Database Users

Getting started: where/what to buy?

I just found xda-developers.com, I'm really impressed with this site. The Qtek-2020 looks like everything I want (phone, web, email etc) so I'm ready to buy! However, I havn't even owned a mobile phone before so I would really appreciate any advice/opinions to help me choose the right model and network. I just spent a couple of hours searching this site but couldn't find the answers, so if its ok - below are some questions I need help with:
BEGINNER QUESTIONS:
1.) Which type should I buy?
MDA, Qtek, XDA... Does it matter? Me feeling is to go for the Qtek because it comes unlocked.
2.) Where to buy?
Should I buy from a shop or online? I just discovered the Qtek-2020 in Tottenham Court Road (London UK). It seems like a good place to buy one, or is there a good website I should buy from?
3.) Which GSM Provider to use?
The guy in the shop said Qtek-2020 comes unlocked so I can choose a network. O2, Orange, T-mobile, Virgin, Vodaphone.... Which Network is good for price? And which Network is good for travel? e.g. if I travel to Europe or India.
4.) What kind of bandwith speed can I expect from an XDA/Qtek/MDA? I've heard anything from 12k to 120k. Mostly I want to check emails on a web based mail service I use. (I get like 100 emails a day.)

1) It doesnt matter, the xda will be easier to get hold of in the UK.. and it can be unlocked easily.
2) wherevers cheapest
3) DONT use o2, they charge 2.33 PER MB.. so checking emails can get very expensive.

Thanks Ryanmt
Which GSM Provider has the best prices per KB of download?

im not sure, it depends on the tarrif etc. Your best off going into carphone warehouse etc.

From this board as far as I can tell (correct me if I'm wrong) my choice is:
- O2
- T-Mobile
- Vodaphone
- Orange
and thats it?
If so I guess I just need to ask all of the above what they charge per MB.
Does anyone have this info to hand to post here

When are Orange going to wake up..

When are Orange going to wake up.. M5000 is
a) late
b) data charges are more expensive than O2
c) device will actually cost more that the *already out* XDA Exec.
I have loyalty to orange.. but the price difference and delays are too much.
Besides which I have 900 business user im wanting to put on and to be honest.. which one I use for my personal use will prolly be the same I as Instruct my company to buy.
Get off your ar$e orange.. Your the slowest and most expensive in the pack. Why in hells name would a business want to go with you even with existing loyalty when its like this.

And the orange price promise seemed to go out of the window years ago. It should now read "We'll copy any tariff that's pretty expensive and come up with 1001 excuses not to match any that you may want."

the m5000 is available in france, and not very expensive :
700 € without any subscription....

Aye bud..
Its so bloody annoying.. I actually prefer working and developing with Orange but the Account manager is useless and never returns calls or emails(previous one on maternity leave was better).
Promises have been broken time and again on released date (anyone remember when they said it would be ready the 2nd of Sept 2005 lol).
If Imate, 02 and t mobile can get it right.. WTF are Orange playing at.
The current tariff structure is near archaic – 3G on orange is really expense.. This idea of downloading a music video or a powerpoint slide on 3G just makes me want laugh… yeah if you want to spend 16 pounds on one song..

it begin to be interesting with orange, for example, TV is without limit every week end ...

another potential problem with the Orange M5000.... IT MIGHT HAVE WI-FI DISABLED :!:
I was reading about the different models during the past few weeks before I finnally gave up and bought my xda Exec last week.
What I gathered from specialised sites was that Orange was considering disabeling the Wi-Fi capabilities of the M5000. a very stupid move i might add.....
In any case I went into an Orange shop early last week and enquired about the matter (and soon gave up due to the 'highly' knowledgable staff :roll: ) - the guy claimed that he was SURE that its not disabled - the person there showed me the info on Orange's intranet - and it actually has a remark there regrding the Wi-Fi capability of the device - that it "is up to the discretion" of the mobile operator....
I have no vested interst here - all I'm saying is - take care and make sure it has Wi-Fi b4 u buy it!

Shhh that is serious.. can anyone confirm that the Orange M5000 does or doesnt have WiFi?

It has WIfi
Regards
Stu

Stu,
What was in the box? Did it get the spare battery as promised? What s/w is installed in the ROM and did you get an more on CD? What version is the ROM?

