More Information on Cingular/ ATTW's PDA Phone Developments

[ChrisSpera]

"Attention AT&T Wireless customers: your phone is about to become obsolete. If you own one of the cellphones listed below and live in the New York metropolitan area, Northern New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Las Vegas, or Seattle, there’s a good chance that AT&T doesn’t want you to use it much longer."

Since my purchase of a Samsung i700, I've become very interested in converged devices. With my review of the i700 set to be posted in a few days, I'm interested in learning more about devices like this.

I was looking into picking up either a T-Mobile or SX56 PDA Phone. I thought it might be an easy and inexpensive purchase. The prices are still high, and honestly, if you have an AT&T you could be in trouble.

Many PDA Phones, including the SX56, don't use the GSM850 (800MHz) band. The new Cingular/ ATTW is going to be making use of this bandwidth. Cingular is offering replacements to owners of the SX56 and other PDA Phones that are on ATTW, but it just aint the same.

If you find yourself in this situation, or have an opinion on what's happening, why don't you join us in the discussion...

[ctitanic]

They are sending me a new phone to replace my t68i but that phone does not have IR either BT. I complained about that and also asked if I can keep both phone at not charge and they say that I can.

[ChrisSpera]

True, but you won't be able to use both at the same time, from what I understand. (both would ring when calls are received and to my understanding, that isn't technically possible on a standard calling plan...I'm not even sure that functionality even exists for cell phones)

As a result, you can use the t68i and not have the right coverage, or you can use the new one they are sending you and be without the hardware features you paid for.

This is the problem. PDA Phone users (SX56 owners) will lose the use of their PDA's as a phone, and that sucks. The Seimens SX56 wasn't cheap...


Christopher Spera

[ctitanic]

Nope, this is not in the way you said. I will be able to use just one of the phone at the same time because I own only one SIM card. They are sending to you the phone but not a duplicate of your SIM. Basically you can use your SIM card in any phone using that technology if the phone has not been locked to one carrier in specific.

[Paragon]

Originally posted by ChrisSpera


This is the problem. PDA Phone users (SX56 owners) will lose the use of their PDA's as a phone, and that sucks. The Seimens SX56 wasn't cheap...


Christopher Spera

Chris, I think you are mistaken or someone has misinformed you. SX56 owners aren't going to loose the ability to use their phone. To my knowledge and to the knowledge of the person I talked to at AT&T today who has always been a very reliable source for infomation, AT&T have no intention of dropping their 1900mhz band. They are using the 850mhz band to expand the GSM network, but they are leaving the 1900mhz in place. So coverage with devices such as the SX56 will NOT improve, but it won't get worse either. You will still be able to use an SX56 tomorrow or next week just as well as you did last week.

Dave