Cell Phone Advice

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 12:49 pm

I'm ditching my carrier (Verizon Wireless) and going back to AT&T Wireless. I need some help picking out a phone.The specific models I'm considering are:Nokia 6800 Nokia 6200 Sony Ericsson T68is Sony Ericsson T306 Siemens C56 Motorola C333 In all honesty, none of these thrill me. They're at best somewhat visually appealing. I really want a flip phone, but last time I dished out $100+ on a phone, I ended up regretting it. So I'm going for free, or cheap. One thing that also bothers me is they all have internal antennas. And the overall impression I get about that design is that they are just not as reliable as the old-fashioned type phones.Having never owned a phone with an internal antenna, what are people's feelings on them?I'm wary of Nokias. I've never been impressed with them, and they're like Hondas -- EVERYONE has one. But there's one with a flipout keyboard that's pretty cool. Does anyone here have a late-model Nokia? Does the built-in antenna seriously hinder signal strength? How do you feel about battery life? Overall performance and quality?I have a Motorola now, and I've had a few, and I've been less than impressed with them -- it'(removed) or miss with them. One worked great, a few were ok, one was a nightmare. I'm not thrilled with the prospect of going with them again. But if I have to, I will. The C333 bothers me because the battery is sealed inside -- can't be replaced without sending it in...and it's weird looking. I hear the Siemens is good, but it only has 50 phonebook entries, and that screwy orange backlight.Sony-Ericsson. Well, just don't knwo anyone who had one.So, can anyone give me feedback about these brands? Has anyone owned any of these models? Any feedback you can all provide would be appreciated!Thanks in advance folks!

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 12:55 pm

Hi ragingfish!I have the Sony Ericsson T206 and really love it. The reception is crystal clear, the phone is pretty cool looking. It has voice activated calling, games, large phonebook etc. Let me tell you about internal antenna, it rules! When I was in Europe every persons phone I saw had an internal antenna. They really have improved over the years.Just my humble opinion

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 12:59 pm

Yeah, the other problem I'm facing is they're kinda forcing me into a GSM model...but I'm cocnerned about GSM coverage in the midwest...Anyone know how GSM coverage is in Ohio and Indiana? Since I plan to travel that way a lot...

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 1:02 pm

Check on your carriers website. They should have a coverage map of all the states they service. You should be able to see how great the coverage is. Good luck! Hope it helps you out!

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 1:03 pm

Tried that...but unfortunately, the map they show me is about 2 inches by 2 inches, so i can't really tell...grrrrr.....

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 1:05 pm

Do you have a service outlet close by? They should have maps of their coverage in the US. If not call them and ask them to send you their coverage maps, and tell them the damn information is too small on the web site!!!

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 1:25 pm

Thanks Arcs...Anyone else have feedback for me?

Big_Red · Post by **Big_Red** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 1:27 pm

Don't get the last one....my niece has it and it is crap!

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 1:29 pm

The Motorola C333?

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 7:38 pm

quote:The Motorola C333?Yeah my friend has it and the battery life is horrible.I have the Nokia 8390 (not one shown), and its almost as small as the Motorola C333.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 10:03 pm

What's your opinion of it though?

yank dini · Post by **yank dini** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 5:23 am

quote:Nokia 6800 I have the 6800. I just got it and it's barely a month old as far as being on the cell phone market . This phone is sweet as hell. It flips into a QWERTY keyboard. But the best thing is that if you use the speakerphone option, the other party doesn't know you have them on Speakerphone. The phone is $150.00 but if your job has a corporate account with ATT then they will give you 50%off the phone and a 20% discount on monthly service.Go to my web page at car domain and click on "The HITTER" in my favorite links. It has a nice demo you can look at.....

yank dini · Post by **yank dini** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 5:25 am

quote:Yeah, the other problem I'm facing is they're kinda forcing me into a GSM model...but I'm cocnerned about GSM coverage in the midwest...Anyone know how GSM coverage is in Ohio and Indiana? Since I plan to travel that way a lot...ATT has the best GSM technology. you wont be disappointed. This is coming from a guy that's been with Ameritech, Sprint and T-Mobile.Go for it

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 6:14 am

I'll be starting new service, so there's a $100 rebate with a 2 year contract...and it would be $50 up front.As previously stated, I've never had a Nokia, but never been fond of them...What is your take on signal strength, clarity, and overall coverage of the network? While AT&T may have the best GSM network (AFAIK they're the only ones migrating to GSM right now), but it still doesn't mean it's got good coverage......do you feel there are an unsually high number of dead spots? Have you taken the phone out of state?

