[Q] XOOM and Verizon Questions: - Xoom General

I am saying goodbye to my ATRIX, At&t has ZERO 3g in my area. Despite their map suggesting "data" connection, I have to drive almost 2 hours to get off of EDGE. So anyway, I was wondering a few things about the XOOM if you guys don't mind sharing some knowledge.
Taxes and Extra fees: How much does Verizon add to your bill past the initial 20 dollars? Do they let you change your plan mid-month if you think you will need more data so long as you haven't already gone over?
Tethering: Does verizon allow the XOOM to create a wifi hotspot? Could barnacle or some other third party app do the same without all the fuss?
Gaming: Is it difficult to play games on the tablet? Is it too large to hit the buttons properly while holding it in one hand?
Mounting: Is there any easy solution to mount it to a dashboard? I would need it to function as a GPS device, movie viewer and gaming center while I am either driving or riding around.
Thanks for the input guys. My work pays for my phone, but they won't provide me with a smartphone. This seems like it is the most effective way to go.

SquareBare said:
I am saying goodbye to my ATRIX, At&t has ZERO 3g in my area. Despite their map suggesting "data" connection, I have to drive almost 2 hours to get off of EDGE.
Taxes and Extra fees: How much does Verizon add to your bill past the initial 20 dollars? Do they let you change your plan mid-month if you think you will need more data so long as you haven't already gone over?
Tethering: Does verizon allow the XOOM to create a wifi hotspot? Could barnacle or some other third party app do the same without all the fuss?
Gaming: Is it difficult to play games on the tablet? Is it too large to hit the buttons properly while holding it in one hand?
Mounting: Is there any easy solution to mount it to a dashboard? I would need it to function as a GPS device, movie viewer and gaming center while I am either driving or riding around.
Thanks for the input guys. My work pays for my phone, but they won't provide me with a smartphone. This seems like it is the most effective way to go.
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Click to collapse
standard taxes/fees. assume 15-18% to be safe and yes you can change your plan midmonth, no contract extension or anything. you can even do it if you have gone over and we will backdate the plan to avoid overages. just beware of standard proration. wifi hotspot is a feature in the settings. built into your plan, i.e no extra cost. some emulators are rough but games from the market are simple to operate. no nav mount yet, not in corp stores at least (im a sales rep.)

SquareBare said:
I am saying goodbye to my ATRIX, At&t has ZERO 3g in my area. Despite their map suggesting "data" connection, I have to drive almost 2 hours to get off of EDGE. So anyway, I was wondering a few things about the XOOM if you guys don't mind sharing some knowledge.
Taxes and Extra fees: How much does Verizon add to your bill past the initial 20 dollars? Do they let you change your plan mid-month if you think you will need more data so long as you haven't already gone over?
Tethering: Does verizon allow the XOOM to create a wifi hotspot? Could barnacle or some other third party app do the same without all the fuss?
Gaming: Is it difficult to play games on the tablet? Is it too large to hit the buttons properly while holding it in one hand?
Mounting: Is there any easy solution to mount it to a dashboard? I would need it to function as a GPS device, movie viewer and gaming center while I am either driving or riding around.
Thanks for the input guys. My work pays for my phone, but they won't provide me with a smartphone. This seems like it is the most effective way to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holding it in one hand and actually using it is not easy. GPS works fine as long as you have data, no data no directions.
Sent from my Xoom

Dont know about taxes and fes but the whole billing process is a hassle. Its not as streamlined as ipad. Its like opening up a brand new line on a cellphone.
Gaming is fun currently and will be more so when more games are released
Movie viewing seems to be hit or miss depending on who you talk to. It possible and capable, but not right out of the box.
I hope when you say for driving your only talking about the GPS portion. Because if your gonna be looking down at your xoom to watch a movie or play a game while your driving ill be sure to stay off the roads in your city.

I hope when you say for driving your only talking about the GPS portion. Because if your gonna be looking down at your xoom to watch a movie or play a game while your driving ill be sure to stay off the roads in your city.
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Hah, well I would need to use it as GPS, or maybe tether to another phone to use as GPS. So some kind of dash mount may be necessary. And as far as the gaming and movies I was referring to when I am a passenger. I tend to play emulated games more than anything really, so it is nice to just throw the thing up somewhere and pull out a wiimote.
(hopefully wiimotes work on this, unlike samsung)

Related

Should I Make the Switch?

