PPC to Smartphone (WM) convert... needs help choosing a device.

[zilla31]

Hey all - Long time PPCT member, new around here.

Looking for some advice choosing a new smartphone (been looking at the Audiovox SMT5600, i-mate SP5, 2125, etc.).

My father in-law has the Audiovox SMT5600 so that's the ONLY one i've seen in person and i fell in love w/ the size and screen (would def like to get a device around that size FYI). the thumb-bar is attrocious though - i was constantly pressing the wrong thing w/ that... would prob prefer a "knob".

Since we're way early here - ANY help would be appreciated...

(PS i'd love BT and Wifi but neither is a deal breaker).

[Mike Temporale]

Are you looking for WinMo5? If so, the 5600 is out of the question. Are you looking for an unlocked device or would you prefer a contract with a carrier to help reduce the price of the device?

All the devices you listed are great devices.

[zilla31]

First of all happy holidays and thanks for taking the time to answer me :)

Second - my current carrier is t-mobile so i'd stay w/ them if i could, but i'm not under contract so i'd switch if it saved me money on the phone (since i can now keep my number that's no sweat).

i def want wm5 (so i guess the audiovox IS out of the question, i wasn't sold on the nav bar anyways).

thinking i-mate sp5 (wifi is a big plus for me at home and work)...

lastly i want something SMALL and "regular" size for a cell phone, if that makes any sense? and a candy-bar style (not a clamshell).

again THANKS!

[Mike Temporale]

First of all happy holidays and thanks for taking the time to answer me :)

Hey, no worries! :D

Second - my current carrier is t-mobile so i'd stay w/ them if i could, but i'm not under contract so i'd switch if it saved me money on the phone (since i can now keep my number that's no sweat).

Well, you can get a deal on the Cingular 2125 when you sign a contract. I think the discounts and whatnot bring the price down to $199 or so. (You may want to double check that price) while a new SP5(m) will cost around $500. So....

thinking i-mate sp5 (wifi is a big plus for me at home and work)...

WiFi is great, especially if you don't have a data plan. It's great for around the house and office. Personally, I love it.

lastly i want something SMALL and "regular" size for a cell phone, if that makes any sense? and a candy-bar style (not a clamshell).

The SP5(m) are not much bigger than the 5600. There is a comparison picture in the review (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=61125) we posted a month or so back. I've used the 5600/c500 for a year, and now I'm using the SP5m and I don't notice the size difference. :D

[zilla31]

ok thanks... i guess i'll have to decide between the 2125 and the sp5 (is wifi worth the extra $300 i'm not sure... is there anything else different about them spec wise?

[zilla31]

ps thanks for the review... i did a google search for sp5 reviews and this one didn't come up... but it may be the best one i've read!

i followed your link to the sp5m for $494 from expansys but can't find the plain old sp5 there (is it the same price??). thx again :)

[Mike Temporale]

The SP5 is harder to get a hold of right now. The price should be the same, but availability is very poor. :(

[zilla31]

is it because it's so new? will it be "rebranded" with a US carrier at some point (any plans) like T-mobile?

[Mike Temporale]

is it because it's so new? will it be "rebranded" with a US carrier at some point (any plans) like T-mobile?


It's just new and the stylin' people are looking for. Personally, I think it looks good, but I'm worried that the softkeys are not functional.

I haven't heard anything about this phone being rebranded - but that doesn't mean it won't be.

[zilla31]

yeah it is pretty stylin'. before i saw my father in law's audiovox i had no idea they had finally come out with "regular" sized wm5 (or any OS) smartphones. pretty nifty. yeah i'm sure the sp5 buttons are cramped - but i will be using my smartphone for data retrieval far more often than data entry for sure (except maybe contacts).

are there any others that i should be investigating that are this size and functional?

[Mike Temporale]

That's pretty much it right now. It will be interesting to see what the new year brings.

[zilla31]

what about the K-Jam? is it bulky? Seems to get pretty good reviews... if i decide i don't need wifi - does that change the outlook on the sp5?

[Sven Johannsen]

what about the K-Jam? is it bulky? Seems to get pretty good reviews... if i decide i don't need wifi - does that change the outlook on the sp5?
It is compared to an SMT5600. Compared to carrying an SMT5600 or Razr AND a PPC, no, it's pretty small. Realize it is a PPCPE with touch screen and full keyboard. Very different experience than a Smartphone.

You wondered earlier if the WiFi on the SP5 is worth the extra $300 over the 2125. While technically that is what you pay and what you get, you are comparing an unlocked unsubsidized unfettered phone, to a subsidized one with a contract.

If you don't need WiFi, you probably don't need the K-Jam either. To be realistic, if you are in an area that has 3G coverage, and a 3G phone, you don't really need WiFi, IMHO.

[zilla31]

yeah i'm starting to think i don't need wifi (it's one of those things i'd drool to get then harldly use). maybe step back to an sp3?

[Tony Rylow]

I just got a SP3i on Friday. After carrying my Razr and my Axim with me everywhere just to get email from my exchange server, i'm quite pleased with the switch to the SP3i. While WiFi is nice to have on my pda, I haven't had a need to use it on my Smartphone. If I really need the extra bandwith for the web, I'd much rather use the pda anyway..


While I very much considered the 2125, there were a few things that discouraged me, mainly the hump, and the powerbutton. While everyone says that the powerbutton is fine after you start using the device for a few days, I would see the same people continue talking about how much of a pain it is.

[zilla31]

so how much does an unlocked sp3 run and what's the difference between the sp3 and sp3i?

thanks for all your help...

[Tony Rylow]

I got mine from www.expansys-usa.com They carry both the SP3 and SP3i. I think they are the same except the casing is different.

[Mike Temporale]

I got mine from www.expansys-usa.com They carry both the SP3 and SP3i. I think they are the same except the casing is different.

Well, the 3i has a true joystick while the 3 has the rocker switch, but otherwise they are the same. ;)

[zilla31]

since the audiovox is the only one i've seen in "real" life (and i LOVE the size and shape), is the sp3 comparable in size?

[Mike Temporale]

The Audiovox SMT5600 and the SP3 are the same phone. So the size and shape will be identical. ;) It is also known under a number of other names too.

Here's a link (http://www.geekzone.co.nz/smartdevices.asp?phonemodelid=24) to all the different names for that phone. :)

[zilla31]

sweet mike thanks!!!! maybe the sp3 is the one for me then... only prob i see so far is it's running wm2003 rather than wm5... can i fix that?

[Mike Temporale]

sweet mike thanks!!!! maybe the sp3 is the one for me then... only prob i see so far is it's running wm2003 rather than wm5... can i fix that?

Nope. No upgrades have been offered for any Windows Mobile 2003 based devices. :(

[zilla31]

WEAK! so what do i lose by not having wm5 (which i've only read about) on a smartphone?

[Tony Rylow]

The lack of push email for one. Your exchange server wont be able to sned the email out to your phone when it arrives. Same idea as the Blackberry.


This is not an issue for myself, as I have the MediaNet from Cingular. I schedule myphone to go out to my exchange server, check for messages/sync.