ShotInTheDark · Post by **ShotInTheDark** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 6:21 am

my wife is the District manager for Cellular One here in maryland. I highly reccomend the nokia handsets. I feild test every new model phone that comes out and so far they are the most user friendly durable phones I have tried. I currently have the 3365 color phone since gsm service has not reached us here yet.

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 6:22 am

quote:What's your opinion of it though?Hmm... thats tough. I love its smallness and its features, but the service on it sucks inside buildings... I'm not sure this isn't my wireless company though (I have Rogers AT&T GSM network). I can't use it in the mall and I can't use it downstairs at work. I can't use it while grocery shopping either... unfortunately I'm locked into a 2 year contract and still have 16 months left

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 6:23 am

Do you know the difference between Rogers AT&T and AT&T Wireless? Is Rogers the Canadian version, or are they completely unrelated to each other?

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 6:33 am

Not sure... I assume Rogers is the Canadian version. My boyfriend has Telus Mobility which has much better coverage than Rogers, but we're going to change his to Bell Mobility which is usually even better. My parents live in the 5 or 10 percent of Canada that has horrendous (if any) coverage and on the telus and bell phones we're able to get a partial signal upstairs. On the rogers phone though you might as well toss in in the lake!

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 6:44 am

I've had a Nokia phone since 1998 with AT&T. I then replaced my 8260 with a Motorola V60i in October. it's an OK phone, but I miss my Nokia. I would go with the Nokia. They are more reliable and user friendly. I don't know about the other brands, but I really liked both my Nokia phones better than my Motorola.

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 7:15 am

Our other phone is a Samsung, and while its 3 years old (practically ancient in techy terms!) I find it to be more user friendly than my Nokia.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 11:26 am

I hear the Samsungs are good, but unfortunately, AT&T doesn't offer us that brand...it's Motorola, SonyEricsson, Nokia, or Panasonic, but the Panasonics are WAYYY expensive, so...

yank dini · Post by **yank dini** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 11:51 am

quote:I'll be starting new service, so there's a $100 rebate with a 2 year contract...and it would be $50 up front.As previously stated, I've never had a Nokia, but never been fond of them...What is your take on signal strength, clarity, and overall coverage of the network? While AT&T may have the best GSM network (AFAIK they're the only ones migrating to GSM right now), but it still doesn't mean it's got good coverage......do you feel there are an unsually high number of dead spots? Have you taken the phone out of state?Signal Strength is great. To give you an idea of how good. My Apt Buliding is underground I can use the phone with no breaks or dropped calls. Like I said earlier you wont be disappointed. I haven't been out of state yet I've only had it 45 days or so. It's brand new on the market.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 12:17 pm

Sounds good.I'm gonna go for the 6800. I have 30 days to try it, and if I don't like it, I can return or exchange it.Thanks for your help everyone!Mike

yank dini · Post by **yank dini** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 8:32 pm

quote:Sounds good.I'm gonna go for the 6800. I have 30 days to try it, and if I don't like it, I can return or exchange it.Thanks for your help everyone!Mikeyeah they will let you switch phones or what ever before 30 days but once I got it home and used it. There was no turning back

yank dini · Post by **yank dini** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 1:30 am

quote:Nokia 6800 I have the 6800. I just got it and it's barely a month old as far as being on the cell phone market . This phone is sweet as hell. It flips into a QWERTY keyboard. But the best thing is that if you use the speakerphone option, the other party doesn't know you have them on Speakerphone. The phone is $150.00 but if your job has a corporate account with ATT then they will give you 50%off the phone and a 20% discount on monthly service.Go to my web page at car domain and click on "The HITTER" in my favorite links. It has a nice demo you can look at.....This lil thing came in very very handy during the Power Outage....I was able to use it most of the evening on Thursday and on and off on Fri. By Saturday I had full service once again when most of the power was still out and I could even surf the net to find Hotels, Gas, Food and other neccessities right on the phone with directions to get there to boot. Came in very handy when I was traveling up north to get right.....KUDOS to AT & T!!!!!!

