HTC Tytn same as Cingular 8525 - I have tmobile

[downtick]

I'm tired of my sidekick and love everything I've read about the HTC TyTn. I see it online for sale for about $700, and since I don't want the MDA, I might be willing to pay for it. CNET tore up the MDA and I hear it's slow. I guess I'll pay the big bucks for a new phoen since I'm on it all day for work with lots of little apps and emailing people.

I've now been reading online that the HTC TyTn is the same as the cingular 8525, but then I also read it's a different phone. I want to stay with tmobile because I can't break my contract and spend money on a new phone.

So, I'm wondering if:

1) Can I just buy one of the unlocked HTC TyTn's and use it with tmobile
2) If I buy a cingular 8525, can I use that with my tmobile SIM card?

Thanks!

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by downtick

I'm tired of my sidekick and love everything I've read about the HTC TyTn. I see it online for sale for about $700, and since I don't want the MDA, I might be willing to pay for it. CNET tore up the MDA and I hear it's slow. I guess I'll pay the big bucks for a new phoen since I'm on it all day for work with lots of little apps and emailing people.

I've now been reading online that the HTC TyTn is the same as the cingular 8525, but then I also read it's a different phone. I want to stay with tmobile because I can't break my contract and spend money on a new phone.

So, I'm wondering if:

1) Can I just buy one of the unlocked HTC TyTn's and use it with tmobile
2) If I buy a cingular 8525, can I use that with my tmobile SIM card?

Thanks!

Ok first of all, the HTC TyTN and the 8525 are the same just like the Tmobile MDA and the Cingular 8125 are the same.

Now, let me stress some things, first if you buy a 8525 without unlocking it, no a T-Mobile Sim will not work in it. Secondly you can buy the TyTN, as long as it's unbranded, and use it with T-mobile without a problem. I need to stress that there are very few useability differences between the TyTN and the MDA that you will be able to experience:

1. The TyTN is slightly faster. (The Speed Increase isn't great)
2. The TyTN has a 2.0 MP Camera and a front facing camera (front facing wont do you any good unless you use skype over wifi)
3. The TyTN supports 3G (won't do you any good on T-Mobile, doesn't support the 1700mhz frequency T-Mobile is starting to use for 3G)
4. The TyTN has a sidewheel and is PTT compatible. (Push To Talk won't deal well for you)

Weigh out the aforementioned changes and contemplate if it's really worth the extra money, you can get an unsubsidized MDA for under $500 from Tmobile and less on ebay. If the TyTN supported the 1700mhz frequency for 3G I would give you a different view saying get it, as this is the phone I want as well. However, without 3G service you'll be missing a large majority of why this phone is so expensive.

[downtick]

Thanks for the tips. You make a good point.

My concern with the MDA is that it's too slow. A lot of people have said it's slow, but I personally need a keyboard that's set up like the MDA or sidekick and to work with Tmobile. With this in mind, I can't use the Dash or a Treo; I have large hands.

Cnet.com ripped up the MDA, but then quite a few of the user reviews really liked it.

Thoughts?

[budney]

Don't read too much into CNET's reviews. For them if the device dosen't have the newest features it's garbage. More then likely they reviewed the MDA when it first came out, when it was slow and needed an upgaded ROM to fix those problems. The MDA is a great device, just make sure it has the latest ROM. Also make sure you don't over load it with programs, this will cause it to slow to a crawl. And manage the memory with MemMaid &/or SKTools for best performance.

[downtick]

Originally Posted by budney

Don't read too much into CNET's reviews. For them if the device dosen't have the newest features it's garbage. More then likely they reviewed the MDA when it first came out, when it was slow and needed an upgaded ROM to fix those problems. The MDA is a great device, just make sure it has the latest ROM. Also make sure you don't over load it with programs, this will cause it to slow to a crawl. And manage the memory with MemMaid &/or SKTools for best performance.

Is the ROM somehting that I can flash online, or do I NEED to buy a new phone from tmobile specifically? Otherwise, I can buy one on Ebay and then flash it.

[budney]

You can update the ROM by syncing the MDA to your PC.

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by downtick

Is the ROM somehting that I can flash online, or do I NEED to buy a new phone from tmobile specifically? Otherwise, I can buy one on Ebay and then flash it.

Originally Posted by budney

You can update the ROM by syncing the MDA to your PC.

To expand more on this, there is what's known as a CID lock that makes sure you can only flash the rom to a rom provided by the carrier that sold the phone originally, for the wizard there is lokiwiz to remove that lock. In specific if you go on the tmobile website you can download the latest rom, cingular's is posted on the HTC America website, etc etc. I have the 8125 (Cingular version of the MDA) and I love it, there are times when it drags backside, but a very simple fix to that is to use a application closing program (the x on windows minimizes instead of closing the app) I use SPB's Application Suite so that is covered. The phone is fast enough to run every app I've thrown at it, including skype over WiFi.

[downtick]

What's the story with the MDA Pro and MDA II I'm seeing for sale online on Ebay... should I look at one of those for my tmobile service? They have better processors.

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by downtick

What's the story with the MDA Pro and MDA II I'm seeing for sale online on Ebay... should I look at one of those for my tmobile service? They have better processors.

MDA Pro (HTC Universal) is 3G TriBand missing 850mhz, therefore not the best bet in the states, MDA II (HTC Himalayas) is also TriBand, and if I'm not mistaken doesn't sport a Qwerty Keyboard (just uses touch screen.)

[downtick]

Originally Posted by nKrypteD1

MDA Pro (HTC Universal) is 3G TriBand missing 850mhz, therefore not the best bet in the states, MDA II (HTC Himalayas) is also TriBand, and if I'm not mistaken doesn't sport a Qwerty Keyboard (just uses touch screen.)

Got it.

So I'm looking around on Ebay to find a good deal.

let's see what i can find

[downtick]

Why is there a Tmobile MDA II and MDA III if they are not usable? Are these European phones?

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by downtick

Why is there a Tmobile MDA II and MDA III if they are not usable? Are these European phones?

Yes, T-Mobile USA is an extension of T-Mobil owned by Deutsche's T (German Telecom, the primary Phone Service provider in Germany and one of the largest carriers offering services in most european countries,) in europe there is no need for the 850mhz band where cingular here likes to use 850, T-mobile is primarily 1900mhz here in the states, however, if you leave the cities you're far more likely to be roaming on an 850mhz tower than a 1900 mhz.