Database Users

When is o2 uk going to release the XDA mini?!

I have been patiently waiting for months now for this superb phone to come to o2 uk. I am already over due an upgrade but have been waiting untill the mini is available. But the wait is starting to annoy me and i am thinkin of jus leaving and going to t-mobile and picking up an MDA Compact. Anyone got any idea when the mini is coming to the uk? i have called o2 and they are as much help as a kick in the balls.
thaks,
Tom

Orange is releasing thier SPV M500 which is essentially a Jam, but it's also rumored it has 128mb RAM, may it's worth holding out a little bit longer for that

very interesting - if it does have 128mb of ram then it is definately worth waiting a bit for - but hopefully not too long! (i am a very impatient person!)

SPV M500
The SPV M500 is already available - I have one now, but alas it does not have 128mb Ram !

hmm if that's the case then i would still rather wait for the o2 XDA mini as i can probably get it cheaper as an upgrade an d i don't have the hastle of moving contracts etc. So any one got any idea when it is likely to be coming out?
Tom

welshtom said:
I have been patiently waiting for months now for this superb phone to come to o2 uk. I am already over due an upgrade but have been waiting untill the mini is available. But the wait is starting to annoy me and i am thinkin of jus leaving and going to t-mobile and picking up an MDA Compact. Anyone got any idea when the mini is coming to the uk? i have called o2 and they are as much help as a kick in the balls.
thaks,
Tom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not going to be released. Time for new devices

welshtom said:
I have been patiently waiting for months now for this superb phone to come to o2 uk. I am already over due an upgrade but have been waiting untill the mini is available. But the wait is starting to annoy me and i am thinkin of jus leaving and going to t-mobile and picking up an MDA Compact. Anyone got any idea when the mini is coming to the uk? i have called o2 and they are as much help as a kick in the balls.
thaks,
Tom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I spoke to O2 UK about this a few days ago and the guy on the phone said not to hold my breath waiting for it as they may not do it here in the UK!

I was with O2 and in the same position a few months back - eventually I went with an Orange contract and a Qtek S100 (2 year warranty) - the interesting part is that orange will match O2's '200' contract, so essentially you end up with the same deal as O2 with the benefits of Orange (241 cinema tickets are great) and a extra years warranty! You don't _need_ 128mb, the bigstorage conversion takes care of that! Compared to the XDA2 it's incredible - just as fast, the SIZE OF A PHONE (AT LAST) and battery life is far, far better (i no longer need to charge EVERY day).
Do it...
I bought mine from:
http://www.a1comms.co.uk/store/merchant-4-34-305-Phones.ihtml
..but do shop around. Sell you old device on ebay - i sold mine for 350ukp with a gps unit!
I see they're doing an O2 promotion right now - so you could stick with O2 and save some cash!
e.g.
"O2 200 with 50 messages + Promotion (12mths) £30 per month, phone cost £29.99"

Or do what i do.It takes forever for the companys here in the uk to get the decent phone,if ever so when your upgrae is due,get the best phone possible,sell it on e-bay then buy whatever phone sim free ie i mate jam :wink: that way you don't have to spend time removing all orange,o2 etc's crap off it.You can even sell the phone you got now too to raise more.Works every time for me! :wink: :twisted:

jaythemagician said:
Or do what i do.It takes forever for the companys here in the uk to get the decent phone,if ever so when your upgrae is due,get the best phone possible,sell it on e-bay then buy whatever phone sim free ie i mate jam :wink: that way you don't have to spend time removing all orange,o2 etc's crap off it.You can even sell the phone you got now too to raise more.Works every time for me! :wink: :twisted:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To not install the 'crap' just reset the device after windows setup, that way the extended rom isn't installed and you can do it by hand. I did the math and it would of cost me more to buy, sell and then buy again - remember you can drop your contract rate post-six months in which brings the cost down again. Besides, the problem is, that O2 do not offer the magician as an upgrade

right cheers for the replies guys - very interesting, i am shocked however that o2 is probably not going to realease this phone! big mistake in my opinion! looks like i had better give up waiting then and go do some searchin around and some maths to find the best deal i can!
thanks again,
Tom

i got my s100 on o2 100 for £39.99 and £25 a month contract,
a1comms.co.uk
great device (obviously not branded as o2 but its still the same)

Did I buy my MDA Vario too soon?

I just got my Vario, but now i am thinking that i should have waited for the Vario II (Hermes?). Have i made a mistake? Should i send it back under my 7 day return and wait?

aint being funny but i fink it looks crap...
http://www.newmobile.nl/eur/en/photos.php?phone_id=18fc907
i'd rather have the current Vario...as it's got style to it....that looks like a simple t mobile phone :roll: looks a bit blaah if u get me

Eh? I think it look pretty nice, better than the Vario I. And a 400Mhz CPU? I would not mind some of that.
What should i do?!

well the 200mhz aint bad....plays movies without a problem...music is fine...tom tom works; so it aint a bad phone...
but if your main concern is the CPU speed then go for it...

