Don't disagree with your views, just to say that subscribers need flexibility, choices and solutions--and US CDMA networks are lagging.
Since the i730's debut in late Q2 '05, VZW has offered WM-based subscribers only the following: 1) Treo 700W/wx, 2) Sammy i830, 3) HTC XV6700, 4) Moto Q, and 5) Pantech PN-820. Of these, only the 700w/wx and XV6700, along with a few user-upgraded i730s, can be considered WM5 PPCs. Sprint's done even less.
The i760 may prove a reasonable PPC, but it doesn't show technical leadership and seems to be configured only with a cam (mediocre at that). Many prospective PPC users aren't even permitted to rock a cam.
So, unlike the i730 for the WM03SE era, the i760 cannot, and will not, occupy the pole position in the WM6 era.
In any event, there's a new rumble underway: quad-band GSM devices are starting to appear with little or no carrier commitment, especially in the US (e.g., HTC Advantage/Athena). What makes speculative handsets viable is the vast global GSM subscriber base and the premise that SIM cards make them impulse-worthy and universal.
Expectations are that such carrier-independent GSM devices--available unlocked from third-party sources, will soon account for meaningful market share. At risk to CDMA carriers, of course, are the service agreement lock-ins on which they're so dependent. Over time, the evolution to 'free-market distribution' may ease the tyranny that alienates people like our very own Mark_A_K.
Unfortunately, the much smaller population of CDMA users can't quite support speculative devices, and carrier activation restrictions on 'foreign' units further frustrate the prospect of greater choice for CDMA folks.
The bottom line: 3G GSM world-phones will increasingly pressure CDMA carriers to innovate in order to contain churn. Better devices, and more of them, will be required.
It's hard to imagine the i760 as a response to the iphone. Let's hope he's not referring to the i760. End of summer is too late. I'm hoping it's released next month.
I stopped my the local Verizon store in Minneapolis yesterday. The rep there stated that they'd start receiving the phones by mid-June, but stated they wouldn't go on sale until mid-July (she looked a bit dumbfounded when I asked her this question so take it with a grain of salt)
could they possibly be referring to the htc s720 (utstarcom 5800)??? that is certainly not an iPhone killer but definitely a decent multimedia handset...
Seems like CDMA was way ahead depoying G3 compared to GSM.
CDMA is much more elegant than GSM based on TDMA.
Traditional GSM yes, but "3G GSM" as you call it is actually UMTS, which is based on WCDMA (Wideband CDMA) technology.
In equivalence of 1xEVDO data on top of CDMA, HSDPA over UMTS has reached theoretical speeds of 14.4 MBps on the downlink, where as EVDO is still at 3.1 MBps theoretical with rev. A.
Cingular/AT&T has already deployed the 7.2 MBps flavor of HSDPA, but to further counter the EVDO rev. A imminently being readied by Sprint & Verizon, they are planning on launching HSUPA to increase the uplink speeds to 5.76 MBps (assuming they go all the way to category 6) -- see reference below:
Now when it comes to handsets, it will probably a while before HSUPA Windows-based PDA/phones come out, whereas the i760/XV6800 will be out some time this summer (we hope) with EVDO rev. A.
So for "power" users who tether and/or send relatively large amounts of data from their handsets, rev. A currently makes more sense than the higher HSDPA download speeds.
However, HSDPA being based on UMTS which is an evolution of GSM, UMTS handsets still include GSM bands which makes them "world" phones.
Having stuck with Samsung since the i700, followed by the i730, I will take a close look at the i760 when it's finally tangible.
However, I am very tempted by the iMate ultimate line - as others should rightfully be, given the high-end specs being delivered.
As I see it, the bottom line is: there is probably a close competition between EVDO-rev.A-capable and HSDPA-capable PPCPE handsets today (assuming today includes the following 2-3 months), however I see the UMTS handset market growing way beyond CDMA in the near future.
I'm sure this echoes many other users' feelings here
Aside form simultaneous data useage and phone (available with 3g or EDVO)which is nice, dowload speeds are nearly inconsequential for regular browsing / email on a PDA phone. The bottlenecks are not with download speeds but with Processor / bus speeds of the phones.
You could open up a 3 TB pipe for your 6700 and your download speeds on web browsing will be nearly identical to what it is now. So while more speed is nice for the few times I'm downloading a big file, which is rare given the memory constraints of the devices its really not going to help much in day to day use. Regardless your phone will still be slow as hell writing all that info to the SD card or memory. Again the bottle neck is the phone not download speeds.
I was at the Cingular store the other day playing with the 8525 and i had my WX with EDVO coverage. The 8525 was about 4 seconds or less slower on edge loading very large sites, like Foxnews.com orsm.net. Thats edge vs edvo. 4 seconds or less slower, fully downloaded and formatted. Sometimes edge was faster if the Sprint phone delayed in connection to the site for whatever reason which didn't seem to happen at all with the Edge phone. Perhaps network congestion?
Not really a big deal. By the time phones can actually handle the speeds we are getting with EDVO 3G will be in every market as well. In fact AT&T is already pushing to get 3g out quickly, this is from a reliable inside source that is involved there. I'm also a CDMA Sprint user ATM.
Its funny, some people act like their penis shrinks 5 inches if their pet company or service isn't the absolute "BEST". You see this all the time with cell phones, sat radio, computer parts etc. I'll never understand the fanboi attitude.
So this whole debate is sort of moot IMO. It really doesn't matter. The one with the best coverage for you is the winner.
Just to note that the i760 may not include QCOM's Rev A modem chip. We need at least an internal photo to ID the part.
Also, let's acknowledge Sprint's emerging WiMAX (802.16) rollout as part of the RF solution. One should really consider a carrier's whole portfolio of technologies and applications rather than a subset.
For example, while iDEN hit a brick wall with packet data, its Direct Connect (PTT) is still the industry's gold standard walkie-talkie service. Nothing else competes.
For what it is worth, my company has a national account manager with Verizon. I had our admin request an i760. The account rep emailed that the i760 is scheduled for release in July, but cautioned that these dates often slip. What a surprise.
Nice to see new warriors here. Welcome to all and enjoy the ride.
Lest anyone be surprised by VZW's elastic release date for the i760, this thread's first post presented what we believe was an authentic VZW document--indicating a rollout on...02/12/07.
Then again, time flies. This week marks the 40th anniversary of the debut of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper," an incomparable, breathless moment in music history. Now, those few Boomers among us will agree--that was a timely release!
Been around for a while - since the original HTC PPCPE (labeled "Space Needle") and onto the Samsung suite...
I am well aware the i760 will probably not have a rev. A chip, which is why I'm considering the XV6800
But I definitely appreciate all your posts and other well-informed users around here.
Few posts usually mean I mostly read, seldom write - unless I have good info to present, or something to complain about
So here's one new tidbit of info: I went to check out the T-Mobile Wing at one of their local store in SF, and I have to admit that their build quality has improved a fair bit since the early 2000's.
Been around for a while - since the original HTC PPCPE (labeled "Space Needle") and onto the Samsung suite...
I am well aware the i760 will probably not have a rev. A chip, which is why I'm considering the XV6800
But I definitely appreciate all your posts and other well-informed users around here.
Few posts usually mean I mostly read, seldom write - unless I have good info to present, or something to complain about
So here's one new tidbit of info: I went to check out the T-Mobile Wing at one of their local store in SF, and I have to admit that their build quality has improved a fair bit since the early 2000's.
XV6800 vs. i760 it is!!v
-Marc
Marc that Rev A stuff was discussed quite a bit here:
I talked about the "do we really need it yet", and since new devices are coming out sooner and sooner, and if you plan to upgrade within a year, by the time Rev A hits a lot of areas, you might already have the next device.
If you haven't you might read through that thread...
__________________
-Michael
Need help setting up your i730/i830 or other WM2003/WM5 Phone, as well as the other hacks I have done, check out the MRailing Guides and Links
Then again, time flies. This week marks the 40th anniversary of the debut of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper," an incomparable, breathless moment in music history. Now, those few Boomers among us will agree--that was a timely release!
--BAM
Close. June 1, 1967, to which June 1, 1987 is when the CD came out. "It was 20 years ago today, that Sgt. Pepper (CD) taught the band to play."
Still the greatest, except for that George song.
But I digress...
John
__________________ 2 things to live by:
John 8:12a - "I am the light of the world." and
John 14:1a - "Let not your heart be troubled."
dUMB sTUPID vERIZON ... dOESNT sEE tHE hORIZON ... rE-lEASE tHE f ^%$#@&*+_) pHONE ... bEST cARRIER ... wORST sELECTION ... dOESN'T eVEN pRODUCE a eRECTION ...
dUMB sTUPID vERIZON ... dOESNT sEE tHE hORIZON ... rE-lEASE tHE f ^%$#@&*+_) pHONE ... bEST cARRIER ... wORST sELECTION ... dOESN'T eVEN pRODUCE a eRECTION ...
Been around for a while - since the original HTC PPCPE (labeled "Space Needle") and onto the Samsung suite...
I am well aware the i760 will probably not have a rev. A chip, which is why I'm considering the XV6800
But I definitely appreciate all your posts and other well-informed users around here.
Few posts usually mean I mostly read, seldom write - unless I have good info to present, or something to complain about
So here's one new tidbit of info: I went to check out the T-Mobile Wing at one of their local store in SF, and I have to admit that their build quality has improved a fair bit since the early 2000's.
XV6800 vs. i760 it is!!v
-Marc
but it does have WM6! I'll admit I'm not a heavy EVDO user (44.95 for unlimited access is far too steep for me).