mp3 cell phones

[tannenhauser]

So I am looking to get a new cell phone. I am really liking the Nokia N91 because of the 4gb of storage, 2.5 megapixel camera with flash, fm radio, bluetooth, 3g... I don't think this phone is sold in the US, but if I got this on ebay would it work here if my carrier is Cingular? I tried to figure this out myself but I cant find anything on google that explains that, I am pretty bad with numbers and technical specs data... like 800, 900mhz, triband, gsm etc... does not really mean anything to me.

If someone out there knows that Nokia N91 is compatible with Cingular network please let me know! :)
I will really appreciate it.

And if anyone has any other mp3/camera phones to recommend please do so. I know I definitly want a phone with at least 1gb for mp3s and at least a 2 megapixel camera, size is also a factor (for me, the smaller the better).

Thanks!

[usurp]

Yeah it will work if Cingular uses the GSM network. I know with T-Mobile it would work for sure. Just make sure the N91 you get is unlocked.

[tannenhauser]

Thanks so much :)

cingular is on a gsm network, are all gsm networks the same around the world?

[HOM]

The N91 is/is not compatible.

The short of it is this: The N91 only supports 900/1800/1900Mhz frequencies. Cingular uses 850/1900, but 850 being the primary one. So if you live in a market that does not have 850 exclusivly then yes, you can use it. But I would not recomend it, as Cingular is building out 850 only.

It's a hot phone, but it most likely won't work well on Cingular.

Right now if you want a good music phone and a 2+MP camera, you're going to have to wait for a while to use it on Cingular. If you can live with 512MB for music it opens up more options or if you can live with 1.3MP camera it also opens up more options.

The Samsung D600 is tiny, has a 2MP camera, and a TransFlash/Mini SD slot.

If you wait a few weeks SE has intro'd their new Walkman phone the W810i and there are rumblings about a K800 too. Both those would be small and satify all all your requirements, but they will be expensive.

I hope that helps clear some things up.

[tannenhauser]

How do I find out if in my area Cingular uses 850 exclusivly? I live in nyc, do you think in such a big city Cingular uses 1900 as well?

thanks HOM!

[HOM]

In NYC CIngular will use 1900 for at least another two years. The towers that are here were jointly owned and operated by Cingular and T-Mobile at the 1900 band. When Cingular bought out ATTW they got access to ATTW's 850 network (which Cingular had been building out as well). T-Mobile bought out Cingular's half of the NYC/Cali towers, but Cingular still gets to use them until 2008.

If you use a 1900MHz phone in NYC it'll work, but it will be the same reception as a T-Mobile phone.

One thing you might want to do it invest in a really cheap 900/1800/1900MHz phone to see how well it works for you before you drop $600 on the N91.

Or I suggest going over every inch of HoFo. They have a ton of threads about using a 1900 only phone in NYC.


EDIT: IF you expect to be traveling outside of NYC, it might not work well for you as the rest of the Cingular network is 850MHz.

Like I said in my previous post, it might make sense to wait a month or two to see what comes out.

[usurp]

When I was in New York 2 years ago I took my phone with me, a Sony Ericsson T610 with my gsm chip. I had GSM Roaming. I was able to use my T610 just fine over there. If the T610 worked then the N91 should also. I believe the T610 is triband and works on the same frequencies as the N91.. 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz

[tannenhauser]

so t-mobile does and will still use 1900 after 2008?

basically if i get the N91 i can be with cingular for 2 years till 2008, and then switch carriers to t-mobile?

[HOM]

so t-mobile does and will still use 1900 after 2008?

Yes. T-Mobile is exclusively 1900.

basically if i get the N91 i can be with cingular for 2 years till 2008, and then switch carriers to t-mobile?
Again, this is only if you plan on using the phone only in NYC, but yes.

Using a 1900MHz phone on Cingular is a sub-optimal solution regardless of the phone in question.

If you can wait 3 weeks, do so. The 3GSM Conference (http://www.3gsmworldcongress.com/) is coming up in the middle of February. It's like the CES of mobile phones. This is where the phones for 2006 will be introduced and demoed. If you wait you'll have a much larger selection of phones to chose from and a better idea if anything coming out will better suit your needs.

[tannenhauser]

Oh, awesome. Thanks for the conference info!
I will definitely wait till February now.

Thanks again

[tannenhauser]

so HOM after the conference takes place, do you know what website or what publication i can look at to see what phones were demoed?

[BarracksSi]

My God, this is stupid...

Don't get me wrong -- I'm not saying that all this well-informed advice is stupid.

What I'm saying is that the lack of standards & interoperability between cell phone companies (and their own phones!) is ridiculous.

I can only assume that things will be better within thirty to fifty years.

[FFL]

HOM == cellphone genius

[HOM]

so HOM after the conference takes place, do you know what website or what publication i can look at to see what phones were demoed?
Mobile Burn (http://www.mobileburn.com)
InfoSync World (http://www.infosyncworld.com)
Phone Scoop (http://www.phonescoop.com)

Or you could just wait for me to bust a nut like I did last year when Nokia introduced the N91 (http://forums.applenova.com/showthread.php?t=6157&highlight=Nokia+N91).

:p

FFL, you're too kind.

:o <---- *Blushing*

[torifile]

I look to HOM for phone advice as I do to Brad and Dr. K for computer advice. He's smart. :)