bluetooth phones/gprs in Australia

aussiechick · 04-30-05, 01:22 AM

Some friends have smartphones and I'm slightly regretting I didn't do the same thing instead of getting the X50v. Of course, the X50v craps on their smartphones in other departments

They are connected with gprs all the time for pathetically cheap rates.

My mobile is dying so I think I'll splash out on a bluetooth phone so I can play on the internet with the X50v too!

What mobiles are other Aussies using and who are you connected with and what sort of plans?

stumonster · 04-30-05, 02:48 AM

If you can get a phone with EDGE rather than GPRS you will be happier.
http://www.mobile-phones-uk.org.uk/gprs.htm
Much better speed when EDGE is available , but can use GPRS when it is not.

in my opinion a PDA and seperate phone is a better idea.

rob1303 · 04-30-05, 02:51 AM

I have a 6230, I am cvo nected with Optus, on a plan through the company I work for - it is NOT cheap.

I am interested in your friends 'pathetically cheap rates' who are they with?

Hopefully it is not with '3' as that isn't the internet

G M Fude · 04-30-05, 05:02 AM

Same as Rob, a Nokia 6230; but connected via AAPT (and thence Vodafone). Not cheap. Already been "spoken to" by the boss for racking up a decent mobile bill which was largely GPRS data charges. Geez, I hardly used the damned thing. Oh well...

Master_Scythe · 04-30-05, 05:23 AM

Nokia N-gage.

Its not great for gaming, but the best phone i've ever used in my life for features! and i'm with virgin, however will be going to vodaphone caus its 2c per KB on GPRS. so yes

and i'm pretty sure its like $8 for 20mb a month or something, i dunno, look at vodas website to see whats up.

ppt · 04-30-05, 06:27 AM

those vodafone capped plans incl GPRS as well, so maybe u can consider switching to one of those

aussiechick · 04-30-05, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by rob1303

I am interested in your friends 'pathetically cheap rates' who are they with?

Hopefully it is not with '3' as that isn't the internet

One is on a Vodafone capped plan. He pays $79.00 per month and gets a certain amount of calls and data. He always seems to be on the phone when I see him and is overseas alot and he says he hasn't reached his limit since he has been with Vodafone.

Other friend is connected thru his work but he says his calls on GPRS can be only $0.02c per minute! It varies slightly because it is based on data rather than per second call rates - I think that is how he explained it. He says his workplace pays approx $50.00 per month which includes the smartphone payment/lease per unit. But it is a large company with many of these phones.

Hey, I hear you can save mega $$$$$ with '3'.........cause you can't make calls thru lack of coverage

aussiechick · 04-30-05, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by G M Fude

Same as Rob, a Nokia 6230; but connected via AAPT (and thence Vodafone). Not cheap. Already been "spoken to" by the boss for racking up a decent mobile bill which was largely GPRS data charges. Geez, I hardly used the damned thing. Oh well...

So you can connect via GPRS with the 6230? I just checked it out on the Nokia page and it says "Stay connected almost anywhere in the world with Tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900." It certainly looks like a nice phone.

Master_Scythe · 04-30-05, 07:46 AM

no, 3 has the same coverage. it uses both telstra and optus towers for voice calls and optus towers for GPRS, the 'loss of coverage' you speak of, is for 3 video areas, but even those are around a fair bit....

rob1303 · 04-30-05, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by aussiechick

So you can connect via GPRS with the 6230? I just checked it out on the Nokia page and it says "Stay connected almost anywhere in the world with Tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900." It certainly looks like a nice phone.

Yes you connect using GPRS - it also haas EDGE (mentioned by the second poster) but I don't know of anyone offering that connection presently in Australia

(although I am no expert) - anyone else know?

aussiechick · 04-30-05, 07:48 PM

GM Fude and Rob, how much data (in kb terms) were you doing with gprs when you say it isn't cheap? I really don't think I'd be surfing the net too often (other than to prove I can do it once or twice

) but would do a few emails here and there.

Do you use the speakerphone on the 6230? If so, how do you find it? I hate hands free set ups although I've never tried a bluetooth headpiece...maybe that would make it ok.

G M Fude · 04-30-05, 08:40 PM

Good question, AC, and I don't know how much data it was. I was travelling at the time and sent a few e-mails and got some information off web sites over a period of a week. To be fair, I think there was a fair bit of data. Certainly AAPT thought so when they sent the bill!

I have inadvertently activated the speakerphone function and don't like it at all. The only time I really want hands free is in the car and I have a Blueant SuperTooth for that, which is an absolute no-brainer to use.

I really like my 6230; if only I could figure out how to deactivate the bloody screensaver function. Screensaver? WTF? It's an LCD screen...

EDIT: addd the SuperTooth link

rob1303 · 05-01-05, 02:24 AM

Originally Posted by G M Fude

I really like my 6230; if only I could figure out how to deactivate the bloody screensaver function. Screensaver? WTF? It's an LCD screen...

What screensaver function

my screen just goes dim - is that what you mean?

Sorry no idea how much data it was either

- also I do not use the speakerphone.

Not much help there was I

G M Fude · 05-01-05, 04:43 AM

Originally Posted by rob1303

What screensaver function

my screen just goes dim - is that what you mean?

My screen dims after 30 seconds or so, then after a minute or two the normal display is replaced by a band about one-fifth of the screen height which has the time shown in it. Useless. I believe it is referred to by Nokia as a screensaver. This band with the digital time moves up and down the screen at intervals.

Scenario: I duck out of my office for a few minutes to get a coffee or whatever, temporarily leaving the 6230 on my desk. In the meantime, a call comes in, or an SMS. This is noted on the display... but of course by the time I get back, the display has blanked to this stupid digital clock. So in this instance the phone does not actually notify me of incoming messages. And it happens on average twice a week. Yes I guess I could carry the phone everywhere but there would not be a problem if the display did not go into the screensaver mode. I've searched the menus for a way to deactivate it, and even RTFM twice.

Arghhh...

rob1303 · 05-01-05, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by G M Fude

My screen dims after 30 seconds or so, then after a minute or two the normal display is replaced by a band about one-fifth of the screen height which has the time shown in it. Useless. I believe it is referred to by Nokia as a screensaver. This band with the digital time moves up and down the screen at intervals.

yes mine does that too.

I don't find it a problem though as I just press the d-pad to deactivate it to check if I have a message - I am picking the phone up anyway so it doesn't take a lot of work to just hit that button with my thumb

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