GSM Device / Provider / Plan advice needed for a traveler

[megna]

Hi to you wireless geniuses. It's amazing how much you people know.

I need help. I am becoming self-employed and will be based in San Francisco, California. However, I will travel the country, and I will also travel frequently to Canada and to the Philippines. I need to select a phone, a provider, and a plan. I need an awful lot of minutes, I need to be able to text domestic and internationally, and GPRS and Bluetooth would be nice. Below is my basic criteria.

1. Phone that has long battery life (standby and talk time)
2. Easy to cradle
3. GSM tri-band phone
4. GOOD RECEPTION in San Francisco and other major cities -- and not just on the freeway.
5. Ability to unlock the phone to install local SIM cards in the Philippines

I like the Sony Ericsson T68i, but I'm not sure if I can use that with T-Mobile, which seems to have the best plans (5000 minutes for 99/month!). I'm a little concerned about some stuff I've been reading about the reception for the T68i, but am wondering if that's due to the provider. (Can I use the T68i with T-Mobile?)

I am also really torn between T-Mobile and ATT, but ATT is so much more expensive, it's really only worth it if there coverage and reception is, like, one billion times better.

So -- what's the best phone? What's the best provider? What should I choose first?

THANK YOU!

[TNDan21]

Forgot AT&T GSM, the network is way too small right now. Your best bet would be with Cingular Wireless or T-Mobile if you want GSM service. Also forgot about the T68i it doesn't pick up worth a crap.

Cingular Wireless

T-Mobile

[megna]

Why does your signature say 'Say NO to Cingular Wireless?' Do you not like it?

Also, what do you think about the Motoral V60gi? I wanted a color screen, am not crazy about flip phones, and don't like that I can't see who's calling without opening the phone... but maybe it's worth the sacrifice for better reception and fewer dropped calls.

Megan

[ZaphodB]

Originally posted by: megna
1. Phone that has long battery life (standby and talk time)

The longest battery life is undoubtedly the Sony Ericsson T68 series. Unfortunately, they're also undoubtedly the worst for reception. Casting the SE-T68 aside, then, the next best is probably the Motorola V60 series, then the Motorola P280.

2. Easy to cradle

Any of the phones will be fine. I actually find the SE T68i the hardest. I have large hands and the phone is actually too small.

3. GSM tri-band phone

All the phones listed in #1 above are tri-band world phones.

4. GOOD RECEPTION in San Francisco and other major cities -- and not just on the freeway.

Cingular and T-Mobile will give you the same reception, since they share towers in California. AT&T also have GSM, but it is not yet "ready for primetime" according to most reliable reports. This will, however, change - AT&T have too many corporate customers they can't afford to p!ss off. It will change slowly, though, I think. My experiences in San Francisco with Cingular and T-Mobile is that they're perfectly acceptable.

5. Ability to unlock the phone to install local SIM cards in the Philippines

If you go with T-Mobile, you will have to wait until the check for your first bill has cleared before asking them to unlock. Cingular have inconsistent policies. AT&T will not unlock your phone. There are many people who will unlock your phone for you... check the Marketplace forum (note to those people: don't post in here!).

I like the Sony Ericsson T68i, but I'm not sure if I can use that with T-Mobile, which seems to have the best plans (5000 minutes for 99/month!). I'm a little concerned about some stuff I've been reading about the reception for the T68i, but am wondering if that's due to the provider. (Can I use the T68i with T-Mobile?)

The T68i is just plumb bad. It's not the provider. Any GSM phone, if unlocked, can be used with any GSM provider, assuming that phone has the ability to perform on the provider's band (850, 900, 1800, or 1900 MHz.) All GSM in California and Canada is 1900 MHz at this point, and the Philippines are on 900 and 1800 MHz.

[Gabriel]

go with the motorola v600.

it has a color screen, gprs, bluetooth, and it is quadruple band (850, 900, 1800, 1900mghz)

use it with cingular. i have it and i have never had any problems with it.

[bobolito]

TNDan21, is your campaign against Cingular over? I see you removed your anti-Cingular signature and you are actually recommending them. Will you renew the bashing contract? ....LOL....(joking)

Gabriel, I thought the V600 will not be available until after the summer. It is not even in Phonescoop yet. How did you get it? It must have cost you a fortune.
http://commerce.motorola.com/consume...ml/m_v600.html

[CaliphoniaBoy]

You should keep in mind that T-mobile has the much more attractive international roaming rates compared to Cingular (at least in Cali). Just in case you get stuck somewhere, where you don;t have a prepaid sim...

C.

[TNDan21]

T-Mobile and Cingular Wireless will give you the same coverage in CA. However T-Mobile has better Customer Service hours and better international rates.

I think T-Mobile might be your best choice.

[megna]

You guys are brilliant!! Thank you so much. I will go with either the Motorala V60gi or the Motorola V600 (if I can find it)!

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

You guys are the lone gunmen of the wireless world.

[Gabriel]

bobolito, i said to Megna (the person who ported the question) that she can use the motorola v600, not that i have one. hehehehe, i know it will come out in a while, so i dont have one. i just recommended it. i have just a nokia 3390... i'm looking for a new one though, maybe siemens sl55 or something like that.

[bobolito]

Oh, I see....I was under the impression that you had the V600 because you said "i have it and i have never had any problems with it.". Just wanted to clarify things.

[Gabriel]

hey chico, i see what you are saying... i meant i have cingular, not the v600. hehehehe.

[aiwapro]

You may want to check out the Sony Ericsson P800, as it is easy to cradle/sync, color screen, GPRS, Bluetooh, and more. You can check it out here; Site 1 & Site 2
You can view details about the device at site 1, and purchase at site 2.
Site 2 is my site. Also, the P800 comes unlocked, for use across the world on any GSM network.

I would also recommend T-Mobile, because their coverage is great, and their rate plans, including the international ones, are great too.

[CommuteMan]

Originally posted by: megna
You guys are brilliant!! Thank you so much. I will go with either the Motorala V60gi or the Motorola V600 (if I can find it)!

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

You guys are the lone gunmen of the wireless world.

Sorry for jumping in late, but I just noticed that almost none of the posters on this thread are actually in the SF area. I am an ATT GSM subscriber in the Bay Area, and have found the coverage to be excellent.

The comments about ATT GSM being not-yet-ready are way out of date, and incorrect. I got a Siemens S46 GSM/TDMA phone when GSM first rolled out last year, because I was concerned about coverage. It's now permanently locked on GSM. I have yet to find a location where TDMA is available and GSM not (although I have not tried it in the Sierras yet...). Worked fine in Dallas, Denver, Orlando (plus the UK, France, and NZ)

I also bought an unlocked Nokia 6310i for international travel so that I can use local SIMs outside the US, and use my ATT SIM here in CA. It's a wonderful phone.

Triband/WAP/GPRS
Battery life is enormous (up to 14 days on standby).
Very easy to use
Reception is great
Bluetooth and IR (haven't tried the Bluetooth yet)

CM

[aiwapro]

Originally posted by: CommuteMan

Sorry for jumping in late, but I just noticed that almost none of the posters on this thread are actually in the SF area. I am an ATT GSM subscriber in the Bay Area, and have found the coverage to be excellent.

The comments about ATT GSM being not-yet-ready are way out of date, and incorrect. I got a Siemens S46 GSM/TDMA phone when GSM first rolled out last year, because I was concerned about coverage. It's now permanently locked on GSM. I have yet to find a location where TDMA is available and GSM not (although I have not tried it in the Sierras yet...). Worked fine in Dallas, Denver, Orlando (plus the UK, France, and NZ)

I also bought an unlocked Nokia 6310i for international travel so that I can use local SIMs outside the US, and use my ATT SIM here in CA. It's a wonderful phone.

Triband/WAP/GPRS
Battery life is enormous (up to 14 days on standby).
Very easy to use
Reception is great
Bluetooth and IR (haven't tried the Bluetooth yet)

CM

That's nice and all, but once you leave the metro areas, you have no coverage with AT&T GSM. They have no connecting coverage; Their map shows it.

[CommuteMan]

Which is why I have an S46. Only phone I know that works pretty much everywhere on the planet that there's cell service (yeah, yeah, except for analog...). I've also been carrying my old Nokia 6162 TDMA/Analog around whenever I leave my local urban area, trying to find places where TDMA disappears and I only have analog. The S46 won't work in those spots, but the 6162 will. Haven't found any yet.

But back to the original request. The person asking the question lives in the SF Bay Area. ATT GSM coverage here is great. The comments that ATT GSM is not ther yet are wrong. When this person says "travel the country", that usually means travel from major metro to major metro on business, in which case the service gaps aren't that relevant.

If, on the other hand, this person is planning to drive around the country, then the best solution would probably be ATT TDMA or Verizon, but that kills the international travel.....

CM