Tri-band Compact Flash for GSM and GPRS [Archive]

Andy Sjostrom

07-25-2002, 11:50 AM

<a href="http://www.shoppingpda.com/product/rtm8000/rtm8000.asp">http://www.shoppingpda.com/product/rtm8000/rtm8000.asp</a> This is so sweet! Turn you Pocket PC into a connected GSM/GPRS phone using the Audiovox RTM 8000 Compact Flash 1 card! The card supports both voice and data. Available now and shipping globally... GPRS CF Card • Tri-band Operations: EGSM 900/ DCS 1800/ PCS 1900 • GSM Voice Communications: Half Rate/Full Rate/ Enhanced Full Rate • Circuit Switch Data: Asynchronous, Transparent / Non-Transparent Mode, Up to 14.4Kbps • Short Message Service (SMS): MT/MO/CB • FAX: Group 3 / Class 2.0 • SIM: Small 3/5V SIM card holder • GPRS: Class B, Multi-slot Class 8 (4 down/1 up/5 per frame), Simultaneous network registration of GSM & GPRS • AT Command Set: complying with GSM 07.05, 07.07 including GPRS-specific or extended commands • Form Factor: Type-1 extended Compact Flash Card (62.5 x 42.8 x 9 mm) 360 Turn-able Helix Antenna • External Headset for Audio Input / Output <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/audiovox_1.jpg" />

Jonathon Watkins

07-25-2002, 12:00 PM

Perfect!!!!!! Now any PPC can use GPRS/GSM! Great, as Steve Jobs said we like to have options
This should be good. :D

st63z

07-25-2002, 12:31 PM

Whoa, how come we haven't heard about this before?

The SIM card holder on this CF card got me thinking, let's make the SIM card another general-purpose flash format. I want a super small PDA where I can put in a 1GB SIM card (like, yesterday)!

Venturello

07-25-2002, 12:42 PM

WOW THIS IS PERFECT!!!
Isn't this kind of fishy, something so good for what seems is a low price? Should we be suspicious here?

I am AMAZED!! Its slow, but its powerful as hell!!

So sweet. I hope this is available on this site of the world ASAP (USA and Europe). Anyone ever ordered from this storE?

Jonathon Watkins

07-25-2002, 01:06 PM

Its slow, but its powerful as hell!!
Pardon? GSM is indeed slow - 9.6kbs isn't it? But GPRS is as fast as your provider provides and you will pay for (200kbs odd isn't it?). Why are you saying GPRS is slow?

eosd30

07-25-2002, 01:20 PM

I'm content with my 3870/t68 setup for now - I never understood the appeal of something like this. Can someone explain it to me?

Will this thing receive calls even if your PDA is off? Or at least power it up? And what is the effect on battery life? I'd love to see a review sometime soon.

Vic

jpaq

07-25-2002, 01:40 PM

Any of you notice the PDA that they are using in the pictures (not on PDAorDIE)? Looks like Audiovox may actually be planning to sell their own version of Toshiba's 4" screened marvel.

Now, if only Toshiba and/or Audiovox were smart enough to put a battery in it worth a crap.

2100mah or DIE!!!!!!

Mr. Anonymous

07-25-2002, 01:41 PM

Looks cool, but now instead of carrying around my cell phone I'd have to carry around a handsfree set and plug it in whenever I want to take or make a call? Bleh...

jpaq

07-25-2002, 01:41 PM

PS

The site listing this product shows U.S. pricing and states Global Delivery on the bottom of the page.......

Have fun....

orinoco

07-25-2002, 01:48 PM

Hi folks:

This is great !!! I'll believe it when I see it. I just ordered it, so I'll let you know how it actually is.

Does anyone else have one of these ? Any thoughts/impressions to share ?

Unbelievable !!! Now I'll put together my own "Jornada 928" in the US, how sweet.

I am so excited !!!

Fernando :lol:

Jonathon Watkins

07-25-2002, 01:53 PM

Looks cool, but now instead of carrying around my cell phone I'd have to carry around a handsfree set and plug it in whenever I want to take or make a call? Bleh...
Well - you could just pick up your pda and put it against your ear just like a phone (as long as the mic is on the bottom and the speaker is at the top (as most are)).

OR you might be able to use a bluetooth headset to pick up the call (as long as your PDA has bluetooth).

That's more options than with a cellphone.

JMountford

07-25-2002, 01:57 PM

Jonathon Watkins

07-25-2002, 02:03 PM

I'm content with my 3870/t68 setup for now - I never understood the appeal of something like this. Can someone explain it to me?
ONE device to carry, being able to save SMS messages, all contacts in one place, no need to struggle with predictive input or multi –button press keypads, being able to record and store phone conversations, having all details in one place, always having every device I need on me, less things to break, less complicated etc. Lots of things really. :)
Will this thing receive calls even if your PDA is off? Or at least power it up? And what is the effect on battery life? I'd love to see a review sometime soon.
Will your cellphone receive phone calls when it is off? :wink:

And what is the effect on battery life? I'd love to see a review sometime soon.True – most GSM/GPRS add-ons have a built in extra battery – this one does not. We shall have to see when it is reviewed. However – I currently have to charge my Nokia 3210 every 2 days or so after only a few calls – so charging a PDA can’t be much worse than that!

Jonathon Watkins

07-25-2002, 02:05 PM

You GPS/GPRS users get all the luck.
I’d love to have GPS to add to my GSM and GPRS system! Too many TLA’s I think.
:wink:

Chad

07-25-2002, 02:40 PM

I don't know about you all, but it is hard to get excited about the new GSM/GPRS technologies in America because of the lousy cellular infrastructure that we have. The only GSM available around me is Voicestream and it is such a bad service I couldn't even get a strong voice signal in my apartment which is less than a mile from one of their towers.

I don't understand why there are so many companies releasing high speed cellular connections when there isn't much of a network to support it.

P.S.- I do agree that it is cool technology, though .. :D

07-25-2002, 02:47 PM

Well - you could just pick up your pda and put it against your ear just like a phone (as long as the mic is on the bottom and the speaker is at the top (as most are)).

OR you might be able to use a bluetooth headset to pick up the call (as long as your PDA has bluetooth).

That's more options than with a cellphone.
According to the review from PDAorDIE, you can not use the built in mic and speaker from the Pocket PC.

DrtyBlvd

07-25-2002, 02:48 PM

Err...good point well made re. "when it's off", but it's hardly any sort of replacement for a mobile if you have to turn it on to use it, keeping it on all the time to receive calls?

More interestingly, what if you have Call Waiting switched on?

And a more general Q - Is it possible to gprs at the same time as having a call?

Also - what bout us E125 users! We would have to hold it upside down!!

*I hear the drawing board calling*

07-25-2002, 02:55 PM

I have VoiceStream (T-Mobile) service now and its nice to know something like this is available, but I would rather go for the Pocket PC Phone Edition when I'm ready to upgrade my Cassiopeia E-125.

Jonathon Watkins

07-25-2002, 03:11 PM

According to the review from PDAorDIE, you can not use the built in mic and speaker from the Pocket PC.
Bother. Not good. Well - that's one black mark against it. Still cool technology though!

Jonathon Watkins

07-25-2002, 03:17 PM

Err...good point well made re. "when it's off", but it's hardly any sort of replacement for a mobile if you have to turn it on to use it, keeping it on all the time to receive calls?
Well again – you still have to do this with current cellphones – so what’s the problem? :)

More interestingly, what if you have Call Waiting switched on?
Do you mean that a normal mobile can handle this in SW in the handset, but that you may need to use the PDA itself and SW that comes with the device to do this? I wonder if you can have ‘hands free’ in any way with this device.

