Well, it looks like it’s time to move on for this loyal SPH-I500 user (and signer of the petition). Love the form factor and flip to keep in back pocket. But, mine is currently in a tenuous situation (as with some kind of short, but OK for now as long as I don’t remove the battery). I have Sprint insurance, but warehouse is out and they want to give me a Treo650. So time to move on. I have just about resigned myself to no more flip and will wear it on my belt or similar. Many colleagues have the Blackberry 8830 which they love, but it seems a little awkward to use. I am salivating over pictures of the new HTC Libra and the Samsung I760 though and am willing to wait a bit if Sprint or Verizon will carry. The HTC Mogul looks a little cheap and no buttons on the front to dial. iPhone is a beauty, but not with Edge data network.
1. What PDA and/or mobile phone do you use today?
Samsung SPH I500
2. Are you locked into a mobile carrier (i.e. Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS, etc.), or do you prefer a particular carrier? Do you know if one carrier has better coverage in places that you need to be? (PLEASE SEE THE CARRIER NOTE BELOW)
No contract, but have been with Sprint a long time, though upset with recent move putting phone service centers in only a few select out of the way locations. Verizon has better reception in my workplace and I would get a 20% discount. So Verizon very possible. (Only would consider Sprint or Verizon due to better data networks.)
3. Where are you based? Do you stay in one place or travel a lot? Do you travel internationally... how much and where? Do you intend to use your PDAPhone there?
Mostly US where I do travel. A few time a year out of the country, but may be better to get an unlocked basic phone just for that and much cheaper than roaming internationally with Sprint or Verizon. Don’t need same phone number all the time or email pushed to me while in Paris.
4. Do have a preference of Palm, Pocket PC, Symbian, Smartphone OS, Blackberry, etc.?
As long as it works with MS Outlook and I can synch. I would want to be able to import my Passwords Plus data list into it though.
5. Are you likely to run it the way it came out of the box, or do you intend to load a whole lot of extra applications and stuff on it? Do you know of anything now that you will need to run?
I’ve loaded such things as Mapopolis, Passwords Plus, SplashPhoto and QuickOffice and snapper mail. But it seems most current phones have similar ops.
6. How important is wireless data access, and for what would you use it? (i.e. Web browsing, VPN, Remote termnial Access, Instant messaging, etc)?
Very. Web browsing and VPN and use as a modem would be a plus.
7. Will you need to view Microsoft Office documents on the PDAPhone? Will you need to edit them?
It would be a plus, but not absolutely critical. Has helped once in a blue moon.
8. Will you need access to an email system?
a)Is it corporate (Exchange, Groupwise,Lotus, Other?) What Version? Do you want email wirelessly or do you want to do it in the office with a sync cable/cradle? Can you get your Corporate email configured for mobile access or do you need to run a desktop redirector?
b)Is it Pop3/Imap? Who is the service provider?
Email critical. Home email compuserve with a pop server. Work will be MS Outlook exchange and they say we can synch wirelessly. I can also check work email over the internet. Not sure if I want my email to get pushed to me at all hours, but we can configure work to do that if I wanted. Not sure about Compuserve.
9. Do you do SMS messaging a lot (telephone to telephone messaging)?
No, not really. I do get them from friends once in a while, but can’t see myself as a big SMS user.
10. Do you want to use a GPS with the PDAPhone for mapping and navigation?
Would be very nice.
11. What is your size preference.. very close to the smallest cellphone, or you don’t care.. function over size?
Smaller and thinner the better, but form factor is more important.
12. How will you carry it... pocket, belt, purse, etc.?
Belt unless another true flip PDA like the I500 is created.
13. Do you prefer a particular form factor… flip-phone, candy bar, etc?
As above flip, but that doesn’t seem realistic anymore.
14. Do you prefer a QWERTY keyboard, numeric dial-pad, or stylus?
I have gotten used to stylus and Palm writing, but could adapt to QWERTY. Predictive text input on a number pad, no way.
15. Do you want to play a lot of video games on the PDAPhone? What kinds - puzzles, strategy, action adventure, etc.?
None
16. Do you want to listen to music on the PDAPhone? What kind... mp3, streamed, etc.?
Have a Nano. Wouldn’t want to waste battery on music.
Tough one. Doesn’t seem critical, but there have been a few times would have been nice. I could live without it though. Not a big photo person.
18. Do you have any other hardware you intend to use with the PDAPhone? Do you intend to use any Bluetooth devices? What types of devices?
Bluetooth would be great. I have a Prius and it would link. Also would like a Bluetooth wireless headset.
19. What kind of battery life do you need?(Always near a charger, battery life is not an issue or Need the battery to last several days) How many hours do you expect to spend talking on the phone? How many hours of data?(Web browsing, push email, VPN, IM etc)
The longer the better. But mostly near a charger. Talk maybe a few hours and do check email many time s day. No more than an hour of web surfing.
20. What are your budget limits (PDAPhones range in price from below $100 for older used models to nearly $1000 for high end models without a carrier subisidy)?
Money not an issue.
So all, and especially current and former I500-heads, any suggestions on current or upcoming phones?
Hmmm, I don't think this quite makes it. I believe this has predictive text from the keyboard. Looking for Palm type entry or QWERTY keyboard. But thanks for the suggestion.
If you must have a flipphone, then other than the PN-820, the Cingular 3125 is the only current choice. I think the 3125 is better than the PN-820.
If you can deal with a touch screen-only device, wait for the Vogue (CDMA Touch), coming to Sprint in a couple of months.
Otherwise, you have the whole world of QWERTY devices out there (my favorite is the Dash, but that is GSM). The Mogul, 8525, Wing devices are too bricky in my opinion (I also think the Treos are too bricky), but you may think differently. If CDMA, that leaves the Q (and its successor), or the new Palm Centro, also due out on Sprint soon.
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