Database Users

HTC Universal and The USA

I've had the Wallaby since T-Mobile (USA) offered it (I think about three years). I've gotten a lot of good use out of it, mostly thanks to this forum. However, it's time for me to upgrade, and I'd like some feedback from everyone.
First, I'd like to upgrade to a device that has an intergraded keyboard, since my wife has the h4355 and, comparing usage of her device to mine in that respect, it is indispensable in my opinion. So if I upgraded now I would like to get a Blue Angel clone.
But, all these glowing reviews and pictures of the HTC Universal tempt me to wait to upgrade. It truly looks like a dream device!
Since I live in the USA, though, our carriers may not pick this up for another year (if at all?), and at my rate of years-per-upgrade I would probably miss out on quite a bit. So here are what seem to be my choices at the moment:
1.) Forget about getting my hands on the Universal for the next year (or longer), upgrade to the BA now.
2.) Wait until it is released in Europe and probably pay well over $1000 to buy it from a third party.
3.) It is worth the wait for a US carrier to pick it up. It may be a shorter time than I think.
4.) Other.
So which would you do?
Other things to keep in mind are that there are no decent BA's currently offered by any of the US carriers, they are all stripped versions, minus this feature or that feature. So I would have to get one of those from Europe anyway. Do you think US carriers will strip the Universal the same way they have with the BA? Additionally, as someone else previously mentioned, how much do you expect the Universal to be, if the BA is currently around $800?
Can anyone offer any speculation of cost or release date in the USA?
Thanks for the feedback!
Shawn

I think that the universal keyboard will be better than the thumboard on the BA - so you should not buy a BA now, unless you REALLY need something now.
The Universal will be released in europe probably sometime in september from what I have been hearing, so you can get it in a few months for the "normal" price of 900-1200 (which is what the range was for the BA when it originally came out)
It is not likely that US carriers will release this. *maybe* T-mobile will release it, but judging from their past history, it seems unlikely.
Cingular will DEFINATELLY not release it because it lacks GSM 850. Also the UMTS band that is on the universal is not 1900/850 which is what Cingular uses and will use in the future. if the universal was quadband GSM and triband UMTS it might have been a different story.
If you are on the T-Mo network and really want it, just get it when it gets released in europe. That way you have form, function and the WOW factor since it wont be released in the US
Note to HTC: please, please, please make the next version of the universal quadband GSM and at least dual band UMTS (1900/2100)

I will select the "WAIT" if I were you, T-Mobile in NYC was not able to setup my Qetk 9090 on GPRS, the anwser of their failure... we do not know this device... :? (however I succeed to make it work) But I would also wait, PocketPC Italia is talking about 2 devices this year and more coming in 2006 It only depends on how "wealthy" you are but well if you purchase the Universal and that a 9090 like shows up... what will you do?
By the way if you are in the Chicago area you may find a lost Universal
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/_assets/video/TechEd/Final-MobilityV7-300K.wvx
Bottom line this is a nice devie not SO big but the lack of Screen control on the body (like a communicator) may make it borring to use (my 2 cents)

Perhaps North American users can wait and hope for an 850 MHz model, like done with the JAM.

i voted other
i dont know whyi anybody that has already a HTC machine capable of using win2005 will upgrade for a company that dont support the machines they build.
i will stay with my qtek2020 and if i dont have 2005 for it i will choose another manufacter....
........

Re: i voted other
rictec said:
i dont know whyi anybody that has already a HTC machine capable of using win2005 will upgrade for a company that dont support the machines they build.
i will stay with my qtek2020 and if i dont have 2005 for it i will choose another manufacter....
........
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Click to collapse
There are some people on earth, like, who are FED UP of only being able to use his 9090 only when he is outside of his country... In Japan we ONLY HAVE 3G... and I cannot use the phone function of my 9090 that I love when I m in a GSM country... so I will buy again and again and again ANY HTC Products simply because of their amazing quality and potential (look around can you cook an iPAQ 4700 or a Treo? and how EASY it is to change a rom) and with a Phone capability...
Cheers

Anyone using Athena on TMo USA?

