Non-HTC Windows Smartphone recommendation

[Guest Mikeydav]

Hi,

I own / have owned 5 Windows Smartphones in my time, 3 off C500s, a C600 (current phone) and an M500 (current but not used).

As you can guess from the title I have decided to buy another (if I can find one I like) and I am determined it won't be made by HTC. Reason ? Well, because of the appalling build quality which is acceptable (ish) if they are free on a contract but just plain aweful otherwise. Never again.

Anyway I am floundering because there seems to be so small a choice if you exclude HTC. I *really* need / want a phone which has only 20 keys (ie not a full qwerty kbd). I don't want a touchscreen (I don't particularly object if it does have one, but I am going to use the kbd exclusively even if it does). I *must* have line2 because I will turn old and grey without and line2 is my secret talisman against this, so...

If I could have everything then it would have a slideout or clamshell kbd because unwanted calls to the emergency services grew old after around the 20,000th time it happened and some of the staff send me texts because they get worried if they don't hear from me for a few weeks. (OK I made that up :-)

But the key (ahem) criterion is NOT MADE BY HTC. Sorry to shout but I have really had it with HTC.

A clamshell version of the C500 that was made by Nokia would be perfect but I know there isn't one... So, any ideas ?

Many thanks,

Mike

[Guest Mikeydav]

That's a "No" then, is it ?

Mike

[Guest conan_troutman]

toshiba protege g900

or HO ipaq 514

there the only other two I think would be possible contenders to HTC, for me personally maybe not for others

[Guest Monolithix]

I've been playing with a Samsung i620 recently and its a great device (review coming up!). Either that or wait out for the i640 which has a 2.4" screen over the i620s 2.2".

They're available from www.expansys.com (i620) or eventually Vodafone (i640)

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

i640 out NOW on Voda I think?

P

[Guest Mikeydav]

I've been playing with a Samsung i620 recently and its a great device (review coming up!). Either that or wait out for the i640 which has a 2.4" screen over the i620s 2.2".

They're available from www.expansys.com (i620) or eventually Vodafone (i640)

From your experience, can you tell me whether the i620 supports Line2 facility ? I _really_ need that. I'm not over-enamoured of the full qwerty keyboards on phones and I wish someone would bring out a slider / clamshell Smartphone with a decent kbd.

Mike

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

All Smartphones SHOULD as it's in the base OS, but of course you can't be sure until you try :(

P

[Guest Mikeydav]

All Smartphones SHOULD as it's in the base OS, but of course you can't be sure until you try :D

P

That's why I am asking :( I take it that it's not a facility you have actually used yourself then ?

Mike

[Guest Monolithix]

Sorry, it's gone back now so can't check! Like Paul says though, it should be a supported feature in all WM Standard/Smartphone devices...

[Guest Mikeydav]

toshiba protege g900

Well to save other people the trouble I've just been put through I will show what Toshiba tech support said about the G500 the _second_ time I contacted them. (The first time they said the exact opposite, but then that was before I ordered the phone - sigh) :

"Our engineering manager gave me the information below;

This is part of the Orange UK CPHS function.

ALS (Alternate Line Service) is not implemented on the G500.

It has never been implemented on any of our phones.

It is quite difficult to implement, and is only needed for <5% of the

customers on 1 network that we did not sell the phone to.

There is also no plan to implement this on our products as it's specific

to Orange and the G500/G900 will not appear in their portfolio."

So as a warning to anyone else who needs a Line2 phone obviously don't buy a Toshiba.

Cheers,

Mike

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

And there was me thinking it was a standard Smartphone OS function! Clearly not!

P

[Guest Mikeydav]

And there was me thinking it was a standard Smartphone OS function! Clearly not!

The functionality seems to be present in the OS because the menu to switch lines in "Settings/Phone/Call Options" is present but you get a "Cannot save settings..." error if you actually try it.

So a special plead to all reviewers to actually try using Line2 before sending the phone back :-)

Note also that there seems to be a generic part of all Smartphones Manuals which mentions the Line2 / ALS because the G500 manual I downloaded from "http://www.toshiba-europe.com/mobile/images/G500_UG_EN_V2.0_for%20web.pdf" mentions Line2 / ALS on pages 22 and 23 even though the phone does not support it.

Soi my questions stands :

What non-HTC Smartphones are there which definitely *do* support LIne2 ?

Many thanks,

Mike

Edited December 21, 2007 by Mikeydav

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

I would happily do so, but I don't have a Line 2 enabled SIM to test it!

P

[Guest Mikeydav]

I would happily do so, but I don't have a Line 2 enabled SIM to test it!

Well, all you need is a time travel machine, the requisite spondulicks and Oranges sales number :-)

Mike

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Oh, easy peasy then :D

I used to have Line 2, before Orange drove me away :(

P

[Guest Mikeydav]

toshiba protege g900

or HO ipaq 514

there the only other two I think would be possible contenders to HTC, for me personally maybe not for others

Well, unfortunately I seem to have lucked out here as well. I didn't get a reply directly from HP when I tried, but Expansys gave the answer below which seems to be pretty finally "no" as well :-(

Cheers,

Mike

> Hi,

>

> I am considering buying an HP iPaq 514 Windows Smartphone and I have a

> question

> about this phone :

>

> I need to know for definite whether it supports the ALS (Alternate Line

> Service) facility or not ?

>

>>

>> many thanks for your enquiry , please be advised that we don't

>> believe it does as per your request

>>

>> Kind Regards

>> eXpansys.com