And a more general Q - Is it possible to gprs at the same time as having a call?
I understand that it is – depending on how your carrier has implemented it.

Also - what bout us E125 users! We would have to hold it upside down!!
Suits you Sir! :wink:

orinoco

07-25-2002, 03:32 PM

Hi folks:

I just ordered mine, and was told that I should have it within 7 days.

Awesome !!!

Regarding not being able to hold it onto your hear and speak on the microphone, I can understand the concern, but we are moving, like it or not, towards handsfree devices. Quite frankly, holding any cell phone to your ear to be able to speak, regardless of its size, is so "20th century". Years from now, our childred will look at pictures of people holding cell phones towards their ears and laugh like we do now about rotary dial phones.

What these things could use, and actually lack, is a speakerphone, which is a great complement for any wireless phone. The Treo has it, and so will the other palm based Kyocera 7135 upcoming for this fall. None of the other GSM/GPRS cards (Sierra 750, Pretec, Option, Nokia) or module/sleeves (iPAQ or Loox) has this option. The same goes for the Thera and the HTC T-Mobile device. What a shame !!!

The great thing about this device is its CF form factor, a lot less bulky that the PC based devices, and actually being able to just plug it into just about any pocket PC devices (even the iPAQ with a modest size CF sleeve).

Lets see how it performs battery wise.

Fernando

DrtyBlvd

07-25-2002, 03:46 PM

PDAG - ROFL - Do you really think so Sir?

Sorry - what I meant was from a perspective of current user operation - people don't walk around with their pda on all the time, as the battery soon goes flat of course; mind you having said that how does the O2 pda do it I wonder.

*off to do somehomework*

eosd30

07-25-2002, 03:49 PM

ONE device to carry, being able to save SMS messages, all contacts in one place, no need to struggle with predictive input or multi –button press keypads, being able to record and store phone conversations, having all details in one place, always having every device I need on me, less things to break, less complicated etc. Lots of things really. :)

Re: One device to carry

I already carry both my 3870, my t68, and a headset with me almost everywhere, and it isn't really a big deal. In fact, when pocket space is at a premium, or I don't want to be overly conspicuous, I'm glad I have the option to use just the phone for SMS and voice calls.

And as for the all-in-one solution being "less complicated" - honestly, if you expect to make or receive a really, really important phone call in a hurry, wouldn't you rather just use an honest to goodness phone than have to deal with using a PDA?

Will your cellphone receive phone calls when it is off? :wink:

No, but if I were to switch on both my 3870 and my t68 when I leave the house in the morning, and keep them running all day, I can tell you which one of them will be dead by late afternoon under normal usage, and it isn't the phone!

Ah well .. different strokes, etc.... a phone/PDA/wireless headset combo may seem unnecessarily complicated to some, but it works for me and I like it. I would rather have a flexible, versatile setup than be tied down to an all-in-one solution.

Vic

Jonathon Watkins

07-25-2002, 03:51 PM

PDAG - ROFL - Do you really think so Sir?
DEFINATELY Sir! :P

Orinoco - could you give us a review of the device please?

DrtyBlvd

07-25-2002, 03:55 PM

oooooo sirrrrr

Apologies to those readers who have absolutely no idea what we're on about. Won't happen again honest.

DrtyBlvd

07-25-2002, 03:58 PM

o2 xda Battery life:

150 hours standby
15 hours Pocket PC usage and
3.5 hours talktime

Yowsa. Didn't think about it before. Am still trying to find independent coroboration though

Underwater Mike

07-25-2002, 04:02 PM

This looks cool as all heck. You GPS/GPRS users get all the luck. Where in Hadies is my CDMA Compact Flash Card. I tell you I get sick of being a CDMA customer at times like this. Maybe come December at the end of my two year contract I will have to switch to Voicestream. Who knows?