So my first android device I bought was a mytouch3G a few days ago. I love it, but it's just a bit slow. I'm thinking about selling it and getting some cash to buy the N1. My question is, do you guys think this phone is worth getting right now? Or is there a better Android phone out there than this one? I'm NOT going to be using the T-Mobile data plan, btw. Is there anything coming out soon that will cause a price drop?
Thanks.
edit: mods I realized I posted this in the wrong forum, please feel free to move it.
The N1 is amazing, especially coming from something like the mytouch3G. The Nexus one (tmobile version) can be bought as a Dev phone currently from Google at the normal price ($529) plus a $25 developer activation fee. You certainly wont regret the N1 if you decide to get it.
Another good Tmobile phone is the Vibrant, in general it meets if not slightly beat the nexus one in many departments even without froyo's JIT. And you can get a Vibrant for a little less then the $550 you would pay for a Nexus One.
Of course both can be found on Craigslist or ebay at a huge degree of different prices also.
Nothing I can think of that would cause any major price drops in the near future. ALSO there is the new HSPA+ flagphone that will be out soon that I'm certainly interested in.
My advise is to look at the tmobile android lineup (curent and future) and see if you know of anyone or go to the store and see if you can test them and if you like them more then the mytouch.
-Cheers
Best phone ever best android experience as well
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
To put this as objectively as possible coming from a n1 user. The nexus one is a nice phone if you're very into customizing, from my knowledge of android devices, it's the top for modding. However it all depends on what you're going to be doing on the phone. For example if you're going to be playing games that require multitouch (nova) then it does have an issue with its multitouch. To some that's not an issue cause they don't game to others it is. The other major issue that I see at least for me is the small internal storage space. 512mb, really google? That's just two of the issues that I would really liked to be different, they're the only real issues for me. An hdmi out would be nice, but I wouldn't use it that much i'm assuming so it's not a deal breaker for me, same thing with a front facing camera.
But then you have things like the trackball that's nice for notifications, the screen size is just right, it's powerful and everything AND it gets all the updates first! It has a flash, the camera is pretty good actually (even though I hate cell cameras).
The only device on T-mobile that I can see as being another option would be the samsung vibrant, especially if you plan to play games on it, since it doesn't have the multitouch issue, and the gpu is really powerful. Problems with the device for me is the lack of a flash for the vibrant.
As for is it worth it? Well that depends on if spending the money is worth it and if you're going to get another phone anyways, yes the n1 is a great phone if you can overlook the multitouch issue and the small internal storage space.
EDIT: one more issue that I have with the n1 is that the audio is kinda bad, the speakers are quiet, and the headphone's sound is also quiet. Just wish the sound could be up'ed more so that it's a reasonable sound quality. Just seems more quieter than other android phones that I've had.
htc420 said:
So my first android device I bought was a mytouch3G a few days ago. I love it, but it's just a bit slow. I'm thinking about selling it and getting some cash to buy the N1. My question is, do you guys think this phone is worth getting right now? Or is there a better Android phone out there than this one? I'm NOT going to be using the T-Mobile data plan, btw. Is there anything coming out soon that will cause a price drop?
Thanks.
edit: mods I realized I posted this in the wrong forum, please feel free to move it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Either get the N1 right now, it's still an amazing phone, and I see NOTHING in market right now that I'd trade it for.
Or, wait several months for next gen to come out, something with an even stronger CPU, maybe even gingerbread around Christmas. And NO, it won't be called a Nexus Two.
Me, I'm wating for that second option. No smartphone/PDA on the market today appeals to me as an upgrade.
unfortunately price wont drop for a while, it's now a dev phone. but once you have it in ur hand, im sure ud feel the price was worth it. you can always sell the N1 too with if you dont like it. and if you're geek enough, have a flashing addiction of nightlies, constantly making trying out something new with ur phone, this should be it.
I was in your same position. I got the My Touch 3g 1.2. And it was awesome, but I read somewhere that it was like a mini Nexus One and that made me more curious. I sold the phone soon after, and found a Nexus One, and it really is an incredible device, with an operating system built and tested specially or it (FRF91). The one downside is that you have to worry about the Nexus One a bit more. When my ipod is dead, the MT3G was ok for the gym, but not the N1. It has actually forced me to take better care of my phone, and other devices in general. It was a good decision, for sure.
Most of the upcoming Android phones seem to be rebuilt versions of this phone, and the N1 is still expected to get most updates, app add-ons and functions first. All dual core processor phones are still a long way away and are only rumored devices. If you are extremely patient you could wait it out, or just buy the N1 and sell it in a year.
