One Big, Happy Family Plan?

[Raphael Salgado]

Now that I've pretty much settled down to one device, it's nice that the family (of phones) can get together for a group photo. Like most families, it takes a lot of effort to make sure everyone gets along, everyone's happy with who they are, and most importantly, that everyone's within reach or always in touch.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/salgado-20060605-vzw_family.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 1. Our first family phone photo.</i><br /><br />Now that Verizon Wireless has happily locked all three of us into a two-year contract, the slim and sexy Q Smartphone has come out, yet I remain faithful and unphased. Sure, it's hot and has got its killer looks, but how good can it be if I can "look but can't touch?" (;) Yes, I'm referring to the QVGA screen.) Of course, the Hermes isn't too far away and so is Cingular's 3G nationwide rollout, but I still don't think it would be worth it to break up the family for it. Of course, I've never actually experienced a Hermes in my hands, nor Cingular's 3G speeds firsthand either.<br /><br />For all those happy with their Windows Mobile devices, what's the "one thing" that would make you dump what you have and take the plunge to the next device? Or does it need more than "one thing" to do it? For those not in the "Phone Edition" world yet, what are you waiting for (if anything)?

[Jon Westfall]

As far as I can tell, I'd probably need one of the following to be available for Windows Mobile to "drop" it:

1. Self-Renewing Power Source (No battery charging)
2. Immediate connections with 100% No-Dropped-Call Rate
3. On-Site Service Contract, including reception issues ("Yea, I think a new tower right over there would be good, hop to it!")
4. Large cash incentive (i.e. Palm decides they want me to be a paid endorser - I could be bought for a number with enough commas in it ;) )
5. Windows Mobile brand acquired by Nokia, instantly changing upcoming features from "fast data connection" to "fast faceplace swapping".

As you can see, I'm pretty committed. Mostly because the fear of losing the software I've grown to love and the OS I know so well. That, and all other phones really seem 'dumb' to me :)

[hx2210]

I am very happy with my normal Pocket PC (HP iPAQ hx2110) and only recently getting frustrated having a Pocket PC in one pocket and a mobile phone in the other. Espeacialy when I need to get my iPAQ out as well because the number I want to call isn't in my phone.

So I was waiting for a Phone Edition device that had WM5, a screen that is as big as my iPAQ hx2110 and preferably HP. But now the HP iPAQ rw6828 is comming out I am looking at getting that.

[stevenator65]

What would make me dump my x50v? I would need a phone with a similarly large, vga screen, b/c once you go vga you can't go back.

The company I work for uses Nextel, and none of those phones seems to have any features that make me want to switch. Personally I think the walkie talkie feature is overrated. It's less expensive to call someone on other plans than it is to pay for the plan to use the walkie talkie feature.

[pacer1079]

hi all. this is my first post, though I've been reading the site for years.

For me, only two features would pull me from my XV6700 or my vzw plan:
-Cingular reception improving considerably in my area (doubtful)
or
vzw launching a 640x480 device (also doubtful).

I suspect I'll make good on my two year commitment before any of this comes to be. S'ok though- I love my xv6700

[burtcom]

Verizon is now established in my area, and is offering s discount to State workers, so I'll probably soon retire my rx3115 and get a 6700.

Looking forward to having a converged device :D

[alizhan]

For those not in the "Phone Edition" world yet, what are you waiting for (if anything)?

Verizon offering a PE device without an integrated camera, and without cramming a $45/month data plan that I'll never use down my throat. The camera is disallowed at work (what's the point of having a phone if you can't keep it with you?); the data plan won't work in my home town (I don't live in a major urban center--so I guess I don't count). :evil:

As such, instead of getting a $400 PE device, I'll be getting the cheapest "it's just a phone, dagnabbit" phone I can find.

[Bacco]

I don't think I'll leave Cingular (Blue actually)...but I can't wait to leave EDGE behind. I'd also love a VGA screen device, but not for the current sized devices that are out there.

I'm very happy with my Wizard...longest phone I've keep in many years.

[Janak Parekh]

Sure, it's hot and has got its killer looks, but how good can it be if I can "look but can't touch?" (;) Yes, I'm referring to the QVGA screen.)
Actually, from what I've heard, it's pretty useable for standard productivity tasks. :) Still, I'm happy with the 700w, and don't intend to change anytime soon.

--janak

[Don't Panic!]

The iMate JasJar's screen and keyboard setup using the hardware and software from the Gigabyte g-smart i (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=405006&amp;sid=2888328e413ee7bd7e04c996b0913f94) would make me switch in a heart beat. I'm getting close to the end of my verizon contract and if cingular really rolls out 3G well I'd have to try that.

[whydidnt]

Verizon offering a PE device without an integrated camera, and without cramming a $45/month data plan that I'll never use down my throat. The camera is disallowed at work (what's the point of having a phone if you can't keep it with you?); the data plan won't work in my home town (I don't live in a major urban center--so I guess I don't count). :evil:


Well, the Samsung i730/i830 doesn't have a camera. You have to sign up for data, but it doesn't have to be the all you can eat $45.00/month variety. I believe you can sign up for a pay as you use data plan as well -- at least others over at PDAphonehome.com indicate this to be true.

Also Cingular offers a cameraless version of the wizard, the 8100, that may meet your needs, but I don't know what their policies are towards data on the device. I know in rurual Minnesota I can often connect to their EDGE network with my 2125 in places the i730 refuses to connect to any data network.

[TTown]

I have the Samsung i730 now with WM5. I was just asking myself this very question just this last weekend.

At this point there is nothing on the market that I would rather have. It would take a vga screen to get me to fork out $. If another carrier (most likely sprint) came out with this phone with their cheaper data plans and my family and friends moved from Verizon to Sprint I would change; if they gave me the phone for free. The "In calling" marketing strategy is pretty smart. Funny thing is I left Sprint for Verizon when the I700 came out.

[alizhan]

Well, the Samsung i730/i830 doesn't have a camera.
Thanks. I know that the i730 doesn't have the camera, and in general looks pretty sweet--but the keyboard on the XV6700 is so much nicer. My intent was to complain about the general paucity of camera-less phones, and how that forces me to go with the i730 and its cramped keyboard, but I apparently got lost on the way to making that point. :oops:

You have to sign up for data, but it doesn't have to be the all you can eat $45.00/month variety.
Every time I talk to Verizon about PE devices, I get a different story. The most recent thing I heard (this past weekend, when I was drooling over--er, considering the XV6700 and i730) was that Verizon discontinued the pay-as-you-go plan because people kept accidentally racking up $1000+ bills. They claim that the home page pings the Internet every 30 seconds, which just kills you unless you've got unlimited data. And, of course, you supposedly can't turn this "feature" off. While it might be interesting to see how this would interact with the lack of data services in my home town, I'm not sure I want to be the trail-blazer here...

Also Cingular offers a cameraless version of the wizard, the 8100, that may meet your needs
True, but Cingular is downright pathetic in my area (SW New Mexico). If you live outside the main I-25 corridor, Verizon has the best coverage by far. Sketchy quality, but coverage. :roll:

[Vincent M Ferrari]

One word: VGA.

Seriously. I do more web browsing, reading, RSS, SMS'ing and such than I do talking by such a large margin it's not even funny. Using the screen on the MDA, despite how much I loved it, was not quite the same as reading messages on my Axim X51v. It just isn't.

I know, we're talking about a near impossibility for the near future.

That's fine. I have time. My SDA / X51v combo works perfectly for now.

[netboy]

it seems like EVERYBODY want a pocketpcPhone with EVDO or UMTS and ***VGA*** screen, including me! it' so much easier and nicer to surf internet on VGA screen! The excuess about VGA screen too expensive and kills battery life is just BULL$@%@!