I think the hermes looks like a great device, an evolution on the current vario. If you can wait and afford the difference in price go for it, i'm sure it will be a cracking device.
Otherwise go for the vario, the hermes being available will not make the vario any less useful and there are already loads of hacks available for the vario.
A tough choice, but bear in mind even if you hold out for the hermes, there is always somethings bigger and better just around the corner.
whichever decision you make enjoy your device
R

No matter what phone you choose to buy, there will always be something better coming out on the horizon

mattucd said:
No matter what phone you choose to buy, there will always be something better coming out on the horizon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, but the when the device is coming out so soon (this month?) it might be worth waiting.

Where are you based ?
I just got a vario and asked about release date of vario 2 ... (Assuming you actally mean the vario rather than i-mate or xda mini S) then Germany will be getting it this month but the T-Mobile aren't planning on releasing it in the UK till Q3 (ie October at the earliest)
BTW isn't it a 300Mhz CPU rather than a 400 Mhz one ??
HTH

Too soon? You mean too late!
I've had mine for aaages now, i'm nearly ready for an upgrade!

Other than that rather tasty looking camera application on the Vario 2 i think the XDA Mini S looks far nicer, as an ex XDA IIi user im finding it very hard to fault the XDA Mini S at all, its a great phone.

The Front-side looks okay to me, but the keyboard is ugly as hell, I like the keyboard of the MDA Vario a whole lot more.

I'm also keeping an eye out for the hermes but i haven't heard anything about any official release dates. I'm leaning toward the Imate branded JasJam but no clue when its coming out. Anyone have an idea? also is its 3g/umts compatible with the Cingular 3g?

At last I heard, the Hermes will not be compatible with US 3G networks, but that may change by the release by Imate or Qtek.
A

hi, im also having the same dilemma, i currently have the imate JAMin and looking to get a device with a keyboard and im leaning towards the imate k-jam, but i am eagerly awaiting the release of the hermes or imate JASJAM.......i dont know if i should wait for the hermes or get the k-jam for now.......i have emailed and called the imate company in dubai and they advised me that they have no idea when this device will be released internationally......it is still under testing they said.....

irv777 said:
hi, im also having the same dilemma, i currently have the imate JAMin and looking to get a device with a keyboard and im leaning towards the imate k-jam, but i am eagerly awaiting the release of the hermes or imate JASJAM.......i dont know if i should wait for the hermes or get the k-jam for now.......i have emailed and called the imate company in dubai and they advised me that they have no idea when this device will be released internationally......it is still under testing they said.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm actually looking for an i-mate jamin and i currently have a vario (k-jam). i'd gladly trade mine for yours.

You dont say which country you are in so we can give you valid advice. The vario 2 has a 300mhz processor and uses a microsd slot - so 1gb max for now. It has a better camera but far as i can see does not have stereo speakers like the vario. If sound is a priority or if you already have a minisd card stick with the vario - otherwise go for the vario 2, i am certain that overall it is a better device. see here http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=41660

waiting can be fruitless
I've waited since November for the Nokia N80 to be released. It was always just around the corner. Now here we are in May and still no US N80. There are even rumors that it will not be released due to some G3 issue.
I wish I wouldn't have waited and just got the Cingular 8125 back in November. I could have been enjoying it the last six months.
Point is... you can drive yourself crazy always looking out on the horizon. I would recommend getting the current version and having fun with all the mods. When the Hermes comes out, give it another six months for more mods to come out and the price to drop and then you can switch again if you want. But by then rumors of Hermes II will be floating around with beter keyboard, 800mhz, 5mp camera, built in 10gb hard drive optionsl, thinner, built in GPS receiver. LOL Just my opinion.

My brother just got an N80. I had a friend of mine buy it for him from Saudi Arabia and then had one of my friend's mom bring it with her to texas. But i'm gonna say its gonna be a while (2 to 3 months) until it gets released on cingular.

XDA mini S or Vario (o2 or t-mobile)

Hi
I've just ordered the XDA mini S on a contract from o2.
The contract is called online 100. I get 100 mins and 500 texts for £25. I've opted for the £5 a month option of an extra 4mb data.
I've just noticed that tmobile do a similar contract on the Vario. They give 150 mins a month and 600 texts for £25. But for an extra £7.50 you get their web 'n' walk plan which is unlimited data access.
I have had an XDA II for the last 3 years and loved it. Unfortunately it broke recently and I automatically looked at another XDA but I'm now wondering if I should go for the VARIO.
The main selling point being unlimited data access... that has got to be a huge bonus.. rather than £5 for 4mb from o2 then £1-£2/mb after that.
MY QUESTION IS.... What is the difference between the XDA mini S and the Vario and is there a good reason to stick with o2 and the XDA mini rather than going with tmobile and the Vario??
One last question is the VARIO II the same size as the original VARIO?
Any advice much appreciated.
Thanks
Nic Teeman

I think at that price diferential the only question is one of stupidity - 2GB per month for £7,50 vs 4MB per month for £5, having been a loyal O2 customer for ten years I am leaving, unless they wake up and offer a decent package - I would put up with 250MB per month (it would suffice) but not at their stupid prices, if looking at switching take a look at the vario-III, some people are reporting this device when switching networks for £60 - well worth investigation - Mike

nteeman said:
Hi
MY QUESTION IS.... What is the difference between the XDA mini S and the Vario and is there a good reason to stick with o2 and the XDA mini rather than going with tmobile and the Vario??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nic, There are no hardware differences between the two phones. The only difference you will see is the ROM loaded on the phone and the aditional software that each vendor include in that ROM.
Go for the cheapest plan that fits your needs.