One item on the list "to consider" might be - Nexus will be the 1st existing device to get Gingerbread update, probably by a considerable time margin.
If you're not gonna use data, I wouldn't drop money on a nexus one or a top of the line smartphone for that matter.
dooo it! my touch3g is old and slow!!!!
Buying a Nexus One for $554 plus tax without a data plan would be absolute and downright insanity.
Wouldn't do it without a data plan!
JCopernicus said:
If you're not gonna use data, I wouldn't drop money on a nexus one or a top of the line smartphone for that matter.
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galaxys said:
Wouldn't do it without a data plan!
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Haha, why not? I'm surrounded by WiFi literally EVERYWHERE. Is it because this phone limits what you can do on it without the data plan, like what BlackBerry does? I know with BB, you can't use certain apps, programs, features, etc without having a data plan. Is this the same?
And I'm not dropping 500+, hoping somewhere in the 300-350 price range, used on craigslist.
edit: Also, If I wanted to add a data plan, would I be able to do it without starting a new contract? Because a dealer that I personally know hooked me up with a no contract plan for tmo ($30+tax for unlimited calls and text, but no web).
Thanks.
no there is nothing limited by not having a data plan. and if you are near wifi all day then its will be just the same. but when you're driving in your car and want to use navigation, or look something up on google maps, wifi isnt gonna help you. that's what they're saying.
and yes you can add a data plan anytime without extending your contract on most any carrier nowadays.
LOL
i buy my N1 without data plan xD
i dont regret since i have wifi around in my work and home and im outside wifi range like 4 hours at day in bus or subway.
and im fine perhaps its like kill a fly wit a cannon
i will get in 10 days my 3g plan (too expensive here >_< )
but yea after months with wifi, all its ok but with 3g AMAZING phone
htc420 said:
Haha, why not? I'm surrounded by WiFi literally EVERYWHERE. Is it because this phone limits what you can do on it without the data plan, like what BlackBerry does? I know with BB, you can't use certain apps, programs, features, etc without having a data plan. Is this the same?
And I'm not dropping 500+, hoping somewhere in the 300-350 price range, used on craigslist.
edit: Also, If I wanted to add a data plan, would I be able to do it without starting a new contract? Because a dealer that I personally know hooked me up with a no contract plan for tmo ($30+tax for unlimited calls and text, but no web).
Thanks.
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Click to collapse
I guess anywhere I have wifi, I have computer access, so I don't really touch my phone during those times.
There's no restrictions from the OS itself regarding data.
If you want super cheap data, go to the t-mo website, set up and account. The when it asks you for your phone type, just put in a generic non-smartphone phone. You'll be able to add the $10 "dumbphone" internet, which is the same as the "android" plan.
JCopernicus said:
If you want super cheap data, go to the t-mo website, set up and account. The when it asks you for your phone type, just put in a generic non-smartphone phone. You'll be able to add the $10 "dumbphone" internet, which is the same as the "android" plan.
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Click to collapse
Interesting. First time I hear of that. Can't they find out what phone you have once they scan the phone?
[Edit]: I just checked my T-Mobile account and it shows up as Unknown Phone: "Sorry—we’re not sure which phone you’re using, so we’re not able to display resources. Please select a phone".
What's to prevent me from changing my account to the $10 dumbphone plan?
Paul22000 said:
Interesting. First time I hear of that. Can't they find out what phone you have once they scan the phone?
[Edit]: I just checked my T-Mobile account and it shows up as Unknown Phone: "Sorry—we’re not sure which phone you’re using, so we’re not able to display resources. Please select a phone".
What's to prevent me from changing my account to the $10 dumbphone plan?
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Click to collapse
Scruples.
If you're on contract you won't be able to change the android plan without an ETF.
They surely can scan your imei and figure out which phone you have (ATT does this), but T-Mobile has not not started doing that yet.
JCopernicus said:
Scruples.
If you're on contract you won't be able to change the android plan without an ETF.
They surely can scan your imei and figure out which phone you have (ATT does this), but T-Mobile has not not started doing that yet.
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Click to collapse
Because T-Mobile is the ****! I cautiously walked away from ATT and Verizon a few years ago and was amazed at what I found in Tmobile, I will never go back
Paul22000 said:
Interesting. First time I hear of that. Can't they find out what phone you have once they scan the phone?
[Edit]: I just checked my T-Mobile account and it shows up as Unknown Phone: "Sorry—we’re not sure which phone you’re using, so we’re not able to display resources. Please select a phone".
What's to prevent me from changing my account to the $10 dumbphone plan?
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Click to collapse
Nothing...many other carriers check your imei number but tmobile rarely does anything with it. Try it, the worse that could happen is they figure out you have a smartphone and bump you back up to what you are currently paying. Theoretically there is no difference between the dumbphone and the smartphone variant (im pretty sure).

[Q] How are you using your data plans?

I bought my phone with the intent to move across the country and be a bit homeless for awhile. Without steady internet or steady place of residence; although I did have a few places to stay. This phone would have been my main source of internet to apply for jobs, download tv shows and general internet use.
Im CURRENTLY (and thankfully) in a situation where I still have a steady source of internet (outside of my phone) and it doesnt look like I'll be making that trip of mine until January at the earliest so getting this phone although awesome and is great, isnt pulling the weight i expected it to.
The most internet usage i get out of it is streaming pandora as well as day to day emails, probably in the range of 100+ and chatting (meebo) when im not at a pc.
I tether when im not home with my laptop but since working a 9-5 i dont really have that luxuary of no place to be all day.
TL;DR - How are you getting the most out of your data plan?!
I am using my phone to sync my emails together. Tatering my laptop with wifi is not present. download music movies. Use maps(since I travel alot) apps that use internet(the parking app saved my live a few times) I love my phone. and otterbox need to speed things up. I am rough on phones
I'm taking mine to Cancun and making good on that unlimited data plan to not rack up crazy data charges! Wait....
SilverZero said:
I'm taking mine to Cancun and making good on that unlimited data plan to not rack up crazy data charges! Wait....
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lol
Sent from my blah blah blah blah
synching emails with Touchdown, google maps, checking out BGR a few times day and listen to pandora. occassionaly i will load up friendstream and get updates. every now and then i will upload a picture to facebook. I really don't abuse the data usuage as internet on the evo is not as fast as the internet pipe i have at work (dual DS3 *45mb) or at home using comcast 12mb service. I don't have great signal for 4g at home so it wouldn't help anyway and i also turn on wifi when i get home as well. I ride a motorcycle to work and don't lug a laptop around but on my commute i only have 4g during 25% of it, so the no voice and data really bugs me sometimes.
I'm just surfing a lot, using FB/twitter.
4G Android Wifi Tether. Bye bye cable internet! And no $30/month wifi thether plan needed (Thanks Toast! and Thanks Android WiFi Tether!). Thanks Sprint and Clearwire!
Slingbox in the car, at work, and at home in my workshop. It is unlimited right......lol. Between Slinbox, LogMeIn, Email etc. I could go without a PC or TV for Days on end.
SilverZero said:
I'm taking mine to Cancun and making good on that unlimited data plan to not rack up crazy data charges! Wait....
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Roflmao! !!!
Me im surfing streaming email facebook twitter etcetc
I use it for streaming and email. The occasional ebay purchase. Wireless tethering works great when I meet with clients at restaurants and such for their design work.
ntron1 said:
Slingbox in the car, at work, and at home in my workshop. It is unlimited right......lol. Between Slinbox, LogMeIn, Email etc. I could go without a PC or TV for Days on end.
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LogMeIn is great, all you REALLY need is a linux box where you have root/ssh/rtorrent and some sort of streaming software (CLI VLC would work) and you dont need a pc
good times.
Data by the tons
Been Loving my Evo. Its one of the greatest inventions. I Been running data out the ass on this phone. Use and abuse it to the end. If i'm paying 10.00 extra for truely unlimited data, im sure as hell gonna get it used. Highest data run I've made was 12Gb(Youtube, Tethering to comp, Surfing the internet, Connecting ppls ipods and ipads, and porn)...What was I charged? Same as always. Since i updated to froyo(biggest mistake of my ****ing life), now its curb the usage down below 10Gb.
To all the developers good luck on rooting the OTA 2.2. Its become the common rooters worst enemy, but Sprints ****ing Hoorah and Booyah! When we get root, Im gonna run data to 20Gb and break my own record, just to keep sprints head spinning.
I mainly use it to download roms, lol. Go figure. Currently, I have over 14GBs of files for school. WinServ '08 (x2), WinServ Dev, VmWare, Visual Studio 2010, SQLServer '08...yay for unlimied data!

question for everybody...

with all the internet providers, home and mobile getting greedy and wanting to switch to pay per use and ream you for tethering... what is stopping some of you from cutting down on the services to fight back?
they trained a lot of people on the crap term "unlimited" and now are tiering everything. i didn't abuse the system. the most i've used is 1.2 gigs in one month. i am wanting to cut cable internet and tether now. even tmobile is getting down and dirty and saying hold up. verizon will not work for me. they could but screw bloatware. atnt is okay but crapped on my parade which wasn't very big in the first place. sprint just blows and a bag of chips. tmobile is okay too for what they market, but they're jumping on the me too train. anyways, any developers and/or software/products out there that will let us stream video from a mobile phone with usb to a monitor? i don't mean stream video like youtube. i mean circumvent the system from the lockdown and tariffs and let us surf the web with a bigger screen.
the suggestion might sound convoluted but think about it. i don't want to lug a laptop/netbook around. many of us are still on the search for the perfect phone. for some the iphone is it, and for me the nexus one is it. the n8 might or n900 might be your flavor. what i'm saying is not many of us want to carry two devices or pay out the wazoo for a usb modem on a laptop or a tariff to tether. what's stopping somebody from making a mobile lcd/amoled/superamoled touchscreen monitor in the 5-10" range with absolutely no bells and whistles and just a usb and hdmi port on it that piggy backs off your mobile phone and doesn't use desktop browsers but your in-phone browser? who could make the software? i for one could leave that in my truck or tuck it in my backpocket in anticipation of use. my eyesight is still great but sometimes you don't want to squint or zoom. the battery life would be outrageous on a amoled/superamoled touchscreen because no radio, no wifi, no nothing, just a place to hookup and powerswitch? thoughts?

Use as a phone

Yeah I know, not the first thread on the subject
I am a rather happy owner of a Galaxy Tab for the past 36 hours and I just wanted to share my feelings about the usage as a phone. Until I own it I was pretty much convinced this was going to be my main phone, just a question of being able to use a Bluetooth headset with it.
I am not 100% sure anymore.
First, and probably because it's the first time I use a headset I have found this much less convenient than using a phone (This is hopefully just a question of getting used to it). Can't see who is calling (Yep with the right headset the name will show, I may purchase one, but still wont have the picture), people around can hear much better what you're saying, if if you have to manipulate the tab for whatever reason, given its size you feel clumsy
Second, texting while walking in the street is pretty much more difficult. The Tab is big, easy to drop (Read the few threads around of people who broke their screen). It takes me half a second to take my Touch Pro 2 out of my pocket, get the keyboard out and type some messages while walking. And given its size I nearly never dropped it (And whenever I did it always survived without being wounded ). I am definitely slower with my tab (Plus I have to get used to use an on-screen keyboard, but then yeah on this I guess it's a question of getting used to it)
Third (maybe funny): while in meetings I didn't see anybody raise an eyebrow whenever I was texting with my TP2 (looks a bit like a blackberry and anyway quite discrete) I can see how much attention I draw whenever I answer some txt or emails now ! And with the screen size it make sit easy to see what I ma doing... Not the Tab's neg, but for me kind of a drawback
Last one (This one may make some laugh): I love clubbing, bar hoping, etc... I thought it would fit my back pocket. And it does ! however try dancing with that in your back pocket... That's not gonna work And there is no way I'd leave my phone at the cloak, I need it with me (take phone numbers, give direction to friends, etc...). I'd be better off leaving the Tab in the cloak and still go around with a small device (Even an average sized device like my TP2 handles OK while dancing)
I love the form factor, so easy to carry around, but in the end I understand much better Blackberry's approach with the Playbook, it's probably the best way to go, and I am considering using the Tab as a second device.
However I see the pain ahead... Don't wanna have 2 plans. And that's where it sucks. It seems in many countries you are able to have 2 SIM cards with the same number (With kind of a master device and a slave one). Couldn't find anything similar with AT&T in the US If anybody ever heard of this kind of services.... It would be perfect. Then I can still swap SIM cards but that sucks... (And I guess if you do it 5 times a day you may damage your SIM (If not lose it while dropping it)). Another solution is to tether the phone to the Tab (Great I paid for a 3G Tab for nothing !!) but on that I am quite worried about the battery life of both devices Maybe through Bluetooth rather than Wifi ? Would consume less ? If anybody has an idea... Or could try SIM cloning... But it seems it's not really possible anymore with SIM v2 (And besides if the operator doesn't offer the service described above I guess there will be conflicts between the 2 devices at some stage (Not 100% sure but possible)
Anyway... Don't flame me, would just be happy to exchange on the subject with people who have found solutions, have ideas on the matter, or just inform future buyers
Waoh, zero interest on the subject !
Well, i dont have one, but i can defiantly see where using it as a phone could lead to some problems, even if it does fit in you back pocket. It is interesting that you attempted it though, but pulling it out at meetings...thats priceless
Alcibiade said:
I love the form factor, so easy to carry around, but in the end I understand much better Blackberry's approach with the Playbook, it's probably the best way to go, and I am considering using the Tab as a second device.
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I think the irony is that most of us in Europe wouldn't consider using the Tab as primary phone even though it is a fully functional phone, whereas in the US it's the other way around.
However I see the pain ahead... Don't wanna have 2 plans. And that's where it sucks. It seems in many countries you are able to have 2 SIM cards with the same number (With kind of a master device and a slave one).
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Click to collapse
