T-Mobile Announces Pocket PC 2003 Upgrade To Be Available Soon

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.t-mobile.com/promos/ppc2003/default.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.t-mobile.com/promos/ppc2003/default.asp</a><br /><br /></div>T-Mobile has put up a page detailing their plan for releasing a Pocket PC 2003 upgrade. It's not available yet, but the page discusses some of the new and upcoming features. Interesting tidbits include: <li> Always On enables real-time, over-the-air access to new e-mail, calendar appointments, or contacts from MS Exchange 2003 Server<br /><li> View Microsoft PowerPoint and PDF files (looks like they've bundled a viewing program; I'm not sure which) <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20031028-TMobilePPC2003.jpg" /><br /><br />The rest look like standard WM2003 features, but overall it'll be a welcome upgrade. We'll keep you posted when we have more details.

[Duncan]

The XDA II bundles ClearVue PDF and PowerPoint viewers. It also has the always on feature. I would hazard a guess that the T-mobile upgrade shares the XDA II features.

[Yorch]

I have different "pre-release" versions of their WM2003, being the latest one 4.00.21 (and I think this is their final version), yeah, as Duncan said, ClearVue Presentation, and ClearVue PDF are included in the ROM, also, a Web service called Synchrologic, which I assume is to get access directly to calendar, email and contacts from work emails.

You can check out the ROM in my website:

http://www.yorch.net

[Cortex]

it does sounds good :D

but im not looking forward to a hard reset :?

[Cortex]

it does sounds good :D

but im not looking forward to a hard reset :?

[Paragon]

You can say that again. ;)

Dave

[pjdamoc]

Does anyone know if the "always on" feature will be like the RIM Blackberry where email gets pushed to the T-mo?

Thanks,
Paul

[Icebaron]

I hope this becomes a standard for all PPC phones. What I'd love to have is something around the form factor of the 2210, with built-in CF and SD, and always on GPRS. I use bluetooth to go online with my 2210 all the time, it would be really great if the 2210 could gimme a quick beep when I have a new message. Speaking of notification, anyone know whether it's common for PPC phones to have a vibrating ring type feature?

[Yorch]

Does anyone know if the "always on" feature will be like the RIM Blackberry where email gets pushed to the T-mo?

Thanks,
Paul

yeah, pretty much so, you set up your Exchange Server or even your POP server to check your email every X min. and at the moment you get an email it will pop a window with new email, pretty cool.

anyone know whether it's common for PPC phones to have a vibrating ring type feature?

yeah, Vibrate & ring, or Vibrate then ring.

[GaryK]

How is security handled with this always on connection? Does a vpn tunnel stay connected :?:

[Yorch]

How is security handled with this always on connection? Does a vpn tunnel stay connected :?:

yeap

[danmanmayer]

now i can put off buying the new O2 a little longer hopefully. That will be a good thing for my wallet.

[suhit]

Noooo!!! I just gave up my PPCPE a couple of weeks ago in favor of an iPaq 2215 (and an Ericsson T68). If I had only known about this upgrade... :mecry:

Suhit

[Duncan]

Ah but the XDA II is so much better, in so many ways, than the original XDA...!

[Yorch]

Noooo!!! I just gave up my PPCPE a couple of weeks ago in favor of an iPaq 2215 (and an Ericsson T68). If I had only known about this upgrade... :mecry:

Suhit

don't you read the xda-developers?????

Lots of cool things can be done with ROM and a thinking mind :wink:

[Yorch]

Ah but the XDA II is so much better, in so many ways, than the original XDA...!

very true, but the XDAII is too expensive right now,($850!) whereas you can get a XDA cheap for $250 nowadays

[Duncan]

Ah but the XDA II is so much better, in so many ways, than the original XDA...!

very true, but the XDAII is too expensive right now,($850!) whereas you can get a XDA cheap for $250 nowadays

My XDA II cost the equivalent of $500!! :) . With 128MB RAM, 14MB ROM storage, serial connector, SDIO, Bluetooth, nice case, replaceable battery, always on GPRS/phone module, working alarms etc. - I'd say it's worth the extra...! (far superior to my soon to be sold off 2210). :)

[Yorch]

My XDA II cost the equivalent of $500!!

w00t!!!!

WHERE!!???

HOW!!!???

[robcorn]

My XDA II cost the equivalent of $500!!


Gimme, gimme, I'll buy more than one at this price :wink:

[Duncan]

Before you get too excited - I'm translating from the UK price here!

[Yorch]

Before you get too excited - I'm translating from the UK price here!

Still, I'll ordered from overseas, I don't care.....