No doubt! I have 10 months left on my Sprint contract and have given up on them ever offering a Bluetooth phone. The only hassle of switching is losing the number I've had since '96...

docangle

07-25-2002, 04:33 PM

It looks as though it will support Sprint as the Specs say PCS 1900, am I wrong to assume this?

Jason Dunn

07-25-2002, 04:44 PM

Yowsa. Didn't think about it before. Am still trying to find independent coroboration though

It's got a big mother of a battery - 1500 mAh. I've heard excellent things about the battery life on it, so I think the numbers are accurate.

kagayaki1

07-25-2002, 05:14 PM

I believe Tekguru did some light battery tests of the XDA. Nothing formal; just day to day use (which is what we want to hear about anyways, right?)

www.tekguru.co.uk In the PPC reviews section.

Mike Temporale

07-25-2002, 05:45 PM

Hi folks:

I just ordered mine, and was told that I should have it within 7 days.

Awesome !!!

Keep us posted on how this thing works. I'm wondering if it might 'wake up on ring'. That would be cool.

My current cell plan ends in 4 months... I would love to replace my cell phone with this puppy! :D

johncruise

07-25-2002, 07:17 PM

Questions... I have a cingular wireless phone (Nokia 3390). Most of this questions are GSM related:

- Can I just grab the SIM card and plug it to that thing and works like a phone?
- Will I be able to connect to my dial up account (Fry's) or do I have to subscribe to a data service?
- Does it support multiple bands? Say I went to another country and I bought a pre-paid SIM card, will it also work?

TIA.

JMountford

07-25-2002, 07:40 PM

Mike Donatello Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 9:02 am Post subject: Re: GPS?GPRS Compact Flash

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JMountford wrote:
This looks cool as all heck. You GPS/GPRS users get all the luck. Where in Hadies is my CDMA Compact Flash Card. I tell you I get sick of being a CDMA customer at times like this. Maybe come December at the end of my two year contract I will have to switch to Voicestream. Who knows?

No doubt! I have 10 months left on my Sprint contract and have given up on them ever offering a Bluetooth phone. The only hassle of switching is losing the number I've had since '96...

No doubt! Switching carriers and losing a number I have had forever is a big detracter for me. Plus I would hate to have to pay a deposite if I switched to someone else.
docangle Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 9:33 am Post subject: Sprint PCS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It looks as though it will support Sprint as the Specs say PCS 1900, am I wrong to assume this?

Yes you are wrong. This would not be CDMA 1900 but GSM. (European Standard I beleive).
johncruise Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 12:17 pm Post subject: Will it work on Cingular wireless network?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Questions... I have a cingular wireless phone (Nokia 3390). Most of this questions are GSM related:

- Can I just grab the SIM card and plug it to that thing and works like a phone?
- Will I be able to connect to my dial up account (Fry's) or do I have to subscribe to a data service?
- Does it support multiple bands? Say I went to another country and I bought a pre-paid SIM card, will it also work?

TIA.

Unless Someone changed standards and I am not aware of it,... yes just pop your SIM card into the CF GSM phone Thing and there ya go.
As for connecting to your dial up account. Talk to your carrier but the specs of the CF Phone show that is supports both Packet and Circuit Switched data. SO you could theoretically get your 14.4 connection over wireless or your even faster GPRS connection. Thing is you need to ask your carrier if you have to have an extra service for 14.4 connections or if they are included.
As for the multiple bands. THe darn thing is Tri-Band and supports EGSM or European GSM standards so you should be good to go on that front too.

Well I hope I answered everyone's questions.

I do Parties too.

07-25-2002, 07:41 PM

- Can I just grab the SIM card and plug it to that thing and works like a phone? I believe you can.

- Will I be able to connect to my dial up account (Fry's) or do I have to subscribe to a data service? No, you need the data service.
- Does it support multiple bands? Say I went to another country and I bought a pre-paid SIM card, will it also work? It is a multi-band device.

orinoco

07-25-2002, 09:28 PM

I'll be more than happy to post a review (within the realm of my limited expertise) as soon as I receive the item and fool around with it a bit.