In the UK, we don't have the ability to have multiple SIMs with the same phone number either, but it is far less of an issue compared to the US because we have an extremely competitive market for data.
For example, on T-Mobile in the UK, for £20 (around $32) I can get 6 months worth of mobile internet with 1GB FUP which is ideal for a Tab which doesn't go out and about too often - and there's no overages, just an understanding that they may restrict service if you regularly go over your FUP allowance.
For £10 ($16) a month, I can get truly unlimited internet (excludes tethering) on Giffgaff which is ideal for the more mobile Tab.
When it comes to contracts, I have a mobile broadband contract on 3 that gives me 15GB a month for £15, which allows tethering etc.
I'm planning on heading over to Florida for 6 or 7 weeks early next year, and I'm probably going to get a MiFi of some sort with a T-Mobile Web Connect SIM, but it's going to be a hell of a lot more expensive than something comparable in the UK.
Regards,
Dave
NickDroid said:
Well, i dont have one, but i can defiantly see where using it as a phone could lead to some problems, even if it does fit in you back pocket. It is interesting that you attempted it though, but pulling it out at meetings...thats priceless
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The thing is since not so many people know what it is, it attracts attention... So it's not very discrete, while a small phone you can type your personal messages during meetings people don't really pay attention (Or think you're sending professional messages)
foxmeister said:
I think the irony is that most of us in Europe wouldn't consider using the Tab as primary phone even though it is a fully functional phone, whereas in the US it's the other way around.
In the UK, we don't have the ability to have multiple SIMs with the same phone number either, but it is far less of an issue compared to the US because we have an extremely competitive market for data.
For example, on T-Mobile in the UK, for £20 (around $32) I can get 6 months worth of mobile internet with 1GB FUP which is ideal for a Tab which doesn't go out and about too often - and there's no overages, just an understanding that they may restrict service if you regularly go over your FUP allowance.
For £10 ($16) a month, I can get truly unlimited internet (excludes tethering) on Giffgaff which is ideal for the more mobile Tab.
When it comes to contracts, I have a mobile broadband contract on 3 that gives me 15GB a month for £15, which allows tethering etc.
I'm planning on heading over to Florida for 6 or 7 weeks early next year, and I'm probably going to get a MiFi of some sort with a T-Mobile Web Connect SIM, but it's going to be a hell of a lot more expensive than something comparable in the UK.
Regards,
Dave
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Click to collapse
Well... I am European... (Although I live in NY)
US carriers suck for data plans. I lived in japan and HK before where for half the price I got much better service... Definitely for £10 a month I wouldn't even bother thinking about using my phone SIM card in my Tab to take advantage of my unlimited data plan (Which by the way in the SU looks more and more like it will be limited by throttling down once you reach a threshold.............)
Why would you need 2 plans with AT&T tab? I guess you didn't want to flash her.
Your other points are completely valid. It is just a matter of personal opinion/wanting to replace the phone with tab enough. Thanks for sharing!
Here are some workarounds you could investigate:
Try a bluetooth stereo headset with a display.
Use the Sony LiveView and wear as a watch.
Type with a tiny bluetooth keyboard.
Get a separate smartphone with a VNC client. Turn on the mobile hotspot, on your Galaxy Tab, and then control it with the smaller smartphone.
How is the Galaxy Tab's battery life as a phone, by the way?
Thanks for the post. I've been thinking to get the tab to replace my I9000 as the main phone, but after I read your post, I think I'll hold it for a while .....
PLinga said:
Here are some workarounds you could investigate:
Try a bluetooth stereo headset with a display.
Use the Sony LiveView and wear as a watch.
Type with a tiny bluetooth keyboard.
Get a separate smartphone with a VNC client. Turn on the mobile hotspot, on your Galaxy Tab, and then control it with the smaller smartphone.
How is the Galaxy Tab's battery life as a phone, by the way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought about these options... Still not satisfying
Battery life ? I dont phone much but definitely much better than my Touch pro 2 (And I use activesync, bluetooth, etc...)

