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about to buy 9290: a few questions

1 replies · 2,159 views · Started 19 June 2004

hello,

i've just spent about 20 hours researching smartphones with qwerty for use primarily in the US. the 9290 seems like a pretty awesome machine, given that i can get it for $50 at http://www.tm.intelenetwireless.com/.

but i have a few questions that go beyond any of the spec sheets and reviews i've read. t-mobile knows nothing about the phone, since they don't sell it, and intelenet knows nothing about it despite the fact that they do sell it....

1. is there a gprs add-on?

2. if not, i'm wondering how the internet functionality works. do i use t-mobile's internet data service? or do i use my voice minutes and dial in somewhere? intelent tried to tell me that i have to purchase t-mobile's service AND contract with a "mobile internet provider". what's that?

3. also, i don't have fancy needs and i'm not wanting to spend a lot of time downloading software and customizing. what i want is: constant sync with outlook (contacts, to-do, and calendar), carry around a few word docs that i use a lot, lots of phone, and some pop email. VERY occasional web access. how much wrangling is it going to take to get this machine to do those things?

4. none of the spec sheets say anything about the headphone jack. will it take 2.5mm or is there an adapter?

5. given this is a gps phone, does it have the chip thing so that you can take it to other countries & buy a local SIM and use it? or does it have to have "tri-band"?

6. also is there any hackerish way to have two cell phones hooked up to the same phone number. doesn't seem like the carriers want you to do this, but it would be nice not to always have the 6"er with me...

thanks so much,

violet

1 No gprs add on

2 Internet is slow (something like 9.6 but depends on your network)

3 Not much look round on here you will find what you are looking for

4 No but with a bit of skill you can make one

5 9290 as far as I know only works on the 1900mhz, so you can't use it anywhere
else but the US and Canada

6 Not sure but would have to say no

All in all your best bet would be to buy a P800/900 or a XDA 2 ( or what ever you call it in the US) as there have the tri-band which is a must now days or if you wait till the end of the year the new 9510 is out which is tri-band and have a few more bits on it.