Anyone else taking the plunge ? I've been waiting for this to happen for months, and I thought I would need to wait till Q4 to see the CF Card from Pretec.

And then Audiovox came out of nowhere !!!!

Stay tuned,

Fernando

veroi

07-25-2002, 11:53 PM

1..- If I have an audiovox maestro PDA do I need a special adaptor , if YES where can I purchase.

2.- AAT Customer service is telling me I cannot buy the SIM Card, that I need to have a registered phone????

Any help

John Hung

07-26-2002, 01:15 AM

For that price, I'd rather get an Aircard 555. Same price and uses CDMA2000 1xRTT, which is faster than GPRS and allows me to stay with Verizon. Since I am here within US for the most part, I have no desire to switch to At&T, Voicestream, or Cingular. All three had more spotty services than Verizon in my opinion, and they still have a ways to go switching from TDMA to GSM or actually build the network.

orinoco

07-26-2002, 01:51 AM

You are right in the sense that CDMA service (Verizon) is generally more available and the 1XRTT network is faster (at least in theory) than GPRS. Where I live (Miami), GSM (Voicestream) is great but I have read that it is not the same in other places.

Now, remember that what is good about this card is its form factor. The 555 is a PC Card and therefore requires a PC sleeve which is very bulky (ipaq Jornada). The CF I form factor allows its direct input into the CF slots of pretty much all pocket pcs out there. You keep it light and thin, and that is a consideration.

Now, to respond to the SIM card issue. You ARE able to just put in your SIM card. I have tested my iPAQ GSM/GPRS sleeve and a Treo 270 with SIM cards from VS and ATT. It is just a matter of inserting the SIM card and presto !!!

I hope this helps,

Fernando

Rob Alexander

07-26-2002, 02:55 AM

Ah well .. different strokes, etc.... a phone/PDA/wireless headset combo may seem unnecessarily complicated to some, but it works for me and I like it. I would rather have a flexible, versatile setup than be tied down to an all-in-one solution.

Vic, I'm totally with you. This is clever technology and it might be fun to play with it for a few hours, but your setup (at least if running at GPRS speeds) makes a lot more sense to me. I'm still stuck with IR to use my mobile as a modem for my PPC, but GPRS is hugely expensive here so I'm not going to invest in a bluetooth solution until I can afford the calls themselves. But even when I move onto GPRS, I still can't see going with something like this.

wangsanegara

07-26-2002, 05:35 AM

it seems that this device does not have Vibrate mode....anybody can conform this?

A.W

eosd30

07-26-2002, 05:46 AM

Vic, I'm totally with you. This is clever technology and it might be fun to play with it for a few hours, but your setup (at least if running at GPRS speeds) makes a lot more sense to me. I'm still stuck with IR to use my mobile as a modem for my PPC, but GPRS is hugely expensive here so I'm not going to invest in a bluetooth solution until I can afford the calls themselves. But even when I move onto GPRS, I still can't see going with something like this.

Thanks, Rob, am glad you agree.

Here in the Philippines, we're fortunate enough to still be enjoying unlimited and FREE GPRS access courtesy of our two major GSM providers. They soft-launched the service several months ago, and subscribers in the know were allowed to sign up (sort of a beta test) and presumably now that they've worked the kinks out they are rumored to be coming out with a definite pricing plan within the next month or so.

Til then, it's absolutely cost-free and speed is reasonably decent for email, chat, and light surfing. Yeah, I'm in a Third World country, but hey, I've got free GPRS! hehehe.

Vic

slalvani

07-26-2002, 07:53 AM

It depends on your ideal for wireless.

I need a wireless device for mail, SMS and surfing. I currently travel with a Journada 568, PC card sleeve and a Nokia GSM card. It is big, heavy, ugly, but serves a great purpose.

