Some help from the group

[Guest ingrambw]

I am a Verizon i600 user and am limited by its locked status. I can't install some apps I want and will likely not be able to take advantag of the "due to be out" wifi drivers.

As a result I am planning to migrate to the Cingular/At&t wireless GSM/GPRS network. I can get the Audiovox branded SMT 5600 (C500, SP3) from them, but it is not a completely unlocked phone, which may take me back to the same problem I have with the Verizon i600. I can but the i-mate SP3i from Mobile Planet and try to use it on the Cingular network, but I have heard so many bad things about the joystick and soft key problem that I think that is out of the question. I also heard from an ATT Wireless rep that some unlocked phones don't always work right with the data network they have. Can anyone confirm or reject this?

So basicly I would like to ask if anyone knows of a good place to buy an unlocked GSM/GPRS phone?

The specs on the SMT 5600 say it has Media player 10, but I think the I-mate sp3 version does not, is that true?

Has anyone had any issues with using the GPRS Data service from Cingular or At&t on their unlocked phone?

Thanks,

Brian

[Guest chucky.egg]

I also heard from an ATT Wireless rep that some unlocked phones don't always work right with the data network they have.  Can anyone confirm or reject this?

I can't think of any reason why that would be the case, it's more likely to be them saying that so that you don't buy your phone somewhere else (you still pay for phones in the US, don't you?)

So basicly I would like to ask if anyone knows of a good place to buy an unlocked GSM/GPRS phone?

Your best bet is a trawl of Google. Expansys have a US shop, but I always thought they were more expensive than other outlets.

The specs on the SMT 5600 say it has Media player 10, but I think the I-mate sp3 version does not, is that true?

TBH i don't know which models have which WMP version. I know the C500 has WMP9 cos I have one. I would say use BetaPlayer anyway, unless you have Media Center i can't see any benefit in WMP10 over WMP9 or BetaPlayer

[Guest markgamber]

I've had excellent luck buying unlocked phones off of ebay. All it takes is a little common sense and you'll have no problem. If nothing else, it's not uncommon for people to post a link to an auction here and ask if it looks legit. My most recent purchase from ebay was an all but new E200 for $190, including shipping from the UK. Hard to beat that. It doesn't have WMP10, of course, but from what I've read about WMP10 compared to WMP9, I couldn't care less. I agree with the above...BetaPlayer is probably superior. That was a used phone but there are brand spanking new phones listed there as well.

And yes, rest assured that we still pay for phones in the US if we want a phone worth using. You get what you pay for. ;-)

[Guest chucky.egg]

And yes, rest assured that we still pay for phones in the US if we want a phone worth using. You get what you pay for.  ;-)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What does that say about my free C500 then? :D

Mind you, I'd swap a free handset for the "all you can eat" GPRS for $25!

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

Forget the GPRS I'd just swap a handset for "all you can eat" :D

[Guest markgamber]

What does that say about my free C500 then?  :D

Mind you, I'd swap a free handset for the "all you can eat" GPRS for $25!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ah, but it was about paying for phones in the US and you're not in the US so it doesn't count. Hell, if I could have gotten a C500 through T-Mobile for free, you bet I'd have a free phone. But I do agree, I'll take the one time hit of buying a nice phone in exchange for unlimited GPRS, especially since I can do everything I need to do using the $5/mo t-zones. t-zones covers WAP and T-Mobile's port 8080 proxy covers HTML. MSN Messenger doesn't work but I bought imov Messenger some time ago and it supports a SOCKS proxy. I run a proxy server on my fixed IP box, set it to port 25 and it works. :-) With everything I read about how the US is supposed to be so backwards in this regard, I do find it hard to believe the situation isn't reversed.

BTW, the E200 arrived yesterday. Shipping from the UK to the US was $30 and took a week, including customs...not bad! If you happened to catch my rant about the mitac 8390, as much as I hate that miserable excuse of a phone, I like this one. :-) Another 20 GBP spent on unlocking (via imei-check, I didn't want to screw with non-permanent rom patches) and it was working perfectly with t-mobile. As ya'll say over there, Brilliant!

Edited March 8, 2005 by markgamber