Cell phone question

[Gary_in_Indiana]

This is a totally UNrelated question except that I always make sure I have my cell phone with me on my tractor just in case of an emergency. With hope that this post won't be deleted based on that very thin connection, here's my question.

Does anyone know of a TDMA phone that also has the Palm Pilot features? Kyocera makes phones which double as a PDA but they are CDMA and GSM only. My carrier is on the TDMA protocol.

Thanks in advance to the moderators for leaving this if they will and to anyone who can help me with this.

 

[Inspector507]

Gary,
What Palm features are you needing?
The TDMA phone I use has a datebook(calendar), phone book, Calculator, web browser.......

Jerry

 

[MikePA]

Gary, according to the these.

Also, <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.attws.com/mmode/devices/sx56.jhtml>ATT has a PocketPC</A> version. In our area, ATT has far and away the best coverage. Plus ATT is switching to GSM, which is what this phone-organizer uses. Perhaps a better long term choice.

 

[looch]

Gary, Up here, TDMA is on its way out. CDMA won that contest, and the carriers using TDMA will be switching over to GSM. All this in preparation for G3 (or 2.5 - depending on who you talk to). I'd be kind of leary against spending a significant amount of money on ANY cell phone technology right now.

Paul

 

[MarkV]

OK, someone tell me what the TDMA, CDMA, GSM, etc. means. I’ve been working on English for more than 50 years and now all the new technology has started a new language. I don’t think I’ll ever catch up. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif Thanks in advance.

MarkV

 

[MikePA]

TDMA, CDMA, GSM are all acronyms for the protocols the phones use to establish a connection, either voice or data or both.

 

[gws]

Re: Cell phone question

Welcome to the world of TLA (three letter acronyms, or 4 or 5).

Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)
Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)
Groupe Spécial Mobile (GSM)

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I just found out yesterday that the carrier I use is going to GSM "in March," which, given the way the do other things probably means about a year from now. Apparently they're going to accomodate TDMA and GSM for quite some time to come because of their huge TDMA phone owning customer base. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I did find a phone which is TDMA and GSM compatible but it lacks the Palm features I want. Anyone know of any that have all three features? That would be the perfect set up for me. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I FOUND IT! Check <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.racowireless.com/handspringtreo.htm>this</A> out!

TDMA/GSM with Palm features and full connectivity to my PC's Palm program. Apparently it even functions as a speakerphone like the Nextel.

 

[MikePA]

Gary, I went to that page and I didn't see anything that indicates the Treo works with a TDMA network. I also went to the Handspring web site and didn't see any reference to the TDMA supoprt either. Perhaps I missed something?

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

No, Mike, it's me. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif Last night when I read that I somehow managed to misread the "900 MHz" as "800 MHz" and that was the difference. That phone (must to my dismay) will NOT work with my TDMA service as 900 MHz is CDMA and I needed 800 MHz for TDMA. /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif

Well, back to the drawing board. /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

 

[MikePA]

I've seen phones that are dual band TDMA and GSM, but they don't have the Palm feature. /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif It looks like the phones that incorporate a PDA (Palm or PocketPC) are GSM/GPRS only which can mean really limited voice service.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I spoke with some people over at my cellular carrier's office and one thing they said was one of the reasons they're hoping to go to GSM is because of the ever decreasing choices in equipment for customers. Mine was not the only request for a phone with Palm features, apparently.

I'd switch carriers in a minute if another one offered unlimited free incoming calls like this one does. I've gotten to the point where I have my two business lines forwarded to my cell phone even when I'm at my desk. It's easier when I'm outside not having to carry a cordless phone when I can just keep the cell in my pocket with the hands-free clipped to my collar. Currently I'm using about 3000 minutes monthly and less than 300 of them are outgoing calls so my bills are only in the low $30's each month. I'd double that with another carrier at this point.

For now it looks like I'm stuck with the phone I have. /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif Thanks for the input, everyone. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif