Cingular palmOne Treo 650 Out With EDGE

Out of the box it does have the few rom updates. However Bluetooth DUN is missing, there is a patch on shadowmite's website to enable it.

Perhaps the unlimited data plan of $20/month requires being added to a voice plan, the cheapest of which looks like $25/month, for a total of $45 per month (minus a penny or two).

Unless there is a difference in data plans? Are all data plans EDGE?

All data plans arent EDGE. But they all are GPRS. That is how I understand it. That and my T616 cannot use EDGE because it does not support it. But it does support GPRS so I can deal with a max speed fo 113kbps (usually around 60-70) for doing mobile tasks.

antoinerjwright.com

>Perhaps the unlimited data plan of $20/month requires being
>added to a voice plan, the cheapest of which looks like
>$25/month, for a total of $45 per month (minus a penny or two).

I thought about that, but then checked and the release said $49.99, not $45.

Also, while it's possible that $19.99 is a GPRS-only (not EDGE) price, I got that price from the PalmOne web site while looking up service plans for the Treo 650. So I would expect that (since it didn't say otherwise, and it didn't offer any alternatives) they meant $19.99 was the price for unlimited EDGE data on the 650.

I guess in time we'll find out as people start signing up. Cingular's own web site still doesn't even show the 650 in their phone offerings.

Does anyone know if the unlocked version supports EDGE?

Thanks,

Murad

Are you certain the Cingular model is locked?

all indications (from reporte/rumors?and those who got it already) so far is that the cingular phones are locked. right now, you cant even use it with att. att will sell you its locked version.

also, the phone supoorts edge. they dont strip it out to sell an unbranded/unlocked one.

...But before you EVEN use the phone on T-Mobile, you should definitely call T-Mobile to see if the Treo 650 will work well with T-Mobile's networks. Some GSM Networks may or may not fully support the Treo 650.

Powered by Palm OS since March 2002

'the phone supoorts edge. they dont strip it out to sell an unbranded/unlocked one'

So... EDGE was added by Cingular? I will be listening for limitations by being locked, it is a bit confusing. And Cingular says they are the same company as AT&T now, virtual interoperability. Which must be BS if one must get different phones.

edge, is slowly rolling out.

right now, the merger isn't complete. they still have seperate system for everything.

some ppl have ported there number over to the other system (cing to att or att to cing) to get a cheaper price on the 650. :)

This is from PalmOne's website:

"Our "unlocked" GSM Treo™ 650 smartphone works with almost any GSM/GPRS network worldwide, so you can use it with your existing GSM/GPRS service plan. Or use it overseas with additional international service from your service provider or a new SIM from an international service provider. Perfect for the frequent international traveler.

NOTE: Please call your mobile phone service provider to make sure their service is compatible with phones that run on the GSM/GPRS network before purchasing an unlocked GSM Treo 650 smartphone.

Why an unlocked GSM Treo smartphone costs more:
Through an agreement with service providers, we are able to give a significant discount to customers who get a new phone line and sign up for a one-year service contract when they purchase a Treo smartphone. However, when you purchase an unlocked GSM Treo smartphone, you are purchasing it without a service plan or contract. As a result, we are unable to provide a new activation discount.

* Additional data services from your mobile service provider may be required in order to use your Treo smartphone's email and web functions. Please check with your service provider regarding pricing and availability."

Now, what bothers me are 2 things:

1. If I don't want to commit to another 2 years, a unit is $549 (Locked to Cingular). If there is no service plan add-on, why do we still pay an extra $50?

2. Nothing is said about EDGE. :-(

That being said, the Datasheet does mention supporting GSM EDGE without mentioning Cingular in the same sentence. :-)

While Cingular and AT&T are 'the same company' if you want to change from an AT&T plan to a Cingular plan, there is a small 'contract termination' fee and you have to get a new phone in most cases.

The description in Dutch (GSM 650 unlocked) does mention Edge support, though a note says it needs an EDGE supporing service plan, as it mentions it for GPRS. http://euro.palmone.com/nl/nl/products/treo650/index.html

Question: where would you setup the Treo 650 for Edge? Under Pefs/Networks? Mine does not mention Edge, just GPRS, ISDN (?!) and wirelss dial-up.

Is an iDEN-based Treo likely, given the Sprint-NexTel merger (not to mention the lack of PTT on the 650)? And whatever order you put these in, make sure that Verizon is last - they have the most stringent tests for putting a phone on their network.

Carriers can be a real pain sometimes...

I'd wager T-Mobile to be next on that list by far. Verizon is definitely at the bottom of the list--they just started carrying the ancient Treo 600 in the 2nd half of '04 fer cryin' out loud!

So for all of us miserable CDMA/VZW users with no other alternative, I'd expect Verizon to launch a 650 this fall (at the soonest) after the hubbub of their E815 Moto & EVDO launch.

http://www.evdo-info.com/

i think verizon will come, just at there pace.

t-mo is rumored to be march/april or even may.

>>"...the only ones left are Nextel, Verizon, and T-Mobile. I hope palmOne will work with Motorola to obtain an iDEN License soon so that a Treo will be operable on Nextel's and Southern Linc's iDEN Networks."<<

If you mean the only providers left in the market, that would be incorrect. You left Sprint out and they are a viable competitor. They are the first CDMA carrier with both a cameraless and standard 650. Also, they are buying out Nextel. That will leave Verizon, Sprint, and Cingular as the only major (national) carriers in the U.S.

If you mean that these are the only ones left who don't yet carry the 650, you would be correct. I don't anticipate Nextel ever carrying it, however, as their networks are very specialized, and there doesn't appear to be a 650 (now or on the horizon) with iDen push to talk.

_________________
Sean

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.

Cingular had a link up today at http://www.cingular.com/treo650/
but now it is gone. It listed the "New palmOne Treo 650 - Just $399.88 online - Now with EDGE & Bluetooth".

The $399.99 price was after a $50 mailin rebate.

Point is you may want to how off ordering the higher priced one at PalmOne's site.

It appears that they don't either site ready for primetime.

Wouldn't it be great to have a company announce something and have it actually available for purchase at that time.

Carl Brooks
http://www.palmloyal.com

PalmOne's site last night seemed to work all the way to the end. Happy to take your order. Full price and never allowed any discounts. I called and they said they expect to ship in one to two weeks.
Called Cingular and they didn't have it in their computer at all. But were happy to sell me a 600 for 50 bucks off the 399 price. I called again... and again till I got someone less stiff and would look a little further. It appears that 'shipping' is based on where your zip code is at. Give Cingular a zip code in Washington or Oregon and it appears that the 650 doesn't come up as an option. Put in California and you can get a phone.

-----------------
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You can buy it at singapore's site:

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They deliver worldwide in 2 days, TOP!