We just dont care!! Just give us a pocketpcPhone with VGA and evdo or umts, and we will buy it!!

[yvilla]

I bought myself a Universal (Qtek 9000) for Christmas, but have returned to using my Toshiba e800 (and carrying a regular cell phone). I just can't get adjusted to the smaller screen (even though it is also VGA)!

[Don't Panic!]

I bet there are HX4700 users who feel the same way (4-inch screens are hard to get over when you've used them for awhile).

But really folks I think we, the proud to carry a big screen pdaphone people, are a really, really niche market. The producer of such a device would be lucky to sell 1000 of them. Although that "trick brick" the DualCor cPC (http://www.dualcor.com/) could have been a contender if they had left the radios inside. You'd just snug your SIM card inside and cruise. Of course now that it's been neutered I don't know if anyone elese will step up to the plate.

[SteveHoward999]

But really folks I think we, the proud to carry a big screen pdaphone people, are a really, really niche market. The producer of such a device would be lucky to sell 1000 of them.

You know if the regular straw polls here have any weight at all, I think the market for VGA phones would be far larger than the manufacturer's marketing bleeps would have us believe. We may often be 'power' users by simple fact that we are here at PocketPC Thoughts, but that does not make our desire for large VGA screens irrelevent in the wider market. What we want today, the plebs will want tomorrow ...

[isajoo]

weird how everyone wants VGA devices... i have not used one before...is it really that much better than qvga? i will probably get a few bad responses, but i have a qvga pocketpc and love web browsing on it.

[bnycastro]

I just jumped from my dopod 838 [HTC Wizard WIZA100] to an O2 XDA Exec [HTC Universal] last week. 3 major reasons:

1) The 838 is QuadBand and has EDGE no local telco in the Philippines has EDGE or have any plans to introduce EDGE. The 2 biggest SMART Wireless and Globe [my current provider] has just rolled out 3G.

2) The VGA screen

3) Faster Processor

--
Actually 3G/UMTS from Globe sucks like Bad Eggs... Coverage is so so so small, my work place and home are not covered as of yet. Haven't had a chance to fully test HSDPA even... So I guess I jumped a bit too early. I was thinking of moving to SMART but they are unsure if they can switch my number [Philippine telcos are not required by law to give you the same number when you switch] and I've been using the same number for 9 years so it would be a chore to update everyone again. I guess I wait for the telcos to catch up with the hardware I have. I am enjoying the VGA Screen very much :D

[Darren Behan]

The K-Jam with on-board GPS. Yeah, I know the Mitac Mio does this but it's battery life is not workable and for what I use my K-Jam for (which includes full length video) it's processor is fine. That, to me, would be the ultimate converged device.

db

[msafi]

What's the name of this holder that's holding the devices? Where can I get one?

[alese]

I really like my HTC Wizard and none of the new anounced devices looks like something I would like to upgrade to. So I guess I'll skip the next generatiion of devices.

What I want is small form factor, 3G (UMTS or even HSDPA), lots of ROM and possibly VGA. I know that VGA and small size don't mix, but I would not mind 3" VGA screen - even if it would only be sharper than QVGA.

[netboy]

But really folks I think we, the proud to carry a big screen pdaphone people, are a really, really niche market. The producer of such a device would be lucky to sell 1000 of them.

it doesnt have to bulky to be a VGA pdaphone. y cant some1 or Dell just slap a EVDO or umts phone function into the X50v or X51v??

[Raphael Salgado]

What's the name of this holder that's holding the devices? Where can I get one?

It's called Mr. Handsfree Family Charger. I bought it on TreoCentral.com (http://store.treocentral.com/content/accessories/5-100--351.htm) when I had my 700w. Luckily, it fits the XV6700 exactly, and it can be adjusted to fit smaller phones like the Migo, too.

[disconnected]

VGA, 3.5 to 4" screen, at least 64MB RAM (preferably more because Mapopolis is a hog), 2 card slots, and EVDO.
GPS and a camera would be nice, but not required.

I currently have an iPAQ 4700 and just got a new PowerVision Sprint phone with a phone-as-modem plan. I'd rather be converged, but only if I don't have to give up anything.

[Damion Chaplin]

None of the current devices on the market offer anything that would make me switch. The only thing that would make me switch is basically a fantasy phone:

Take my K-JAM, give it VGA, UMTS and GPS and make it the thickness of a RAZR. :D

Either that or a carrier starts offering free unlimited mobile data access. That just might make me switch carriers and devices altogether (though I would still opt for a Wizard-like device).

[Janak Parekh]

You know if the regular straw polls here have any weight at all, I think the market for VGA phones would be far larger than the manufacturer's marketing bleeps would have us believe.
I disagree. I carried a Universal with its 3.7" inch screen, and after trading down to the Treo, I wouldn't go back. The Universal was too large and bulky, and I'd often leave it out on the desk when I was at home. Of course YMMV.

Now, give me a Pocket PC with a 2.2" VGA screen, and we're getting somewhere.

What we want today, the plebs will want tomorrow ...
Nah. I had a Qualcomm pdQ -- the first PDA phone on the market -- and, to the best of my knowledge, I was the only one I knew that ever got one. :lol: There's a lot of things the average person doesn't want. Almost universally, I heard "too big!" when I used my pdQ -- or my Universal.

--janak

[netboy]

I disagree. I carried a Universal with its 3.7" inch screen, and after trading down to the Treo, I wouldn't go back. The Universal was too large and bulky, and I'd often leave it out on the desk when I was at home. Of course YMMV.



so does a laptop, it' big and bulky too! but people still buying it! slap a VGA screen to pocketpcPhone, and u will have a mini-laptop! the reason i didnt get the Universal is cus it got no EVDO or UMTS 850/1900 (for USA) support.

[Janak Parekh]

so does a laptop, it' big and bulky too! but people still buying it!
When you go out with friends, do you carry your laptop? ;) That may be true, but I find that the smaller-screen device does enough that I don't need the bigger-screened device. And, in fact, the 700w works much better as a phone; I can pull it out of my pocket, see who's calling, answer with one button, etc. The Universal has the relatively cumbersome screen flip if you want to see the caller, and worse, it doesn't have softkeys in the non-keyboard mode. :( It's also awkward to hold to the ear. Of course, the "correct" solution with the Universal is to use a BT headset and voice dial... but does caller ID work with BT and the Universal?

slap a VGA screen to pocketpcPhone, and u will have a mini-laptop!
I guess it also depends on what you do on your "laptop". The kinds of stuff I do on my Powerbook can't be replicated on the Universal.

the reason i didnt get the Universal is cus it got no EVDO or UMTS 850/1900 (for USA) support.
Yes, I agree that Universal adoption would increase if it had those. However, I think adoption would increase less than many people think. Very few people, even after seeing the Universal's screen, have told me "wow, I have to get that". It's more "wow, that's cool, but I wouldn't carry it as it's too big".

--janak

[bnycastro]

Personally I think I could go back to a smaller device [screen] as long as the other capabilities I am looking for are there.

For instance if the Wizard had a better processor I probably would not have switched to the Exec even if it did not have 3G/UMTS. I would also probably switch to the Treo 700w if it had WiFi and supported GSM/GPRS. For me it is... Processor -> Wireless [BT/WiFi/GSM+GPRS or 3G/UMTS] -> Keyboard -> Screen Size. Anyway if I knew I would not be content with the TI OMAP I would've skipped the device [HTC Wizard] completely, I am thankful for the 5 months I've owned the device though as I definitely enjoyed the convergence and the QWERTY keyboard. Now I know, more than ever, what I am looking for in a device. The HTC Hermes is looking better everyday... :wink:

[davea0511]

You know if the regular straw polls here have any weight at all, I think the market for VGA phones would be far larger than the manufacturer's marketing bleeps would have us believe.
I disagree. I carried a Universal with its 3.7" inch screen, and after trading down to the Treo, I wouldn't go back. The Universal was too large and bulky, and I'd often leave it out on the desk when I was at home. Of course YMMV.