I am a little underwhelmed by TMo's new device for the US, a slightly-improved Wizard (HTC Herald). So now I'm tempted to go for the Athena, which appears to be more of a next-gen device. I assume it will be fine with TMo USA, but would be nice to hear from someone with experience...
Any other advice for a potential Wizard transplant? Seems like waiting for WM6 might be good, also wish there were a belt clip, or is it too big for that? Does it include support for TMo's 3G for the US... assuming that ever rolls out in the backwaters of Alabama...

wgary said:
I am a little underwhelmed by TMo's new device for the US, a slightly-improved Wizard (HTC Herald). So now I'm tempted to go for the Athena, which appears to be more of a next-gen device. I assume it will be fine with TMo USA, but would be nice to hear from someone with experience...
Any other advice for a potential Wizard transplant? Seems like waiting for WM6 might be good, also wish there were a belt clip, or is it too big for that? Does it include support for TMo's 3G for the US... assuming that ever rolls out in the backwaters of Alabama...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not from the USA so can't answer most of your questions, but I can say this...don't wait for WM6. The device is rock solid with WM5 and I'm sure it will be better with WM6, but if it never appeared, I certainly would not regret having bought this superb WM5 device.

mackaby007 said:
I'm not from the USA so can't answer most of your questions, but I can say this...don't wait for WM6. The device is rock solid with WM5 and I'm sure it will be better with WM6, but if it never appeared, I certainly would not regret having bought this superb WM5 device.
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But can't edit the PowerPoint on WM5, right? I'm hoping for a presentation device (among other things).
Random question: Does there exist a mini-USB to USB adapter to connect flash drives?

wgary said:
But can't edit the PowerPoint on WM5, right? I'm hoping for a presentation device (among other things).
Random question: Does there exist a mini-USB to USB adapter to connect flash drives?
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Yep you're right about the Office editing side of WM5. You can get the 4 in 1 cable from HTC or Expansys which allow connectivity for other standard USB devices (USB host).
One end is proprietary connection to Athena, the other end allows for 1 USB device (mouse, keyboard, USB Hard drive - with or without AC power and VGA out, S-Composite out and S-Video out) to be connected at any one time.
There's a mouse driver (from Modaco website - available here) that you can download (search the other threads) which will allow you to use a USB Mouse with a fully functioning mouse-pointer (useful for presentations .
Good luck.

mackaby007 said:
Yep you're right about the Office editing side of WM5. You can get the 4 in 1 cable from HTC or Expansys which allow connectivity for other standard USB devices (USB host).
One end is proprietary connection to Athena, the other end allows for 1 USB device (mouse, keyboard, USB Hard drive - with or without AC power and VGA out, S-Composite out and S-Video out) to be connected at any one time.
There's a mouse driver (from Modaco website - available here) that you can download (search the other threads) which will allow you to use a USB Mouse with a fully functioning mouse-pointer (useful for presentations .
Good luck.
Click to expand...
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This sounds great!
Any drivers for BT mouse??

wgary said:
I am a little underwhelmed by TMo's new device for the US, a slightly-improved Wizard (HTC Herald). So now I'm tempted to go for the Athena, which appears to be more of a next-gen device. I assume it will be fine with TMo USA, but would be nice to hear from someone with experience...
Any other advice for a potential Wizard transplant? Seems like waiting for WM6 might be good, also wish there were a belt clip, or is it too big for that? Does it include support for TMo's 3G for the US... assuming that ever rolls out in the backwaters of Alabama...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the US and use TMobile with my x7500. Works perfect and I wouldn't have any other phone. Rock solid, stable, fast, reliable. I'm using it with a www.jawbone.com bluetooth headset and Windows Mobile 1.6. Everything works as it should.

wgary said:
Does it include support for TMo's 3G for the US... assuming that ever rolls out in the backwaters of Alabama...
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Click to collapse
No it will not support t-mobile USA's planned 3g network....It does not have the planned USA t-mob frequencies.
It does have Europe and USA Cingular frequencies available.
It will work with T-mobile USA Gprs/Edge.

eagle 1 said:
No it will not support t-mobile USA's planned 3g network....It does not have the planned USA t-mob frequencies.
It does have Europe and USA Cingular frequencies available.
It will work with T-mobile USA Gprs/Edge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any difference on the frequencies with the 7501? Given that the new TMo phone (Wing/Herald) reportedly will not support 3G at all, I'm wondering what TMo's strategy is for 3G in the US. Seems a little murky from what I see on other forums... Thanks to all for the useful info on this phone. Looks like a winner!!

eagle 1 said:
No it will not support t-mobile USA's planned 3g network....It does not have the planned USA t-mob frequencies.
It does have Europe and USA Cingular frequencies available.
It will work with T-mobile USA Gprs/Edge.
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Click to collapse
Don't tell me! I was soooo looking forward to using the higher speed connectivity when TMobile rolled out their 3G implementation. But then again, by then I'll probably have a new phone. :-/

I am using the 7500 (or 7501 if you prefer) with T-Mobile. Works reasonably well. EDGE speeds are good.
What a bummer that there is no send/end button on the device itself!

lbendlin said:
I am using the 7500 (or 7501 if you prefer) with T-Mobile. Works reasonably well. EDGE speeds are good.
What a bummer that there is no send/end button on the device itself!
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7500 is running WM5, and 7501 is running WM6, i think yours is 7500

Yes, mine is (still) running WM5.

Wizard 3G

I have an XDA Mini s, i have noticed that one of the guys in the office has an orange SPV which is exactly the same, his has 3G however. Is this a hardware difference or software (eg ROM) upgrade, and if its either , how do i do it.

The guy is mostly likely to have a Orange SPV M3100 (a.k.a htc Hermes), which is a 3G phone. The whole hardware is different.

bobsa said:
I have an XDA Mini s, i have noticed that one of the guys in the office has an orange SPV which is exactly the same, his has 3G however. Is this a hardware difference or software (eg ROM) upgrade, and if its either , how do i do it.
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Click to collapse
Hermes/TyTn is very similar, though not 'exactly the same'. Hermes is 3G. May be your colleague has a Hermes...
kernelguy

Thanks starkwong,
Just new to this so wasn't sure. Iv'e managed to unlock the phone today and install a new radio ROM and WM6, thought if i could upgrade to 3G that would be the icing on the cake.
Out of interest if i was to but a M3100, could i flash it to use my T-Mobile card etc

HTC Mogul (Sprint) Unlock for TMO?

i found a pretty good deal for an HTC Mogul online and it's branded as Sprint right now, would I be able to unlock this and use it on T-Mobile? I have a Wizard right now.

Sprint = CDMA... TMo = GSM... good luck!

that's why I asked!

The T-Mobile Wing is very similar to the Mogul, but it's a little slower. If you like the Mogul that's the closest HTC GSM phone. I've used the Wing and I like it a lot, but I like my Mogul better.

dragon_76 said:
The T-Mobile Wing is very similar to the Mogul, but it's a little slower. If you like the Mogul that's the closest HTC GSM phone. I've used the Wing and I like it a lot, but I like my Mogul better.
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Click to collapse
Yea I have a Wizard right now and the wing has the same processor so I'm not going to be upgrading to it, I just saw the 400mhz processor in the Mogul. Maybe I'll save my nickles and dimes and hope for a tytn

dragon_76 said:
The T-Mobile Wing is very similar to the Mogul, but it's a little slower. If you like the Mogul that's the closest HTC GSM phone. I've used the Wing and I like it a lot, but I like my Mogul better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please don't give ****ty advice -- this isn't helpful. The Wing/Atlas is quite inferior to the Mogul.
OP, the Mogul is a CDMA-based cousin of the GSM-based series of devices that have made HTC famous. The true sequel to the HTC Wizard is the HTC Hermes, and there is an absolute crapload of information available right here at xda-developers that can help you get the most out of your device if you go with a Hermes. I have two active contracts (one with T-Mobile and one with Sprint), and therefore I own both a Hermes and a Mogul/Titan. There are a couple of modest tweaks that were made to the Titan's design, but for the most part you'll see at least equivalent performance out of a Hermes.
If you've got cash to spend, I suggest hanging onto it and waiting a couple of months. The successor to Hermes, HTC Kaiser, is looming on the horizon and it offers a host of improvements over the Hermes (and the Mogul as well, for that matter -- though again, they're not direct competitors). If you live in the U.S., you'd be best-served by eBaying an AT&T/Cingular-branded Hermes (branded as the "8525") and running pof's free SIM unlocker to use it with your T-Mobile account. This is exactly what I did to use my Hermes with my T-Mobile account. I paid $400 even for a brand new Cingular-branded Hermes about six months ago, and I imagine that you could do even better today if you're savvy with eBay or through HoFo's buy/sell/trade forum. What kind of "pretty good deal" did you find on the Mogul, anyway? By all accounts, it should cost more than the Hermes.
You would be well-served by reading the wiki.

Actually, the Tytn or Kaiser would be the closest match for GSM (both can be used if unlocked with a T-mob sim card).
The Mogul (titan) works on different networks, with different protocols using different frequencies... there is no SIM card, and there is absolutely NO way in which the phone can even recognize a T-mobile tower!
Its like trying to activate one of those V-tech landline cordless phones with T-mobile... Both operate as phones, but there are just some things that are too different to ever be compatible!

if i was you zach , i would wait about 2 months for the cingular 8925 (htc tytn II) then unlock that phone and use it for t-mobile.
http://www.pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=733

wow..... lol

heyitisdavis said:
if i was you zach , i would wait about 2 months for the cingular 8925 (htc tytn II) then unlock that phone and use it for t-mobile.
http://www.pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=733
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+1...I agree...wait.

if I were to stay with GSM I would have stay the hell away from WinMo device and go with Nokia or SE--cause you know their BT works!

lettcco said:
if I were to stay with GSM I would have stay the hell away from WinMo device and go with Nokia or SE--cause you know their BT works!
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why do you even post in forums like this?
For your info, winMo devices always had hella good BT- its only the mogul that's had this new problem, and its due to a software glitch with the new chipset that it uses.
Nokias and SE's are no more reliable... I had many many BT problems with my Nokia 6230 that was only fixed months later with a software update. I also had some of the older SE phones, and they worked pretty well but had awful range.
I was very happily using WinMobile on GSM, and wouldn't recommend anything else over it!

keishou said:
Sprint = CDMA... TMo = GSM... good luck!
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Click to collapse
THERE'S ALSO CDMA = EvDO (FAST) AND GSM = GPRS/EDGE (SUPER-SLOW)

Hermes - Travelling to Vietnam

Can anyone shed some light if the hermes will work for me in Vietnam?
When I went to Japan i had to take a nokia along as i couldnt get the hermes to play nice. I just want to know if i have to do it again

should be fine.... hermes as 900mhz band im pretty sure...i know my kaiser does.... no worries

Thanks!.....

hi guys...
i ve been in vietnam last year.. (but calling was expensive)
you should look at your roaming prices.
best work with my hermes..
greets voxid

wojzilla said:
Can anyone shed some light if the hermes will work for me in Vietnam?
When I went to Japan i had to take a nokia along as i couldnt get the hermes to play nice. I just want to know if i have to do it again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can it be that your HERMES is NET locked? I can't see another reason why it did not work in Vietnam! We are talking here about a QUAD BAND GSM + UMTS/3G device ...
Unlike SIM LOCK a NET LOCKED device accepts any SIM card but lets you use only one particular network. In this case the HERMESUnlocker should do ... !