Hang on Folks, T-Mobile SDA Has Cleared the FCC Tests

[Kris Kumar]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://tinyurl.com/ahune' target='_blank'>http://tinyurl.com/ahune</a><br /><br /></div>We had <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9080">reported earlier</a> that the HTC Tornado has cleared the FCC tests. And at that time we did not have any photos or the name of the carrier/vendor. Now that 30th September deadline has passed, the FCC is no longer under any obligation to protect the identity. The HTC Tornado will be launched by T-Mobile and it will be known as the T-Mobile SDA. :clap: <br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Oct05-TMobileSDACombined.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />We still don't know the official launch date. I hope it is sooner than the first quarter of 2006. :-) Overall, the good news is that this Smartphone will <i>definitely</i> have Wi-Fi, EDGE and Quad-band GSM. And that T-Mobile will be launching it. Meanwhile sit back, relax and dig through the <a href="http://tinyurl.com/ahune">FCC documents.</a> <!><br /><br />From looking at the photos, it seems like the odd bulge at the top of the SDA is for a bigger or better antenna. The original HTC Tornado model does not have it. It seems like T-Mobile has requested for a slight modification to improve signal reception for its US model. ;-) Makes sense, considering that models with internal antennas don't do well here in the US because of the spotty GSM coverage in some areas.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Oct05-TMobileSDATopAngle.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><i>Figure 1: Better view of the top.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Oct05-TMobileSDATopAngle2.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><i>Figure 2: The back side looks boring. The bulge accentuates it.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Oct05-TMobileSDAWifi2.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><i>Figure 3: The reason behind the bulge - bigger antenna.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Octo5-TmobileSDAInthebox.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><i>Figure 4: What you can expect in the box. :-)</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Octo5-TmobileSDACase.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><i>Figure 5: T-Mobile knows how to pamper its customers. ;-)</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Oct05-TMobileSDAWifi.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><i>Figure 6: The reason why we want this phone; it has built-in 802.11b Wi-Fi support. Wonder what the Wi-Fi Data Call means. :? Does it mean that it will come loaded with Skype or Skype like VoIP application. </i>

[possmann]

FINALLY

well almost finally - I guess the other post says we have to wait longer yet - sigh... What is taking T-Mo so long to get off their kisters to get this released?

[Kris Kumar]

FINALLY


Yes, the wait is almost over. 8)

I am guessing that it will be here soon. Sooner that what the other post (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=59649) said. The latest would be Dec' 05.

[exchguy]

I wonder what this says about the Cingular release of the Tornado..or perhaps Cingular is going to release the Q as their Smartphone offering and the Wizard as their Pocket PC Phone??

Although this goes against the 'leaked' Cingular doc showing the Tornado and Wizard going live late October. Which some are now saying that is now pushed back into mid November.

[encece]

Darn. I thought that antenna was the addition of GPS!

[me]

All I can say is---

I'll believe it when I see it!

I've been disappointed with T-Mobile USA (my carrier) too many times, to raise my hopes again. There have been announcements before of cool new smartphones that T-Mo was supposed to come out with, and they never did, and the phone always seems to come out on Cingular instead! T-Mo has not once had a Windows Smartphone available. They used to have a couple Nokia Symbian smartphones, and I don't think any of those are available any more either.

I finally got fed up waiting, and bought an SMT-5600 from Ebay, and had it unlocked. (This although my T-Mo contract is long expired, and I could get a good deal on a T-Mo phone.)

If they actually do come out with this, however, it might be my next phone. (Although I still prefer flip phone format. Getting tired of buttons pushed accidentally on the SMT5600! Aren't there any new smartphones coming out in flip format, or will the mpx220 continue to be the only one?)

[Mike Temporale]

Nice job T-Mo!

I wonder if the extra antenna will be something that other HTC Tornado owners can buy and add onto their phone - if they desire. That would be great! :D

[mike2phone]

All this sounds great... Now when does this phone come to Cingular again? :confused totally:

[Kris Kumar]

Nice job T-Mo!

I wonder if the extra antenna will be something that other HTC Tornado owners can buy and add onto their phone - if they desire. That would be great! :D

I like the extra antenna stub from utility point of view. But seems like it will be blocking the power switch. :?

[sub_tex]

That's a very nice bundle. Now, if they're smart, they'll have some new commercials pushing the music features of the phone, since people I talk to generally think that the Rokr is some breakthrough in technology....

[Mike Temporale]

That's a very nice bundle. Now, if they're smart, they'll have some new commercials pushing the music features of the phone, since people I talk to generally think that the Rokr is some breakthrough in technology....

Pretty sad, eh? Windows Mobile Smartphones have had this functionality since the start, AND there's no 100 song limit. Yet, for some reason, it's not a focus of the marketing team. I imagine that the next round will focus more on this. Hopefully.

[wshwe]

All I can say is---

I'll believe it when I see it!

I second that!

[me]

Well-------where is it?????

Still not one smartphone on T-Mobile, not the Nokia Symbian type either. Never has T-Mo USA carried a Windows Smartphone.

I guess the Palm Treo 600 could be considered a smartphone, an outdated one, as other carriers all have the newer Treo 650.

One clunky buggy PPC phone, and its own clunky PDA Sidekick.

But why no smartphones, T-Mo? Why do we keep hearing announcements, like the one for this phone, that never materialize? WHy has T-Mobile Europe had smartphones for a long time (including with that name, T-Mobile SDA), that never make it stateside?

(I guess I'm dreaming in imagining that T-Mobile USA management is reading this.)

[Kris Kumar]

(I guess I'm dreaming in imagining that T-Mobile USA management is reading this.)

If they are not, it's their loss. ;-)