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Evangellydonut · Jul 11, 2002, 02:57 PM

I'm looking forward to buying an Ericsson/Sony T68i for my next cell-phone...after spending some time looking for PDA/phone hybrids, the 2 I found seem rather dissappointing

so I'm going to settle for a color, WEP2.0, bluetooth cell phone!

I haven't tried bluetooth for the Mac, and not sure if it'll work well with that phone...so if anyone has any experiences with that particular setup, let me know what you think of it. (I'm looking for a G3 cell phone (not the computer chip, the 3rd generation digital phone...my 8290 is a G2 phone) with a PDA comparable to a $400 iPaq, together for $500 or so, but no luck

)
TIA

[ 07-11-2002, 03:58 PM: Message edited by: Evangellydonut ]

Nephron · Jul 11, 2002, 08:35 PM

Hiya,

I have a T68. In addition to using it as a cell phone, I use it as a wireless modem for my Bluetooth card equiped Palm 515. On the train, I throw my T68 in my workbag, and surf the web wirelessly through my cellular provider's GPRS service.

Cheers!

RevEvs · Jul 18, 2002, 04:30 PM

I Have the T68i, and in itself it is an amazing phone, but as i have just learnt, combine it with Jaguar and it is amazing!
With bluetooth, when you have a incoming call, a dialoug will apear on your screen to tell you who it is, you can then select (from your mac) to accept the call or to decline and send an SMS to the caller to explain why you could not answer! Cool or what!

Justin W. Williams · Jul 18, 2002, 07:44 PM

The phone only works with a GSM cell network, correct?

Southern Indiana is still using the old network (tdma), but I really want a bluetooth phone that would work with iSync and allow me to get rid of my Palm for good <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

greggers · 02:29 AM

Look to the future! :

Sony Ericsson P800

I already have an Ericsson r380.

Anyway, I think the t68 is old hat, and the P800 is a much better purchase, considering it can also run JAVA apps, has a Sony memory stick slot, plays mp3s, and has a camera. ROCK!

Justin W. Williams · Jul 19, 2002, 09:36 AM

A very impressive phone! I can't wait for midwestern US to catch up with the rest of the world so I can use technology to its fullest

MikeD · Jul 19, 2002, 10:24 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Justin W. Williams:
A very impressive phone! I can't wait for midwestern US to catch up with the rest of the world so I can use technology to its fullest

<hr /></blockquote>Chicago has GSM coverage with AT&T. I use the T68.

m@ · Jul 19, 2002, 11:08 AM

...and if ya don't like the t68i then the <a href="http://www.nokia.com/phones/7650/index.html" target="_blank">Nokia 7650</a> uses syncML and GPRS too, hope this syncs just as well.

Justin W. Williams · Jul 19, 2002, 01:00 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by MikeD:
[QUOTE]Chicago has GSM coverage with AT&T. I use the T68.<hr /></blockquote>Chicago/Indy don't count.

I am talking about the 2nd tier cities like Evansville. Maybe by 2006

oeyvind · Jul 19, 2002, 11:14 PM

Seen and played with the P800 a month or two ago at CommunicAsia 2002 expo... too big a phone (ala Communicator)

Evangellydonut · Jul 23, 2002, 11:47 AM

uh...I want something that's avilable in the United States no later than Sept 22nd...when my current 8290 1-yr contract expires...(which rules out the Nokia and R800...) I don't mind R800 being a little big, IF it has good reception and a good integerated PDA. We'll see

but yeah, one of the phones featured on the iSync webpage is the T68i

Wattsy · Jul 24, 2002, 04:40 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />(I'm looking for a G3 cell phone (not the computer chip, the 3rd generation digital phone...my 8290 is a G2 phone)<hr /></blockquote>Sorry to be pedantic but the T68 is not a 3G (3rd generation) phone. Current advanced GSM services - GPRS, HSCSD - are generally referred to as 2.5G. 3G will work with much higher bandwidths than present GSM and GSM add-ons like GPRS and will require completely new hardware (both in terms of handsets and the transmitter technology).

Macpilot · Jul 24, 2002, 07:33 AM

So let me get this straight. To use the iSync feature with a cell phone in 10.2, you must have a phone with GPRS AND Bluetooth? I would ditch my sprint phone if I knew how to go about this. Can you sync phones any other way with the Address Book without Bluetooth and this GPRS thing, like with a cable?

Obviously I am not enlightened on this stuff!

Evangellydonut · Jul 24, 2002, 01:30 PM

yeah...T68i is 2.5G with WAP2.0...but considering the slow adoption rate by the major cell-phone carriers as is, i doubt a full 3G deployment will happen anytime soon...beside, the only 3G US phone is an ugly Motorola...
with that said, anyone know of any other phones comparable to the T68i on the US market or coming soon? (nokia 7650 isn't gonna be here anytime soon...and while the built-in camera is cool, it's overall form is ugly, IMHO)

[ 07-25-2002, 02:46 PM: Message edited by: Evangellydonut ]

Justin W. Williams · Jul 24, 2002, 09:44 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Wattsy:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />(I'm looking for a G3 cell phone (not the computer chip, the 3rd generation digital phone...my 8290 is a G2 phone)<hr /></blockquote>Sorry to be pedantic but the T68 is not a 3G (3rd generation) phone. Current advanced GSM services - GPRS, HSCSD - are generally referred to as 2.5G. 3G will work with much higher bandwidths than present GSM and GSM add-ons like GPRS and will require completely new hardware (both in terms of handsets and the transmitter technology).<hr /></blockquote>Add to the fact that 3G phones won't be stateside for years and won't fully roll out in Europe for a while either. Japan and Korea seem to be the only one's that full support it. Of course, they always get all the co0l tech before me <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

Evangellydonut · Jul 25, 2002, 01:48 PM

yeah, 3 yrs ago, i worked for a now bankrupt company called Neopoint to make one of the first 2.5G cell phones, which deployed in 1999 by Sprint...since then, it's taken 3 full years for 2.5G to catch on, I'm guessing it'll be another 3 years for 3G to get here and be in wide usage...

happygoodies · Aug 5, 2002, 01:47 AM

Don't buy a phone or switch plans just so you can use iSync. Are you REALLY that excited about putting your Palm Desktop calendar on your cell phone? Do you even USE Palm Desktop or a similar app?

Number of times I (and most other people, I'd imagine) think, "Gee, if only the data on my cell phone and my computer were synchronized..." = Zero.

If you're looking for a cell phone/pda hybrid that actually does things and lets you use wireless access well, check out the Danger Hiptop (see this thread, and no, it doesn't sync with your computer, which is not a con IMO). If you want an ergonomic easy-to-use very functional cell phone in Apple's style, go with a Nokia (3395 is a cheapy but it's the all-around best current cell imo). If you want the newest gadget (which isn't necessarily bad), go for the T68. Just don't be upset when the T68i and other new phones make the T68 old news in 2 months or so.

gsciorio · Aug 5, 2002, 10:30 PM

I sell both ATT and Sprint and can tell you that the t68i is a great phone and although I may get one too if Sprint does not come out with their 3g phones let me tell you this.

1) the t69i is only GPRS in the USA so it will not roam on other networks yet.
2) the data speed is limited to 70k MAX and that's on a good day with the grace of God.
3)Sprints 3g network is going to be nation wide by the end of August '02 and will have 70k speeds to start, in two years 1.5megs.

So off the bat the t68i is awesome but if you just wait about another you'll be able to get phones like the handspring treo with 70k min data, more coverage because Sprints depolyment is nation wide at once (look at their maps and that's 3g, all of it) while ATT is only in limited cities.

Also Sprints phones can be used on an analouge network so unlike the t68i if you're in an analouge network you're not screwed.

Great phone and cool features but if you wait about a month you'll have more choices and suppries!

http://www2.sprintpcs.com/aboutsprintpcs/CDMA_3g/

Evangellydonut · Aug 6, 2002, 02:14 AM

Originally posted by gsciorio:
I sell both ATT and Sprint and can tell you that the t68i is a great phone and although I may get one too if Sprint does not come out with their 3g phones let me tell you this.

1) the t69i is only GPRS in the USA so it will not roam on other networks yet.
2) the data speed is limited to 70k MAX and that's on a good day with the grace of God.
3)Sprints 3g network is going to be nation wide by the end of August '02 and will have 70k speeds to start, in two years 1.5megs.

So off the bat the t68i is awesome but if you just wait about another you'll be able to get phones like the handspring treo with 70k min data, more coverage because Sprints depolyment is nation wide at once (look at their maps and that's 3g, all of it) while ATT is only in limited cities.

Also Sprints phones can be used on an analouge network so unlike the t68i if you're in an analouge network you're not screwed.

Great phone and cool features but if you wait about a month you'll have more choices and suppries!

http://www2.sprintpcs.com/aboutsprintpcs/CDMA_3g/

So they managed to make CDMA that small huh? sounds cool to me!

