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Help me save on data costs


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Guest mattscholey
Posted

Hi,

I want to use my SPV E100 to listen to Internet Radio, use Microsoft Portrait and generally make the most of the data capabilities of a smartphone. I understand that this won't be cheap (especially on GPRS) and I want to know what you think is the cheapest way of doing this. The internet radio streams are at 24k, so a 9.6kbps dial-up probably won't do.

What do you think is going to be the cheapest way of doing this? I'm open to suggestions of changing networks, so please suggest anything you've found.

Thanks,

Matt

Guest chucky.egg
Posted

You used to be able to get diddy little FM radios for £10 from Dixons.

That'd be cheaper than GPRS

What's MS Portrait? Never heard of it. Just be careful that they don't cut it off and make you get a firmware update! :wink:

Posted

AFAIK MS portrait doesn't have drivers for the SPV's camera so you can recieve vid but not send, Could be wrong though. I did e-mail the developers a while back to find out if any more development was planned but never heard back. Some people got the messenger part to work but i never could... wonder if it still works post MSN cutoff?

Posted

Talking of data costs, how much does the dial-up connection cost? specifically does it get counted as part of my inclusive minutes? If so then my Everyday 50 will start feeling it!

Posted from my SmartPhone!

Guest mattscholey
Posted

9.6kbps is 10p a minute. Don't think the SPV can go any faster (14.4kbps/28.8). If you have Everday 50 then I think thats included in your minutes, but I dont think it is on any other plans.

Matt

Posted

Cheers, think i'll have to check that with OCS!

Posted from my SmartPhone!

Guest mattscholey
Posted

Yeah. Point out to them what number your calling (you cant dial-up to internet on Orange, so sign up for a free ISP (www.freeserve.co.uk) and they should have an 0845). Then point out that it's a data call coz that can make a difference.

Matt

Posted

Just buy a large SD-card and load it with mp3/wav.

When I first bought the phone, I had ideas about streaming music myself, not internet radio, but from my own web server.

In theory (and in the cradle) it works. However, I couldn't get streaming over GPRS working well at all, especially when moving. This was during the free-grps trial, when the cost was nothing. Doing audio over mobile dial-up? Yuck, I was using the quality to the limit of badness to get it working with GPRS...anything less just won't sound like music.

We'll just have to wait until 3G data becomes cheap enough to be practical unfortunately.

Posted

Had confirmation that for me dial-up is inclusive. I knew wap was, wasn't sure on data calls. It's a bit slower, but there's no hang on dialling! No way am i changing talk plan now! It's only 1p a minute after my free fifty as well. Excellent. :)

Posted from my SmartPhone!

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