Wait, did you ordered via O2 with a contract, because if you did, then nevermind :roll:

[sems]

From which store in UK, I got several friends there :)

[Abba Zabba]

8O $500... really everywhere I've seen a price the minimum has been $800 (US converted) unless you get a contract with a carrier.

[lgingell]

pjdamoc,

Yes it supports push email. WM2003, when used with Exchange 2003 has a feature called "always up to date". When a message arrives at your email (Exchange) server, it sends an SMS to your PocketPC. This message is invisible, and intercepted by the PocketPC, which then automatically syncs ActiveSync, and thus receives the email.

- This ONLY works with Exchange 2003 / Windows Mobile 2003 on Pocket PC / Server ActiveSync.
- No, You can't do it with POP3 email accounts
- I DOES work.... I use it right now....have been for a little while now.

..lance

[k_kirk]

How lucky your all T-Mobile users out there... This is what we are getting from O2 in the rest of the world... Just pasting here to re-emphasize... Its amazing how one vendor gives it out free while the other claims technology challenges... It almost makes me want to buy my XDAII from T-Mobile when the time comes. They are all tri-band after all.


O2's position on Pocket PC 2003

O2 Asia will not be deploying the Pocket PC 2003 upgrade. The Pocket PC 2003 upgrade is subject to the original design of the hardware and the level of integration of the device, particularly between the phone and pda functions. The O2 xda was not designed to support Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and therefore could not take advantage of some of the most important feature upgrades inherent in Pocket PC 2003. After careful evaluation of the costs and benefits and the relatively low impact on the user experience of the current xda version, we have decided not to deploy this upgrade. We are however pleased to announce that we will be introducing significant new features with another upgrade which will include the wireless modem, SIM Toolkit support and the SMS caller ID fix.

[TheZodiac]

Unfortunately, Tmobile had to resort to this rather than offering the MDA/XDA2. Perhaps its a ploy to keep more customers rather than them switching with the NP coming in November - IF they dont offer the MDA2 I will be buying it overseas from Expansys or something. The hardware on the Orginal MDA is far to old. I want options. :)

[absynth]

Ok I'm sure its not that deep, but how would I use exchange 2003? I'm currently using office 2000. Would I just need to get office 2003? Or would I somehow have to have an actually exchange server?

Thanks
Caleb

[reydiodj]

I have different "pre-release" versions of their WM2003, being the latest one 4.00.21 (and I think this is their final version...

Hi all,

I'm currently in touch with a T-Mo rep in testing out a newer ROM and RS. I am patiently (actually anxiously) awaiting a test copy of:

ROM v4.00.39
RS 6.24.01

- as for any new additions on it I will not know until I see it (hopefully before the end of the week). He did however, hint that it very well may be the final release version announced, except that it lacks IMEI. In other words, the one coming out may be the same one I am about to test, but will include IMEI.

Personally, I've had issues with SD card erasures under v4.00.21, so when I heard that there was another version TMo was testing, of course I had to beg to try it!

[JoshB]

Unfortunately, Tmobile had to resort to this rather than offering the MDA/XDA2. Perhaps its a ploy to keep more customers rather than them switching with the NP coming in November - IF they dont offer the MDA2 I will be buying it overseas from Expansys or something. The hardware on the Orginal MDA is far to old. I want options. :)
There have been no solid, reliable indications that T-Mobile USA doesn't intend to sell the MDA II here in the U.S. The device was recently approved by the FCC in two versions - one with the O2-style faceplate, and one with the T-Mobile MDA II-style faceplace.

I believe that it's coming - it just hasn't made it here yet. The U.S. almost always gets cool cell phone technology after Western Europe.

This is just an upgrade for people with the original MDA device. I, too have been running an, erm, "pre-release" version of the T-Mobile WM2003 ROM, and it's fantastic. A great improvement over their PPC 2002 implementation. Always-on GPRS is a dream, and works exactly as expected. My device is always connected. I don't use the PDF and PPT viewers much, but it's nice to know that they're in ROM, and not taking up RAM. I'll definitely upgrade to the MDA II when it arrives in the U.S., but in the mean time, this WM2003 upgrade is a great improvement for the original MDA. And it's free! How can we complain about that? T-Mobile could easily have been like other PPC OEMs and charged for the upgrade, or been like Toshiba or O2 and not even offered it at all!

JoshB

[mknakata]

Do you know if T-mobile is coming out with software upgrades for their Novatel wireless Merlin G 100 GPRS card. I can't use it with my HP iPAQ 5555 which runs on Windows Mobile 2003