Some Sony guy was saying they are releasing the phone for Verizon and i was like "how come I didn't hear they switched to GSM?" the guy had no clue...guess it wasn't really a techie, just a phone demo dude. I got a free t-shirt though, so I can't complain

I've decided to wait for the P800 instead ^_^; and have it unlocked 'n everything. I should have the $$ when the P800 finally launches before Christmas or whenever. (already launched in Germany to my awareness)

gsciorio · Aug 6, 2002, 11:01 PM

Well as far as I know the t68i is not coming to Sprint and is only GSM/GPRS. However talking to my friends at ATT they told me that unlike CDMA their GPRS is capable of BOTH data and voice at the same time so you can surf the web via ti book or a palm and get calls too.

$39.99 gets youi 800 anytime minutes and 3000 night and weekends minutes so I'm going for it.

Also so you know DoCoMo owns 16% of ATT wireless now so they are pushing ATT to new levels if you have not noticed within the last 6 months there have been some massive changes in service and phones too.

k2man · Aug 7, 2002, 03:55 AM

I hadn't heard of the P800 until reading an earlier post in this thread. Now I've read every word on the Sony web site, and spent the last hour scouring Google for anything more about it.

Conclusion: barring any major slip ups with the design/features, I'm getting this phone in a heartbeat. I have the Samsung i300 Palm Phone now, but it's klunky, and I can't synch it up under OS X (Palm Desktop doesn't recognize the cradle, and while infrared used to work, I now have a Ti 800 which doesn't have an IR port!).

So I'm looking for a new phone that can also handle quick note taking and to dos, and this looks to be it. Also like the idea of using a bluetooth headset. Just hope Isynch gets a conduit quickly...

Evangellydonut · Aug 7, 2002, 01:23 PM

I hadn't heard of the P800 until reading an earlier post in this thread. Now I've read every word on the Sony web site, and spent the last hour scouring Google for anything more about it.

Same here! spent like 5 hours reading different reviews/press releases 'n such...and decided to wait for that instead of getting a T68i and feel bad in a few month ^_^;

Also like the idea of using a bluetooth headset.

too rich for my blood...I can afford $6-800 for a PDA+phone, but I'm certainly not 'bout to spend $100+ on a head-set!!!

at least not 'til I make some money when the stock market goes up at least...(probably not for a while though...)

k2man · Aug 7, 2002, 08:16 PM

Regarding the bluetooth headset being too expensive, you're right, it's steep. But I'm sick of my wired hands-free earpiece always getting tangled up, or catching something as I move around and jerking out of my ear (really, *REALLY* annoying). For me, provided the BT headset has good fidelity, it's worth it...

By the way, another nice thing about the headset is that it apparently radiates a lot less than a cel phone placed at your head. From what I understand, Bluetooth's wireless connection is much more like a household cordless phone in terms of hazardous exposure to cel phone radiation (ie, much less than a cel phone). If there's any potential for a cel phone to give you tumors (and that still seems up for debate), the bluetooth headset will help minimize the risks. I'm going to be on the safe side...

Evangellydonut · Aug 8, 2002, 01:04 PM

By the way, another nice thing about the headset is that it apparently radiates a lot less than a cel phone placed at your head...If there's any potential for a cel phone to give you tumors (and that still seems up for debate), the bluetooth headset will help minimize the risks...

Well, with the current cell phones, you are moving brain cancer to hip-cancer, since with the curret headphones, your cell phone will be moved to your pockets instead

but yeah, that's A LOT better, since you can have a big chunk of your hip taken out and still be okay....

But yeah, bluetooth headphones are REALLY cool! Let's just pray that Apple, Adobe, nVidia, Sun, and AT&T Wireless will help me make some money in stocks in the next several months

k2man · Aug 8, 2002, 01:38 PM

The thing is, I plan to keep the phone in my bag with the Titanium most of the time (ie, several inches from my body). The P800, and most other new phones today, have voice dialing, so I can dial by voice with the wireless headset, even with the phone stuff in some tote bag pocket.

I hope they ship that phone in a hurry...

KeilwerthSX90R · Aug 10, 2002, 04:42 PM

Cheaper bluetooth headsets are expected this fall from Logitech and Jabra that will be around $100 if not cheaper. Regarding iSync, I think it is worth switching plans for especially since even CDMA 1x isn't as promising as it looks. It is really nice being able to sync my calender with a T68i or in the future the P800.

I do all my scheduling on my computer and I have a lot of things going on that I need to remember. Right now I have a Sony Clie which I like but I also have cell phone. With iSync and iCal (hopefully it will be good) all I would need to the phone. And with the P800 looking really nice it would have full PDA functionality also.