Now, give me a Pocket PC with a 2.2" VGA screen, and we're getting somewhere.

What we want today, the plebs will want tomorrow ...
Nah. I had a Qualcomm pdQ -- the first PDA phone on the market -- and, to the best of my knowledge, I was the only one I knew that ever got one. :lol: There's a lot of things the average person doesn't want. Almost universally, I heard "too big!" when I used my pdQ -- or my Universal.

--janak

I keep hearing that the HTC Universal is too big because of it's big screen, and that's just not true. It's not the screen that's too big, it's the PDA that's too big. If the PDA was only just a few mm larger than the screen then a 4" screen would be perfect, but the HTC Universal has that hinge that makes the PDA much wider than the screen. It also has a large margin beyond the screen on the long ends of the device (nearly 1 inch on either end).

It's also thick - but that also is not a function of the screen. I'm just getting really tired of people slamming large screens instead of the device size. Would you want a 2.2" VGA screen if it was housed in a PDA the size of the Universal? Of course not, but clueless decision makers in manufacturing companies might take your comments very litterally and shrink the screen with no effort to make the width of the device any smaller. I know decision makers, and most of them aren't too bright. Something gets lost on their way up the ladder.

Incidentally, I have a Universal, and I love it.

[Janak Parekh]

I keep hearing that the HTC Universal is too big because of it's big screen, and that's just not true. It's not the screen that's too big, it's the PDA that's too big.
Well, there's a lot to cram in there. We've got VGA screen, WiFi, GSM/GPRS, UMTS, Bluetooth, keyboard, etc. All of that, especially the large, bright VGA screen, also requires power, so the Universal has a heavy and relatively large battery. There are a few 3.7" VGA Pocket PCs that are smaller, but with mixed battery life -- and one that would likely suffer significantly as soon as you integrate a phone module.

It's also thick - but that also is not a function of the screen. I'm just getting really tired of people slamming large screens instead of the device size.
Actually, I considered my 3.8" iPAQ 3650 and 3870 Pocket PCs to be a little large for comfort (especially the width, when wrapping your hand around the device), and especially now considering the smaller devices I've had the opportunity to carry. Part of the reason the 2215 was so incredibly successful was its smaller formfactor, made in part possible with a 3.5" smaller screen.

Would you want a 2.2" VGA screen if it was housed in a PDA the size of the Universal? Of course not, but clueless decision makers in manufacturing companies might take your comments very litterally and shrink the screen with no effort to make the width of the device any smaller.
I do think that's a stretch. Apart from the one F/S prototype with the huge borders around the screen, I don't know of a sub-3.7" device that has that kind of dimensions, and I don't anticipate one.

Incidentally, I have a Universal, and I love it.
Don't get me wrong -- I liked the Universal a lot. I still love the screen. In fact, my first perception of it was that the device was decently thin, and its use of a flip enabled not needing a leather case to provide screen protection, thereby limiting the thickness overhead.

Still, holding it in the hand becomes uncomfortable after a while. Of course, hand sizes vary, so YMMV. I still believe that the screen size is still a bit large for mainstream phone adoption. Out of curiosity, do you frequently hold the Universal to your ear? I know "BT headset" is the answer, but there are times I don't have it with me, and yet the Treo is just natural to put and use against the ear.

This doesn't mean devices like the Universal shouldn't exist -- in fact, I have no desire in slamming it, except for its idiotic lack of the 850 band and, to a lesser extent, EDGE. The point was more along the lines of mainstream adoption.

--janak

[ToddJ]

Does the Mr. Handsfree Family Charger have enough clearance underneath it for the charging wire without resting on top of it (when it is not wall mounted.)