Looking for a new phone

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rocky - 13 Jan 2006 17:12 GMT

My contract is about up and I'm looking for a new phone. I have been
pretty satisfied with T--Mobile so I'll more than likely stay on. I'm
looking at the Motorola V-360 and the Nokia 6101. My priorities are:

1. Ability to pull in the signal in weak areas,

2. Must have plenty of volume so I can hear who I'm talking to even
when outside in somewhat noisy areas like street traffic.

3. The display must be readable in sunlight, enough so I can see what
I'm dialing, without reading glasses or having to cup my had over the
display to shield it from sunlight.

4. A good speaker phone would be nice.

5. Good battery life

6. All the other bells and whistles are a very distant last.

Anybody have a suggestion or two, comments, I'm all ears.

I am currently using a Samsung C-225.

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Cyrus Afzali - 13 Jan 2006 21:25 GMT

>My contract is about up and I'm looking for a new phone. I have been
>pretty satisfied with T--Mobile so I'll more than likely stay on. I'm
>looking at the Motorola V-360 and the Nokia 6101. My priorities are:
>
>1. Ability to pull in the signal in weak areas,

From my experience, Nokia will give you better service here. They
traditionally have much better RF characteristics than Motorola
models, although I don't have any experience with the RAZR.

>2. Must have plenty of volume so I can hear who I'm talking to even
>when outside in somewhat noisy areas like street traffic.

Again, I'd say the 6101.

>3. The display must be readable in sunlight, enough so I can see what
>I'm dialing, without reading glasses or having to cup my had over the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
>6. All the other bells and whistles are a very distant last.

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rocky - 13 Jan 2006 21:48 GMT

> >My contract is about up and I'm looking for a new phone. I have been
> >pretty satisfied with T--Mobile so I'll more than likely stay on. I'm
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> >
> >6. All the other bells and whistles are a very distant last.

Thanks. I'm going to look at that 6101 real close. It's less money
too. I think there's an upgraded version that just came out, but I
don't know if it's available with T-Mobile.

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JPH - 13 Jan 2006 23:36 GMT

Check the T-mobile coverage map to see if there are areas where they use
850 Mhz near where you live, work, or travel.
http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/?class=coverage
It seems that a lot of these 850 Mhz roaming areas just popped up
recently in a rural area I frequently drive through, so I'm thinking of
changing my phone to one that also has 850. If you live near those
areas, then you might want to make sure the phone you get has 850 Mhz on
it. My Sony-Ericcson T-610 doesn't. The Nokia 6101 has 850, the
Motorola V-360 doesn't, (but the Motorola V-188 quad-band does). I have
a co-worker that has the V-188. He had a charging problem with the first
one, but they sent a replacement that works fine and he says he gets
great coverage with that phone.

JPH

> My contract is about up and I'm looking for a new phone. I have been
> pretty satisfied with T--Mobile so I'll more than likely stay on. I'm
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> I am currently using a Samsung C-225.

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rocky - 14 Jan 2006 01:12 GMT

> Check the T-mobile coverage map to see if there are areas where they use
> 850 Mhz near where you live, work, or travel.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> JPH

It is my understanding we do have 850 coverage in the northern part of
our state. I was also under the impression the V360 had 850. They both
look like nice phones. The flip phones I've seen in use sometimes get
problems with the hinge, any comments on the mechanical aspects of the
flippers.

> > My contract is about up and I'm looking for a new phone. I have been
> > pretty satisfied with T--Mobile so I'll more than likely stay on. I'm
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> >
> > I am currently using a Samsung C-225.

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rocky - 14 Jan 2006 12:22 GMT

> Check the T-mobile coverage map to see if there are areas where they use
> 850 Mhz near where you live, work, or travel.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> JPH

I just checked the coverage and we have a lot of 850 in the North part
of Minnesota and Wisconsin. This is quite a bit different from a year
ago. It will be well worth it for me to change phones and be sure I
have 850 on the new one. My current Samsung C225 is only 1900.

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JPH - 13 Jan 2006 23:52 GMT

I mentioned on an earlier post that the Motorola V-360 didn't have 850
Mhz for the expanded T-mobile coverage, but I may have been wrong.
Although the Motorola website says it doesn't have 850, the T-Mobile
site below says it does, so you might want to check further.
http://support.t-mobile.com/knowbase/root/public/tm22037.htm
This list also helps you decide which phone has international coverage.

JPH

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Mike S. - 14 Jan 2006 01:48 GMT

>> My contract is about up and I'm looking for a new phone. I have been
>> pretty satisfied with T--Mobile so I'll more than likely stay on. I'm
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>http://support.t-mobile.com/knowbase/root/public/tm22037.htm
>This list also helps you decide which phone has international coverage.

The problem is that band coverage capabilities can be altered depending on
the specifications of the carrier that is selling them. In the early days
of GSM850, T-Mobile was known to intentionally disable the 850 band in
dual-band phones. With Motorola phones you can usually undo this with a
data cable, and appropriate software to do a simple seem edit. But there
are soooo many choices available now, it probably isn't worth the trouble
just for that purpose alone.

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