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 1:38 am

I've now determined that my Nokia bites the hog for service!! I just bought my boyfriend a prepaid Bell Mobility cell phone (Samsung n370) and it's coverage is simply amazing! My Nokia seems only to be good in cities which kinda sucks since I do most of my travelling to the country. My Nokia wouldn't work at all for a day after the blackout. Other people I know with the same service provider (Rogers) had service when I did not with my Nokia.

yank dini · Post by **yank dini** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 1:55 am

maybe it's your Nokia model...... This one is brand new on the market only about 1 month old. If not try an Erricson.

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 2:07 am

Yeah I think its the model I have. I got it about 8 months ago. I thought it looked really cool, nice and small. Bah! Now I can't get rid of it until Jan 2005.

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 3:32 am

quote:I believe you can buy a new phone, just stay with the current service provider. Some phones do make a difference on signal strengths.Yeah but I just paid $100 for it 8 months ago. Don't really want to go spending anymore on cell phones (since I just spent $150 on my boyfriend's prepaid phone).

disneydj · Post by **disneydj** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 4:11 am

Still set on AT&T, have you looked into the other companies.We've had NEXTEL here in Orlando for 7 years.Free direct connect, incoming calls, and nights and weekends! Plus you can now direct connect nationwide! It's great!

yank dini · Post by **yank dini** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 4:47 am

quote:Yeah I think its the model I have. I got it about 8 months ago. I thought it looked really cool, nice and small. Bah! Now I can't get rid of it until Jan 2005. should be a GSM phone then. It doesn't matter because you only remove your SIMCARD that has all of your information ie. phone number, voice.text/email messages etc etc. at that point the phone becomes disposable

yank dini · Post by **yank dini** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 4:48 am

quote:Yeah, I can understand that.. Well, I hope that you can get it worked out.. I am having problems with my phone dropping calls now, but I have to just take it into Sprint and have them update the software.I have text messages, full interenet, color screen. able to hook it up to a lap top.. many goodies on there. SPRINT SUCKS!!!!So they are still having you bring phones in for updates? I use to do that over 5 years ago. I thought they would have eliminated that by now

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 4:49 am

Yes its a GSM phone. Rogers is the only one who has GSM phones in Canada (AFAIK). I won't get one again... both my telus and Bell Mobility phones are much much much better for coverage.

yank dini · Post by **yank dini** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 4:51 am

That's too bad. GSM phones work great here. I've also had a T-mobile phone that was GSM too I know Rogers and At and T are somewhat the same company. I wonder how good the towers are over there?

Sputnik · Post by **Sputnik** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 5:23 am

Oh don't get me wrong - it works great in Ottawa as well, but my problem is it pretty much bites everywhere else I go (Kingston - can't even use it in the mall!)

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 8:28 am

quote:We've had NEXTEL here in Orlando for 7 years.NEXTEL is WAYYYY too expensive for a casual user.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 9:07 am

Aight...am wondering if anyone here happens to work for Verizon Wireless? They're giving me hell about cancelling my service...may need help...

esjones · Post by **esjones** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 10:35 am

quote:Anyone know how GSM coverage is in Ohio and Indiana? Since I plan to travel that way a lot...Last time I checked, GSM service around here really was horrible. Indianapolis had it, but not Cincinnati or Dayton. And fuhgeddaboutit on the Interstates!!!This may have changed, but be sure to consult a coverage map or someone who actually has and uses a GSM phone.

msmyer · Post by **msmyer** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 8:57 pm

I just got this phone.... A little cheaper in price, but seems to get the job done!

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