If I can drop all the bulk and just put in a CF GPRS card, that will rock.

For those of us who need this kind of data only solution, and who are happy to carry a phone for voice communication, this is THE add on to have. It is an alternative to wifi when you are not near a hotspot.

Now I need to get a Loox, shift my memory storage to SD and I am permanantly connected.

An interesting point to note is if it will work with PPC Phone Edition. This should enable the speakerphoen feature to work at least.

ORINOCO - I eagerly await your review.

Cheers,

Sunil

Jonathon Watkins

07-26-2002, 12:10 PM

it seems that this device does not have Vibrate mode....anybody can conform this?
Come on Wangsanegara - how can a tiny CF device fit in a decent gyroscope/vibrator :wink: to get the whole of your PPC to wobble? I'm impressed that they managed to fit everything into the CF form factor - let alone asking vibrate off it. Don't want much do you? :wink:

Wake up on ring would be great - let us know orinoco etc. if you find out - as well as the info mic & speaker in PPC phone edition!

Nice going EosD30! lucky you! :D

Rob Alexander

07-26-2002, 01:11 PM

Here in the Philippines, we're fortunate enough to still be enjoying unlimited and FREE GPRS access courtesy of our two major GSM providers. They soft-launched the service several months ago, and subscribers in the know were allowed to sign up (sort of a beta test) and presumably now that they've worked the kinks out they are rumored to be coming out with a definite pricing plan within the next month or so.

I am seriously jealous! I guess they also figure that, once they get you hooked, you won't be as likely to go back to 9600 even if you do have to pay for it. Hopefully, they won't totally screw you when they do set up a pricing system. Enjoy it while it's free, dude!

Mike Temporale

07-26-2002, 03:04 PM

2.- AAT Customer service is telling me I cannot buy the SIM Card, that I need to have a registered phone????

Any help

Most providers will 'require' that you get a phone and won't just give you the sim card. HOWEVER, most providers (including Rogers and Fido here in Canada) are offering phones for $0. Including your sim card.

So, once my current phone contract runs out in the end of November, I plan on signing up with one of these guys, taking the free phone and putting the sim card directly into my CF GPRS phone! -- If the reviews of this thing are any good, of course.

mitchellgunn

09-15-2002, 09:20 PM

Can anyone tell me which type of processor you need for this card to work. I have a Cassiopeia E125 with a MIPS processor. Pretec offer a similar card but that only works on the ARM type processor.

Thanks in advance

Jason Dunn

09-15-2002, 10:40 PM

Unfortunately, when the Pocket PC 2002 came out it was ARM only, so you're seeing the natural evolution - older devices with older processors simply aren't supported any longer. The best you can do is email them to say that you'd buy their product if it supported a MIPS processor - perhaps if there are 100's of people out there like yourself, they'll create the driver.

mitchellgunn

09-30-2002, 02:50 PM

Well the good news is this card does work on an old fashioned mips processor. Its working lovely on my E125.

perfyct

10-03-2002, 08:58 PM

Has anyone in the US proved that this card will work with VoiceStream? I don't want to lay down $300 to find that it isn't supported.

Holmgaard

12-18-2002, 09:41 AM

It all sounds very nice and therefor I bought a card for my new FS Pocket LOOX. This PDA has a type II slot for the card but Audiovox insisted that the card would fit anyway.
It did fit in the slot but was app. 5-6 mm too long.

Then trying to activate the card caused som problems and only after 3 MONTHS :!: including a long dialog with Audiovox, a firmware upgrade and a software upgrade the card could be activated.

One should think that this was then the end of the story. but when the dialer is active you have to suspend your battery settings in order to not make the phone close the connection. In other words you have to have your PDA on all the time, and that causes unintended "clicks" on the screen as well as ONLY 6 HOURS STANDBY TIME even without any calls at all.

Think twice before buying this card!!!! :evil: