Audiovox 8600, release date anyone?

[GoodmanR]

Anyone know when this will be coming out? Hopefully soon. Also, will it be bad do you think, given that hyundai makes it?

[orioles150]

Well I still dont have an exact release date, but I emailed Audiovox and asked them about when the phone would be released (since it was on their website, i figured they might give out some information) Someone emailed me back saying "It should be released to Verizon Wireless next month." I replied asking if he would elaborate on if that meant by August or by September and I got a response saying "I do not have an exact release date for you. I just know it should be released next month. Sorry I can't give you more information." I know its nothing really, but I thought I would post it anyways.

[GoodmanR]

thanks...

i dont know how great teh phoen will be. ive since had to leave verizon (company switched) but it iwll be a nice phone in size and should meet many peoples needs.

[tonypro]

Our company just got them in on Friday and I have one in my hand !! We had been trying to get them for the last 3 weeks...
still working on getting it programmed .... web wont work and sms wont work but thats my fault ran out of time on Friday ,,,
THIS PHONE HAS NO GAMES !? Love the color screen Good resolution, [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[orioles150]

tonypro - Do you work at Verizon, or do you just have a corporate account there? Also can you tell me more about the phone...things you like dont like? How is the: battery life, call clarity, reception build quality (does it feel like a flimsy cheap phone, or a sturdy phone?) etc. Thanks! I am really looking forward to trying this phone out even though i do LOVE the vx 6000, the size of this phone combined with Analog might make me return the VX6000 for this one!

[GoodmanR]

does the front look as bad as it does in pictures?

[tonypro]

I do not work for Verizon. I work for Pioneer/Enid Cellular - small carrier in OK.
I am using the phone currently. I only have Nokia to compare to because that is pretty much all I've used over the past 12 years or so.. I also have the Thera which is a whole new arena in itself.. It seems to be sturdy (ok I dropped it twice already only damage was my heart skipping a few beats!) it does not have a cheap feel to it at all .. not like the Kyocera phones I had in my hands in New Orleans CTIA show earlier this year. The menu is a little confusing FOR ME to get around in, but Nokia excels at that and like I said Im used to that system.. I should get the internet up and running today. I had the phone up and running Friday and Saturday on one charge no problems at all plus some of the time I was roaming in OKC on analog.. Batt excellent! (the Thera is a whole nother deal try 3/4 of a day if your lucky) I have not come close to explore all this phone has to offer but so far.... Would I pay for this phone ... YES I would ..most definitly.

all the people I show it too have one question ...."when can I get one?"


tony

[Q]

Tony

Thanks for the update. I'm one of those people saying "when can I get one!!"

I am interested in hearing about your initial impressions concerning: the outer and inner screens (i.e. in sunlight, indoors, etc), call quality, battery life, and quality of construction.

Thanks in advance.
-Q

[orioles150]

Thanks Tony for all the information! I, like Q, and am also one of those people who keeps looking day after day for it to come out, and when it hasnt, i keep saying, well maybe tomorrow! The fact that you already have one is very promising to me though! hopefully this week though because I want to try it out for a little while i am still on my 15 day trial of the VX6000 (which i must say is a GREAT phone...i havent found much about it that i dont like) but anyways back to the topic at hand...thanks again Tony

[Q]

Orioles - I don't think you and I will be seeing this phone before mid-August, at least. While I don't have any inside information, I believe that VZ will launch PTT before it introduces the 8600 even if it requires pushing back the 8600's release date. VZ loves to stagger lauch dates of new services and release dates of new phones and this appears to be another one of those cases.

That said, this is good sign that the light at the end of the tunnel is approaching....

[orioles150]

yeah I see what you are saying...The decision is so hard, while I love the VX6000 I also want to see how PTT turns out, and I also like the specs of the Audiovox better than the specs of the 6000. I will probably just end up returning the VX6000 and just wait around for PTT or the Audiovox. It would be perfect if they could make the Audiovox PTT compatable (it has the speaker phone and all) Who knows, it might be, the debate seems to still be going on about if Verizon will offer software upgrades for their phones to make them PTT. I think they wont waste their time/resources with the software upgrades...but we will just have to wait and see.

[Q]

Orioles - Your dilemma is the exact same one I go through all the time: should I buy or wait for better technology. The reason I've held onto my trusty Timeport for 2 and 1/2 years is because I have not been too impressed w/ VZW's phone selection until recently.

Personally, I'm not a fan of the VX6000. I don't need a camera. I don't care for the form factor and don't believe it feels all that sturdy - I think the a530 is much better in both regards. The specs on the VX6000's battery life also concern me. The downside of the a530 from my perspective is the outer LCD.

As for PTT, I'm not all that excited about it. I personally find Nextel's DC annoying and shudder at the thought of my wife being able to get a hold of me at all times......

I've been holding out for the 8600 because it appears to combine the features I find most desireable: (1) a small form factor similar to the a530; (2) large outer LCD (how it performs remains to be seen); (3) analog capabilities; (4) speakerphone; and (5) calendaring capability. I am concerned about the 8600's battery life (assuming Phonescoop's specs of 2.5/103 hrs are correct) and the quality of manufacture (this is apparently produced by Hyundai).

I will undoubtedly give this phone a try when it comes out, but by then I might as well wait for the Samsung I600. Alas, my journey continues.....

[GoodmanR]

i dont think the launch of the 8600 and ptt will effect each other. they will appeal to completely different market groups (the audiovox wont have much demand) and they will not effect the sales of one another.

[Q]

Originally posted by: GoodmanR
i dont think the launch of the 8600 and ptt will effect each other. they will appeal to completely different market groups (the audiovox wont have much demand) and they will not effect the sales of one another.

I think your right in that the sales of the 8600 and PTT enabled phones will not affect one another as each has a distinct market/consumer. That said, in the 4+ yrs I've been with VZW, I cannot remember anytime that VZW released new phones at the same time. So as much as I agree with your analysis, I still believe VZW will stagger release dates.

I suspect that VZW will release the 8600 w/out much fanfare - similar to the manner they released the VX3100.


Does anyone know what the pricing for the 8600 will be (general ballpark - recognizing regional differences)?

Also, the specs for the outer screen for the 8600 appear to be the same as the outer on the a530 - how does 8600's outer look, particularly in sunlight, similar problems as with the 530????

[orioles150]

I think the 8600 does not have a color outer screen. Phonescoop makes no mention of the outer screen being color. Thus it should not have any problem being seen in the sunlight.

[tonypro]

Hey guys .. sorry Ive been real busy,, price we paid for the 8600 was $209. Now we usually take $100 off that and that becomes our regular price ... but during specials we might take another $50 off. So I see our price normally at around $100 with a year commitment.

The outer screen is not color but when you press an outer button is glows greenish blue....

After using it for the last week or so , one thing did bother me ... when a call comes in and you check the outer screen for the caller id , they placed the number at the very bottom. The screen is square but housed around a circle frame and the number comes so close to the frame at the bottom it makes it difficult to view and seeing how your time is limited to make the decision wheather to pick up or not I wish they would have moved the display of the number dead center!

I switched phones today to test another arrival .. The Motorola T720
The T720 is a real nice phone (and I hated the older motorolas)
In comparison to the 8600 .. I feel like I got a big screen tv ! anyways...
talk to you all later..

[GoodmanR]

The T720 is a terrible phone. One of the worst out there. Read all the posts about how bad it is, and if that doesnt convince you. Ask me.

[Q]

Thanks for the update Toney.

I agree w/ Goodman. The Moto 720 is the biggest piece of junk Moto and VZW have to offer. Do yourself a favor and get rid of the 720. What scares the hell out of me is that you actually like the 720?!?!?!

On another note, based upon your review, it seems that you found (at least based upon limited usage) the 720 to be a nicer phone than the 8600. If this is the case, I will cease waiting for this phone right now.......that would be very disappointing.

Samsung I600 here I come (and wait, wait, and wait some more).......................

[orioles150]

tony -- so that is the only thing that has bothered you about the phone (the outer caller ID?) if so that isnt so bad. I think i am taking back my VX6000 today so i can wait around for the 8600....I hope its worth it!

wow, I didnt realize how small the i600 was going to be. But I think I would rather the VX6000 over that phone. I just dont need the smartphone capabilities and I actually love the VX. Hopefully the 8600 will live up to my expectations; if not, ill just have to wait around for the A690.

[GoodmanR]

yeha if you put the t720 above the 8600, i wont even consider looking at it

[orioles150]

There have been some people who like the T720. Some have miraculously never really had a problem with it. While most of us think its a POS it isnt the feeling of everyone in the world. Also I believe Tony wasnt saying that the T720 was better overall but just that the screen on the T720 was bigger than that on the 8600. Also I dont think you 2 (goodman and Q) should stop looking forward to a phone just because one person compared it to the T720. Well I dont know about you two but I am still looking forward to it and will be there to buy it when it comes out.

[GoodmanR]

i hope i comes out soon. i probably will buy it too, just because it gives me analog which is really pretty important for me.. the screen should be brighter and higher resolution than the t720 i hope.

also...i think the people not having problems with t720s are just yet to actually try to make a phone call.

[GoodmanR]

hey tony,

you wanna sell me your 8600? ill definately buy it

[MnMnIA]

Talked to my VZW rep here in NE Iowa yesterday afternoon.
He has the dummy phone and plenty of accessories, but no date
on the phone. He also mentioned that this weekend is their time
for national inventory so he didn't expect any more inventory to
come in until a few weeks into Oct.