Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

bighead · May 24, 2005, 04:31 PM

I have a 15" PowerBook, and I'm currently with Cingular right now. I like my trusty T616, but I am looking for a new phone to replace it and still be a good (small) accessory to my PowerBook. PDA-like features are a plus, but nothing overwhelming. I'm going for something with similar size and functionality to my old phone, but I know phones have come a long way since the T68i and T616.

What would be a good Cingular or GSM-compatible phone to replace this workhorse? I saw what I believe to be the Nokia 6230 and was impressed, but didn't want to jump into anything quite yet. I'm glad I didn't get it, as it seems it isn't supported by iSync. Any alternatives?

Any feedback would be appreciated!

mdc · May 24, 2005, 04:53 PM

are you going to buy it outright or do you have to choose what cingular offers?

today i replaced my trusty t616 with a k700i (image of the blue one, i have the silver. i bought it off ebay, and i love it.

size wise it is pretty much the same as the t616, but where i find it so much better is that the os is better and much snappier.
when i typed an sms on my t616 i could often get to a point where i waited for the os to catch up. this has not happened to me yet on the k700i.
on the t616 when you send an sms you have to click next a few times until you get to type in someone's name to find their number and send to them. on the k700i type in number and find in phonebook are options on the same screen and below them is a list of the last few people you have smsed. very nice if you sms the same people often.
the camera, music playing, and radio features i'm not going to talk about since i don't/won't use them, but they are there if they are a requirement for you.

if you haven't noticed, i like my new k700i, and i recommend it.

bighead · May 24, 2005, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by mdc

are you going to buy it outright or do you have to choose what cingular offers?

if you haven't noticed, i like my new k700i, and i recommend it.

I was looking at both possibilities. If buying outright makes more sense than getting it through Cingular, I'll go for it. I saw the K700i on Sony Ericsson's site, but thought it might be too big. Do my eyes decieve me? I like the look of the K500i, except no Bluetooth.

Also are you using it with Cingular? I thought they required 850 MHz, where the K700i is a 900 MHz phone...

Any other suggestions? I'm starting to like the K700i, and I thought I might not be sticking with Sony Ericsson.

tooki · May 24, 2005, 06:00 PM

Cingular runs a mixed 1900/850MHz network. Cingular doesn't sell any phones that don't support both those frequencies, but the coverage on 1900 is still good enough in some areas for it to not matter that you lack 850.

tooki

mdc · May 24, 2005, 06:21 PM

i am with cingular, and to tell you the truth, i am clueless about the frequencies. all i know is that i can make phone calls and send text messages.

oh yeah, i forgot to mention that the phone works with the powerbook (bluetooth) flawlessly. synced my contacts and ical earlier.

bighead · May 25, 2005, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by tooki

Cingular runs a mixed 1900/850MHz network. Cingular doesn't sell any phones that don't support both those frequencies, but the coverage on 1900 is still good enough in some areas for it to not matter that you lack 850.

tooki

I've been looking to see if 1900 MHz coverage is any good in Orange County, but I've not found anything conclusive. From what I've read, it seems as though Cingular is actually converting its 1900 MHz network points to 850 MHz, which wouldn't bode well depending on where you are.

It seems as though I've got two clear choices. The Nokia 6230 supports both Cingular bands for the best coverage, but it doesn't work with iSync. The Sony Ericsson K700 works great with iSync (and Salling Clicker, an app I use regularly.) but it doesn't support the majority of Cingular's network.

Any other models I'm not finding here?

maxintosh · May 27, 2005, 11:21 AM

Don't don't DON'T buy a non 850-MHz phone for Cingular. They are converting like mad and some markets are 850 MHz only. You will inevitably at some point get screwed. The 6230 is a good phone and so is the S710a.

Macpilot · May 30, 2005, 06:33 AM

Get the RAZR. It is one slick phone. iSync works great with Tiger via bluetooth. Nice big screen, very thin, very loud ringers, quad band.

ender2002 · May 30, 2005, 11:38 AM

Yeah. Im also on cingular and am looking for a replacement for my t616. i really hate to leave this baby behind. its due for an upgrade tho.

amazing · Jun 3, 2005, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by bighead

\ The Nokia 6230 supports both Cingular bands for the best coverage, but it doesn't work with iSync.

I've got the Nokia 6230 with Cingular, and it's a great phone but I DEFINITELY wouldn't get it again since it doesn't sync. Get a bluetooth phone that does sync, whatever model that might be. I got mine before I knew that Tiger wouldn't sync (hope springs eternal--and I'm still hoping for down the road, but am not counting on it.)

Bluetooth is very important, syncing is the most important--if that requires staying with what you've got until a newish model that's affordable comes out, then patience is the order of the day.

I love the Logitech Mobile Freedom bluetooth headset ($35) and I push vcf cards to the Nokia via bluetooth, but syncing would be so much handier.

bighead · Jun 7, 2005, 03:16 PM

I think I'm going to go back down to the CIngular place today and look at the S710 and the S66 as my two possibilities. I don't know why I NEED a replacement for my T616, I just do.

Any other thoughts before I make the jump?

f1000 · Jun 7, 2005, 06:45 PM

If you're planning on tethering your PowerBook to your phone, make sure that you get a model with EDGE (preferably Class 10).