Verizon Branded PPC Shows up On eBay!

[Jon Westfall]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000400040189/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000400040189/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Still don’t have a firm release date for Samsung’s new i730 Pocket PC Phone nailed down yet, but some guy on eBay claims to be selling what looks like a Verizon-branded version of the phone (you have to look closely, but the logo is definitely there)."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/westfall-20050415-i730.jpg" /><br /><br />eBay really does have everything! While you'll always find people on eBay that aren't on the up and up, this guy appears to be possibly legit. Perhaps this PPC will soon be available to you Verizon customers out there!

[sysmgr2]

I found his copy to be kind of ambiguous... Does he have it, or doesn't he?
"Of course, we'll have to reserve our final judgment until we actually get the mobile in for testing, but it has plenty of promise. The i730 will be available in Q1 2005; however, pricing and carrier were not determined at press time." Sounds like a cut-and-paste job, but who knows?

BTW, he hasn't responded to the email I sent him a couple of days ago...

Bottom line? I wouldn't be holding my breath...

Regards

[jpjehu]

I sent him a question, too. Post again if you hear anything - thanks.

[DaleReeck]

Oh oh. One of those folding styli. Yuk.

[sysmgr2]

While I agree that a telescoping stylus is "sub-optimal", it is also amazing how quickly I adapted to both that, and the bottom silo position on the i700... I'm really quite used to both.

MCK

[Janak Parekh]

While I agree that a telescoping stylus is "sub-optimal", it is also amazing how quickly I adapted to both that, and the bottom silo position on the i700... I'm really quite used to both.
The problems with the i700's telescoping stylus, though, are that the head was sometimes too easy to unscrew and the clip loosened, making the stylus fall out too easily. I hope they fixed both on the i730 (in fact, I hope it's on the top this time?) -- the actual telescoping bit is certainly manageable.

--janak

[sysmgr2]

Good points (as always Janak&lt;g>) From the photo, it appears there's both good and bad news then...

Bad news: The stylus appears the same.

Good news: If that clip-in carrier is really for the i730, please notice that there isn't a hole for the stylus on the bottom "wings". If that's the case, then the stylus silo is on the top.

Regards

[q-live]

i dont see that particular pic but i do see this auction going on now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&amp;category=64355&amp;item=5767535106&amp;rd=1&amp;ssPageName=WDVW


Do yall think its real????? also when is verizon releasing theirs??? its suppose to be this week when it was to be released so we will see.

[mhynek]

I agree with sysmgr2, about the ambiguity. This line in particular caught my eye:

THIS PHONE WAS IN HIGH DEMAND IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE OBTAINED BY ME!

It sounds like, if he gets enough capital from selling it on ebay, he will be able to pay the wholesale price (for the product), put a little in his pocket, and then ship the product to the buyer. If this is the case, I suspect delays in shipping. Of course this is all speculation to which there is no substantiation. Just my hypothesis from the ebay sales text. Good luck to all bidders.

[MitchellO]

Yeah, it could be a preorder, like many did on eBay with the PSP before its launch. At least they said "we have it reserved for pickup on the launch day!!" or whatever, this auction seems to be for the same thing without saying it.

[kaps]

Is this phone going to be released Before the next CES or is it just going to be dev'ed to death?

Sorry but I'm getting a little weary of a hit at CES taking almost five months, or more, to get to market!

Karl