TMob VARIO II with Copilot

just wondering if anyone is using a VarioII with copilot and their experiences with it. I have ordered one from tmob on the standard £20 a month + with w&w but alas they are out of stock, so wondeing if i should cancel the order and get something else.
thanks

oac966 said:
just wondering if anyone is using a VarioII with copilot and their experiences with it. I have ordered one from tmob on the standard £20 a month + with w&w but alas they are out of stock, so wondeing if i should cancel the order and get something else.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used CoPilot with my old MDA Compact and it was great. I am waiting for my upgrade to come through to the VarioII. CP never got me lost, once.
Having studied the ALK website, there is only enhancements to the WM2003 version of CP - so can only be a good thing IMO. A lot will come down to personal choice however. The best for me is having a seperate Bluetooth GPS receiver so portability is fantastic.
You can always try out for a while and cancel if you've gone through web or telesales (you have 7 days).

Thanks for you reply. I can wait to get my hands on the device and try it all out, but Tmob seem to have no idea when it will come back into stock interestingly enough its still on their website and they are still taking orders. not sure why they would do such a silly thing.

oac966 said:
Thanks for you reply. I can wait to get my hands on the device and try it all out, but Tmob seem to have no idea when it will come back into stock interestingly enough its still on their website and they are still taking orders. not sure why they would do such a silly thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used to work for a network provider in the UK (O2) and its a simple case of making the numbers and worrying about delivery later.
I see you're based in the US, my comment re 7 day cool off period may not apply as its a UK based law as part of the Sale of Goods Act - you may want to check what your version is.
I don't have any experience of TMob over there at all. In the UK, I have found customer service to be excellent and if the phone is not in stock then its taken off the site.
I think you'll love it from my experience!

Sorry, newbie to this forum so still setting up profiles etc. but i am actually based in the Uk and have ordered it from the Tmob uk website so hopefully the 7 day period will apply + i think with their new street coverage you can also return the phone in 14 days if u find that the street coverages is not what u expected. (but i could be wrong.)

oac966 said:
Sorry, newbie to this forum so still setting up profiles etc. but i am actually based in the Uk and have ordered it from the Tmob uk website so hopefully the 7 day period will apply + i think with their new street coverage you can also return the phone in 14 days if u find that the street coverages is not what u expected. (but i could be wrong.)
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Click to collapse
Spot on. Be aware though that any usage you incur (GSm/GPRS/3G) will be charged as normal.
UK customer services are great (in my opinion), i've only got good things to say about them.
let us know how you get on with CoPilot.

That is expected. after all i am using the service!! Do u know by any chance is making video calls in included in your allowance. I have taken the one which gives me £34 worth of allowance per month + wnw (£7.50),. but cant find anywhere where it says video calling in not included in this option!. So is it safe to assume that it is ?

I see t-mobile have removed the option of buying the Vario II without copilot!!!! i didnt really want Copilot as I've been using tomtom for many years and dont see why I have to pay for something I dont really need. Well at least I think they've removed the option as cant see it anywhere. Can someone point me in the right direction please.

oac966 said:
That is expected. after all i am using the service!! Do u know by any chance is making video calls in included in your allowance. I have taken the one which gives me £34 worth of allowance per month + wnw (£7.50),. but cant find anywhere where it says video calling in not included in this option!. So is it safe to assume that it is ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the 34 is only for use for voice calls to UK mobile and land lines ( eg. no 0845 etc, ) UK text ( no premium ) mms and Voicemail.

shabba007 said:
I see t-mobile have removed the option of buying the Vario II without copilot!!!! i didnt really want Copilot as I've been using tomtom for many years and dont see why I have to pay for something I dont really need. Well at least I think they've removed the option as cant see it anywhere. Can someone point me in the right direction please.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My advice would be to accept the package and ebay the CoPilot reciever and software as it retails at nearly £200 i think so you would make a fair chunk of money back or just phone telesales and i'm sure they would be able to help. As has been said before the customer service is excellent i'm very happy with my plain old Vario and CoPilot its excellent software

oac966 said:
That is expected. after all i am using the service!! Do u know by any chance is making video calls in included in your allowance. I have taken the one which gives me £34 worth of allowance per month + wnw (£7.50),. but cant find anywhere where it says video calling in not included in this option!. So is it safe to assume that it is ?
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Click to collapse
Nope - Video calls are charged at 15ppm and are classed as outside the bundles - least that what I've got from the Tmob website. Probably best to have a scout round on their site - I found it in the faq section. Failing that check with CS folks.
MDA

shabba007 said:
I see t-mobile have removed the option of buying the Vario II without copilot!!!! i didnt really want Copilot as I've been using tomtom for many years and dont see why I have to pay for something I dont really need. Well at least I think they've removed the option as cant see it anywhere. Can someone point me in the right direction please.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
probably means that they are out of stock on those devices without the CoPilot bundle - speak to CS for advise.

i'm trying to get hold of an MDA compact 2 but the prices people pay on ebay are rediculous didnt realise they were so popular on their particularly the pink ones

Vodafone HD2 - Change to stock ROM???

My Vodafone HD2 is set to arrive tomorrow, and I know that because of the way Vodafone are that it is going to be heavily branded (White and Red instead of the nice ice cold black theme).
Does anyone know if i can flash it with a standard WWE ROM.
Will let everyone know how it is tomorrow. Got the last one they had in stock today.

if you are getting a HD2 on Voda tomorrow (like me) it suggest you have bought a strapon contract from a site like mobilephones direct (like me) as Voda does not do the HD2 yet. These phones come with a stock HTC ROM and are not branded at all. I got a hd1 on such a contract which is how I know.

Vodafone got the HD2 from today. My X1 came with very minimal Vodafone branding, so I'm guessing you might be ok.

@ Stoolzo - No my HD2 is from Vodafone themselves. They had it on their website for about 2 days and have now removed it (probably cause i got their last one,he,he). Their contract is really good on it also.
£40 a month, 900 mins, Unlimited text, landline calls & internet, and the best part, the phone is FREE!!!!!

gaiden0000 said:
@ Stoolzo - No my HD2 is from Vodafone themselves. They had it on their website for about 2 days and have now removed it (probably cause i got their last one,he,he). Their contract is really good on it also.
£40 a month, 900 mins, Unlimited text, landline calls & internet, and the best part, the phone is FREE!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure if it will be heavily branded. There was some comment about it in the Vodafone forums, someone asking if the black theme that the HD2 uses would come to the Touch Pro 2. The guy didn't say that the HD2 would be red and white.
My last two phones from Vodafone weren't too heavily branded, so I think we might be ok. I hope so at least. Otherwise I will wait to Hard-SPL and flash the normal HTC stock ROM.

According to our corporate account manager at HTC, Vodafone have done no branding of the HD2 at all. It's the main reason why they have been able to come to market before any of the other operators. From what I'm told, the Vodafone HD2's will also be unlocked.
It's the supposed lack of branding that persuaded me to go with Vodafone, rather than waiting for O2. I hope the HTC chap is right.
Bagpuss.

@ Bagpuss... He,he now i can finally go to sleep alright tonight and stop searching the net to find out. I know I'm getting the phone tomorrow, but wanted to be ready to try and get any vodafone stuff off of it so i have a nice clean ROM.
Thanks so much for the info, will let you know how things turn out tomorrow.

magic mind reader
i predict you wont get the HD2,
I predict you will get a txt saying:
"Your vodafone order has been delayed and won't be delivered as planned. We will send you another message with a new delivery date when your order is dispatched from our warehouse. If you have any questions call 08700700191 quoting order rference <yourorderreferencenumberhere>. please accept our sincere apologies for the delay.

Bagpuss said:
According to our corporate account manager at HTC, Vodafone have done no branding of the HD2 at all. It's the main reason why they have been able to come to market before any of the other operators. From what I'm told, the Vodafone HD2's will also be unlocked.
It's the supposed lack of branding that persuaded me to go with Vodafone, rather than waiting for O2. I hope the HTC chap is right.
Bagpuss.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I spoke to Vodafone last night, and the guy I spoke to also said that as far as he knew, it wasn't branded.
Rock on getting my phone...whenever that is.

gaiden0000 said:
@ Bagpuss... He,he now i can finally go to sleep alright tonight and stop searching the net to find out. I know I'm getting the phone tomorrow, but wanted to be ready to try and get any vodafone stuff off of it so i have a nice clean ROM.
Thanks so much for the info, will let you know how things turn out tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, doesn't gaiden mean F*ck in farsi?

Dam, just got the message that my phone won't be delivered till Monday now, i am so so pissed about it.
Was looking forward to spending the weekend configuring it and testing it out.

Android advice/guides for a very willing beginner

Hi all,
I will recieve my first Android handset tomorrow (HTC Hero) and plan to use it until Autumn (Windows Phone 7 looks very appealing and I didn't spend much on this handset, it's not even on a contract). I am looking for some tips and advice on Android.
I was very well accustomed to Windows Mobile at one point, and very active on this site, but then stopped altogether - so I'm not a novice to flashing (I know what this could be seen to mean!).
I plan to read through various short guides over the next couple of days, before flashing a new ROM on my Hero tomorrow night. I intend to become as good (i.e. knowledgable) with Android as I can, in the next few months.
Is there anything I should know, read or look into/look out for?
Should I update the radio (is there a wiki entry on here for that?)
And recommened apps or ROMS and why?
Any general advice?
P.S. Will I regret buying the black version of the Hero? Is it a good choice?

aameerp said:
Hi all,
I will recieve my first Android handset tomorrow (HTC Hero) and plan to use it until Autumn (Windows Phone 7 looks very appealing and I didn't spend much on this handset, it's not even on a contract). I am looking for some tips and advice on Android.
I was very well accustomed to Windows Mobile at one point, and very active on this site, but then stopped altogether - so I'm not a novice to flashing (I know what this could be seen to mean!).
I plan to read through various short guides over the next couple of days, before flashing a new ROM on my Hero tomorrow night.
Is there anything I should know, read or look into/look out for?
Should I update the radio (is there a wiki entry on here for that?)
And recommened apps or ROMS and why?
Any general advice?
P.S. Will I regret buying the black version of the Hero?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I popped into T-Mobile the other day and got myself an HTC Hero G2 and I like it, very customizable and you probably won't regret it. Depends how much you spend on the device cost wise because remember you will be going into a contract.

andrewb84uk said:
I popped into T-Mobile the other day and got myself an HTC Hero G2 and I like it, very customizable and you probably won't regret it. Depends how much you spend on the device cost wise because remember you will be going into a contract.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No contract for me. I paid around £165 for it ('virtually brand new, in perfect condition') and I've got T-Mobile's SIM only deal (30 day rolling contracts, basically). 100 minutes, 100 texts, unlimited internet for £10 - brilliant! I'll get the £15 tariff if I find 100 minutes isn't enough, but I use Skype, Google Voice and just email a lot.

£165,.. Thats a v-good price if its in mint condition!!... I paid £230 Less than a week ago and i thought that was good.
In regards to ROMs,... I flashed the latest Modaco ROM to mine the day it was delivered, it seemed abit smoother than the stock Orange ROM that was on it when i had no apps installed, but now iv loaded it up there is a tiny bit of lag, like a nano second, its hardly noticeable at all.
But there are so many ROMS to choose from, I think just swapping and changing between them till you find one that suits you is the best bet, but its not something I have the time (or patience) for. This is what i followed to update the ROM http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=645253 - [Guide] How to Root & Install a Custom Rom on Orange UK & T-Mobile UK [Updated 13/03]
As for the Radio update, definately do it. Im using a handset that is locked to Orange UK but using an O2 sim in it with a rebel sim. On the first day I only had 2 bars of reception most of the time, sometimes it went to 3 bars but not often. Since updating, it has consistantly been on 3 or 4 bars.
Check out this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=646465 (- Radio update advice please?...) about how to go about updating it.
As for apps, there are too many to go through, I'v just been googleing 'Best Android Apps' and seeing which ones will benefit me.
And lastly,.. Hellllll Nooooooo,... You definately wont regret buying one. IMO the white version looks abit more slick and has a teflon coating to stop it getting dirty but how dirty can a black (or graphite in my case) phone get?...
Im happy!

Recommended Android freeware apps:
The Ever-Growing List of Awesome Android Applications
Some good-to-know Android tips & tricks:
Android Tips & Tricks and Tutorials
Hope you will have use for them