Samsung i730 Inching Closer To Release

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.vzwshop.com/samsungi730info/' target='_blank'>http://www.vzwshop.com/samsungi730info/</a><br /><br /></div>Verizon's just put up a page on the i730, saying that it's "coming soon" and allowing people to register their email address to be notified when it hits the market.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20050524-Verizoni730.jpg" /><br /><br />A feature list is also up. The bad news: Bluetooth profiles are limited (in particular, OBEX; no mention of DUN as being supported or limited), and no mention of Wi-Fi. :| I'm still hoping that DUN and Wi-Fi appear on release (after all, the list doesn't mention 1xEV-DO either, and the linked engadget article has some interesting posts suggesting Wi-Fi), but I wouldn't be surprised either way.

[Jerry Raia]

Unfortunate, knowing Verizon I'm sure they striped everything out of Bluetooth except the headset profile.

[that_kid]

Well I heard....that verizon will also be launching another harrier but with a keyboard that's landscape and it includes wifi. Kind of sounds like the universal doesn't it.......

[Jason Dunn]

AFAIK, this model will not have WiFi - I was showing it at CES and I think Verizon is relying on the speed of EVDO to be a replacement for WiFi...which isn't really all that unrealistic if you have a flat-rate package for data.

[Len Egan]

AFAIK, this model will not have WiFi - I was showing it at CES and I think Verizon is relying on the speed of EVDO to be a replacement for WiFi...which isn't really all that unrealistic if you have a flat-rate package for data.

I use the audiovox xv6601 on their EVDO network. It is really wonderful, and, yes, has made me forget about wifi. No more hotspot searches. No more connection hunting. And it is fast. It is a bit pricey at $44.95 if you have a calling plan of over $39.99. It will come down or universal use won't happen. Heck calling plans themselves were outrageous only 10 years ago!

[Kursplat]

I understand WiFi won't be as necessary for surfing the web, email, etc. because of EVDO.

However, what about using it with your home network to communicate with your other networked devices? It seems a shame and more complicated then necessary to use VPN over EVDO just to use your PDA as a remote control for your Media PC, etc.

This device should work with Bluetooth GPS, right? Please? :)

[packetstorm]

I am just amazed at how they continue to nutur the devices we have all waited for, for years now. Finally, a device is created by a manufacturer with everything that we want and what does Verizon do? They cripple BT again and remove WiFi. A 2.4 and a 11 meg per second are not equal. There will be numerous times I may not want to have data traversing Verizon's network, specifically when I am at home and I am looking at my WiFi router. Market to businesses, sure I'll by that, but people do tend to go FREAKING home.

I guess this leads me to another rant, finally we get Wifi widespread to the masses and what does Microsoft do, kill Wifi sync in Windows Mobile 5.

I just don't get it...

[DaleReeck]

EVDO does not replace WiFi. One, WiFi doesn't cost me $60 a month to use at home. Since I'm already paying for internet access at home and it's free at work (at least for us employees), that's $60 extra going into yet another phone service. Second, most places do not even have EVDO yet and won't get it for a while. Third, while EVDO is fast, its still not nearly as fast as WiFi.

[Darius Wey]

Here's hoping that Wi-Fi will be available on the i730: http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,40354&amp;/the_samsung_i730_has_wi-fi_(maybe)!.htm

[DaleReeck]

Here's hoping that Wi-Fi will be available on the i730: http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,40354&amp;/the_samsung_i730_has_wi-fi_(maybe)!.htm

Unfortunately (and is usually the case with most of this stuff), we won't know for sure until someone walks into a store (or has one dropped off by FedEx from the web store) and sees for themselves. I love my Loox 720/Verizon V710 combo, but if the i730 has WiFi, then its a whole new ballgame. But then there's the V710 replacement coming, the E815. What to do, what to do... :D

[whydidnt]

Well, if they truly have disabled WiFi (as expected) they seem to forget that their EVDO coverage only covers a small percentage of the country. What about the rest of us? Between that and the expected lack of BT DUN support this is joins a long line of Verizon crippled phones that continue to drive away my business.

Can someone explain this to me? They kill WiFi because they want you to pay for their "Broadband Access". Okay I get that - even if I disagree - but then they go and kill the BT DUN because they don't want you to use "too much" of their bandwidth. It seems they want you to pay for EVDO, but not actually use it. Great business plan. If there's one thing that raises my blood pressure it's the total lack of regard for customer's wants and needs that the US wireless providers seem to have. :evil:

[Darius Wey]

Unfortunately (and is usually the case with most of this stuff), we won't know for sure until someone walks into a store (or has one dropped off by FedEx from the web store) and sees for themselves. I love my Loox 720/Verizon V710 combo, but if the i730 has WiFi, then its a whole new ballgame. But then there's the V710 replacement coming, the E815. What to do, what to do... :D

Well actually, my initial impression was that it may indeed lack Wi-Fi. The poor grammar in the UI hints at that point. Don't lose hope however. And if you want to look at replacements, don't forget the i750 either (whenever that hits the shores). :P

[ikesler]

In all honesty....... this device doesn't seem interesting to me since I already have a 6601. I used it at CES and didn't like it that much and I hate the nub antenna......... without wifi there is no need to switch to it for me.......... :?

[Jerry Raia]

If there was a prize for the most mediocre device selection Verizon would win it hands down.

[that_kid]

Acording to the Verizon Data Specialist I know who actually has this unit, there is no wifi. Wifi will be in the model with the landscape keyboard., still here's hoping but I'm very happy with my 6600's. When I need to access somthing on my network I just vpn into it which seems strange since I'm already there but oh well it works.

[AZMark]

I've got one in my hands at present and it does have WI-Fi. Now the trick would be how to find the mac address. Anyone have any hints on this one?

[Janak Parekh]

I've got one in my hands at present and it does have WI-Fi. Now the trick would be how to find the mac address. Anyone have any hints on this one?
A tool like vxUtil (www.cam.com) should do the trick.

--janak

[AZMark]

I've got one in my hands at present and it does have WI-Fi. Now the trick would be how to find the mac address. Anyone have any hints on this one?
A tool like vxUtil (www.cam.com) should do the trick.

--janak

Janek, Very cool utillity, nice to know about it. I'm sure you can get the mac address there, but I sure can't find it. Info screen gives you full ipconfig type info but no mac address.

Thanks
Mark

[Janak Parekh]

Huh, I could have sworn it was there. Make sure to try vxIPConfig as well. Both of them are free and worth keeping in any case.

--janak

[AZMark]

Huh, I could have sworn it was there. Make sure to try vxIPConfig as well. Both of them are free and worth keeping in any case.

--janak

that one worked much better, thanks!!!