[Q] Anyone else thinking of going Xoom + dumbphone?

I've been a bit of a smartphone junkie for the last four years, but now that I have a Xoom (on Verizon) my Evo barely gets used. I'm considering porting my number to Google Voice and paying the Sprint ETF, then pointing the number at a cheap pre-paid dumbphone. Something with just voice and basic texting, and good battery life. It looks like I'd recoup the ETF in a few months and save a bunch over the remaining 18 months of my Sprint contract.
There would be both pros and cons to this, most definitely, but for some reason I find the idea extremely attractive. Maybe it just seems like it would be futuristic or I'd be getting away with something.
I saw one person in here mentioning that they did this, anyone else considering it? Anyone else go tablet & dumbphone and have any advice or protips? I'm worried there's something terribly wrong with this plan that I'm not thinking of, or else more people would do it.
yeah ive been thinking about it too. The only reason i will stick to my droid 2 is tethering.
i thought about it, but the reality is as much as i use the tablet, i still use my phone quite a bit.
there are many times it is easier to just look at something on my phone (which is usually in my hand unless i am driving or riding my motorcycle) than it is to pull out the tablet.
Tethering and size will keep a smartphone on me.
Yeah, I gotta still have a phone. I'm not going to carry a tablet around with me everywhere.
bogatyr said:
Tethering and size will keep a smartphone on me.
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Exactly, if you simply buy a wifi only tablet and keep the smartphone, you can keep your monthly payments light by only paying for one device
This is exactly what I did. My phone is a Samsung Gusto. I use Google Voice through it still, if I want to place a call, I place it through the Xoom to have consistency with numbers. Also means I don't have to put any contacts in my Gusto. I have my Xoom with me everywhere I go, purchased a bag for it(a murse if you will, though it's a US Army map bag), also carry my Droid and my wallet in said bag. Works well enough for me and I use my tablet less in public than I did my Droid, which I see as a plus My phone only costs 9.99/mo on our family plan(I've got my mom and sister on there as well), so $30/month for the Xoom(1gb plan plus the stupid extra line fee), insurance and the 9.99/mo puts me lower than where I was with my Droid.
Elysian893 said:
This is exactly what I did. My phone is a Samsung Gusto. I use Google Voice through it still, if I want to place a call, I place it through the Xoom to have consistency with numbers.
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Interesting - when you say you place the call through the Xoom, are you using the GVoice website or the apk that's floating around to initiate the call?
cobraextreme said:
Interesting - when you say you place the call through the Xoom, are you using the GVoice website or the apk that's floating around to initiate the call?
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Website, the APK won't dial out to another phone, it does nothing when you tell it to 'call'
I will be keeping my Droid X and will definitely not need a 4g phone.
I'll be doing the same thing here real soon. I have a LG Dare that will work just fine. Everything else can happen on the xoom.
Not here, I'll be keeping a smartphone because when I'm in a meeting or in the office and I'm required to have my laptop, then I need something lightweight to keep in touch with my personal contacts, social networks, etc. Also, going to a party or bar hopping with my Xoom might not be the best thing, especially after a few drinks. I can't imagine asking for a number and pulling out this big ass tablet like "Excuse me while I whip this out" lmao!!
Stone 13 said:
Not here, I'll be keeping a smartphone because when I'm in a meeting or in the office and I'm required to have my laptop, then I need something lightweight to keep in touch with my personal contacts, social networks, etc. Also, going to a party or bar hopping with my Xoom might not be the best thing, especially after a few drinks. I can't imagine asking for a number and pulling out this big ass tablet like "Excuse me while I whip this out" lmao!!
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I already did that once
Elysian893 said:
I already did that once
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How did it work out for you? LOL!!!
Another option is to go to a carrier like T-Mobile where you can get a data only plan on a smartphone, then use Google Voice and SIP/VoIP. That'd probably be about 40 bucks a month. You could tether your Xoom to that for free.
An even cheaper alternative, if you can carry the Xoom around, is to cancel your phone plan entirely and tether your phone to your Xoom. 20 bucks a month for the 1GB data plan should be plenty.
I did have a fantasy of having a 4G enabled phone, unlimited plan, and tether everything to that, but battery life is the killer. The Xoom has far superior battery life. Even a Mifi will only last you for a couple hours. But yes, eventually my dream is to have one device that lasts all day and projects 4G wifi to whatever device I happen to be using at the time. At that point works just as well if you pull out your MacBook and need to tether.
cobraextreme said:
Interesting - when you say you place the call through the Xoom, are you using the GVoice website or the apk that's floating around to initiate the call?
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I have my Xoom dialing through Sipdroid with pbxes and i can make calls just not receive them at this point.
I use CSipSimple -> SipGate -> Google Voice to make calls and the reverse to receive them. Both directions work. However, with SipGate they allow you receive calls for free, making calls costs money. So, if you use the Google Voice website to place a call, it will call you back then connect you, which SipGate coutns as a free received call. There is an app called GVCallback that does this much easier, but it integrates with the normal phone dialer and so doesn't work with the Xoom at this point.
I'm currently using a voyager and my xoom and I'm ok with the combo but I do miss a smart phone especially since I find the thunderbolt tempting
Stone 13 said:
How did it work out for you? LOL!!!
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She was actually all about my tablet at the bar, checking it out, talking to me and such... My friend was trying to tell me she was taken but I was too inebriated to get the subtle hints, so as you can imagine, it did not go too well I think it would have gone much better if she weren't taken
I've been thinking of something like this too. My EVO is okay.. but a little too finicky for 3G or 4G tethering. I read that there will be a data only option with the thunderbolt. I might consider that.

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