combination of the best PDA and support. When I show my Axim to others, it will have the latest OS for them to see. Audiovox has the same opportunity here if they so choose.

These companies that constantly try to develop customer loyalty need to realize that it starts with them. I'm hoping for the best, and really want to see an upgrade for the SMT5600 made available, and would gladly pay a reasonable amount for it, even though the phone was just purchased. If they all decide to do this right, they can be selling this phone for some time in high numbers, acquire 'real' new customers from competing carriers, and add more support for the Windows Mobile platform.

[cmorris]

Really depends on the quality of the hardware that manufacturers come out with.

So far, the HTC Typhoon successor (C550) and the Samsung phone with the built-in hard drive wouldn't cause me to dump my SMT5600. If Motorola would come out with a RAZR like form factor on the other hand... :)

[neltek]

It depends what it offers

I am happy with my SPV c500

However, it has become sluggish and really slow to react - opening a new text message I have received takes over a minute!

I presume the new OS won't help this as it is what happens to windows devices over time?

I will also need to know what the new OS really offers better than now - if phone functions are improved then - yes - as I miss the slickness of my old Nokia - brilliant phone functions - very intuitive.

Ian

[bart2brett]

I'm keeping my Samsung i600 until it breaks. Then I may just get a "dumb" phone. Since I got my Smartphone, my stress levels have gone way up. And besides, by the time Verizon rolls out 5.0, version 10.0 will be out.

[Jerry Raia]

by the time Verizon rolls out 5.0, version 10.0 will be out.

You go that right! :lol: