Hey Treo Users!

[sUnShInE]

Hey Dudes,

I'm starting a new job in a couple of weeks, and rather than use a BB, I think I'm gonna come back to the world of Palm. Or so I think. This is where you come in.

US consumers, I'm looking for your advice on the best Treo and cell carrier. I recall that Bob had some nightmare with Verizon when he first got his. Add to this that I've heard that Verizon randomly shuts down accounts when they deem that people are sucking bandwidth up. I simply can't have that happen. Intel?

I'm going to be traveling quite a bit, mostly internationally, with my MacBook Pro. I will more than likely be using the Treo via BT as a modem. If anyone has experience with this, holler.

Also, if anyone has experience with Treo's and TMobile, holler. I'll be heading over to HoFo soon, but wanted to word from my buds here first.

Tell it to me straight, doc. I can take it.


Happy New Year,

sUnShInE

[Bob Russell]

Good memory! Yes, Verizon is more expensive for the unlimited data plan, and they don't allow streaming in their terms of service, and they are reported to be shutting down heavy users, as well as threatening to increase prices or introduce various unlimited use tiers. I'm not that heavy a user, but I don't want to worry about any of that stuff, so I went with Sprint.

Sprint has been great, but I don't think I'd sign up for the additional tv stations. I got the one with NFL Network and FOX news and a few others in addition to the base stations with the data plan, but I don't watch much and NFL network seems to black out some of the games they carry. Also not too interesting in the off season. Sprint SMS charges are rediculous, but I don't have too many of those messages, and I'm sure there's a bulk plan if it's necessary.

Verizon allowed you to change plans anytime you want, which was nice. Sprint has some plans that have unlimited calling after 7pm, which is nice. Data coverage has been great in my area with Sprint, and I think Sprint has a slight advantage for data coverage over Verizon. Call coverage has been as good as Verizon also.

If you want to tether your laptop legitimately, then there's probably not a big difference in Sprint v Verizon costs. But if you only want unlimited data I think Sprint is cheaper. They both get you committed for 2 yrs if you want a discount on your phone.

Don't know anything about Cingular except that my impression was that they are more expensive.

I don't know if that is the sort of thing you are asking for, but maybe it will get the discussion started. Caveat: It's been about 6 mos since I was looking, so don't know if any or all of this has changed in the meantime.

Congrats on the new job! BTW, if it's a big company, be sure to check on a corporate employee discount with whatever carrier you choose. It can be significant if you are in a large company. (And check to see if the discount applies to the full bill or just voice plans.) Good luck!

[minimalposter]

I don't post over here much and I don't even own a Treo. I know -- very helpful so far

If you are going to be traveling internationally I would think a GSM Treo -- especially an unlocked one -- would be the best bet. That way you can purchase SIMs in the country that you are currently in for business which is much, much cheaper then using Cingular or T-Mobile's roaming prices. I am not too sure about how using data internationally would work ...

As far as Cingular/T-Mobile I agree HoFo is a great place to start. Although I did just read (Brighthand I believe) that the 680 is NOT going to be launched on T-Mobile and that the 750 is coming to Cingular next week (at least announced next week at CES).

If you have travel questions I think flyertalk.com is the best site for travel. They have a great travel and technology forum!

And congrats on the new job!

[sUnShInE]

Thanks for the replies guys. It's weird, but it doesn't seem like the folks at HoFo are very helpful. Everyone seems focused on phones, and not as much on handhelds.

Ludites!

Interesting notes on the carrier situation. I knew you'd have insights Bob. I'll def have to do some more investigating and check out Sprint. One thing that pissed me off about them though. There's apparently a wireless card out there that is rumored to work with MBP's via a driver some random guy wrote. I'm a little nervous about trying it though. I talked to a few different Sprint CSRs and they all seem to be programmed to shut down when you mention the word 'Macintosh'!

I've also read on a Mac forum that unfortunately a Win device would be better for my tethering set up. Isn't that bizarre? Mac users pimping M$ stuff! I'm not crazy about PPC's. at. all. Though I think I could be convinced (cough: Alex).

As far as sim cards go, I usually swap my sim once I get where I'm going, which in the past has only been random travel. I think I might invest in a United Mobile sim (formerly Riing) which gives you a Lichtenstein phone number that is accessible all over the world. The outgoing rate is typically .39 euro for international roaming, no matter the country. This is obviously much better than $1/min, not to mention having to give out a new number every week! The only thing I don't know, like minimalposter points out, is how/if it works for data.

We're not a horribly big company, which has its advantages and disadvantages. We have a corporate account that gives us a pretty good deal with TMo, but I'm also free to do my own thang. TMo doesn't readily support Treos afaik, which isn't a huge deal, but that means that I won't get a bargain price out of them.

If I find out more, I'll ring back (tee hee). If I wind up with a functioning pcmia card, it may just be that I wind up dividing the kitty and having my phone and my computer on different networks.

My deal is that I like to get value for money. So I do fun things like piss off the travel agent by finding better/cheaper flights and hotels that cut into her commish. It might be a disease. Anyway, I'm trying to find the best dealio with a device too, though it's starting to become painful.



The search continues...I'll let you know where I land. If anyone has other thoughts, shout please.

[Dick Tracy]

If you are to be travelling internationally your carrier choices will be Cingular (at&t) or T-Mobile. T-Mo does not presently sell Treos so you will likely have to purchase an unlocked 680 directly from Palm or find a gently used unlocked 650. You may get lucky and find someone selling an unlocked 680 at TreoCentral (especially among the members who change phones every few months).

Best discussion/support is TreoCentral.com, also check Brighthand.com.

Good luck on the new job.

[chuck94022]

Hi Sunshine,

I travel monthly to Asia. I use a Treo with Cingular service. You can't swap SIM cards on Verizon or Sprint based Treos, so that option is out.

When you get your Treo from Cingular it will be locked. However, there are plenty of third party companies that will unlock your phone for a fee, and it will not affect your support from Cingular. Here in the SF Bay Area, I was able to do it through Mobile Kangaroo for $35.

Once you have been under contract for a period of time with Cingular, they may provide you with an unlock code. But don't hold your breath.

I'm happy with my Cingular Treo 650. However, I'm probably going to upgrade to the new Treo 750 running Windows Mobile. To me, a Palm device without Graffiti is just another embedded OS device. I hate to say it but I see no value in Palm over Windows Mobile these days. More important to me is the 3G capability (UMTS) of the new Treo 750.

Given my willingness to abandon Palm, I did consider the new Blackjack. But I prefer a long battery life, which the Treo provides.

Good luck!

-chuck

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by chuck94022

However, there are plenty of third party companies that will unlock your phone for a fee, and it will not affect your support from Cingular.

Thanks for this bit of info, chuck94022 -- I had no idea this could be done, and I'm rather excited about the notion.