In terms of Sprint or Verizon CDMA networks, I still don't think wireless web has arrived. True wireless web browsing just doesn't exist yet, especially with the current pricing schemes. To me for wireless web all I need is something like AvantGo or mMode that allows me to grab headlines, weather, sports etc. For true wireless web browsing the phones just don't function well because the screens are too small. For this application I would prefer a wireless PC Card that works with OSX. Along with wireless internet devices such as the Samsung Nexio with larger screens, PC Cards are what interest me the most. I don't think I'll ever want to do true web browsing on my phone, although a bluetooth CDMA 1x phone that could act as a wireless modem for my powerbook would be welcome as well.

proux · Aug 19, 2002, 10:05 PM

How about Voicestream?
I can get a t68 but not 68i, should I wait for the t68i?
If anything it looks much better...

escher · Aug 20, 2002, 08:33 AM

Originally posted by KeilwerthSX90R:
Cheaper bluetooth headsets are expected this fall from Logitech and Jabra that will be around $100 if not cheaper. Regarding iSync, I think it is worth switching plans for especially since even CDMA 1x isn't as promising as it looks. It is really nice being able to sync my calender with a T68i or in the future the P800.

Good to hear that cheaper BT headsets are on the way. I'm looking to get a new mobile in the next couple of months and definitely want to use iSync so that I can ditch my Palm at the same time.

KeilwerthSX90R: Do you know which carriers (will) offer the T68i in the DC area?

Also, does the T68i come with BlueTooth built-in, or is it an add-on part?

Escher

Evangellydonut · Aug 20, 2002, 11:25 AM

Originally posted by escher:
Also, does the T68i come with BlueTooth built-in, or is it an add-on part?

it's built-in...

escher · Aug 20, 2002, 12:55 PM

Originally posted by Evangellydonut:
it's built-in...

If only data access (and voice plans in general) wasn't so darn expensive. Depending on the plan, a mobild data connection via Bluetooth may cost me twice as much as my DSL connection. Yikes!

Escher

k2man · Sep 8, 2002, 03:57 AM

The P800 seems to be out in Europe by the way. Only a matter of a month or two before it's here.
Question is: will Apple have an iSynch plug in available asap...

MikeD · Sep 25, 2002, 10:48 AM

What's wrong with the T68 next to the T68i? Has there been any new news on P800's coming to US. I think it seems big but I'd like to check it out...

nbnz · Sep 27, 2002, 04:33 AM

The t68 doesn't have MMS, SMS Chat, and some others that the t68i has
It is possible to upgrade the software in your t68 to make it a t68i
Check this link www.Esato.com
You need to take your phone in to a local SonyEricsson service point.

MikeD · Sep 27, 2002, 01:50 PM

Accoarding to that site, it says you loose your phonebook and calendar.. So what good is it to mac users without a calerdar?? Isn't that part of the beauty of the whole isync stuff and the bluetooth? To get your calerdars from iCal into your cellphone over bluetooth? Why would a mac user want a t68i if that's the case? It seems that you'd want to the regular T68 right? Can anyone confirm the esato statement?

This is what you loose
* Phonebook
* Calendar
* Own edited/downloaded background pictures
* Own edited/downloaded ring signals
* Own edited EMS pictures
* VoiceMemos
* Voice tags
* Saved CB (Cell Broadcast messages)
* SMS templates
* SyncML settings
* Own defined shortcuts in the menu
* High scores to the games
* Tetris
* WAP Settings

..and this is what you get
* MMS
* Picture Album (My pictures)
* Sound Browser (List of sounds stored in the phone, i.e. eMelodies, iMelodies and AMR files)
* Picture CLI (Possible to associate a picture with a contact and display the picture upon incoming call)
* Camera application with support for the Communicam MCA20 camera accessory
* New games
* Notes
* Screensaver
* New and more advanced ring melody composer
* Text formatted SMS (Possible to add e.g. bold and italic text)
* Customizable contacts (possible to select which information to see in a contact)
* FirstName - LastName concept discarded. Only one name in phonebook in Mia R2.
* SMS chat
* GPRS (p-channels)
* JPEG support
* Animated GIF support

nbnz · Sep 27, 2002, 05:57 PM

Accoarding to that site, it says you loose your phonebook and calendar.. So what good is it to mac users without a calerdar?? Isn't that part of the beauty of the whole isync stuff and the bluetooth? To get your calerdars from iCal into your cellphone over bluetooth? Why would a mac user want a t68i if that's the case? It seems that you'd want to the regular T68 right? Can anyone confirm the esato statement?

This just means you loose your data when you do the upgrade. So back it up first, or if you've already got your phone book info in Address Book and Calender info in iCal just upgrade and when iSync comes out sync it back to the phone.

The T68i definately has Calender and Phone Book ! (I have one).

MikeD · Sep 28, 2002, 04:00 AM

Great! That means it should be okay to go ahead and get my T68 upgraded to the T68i!