Changing Phones

Currently i have a Wizard (XDA Mini S) on o2 uk
however i have been looking at getting another HTC Style phone (smartphone) for a while now.
i have been offered a XDA Exec (HTC Advantage?) for £100 (i could sell my wizard for about £90) but im not sure about the size difference..
but im not sure whether to sell the Wizard get the Exec try to sell the Exec and get a Vario 2? (TyTn?)
what do you all think? what would be a good upgrade from the Wizard?

I think the new Vario III.
From what I read, I think it's a great PDA.

xusso said:
I think the new Vario III.
From what I read, I think it's a great PDA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would but i havent got that sorta money
im looking to buy one thats second hand and unlocked as i have so much money coming out of my account each month (car insurance etc) i cant deal with having a contract
i did look at the kaiser but its £330 unlocked which i really cant afford where as the Vario 2 is £150

What phone to upgrade to after hermes?

hey guys,
so my contract with t-mobile UK expires in 2 weeks and i'm due for an upgrade. just wondering - what do you guys suggest i move to? things i'd like is in-built gps, exchange synchronization, and a full keyboard would all be nice.
tytnII is worrisome; don't know about that with all the hardware complaints on it, and i don't know whether its worth upgrading to it from the tytn...
what do you guys say?

chamelion said:
hey guys,
so my contract with t-mobile UK expires in 2 weeks and i'm due for an upgrade. just wondering - what do you guys suggest i move to? things i'd like is in-built gps, exchange synchronization, and a full keyboard would all be nice.
tytnII is worrisome; don't know about that with all the hardware complaints on it, and i don't know whether its worth upgrading to it from the tytn...
what do you guys say?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right now id stick with the hermes and take advantage of a free standard mobile phone for a while? the kaiser seems to be REALLY good but it doesnt feel like a big enough step up from the hermes (as i would be paying fully for a HTC device) , the only device which is tempting at the mo is the nike (Touch dual) or maybe the polaris (Touch Cruise) but they don't have the hardware keyboard im used to now.
Perhaps if we see a TyTN III over the next year(s) i may be tempted to get in there early.

chamelion said:
hey guys,
so my contract with t-mobile UK expires in 2 weeks and i'm due for an upgrade. just wondering - what do you guys suggest i move to? things i'd like is in-built gps, exchange synchronization, and a full keyboard would all be nice.
tytnII is worrisome; don't know about that with all the hardware complaints on it, and i don't know whether its worth upgrading to it from the tytn...
what do you guys say?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are thinking about more screen resolution, the phones to look at are:
Eten glofiish M800 (640x480 pixels) Gps, Qwerty Keyboard
http://www.gsmarena.com/eten_glofiish_m800-2163.php
the somewhat buggy Toshiba G900 (800x480 pixels) no Gps, Qwerty Keyboard
http://www.gsmarena.com/toshiba_g900-1905.php
or the upcoming Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 (800x480 pixels)
Gps, Qwerty Keyboard
wich is made by HTC and seem to be a slimmer Toshiba G900
http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_ericsson_xperia_x1-2246.php
800x480 pixels resolution seems to be great to browse the web and Pdfs !!!

ok up for renewal soooo disappointed by how crap t-mobiles offers are. they're either offering me £10 off my monthly bill (after an 18 month contract) for a new 12 month contract, keep my existing phone. OR, sign up a new 18 month contract and get a couple of crap phones for free, or things like the vario III for £150.
hmm.
so i'm thinking one of:
1) renew contract with £10 off and sell my vario II (ebay, 100 quid or so?), and spend £220 on a new phone on ebay
2) screw t-mobile. switch to someone else now
3) lie in wait and see what new innovations htc comes out with
4) switch to crackberry
thoughts guys?

I decided to stay with t-mobile but switched to pay-as-you-go so I keep my number (I dont like to be rushed into a decision). My VarioII handset is still good for the job in hand. So now waiting for a good handset to appear on the market - maybe the SE Xperia X1 which will be available around Jun 2008 time.
I now have the flexibility to go back on contract (with any Provider as a NEW customer = good deals) and stay on pay-as-you-go and buy a handset. Actually, I have found pay-as-you-go is great! On TMobile I can still enjoy unlimited data package for purchasing 5day pass for £2.50 if you need it....