5400 / 5500 a phone...REALLY?

xboxlord · 02-01-04, 06:38 PM

There has been some speculation about the SIM slot underneath the battery on the 5400 and 5500 series iPAQs.

I have posted about this before, but couldn't find the thread to ask again. So here goes:

Has anyone with a 5400 or 5500 iPAQ successfully inserted a SIM card and found some mobile phone software to activelyuse the iPAQ as a phone? I know the microphone and speaker are positioned perfectly, and the headphone jack doubles to use a headset, so that isn't an issue.

I would test it with my Rogers AT&T SIM card, but I still have the warranty on my refurb model for 11 more months. Has anyone tried this? Or heard anything about it?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

buckyg · 02-01-04, 09:46 PM

My understanding is that the SIM slot is non-functional. I don't recall if I read this here or on another site like Brighthand or PocketPCThoughts. You might want to search there.

xboxlord · 02-01-04, 10:43 PM

Anyone actually test it?

xboxlord · 02-02-04, 10:41 AM

Anyone?

tacsat · 02-02-04, 03:13 PM

One of these days someone will come forward.... but it looks like we are all waiting for the warranty to run out.

bjl84 · 02-02-04, 03:42 PM

i Tried on my ipaq and it does nothing If it was a phone there would have to be a imei number somewhere. go into asset viewer nothing about gsm . it would have a gsm tab in the asset viewer if there was any thing about a phone. I Have also took my ipaq apart before and there is no chipset for gsm communications.

xboxlord · 02-02-04, 04:47 PM

Hmm. That sucks, we'll just have to see if HP releases any accessories to make it capable of being used, or if yuo can send it in to them for wiring to a SIM chip. Hmmm..this could get interesting.

Matrix13 · 02-04-04, 06:16 PM

I hope one of these days HP does come out with something that changes this into a phone as well. I am currently using the T-mobile PocketPC Phone and am happy with it but this HP Unit has Bluetooth and Wireless which is to attractive.

xboxlord · 02-04-04, 07:25 PM

I just don't see why they would put that slot in the unit. There is probably a way to modify the unit so that it does get power and is connected to the motherboard. Would be great if someone would write a tutorial, or if PocketPCTechs could provide some sort of service on this matter. This topic could get very interesting...

wilbur101uk · 08-09-04, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by xboxlord

I just don't see why they would put that slot in the unit. There is probably a way to modify the unit so that it does get power and is connected to the motherboard. Would be great if someone would write a tutorial, or if PocketPCTechs could provide some sort of service on this matter. This topic could get very interesting...

Anyone tried one of these: Audiovox Tri-Band GSM/GPRS CF Card

happycheesecake · 08-11-04, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by xboxlord

I just don't see why they would put that slot in the unit. There is probably a way to modify the unit so that it does get power and is connected to the motherboard. Would be great if someone would write a tutorial, or if PocketPCTechs could provide some sort of service on this matter. This topic could get very interesting...

Thanks XBox, just as I wanted to settle down for a nice quiet evening of doing nothing, now I'm going to search the web for the reason for this...

Yes, thats my 5550 with its back off and an Orange UK sim card stuffed in the slot. But no, I didn't remove the warranty label... yet

DPATelecom · 08-16-04, 09:48 AM

I have a 5550 and asked the same question. I am the Telecom Analyst in the Techincal Support Center for a major cellular carrier, and I can assure you that it does not work. I believe the newer version 6XXX something has the capability, but it is using the same exterior casing as the 5500 series. There is no connection contacts to get to the info on the SIM.

happycheesecake · 08-17-04, 11:26 AM

Some news folks - I've found a 5550 that doesn't have the sticker over the so-called sim socket - instead it has a white sim-shaped blank piece of plastic thats removable... And yes, there is a full set of six pins on the socket - on his 5550 anyway...

Unfortunately the owner has had to send it away to be repaired as the reset button doesn't work, however when he gets it back I'll take some pictures...

emtownsend · 08-18-04, 01:23 PM

I wonder if someone like this: http://www.pocketpcpower.net/pce2000_ipaq_mods.htm
can do the trick?

yogesh · 08-31-04, 03:20 PM

FYI,
The truth is 55xx series was suppose to be launched as a PDA phone, eg. 63xx series, but when the unit was in manufacturing, no mobile company was ready to support this unit with the carrier service to HP.(like T-mobile is doing now a days with 63xx series), may be HP thought one day they will be able to utilise that slot for sim card to fit in and use the iPAQ as phone.
But when tested me found that the slot is inactive internally as well, HP provided dummy cards with iPAQ to use in the slots.

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iPAQ 5xxx series - Talk about the HP iPAQ 5xxx Series (54xx/55xx)