Time for a new phone! Where to buy...

shizzle · 07-05-2005, 03:50 PM

I am under contract with Cingular, but am not yet eligible for an upgrade (ie contract extension). I have been looking on ebay and howard forums, but was wondering if anyone knew of any great deals or good reputable sellers. I am not looking for top of the line because I can't really afford it. I am kinda leaning toward the Nokia 6230, but anything with similar features at a good price will be considered. So far ebay seems to have the best prices, but I was hoping for a few recommendations before I jump for it.
Thanks

Rafster · 07-05-2005, 06:12 PM

The 6230 is a great phone, I used to have it before I bought myself an mpx220 on E-bay. Even though there have been a lot of problems with this model, I have not had any since I upgraded the Firmware on it.

What kind of features do you want on the phone?

Bluetooth?
Speakerphone?
Quad Band?
Camera? What quality?
Video?
IR?
High Speed Internet (Edge) or just GPRS?
Expandable Memory?

Let me know, and I will help you find a perfect phone for you.

Peace,

Rafster

shizzle · 07-05-2005, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Bluetooth?
Speakerphone?
Quad Band?
Camera? What quality?
Video?
IR?
High Speed Internet (Edge) or just GPRS?
Expandable Memory?

I dont know if I need quad band, as long as it works in the US. Bluetooth is a must. Speakerphone...eh whatever. I dont have to have photo/video capability, however, I really like the digital music/ removable storage of the 6230. That is one of the reasons I like that phone, but of course I would also not like to spend an arm and a leg... so it isnt necessary. I am open to many phones, I really have just had trouble finding a good place to purchase them.
Is this a good deal (ebay), or a rip off? Cause I see the same phone from other places, LOCKED, for $450! I am just a little apprehensive to buy, you know?

Peoples · 07-05-2005, 08:45 PM

well besides the fact that the photo is definatly photochopped.....i couldnt tell you

Rafster · 07-05-2005, 08:49 PM

I would recommend a couple of phones to you though.

If you want to use PhoCo, look at his site and see which of these phones are compatible:

*Nokia 6230
*Motorola MPx220
*Motorola V551
Sharp GX-30/32
*Sony Ericsson S710A
*Sony Ericsson T637
*Nokia 6670
*Nokia 6682
*Nokia 6620
*Nokia 6820
*Panasonic X70

Also, make sure that whatever phone you pick has at least 850/1800/1900 Bands. Cingular will soon aquire the 850MHz frequency giving users much better reception everywhere. Cingular: Raising the Bar (Uh-Oh, is that a comercial?

)

There are

850/1900 Dual Band
900/1900 Dualband
850/1800/1900 Triband
900/1800/1900 Triband
850/900/1800/1900 Quadband (Mostly Motorolas and PDA Phones)

Right now the US uses the 1900MHz frequency. 850MHz was used by AT&T, and will soon be coming Cingular. 900 is I believe for Asia. And 1800 is for Europe I believe.

As long as you have 850 or 1900 where you live, you know what you need to get. What you should do is call Cingular, and ask them to do a check as to which frequency is stronger where you live. If they say they're both about equal, get an 850/1800/1900 phone. If they say 1900 is stronger, any phone with the 1900Mhz frequency will do. That includes T-mobile phones also.

Hope this helps.

Peace,

Rafster

P.S. The phones w/ stars, I have tested and think that they are really good phones. If you want specific info on any phone, go to www.phonescoop.com and type the model number into the top right search field.

shizzle · 07-06-2005, 04:29 AM

Thanks a bunch for your help; that link is usefull! Now I just gotta find the best deal. Any finds are appreciated, but ebay seems to have the lowest prices.
Thanks again!

amthar · 07-06-2005, 01:56 PM

While waiting an hour in a local cingular store for service, customers tend to band together and try and help each other out

A guy there told me about younevercall.com as an excellent source for cheap phones. He also said the phone he bought had a rebate, he called them, said he didn't want to do the rebate and that he just wanted that amount knocked off of the price, and they said ok.

I have never ordered from them, so I can't vouch for them, but this guy was happy.

Obviously, be careful of getting a "locked" phone from wherever you get it, I had this problem. $20 and a week later it was fixed, but it was a hassle. Also be aware that if you do not get a phone FROM cingular, some of your features may not work as your phone's settings will not be provisioned properly.

0l33l · 07-06-2005, 02:14 PM

Amazon has the best deals on phones IMO. By purchasign 2 v551 phones there, I get $150 reward.

What I'm getting on thursday from amazon: 2 v551 phones and 1 s710a ($100 after rebates).

RoyN · 07-06-2005, 02:46 PM

You can usually get an unlocked phone and take it to a store from your provider, like a Cingular or TMo store and have them program for you the features... if they are ignorant, most info to setup MMS, GPRS, and other services is on the net...

Also, Sony Ericsson phones, for example, have OTA settings (Over-the-air) through their website... some providers can also send settings to your phone even if it isnt a phone branded by them...

I always try to get unlocked, never locked phones (so basically I want a pure motorola phone, not a Motorola T-Mobile Unlocked phone...) that way I dont have any software restrictions that the providers often throw in.... with most motos, however, you can very easily flash the phone to other firmwares... some SEs also have this I think (like p9xxs)

amthar · 07-06-2005, 03:00 PM

ooo.. now I'm interested. I got a mot. v600 off of ebay for a steal, but it was AT&T locked. Had it unlocked by a guy. My MMS does not work and I would love to have my AOL IM app back on it instead of this mMode crapola. You think I can take this into the cingular store and have them fix it? I thought they would cane me for doing this

RoyN · 07-06-2005, 03:04 PM

no i dont think cingular would reflash the whole phone for you...

motorola service centers flash the phone to the latest firmware...

you can also get the data cables and software and do it yourself (read on howardforums.com if you need info)

What the cingular store *could* do was program your stuff for the mms to work, for example... the IP, APN, etc... but i dont think they'll flash... especially afte a guy in a cingular store (rep) told me "it is illegal in this country to unlock a phone"... yeah right mate.... but what can I tell him, I'm just a foreigner, going in to the store to give him some money to pay his salary! hahaha but no, the idiots think they own the world... anyways, I wouldnt go to cing for help... try Motorola service center, give them a call, maybe there is one close by that will flash for a small fee

shizzle · 07-06-2005, 05:33 PM

I had problems with my last moto phone, and cingular was no help for the first two times I called. The third time I called I got a really helpful guy, who flashed my firmware (sent it over, all I had to do was turn the phone off and on) and it fixed everything. So I think it just depends on the service rep... you know, it would be much better if Rafster just answered every time I called customer service!
Thanks for the help everyone.
Peace

Shizzle

Rafster · 07-06-2005, 07:09 PM

Hehe, thanks for your vote of confidence.

Yeah, the 6230 is a great phone. It basically has everything that you are insterested in.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...786767820&rd=1

This seems like a reletively good deal.

Peace,

Rafster

BTW, you have PM!

BoyNextDoor · 07-06-2005, 07:49 PM

I just bought a 6230 on ebay. Waiting to get it. Now. Which provider? t-mobile, or cingular? And keep in mind, that i need internet (for free)

stapan · 07-06-2005, 08:05 PM

My verizon contract just expired and I'm trying to decide as well between verizon and cingular. supposedly verizon is cracking down on people using free laptop/nonphone internet. does anyone here know if thats true or have some thoughts on verizon vs cingular for carputer internet? I heard t-mobile sucks for coverage etc (and same with sprint) so I am avoiding them for the time being.

fyi, just got back from the verizon store and was quoted $59.95 a month for basic nonphone/laptop internet, or $80 a month for EVDO internet. I was about to get the new e815 till I was quoted these crazy prices.