Use for old cellphone

[Adcadet]

Hey Gang,
I'm thinking of taking the plunge this weekend and getting an iPhone. I've been using a Motorolla Razor for 2+ years, and I'm not sorry to say goodbye. Other than easily fitting into a suit pocket, I haven't been a fan of the Razor. The keys are so-so, the menus don't make sense, I can't tell just by looking at it if an alarm is set and I have to go into the alarm edit menu to confirm the time it's set for. In contrast, my old LG VX8000 remains in daily use as an alarm clock, both at home and in the hospital call rooms. I love that phone. The display is bright, the text is very readable, the menues make sense, the back light is bright enough so I can find my glasses or pager without turning on other lights, and the backlight auto-dimms. The alarm is loud but not annoying. The keys are nice and big and easy to use. The speakerphone is nice and loud. If the phone weren't so large and clunky it would be perfect - but then again, the size makes it easy to use.

Does anybody know a way to re-use an old cellphone? I don't want to pay the money to make it a second line, which I don't think I can as the phone is CDMA and my new carrier is likely AT&T (GSM). I sort of woudn't mind getting off the cell phone treadmill and not buying yet another phone at some point (although for now I really want an iPhone). I'll continue using it as a portable alarm clock. But it would be great if I could use this 4 year old phone for something more than an alarm clock. It deserves better. It would be great if I could use it as a home phone, or as a second phone on my new cell phone number.

 

[Mercutio]

Women's shelters take them and can reprogram them to be 911 only if they aren't good for anything else.

 

[Fushigi]

A few comments:
1. If you get an iPhone then you will use AT&T as your carrier (unlocking shenanigans aside). And iPhones require iTunes. For some like me that rules them out.
2. If cost is a factor, be sure to look at total cost, i.e. phone + cost of service for the contract duration.
3. Personally, I'm holding out for the Pre. While I admit to being gunshy at Palm products based on the last time I bought nearly 3 years ago, they seem to have gotten their act together with devices lately. And I really want a new device but can't stand the BlackBerry offerings that work would pay for.

As to reusing the old phone, Merc's idea is the most noble I can think of off-hand. There are also services that reconditon phones & provide them to the military (or their spouses) so they can keep in touch overseas.

Places like Best Buy let you simply drop them off for recycling.

If you want to use it as a home phone, look in to a microcell. Basically it's a cell tower-VOIP bridge you place in your home to use a cell phone while there. It uses your broadband connection & not the carrier's tower. There's still a monthly fee, naturally, but it could serve to replace your land line.

You wouldn't be able to use it as a second phone/line with your iPhone for at least one major reason: AT&T doesn't do CDMA.

 

[udaman]

Hey Gang,
I'm thinking of taking the plunge this weekend and getting an iPhone. I've been using a Motorolla Razor for 2+ years, and I'm not sorry to say goodbye. Other than easily fitting into a suit pocket, I haven't been a fan of the Razor.

Impulse buying of tech products can result in disappointment, I recommend you take more time to think about a purchase like the iPhone, where you'll be locked into a two year contract (that may change by this summer).

If there is an Apple retail store nearby (or Best Buy), see if you can use a working copy of the iPhone you intend to buy. It's footprint is larger than a Razor, for sure---better check to see if it will fit your suit pockets. Make sure you are comfortable with the touch screen entry, ease of use, in poor lighting (bright lighting, etc), when you need to dial (unless you're going to use voice activated dialing exclusively).

Never mind Fusighi's 'anti-Apple' bias, iTunes is not 'required' to purchase an iPhone, or to use, it per se. Nothing wrong with using iTunes w/iPhone however. For the 'anti-Apple' crowd, M$ is once again, copying Apple's lead, trying to implement their own "App store" for their failed line of mobile OS, lol. M$ is even now trying to copy Apple's success with retail stores, lmao!!!

The Palm Pre, much like the USA iPhone, is limited to exclusivity (may change for both the iPhone & Pre over the next year or two)...Pre will be only available on Sprint/Nextel, via a contract on that network.

If you don't absolutely need an iPhone this weekend, and can hold off until the summer, rumored new versions of iPhones are due to be released, different pricing/plan structures also rumored.

Apple, AT&T looking at tiered iPhones and plans?


http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/02/13/tiered.iphones.plans/

Wu suggests that Apple is having difficulty not with developing new technology , but in devising options cheaper than the iPhone 3G, which costs a minimum of $200 plus another $70 or more in monthly voice and data fees. The sheer expense of the phone has become a problem in the context of a global recession, says Wu. Economic troubles are believed to have convinced AT&T that cheaper iPhone plans may be tolerable, and that it needs to find a way of coping with the loss incurred from heavier bandwidth users.

Together AT&T and Apple are said to be exploring the concept of second and even third iPhone models, splitting the iPhone market in manner similar to iPods. Accompanying new iPhones would be different featuresets, with plans for light and heavy data use; a rumored plan would include no default web browsing allotment, instead providing exclusively for e-mail and SMS messaging.

Apple flash memory orders for new iPhone hurt supply


http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/02/17/iphone.flash.memory.orders/

ThinkEquity analyst Vijay Rakesh is telling clients that Apple has begun placing orders for memory for a yet unannounced upgrade to the current iPhone 3G and the rumored "iPhone Nano" or a similar device. Most recently RBC analyst Mark Abramsky claimed that a $99 iPhone would appear later this summer, but that the device would not be a rumored iPhone nano, but instead a pared-down regular iPhone.

But if you must buy soon:

AT&T resumes $100 iPhone refurb discount


http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/02/18/iphone.refurb.discount/

selling refurbished iPhones with a $100 price cut, bringing the cost of the 8GB model down to $99, and the 16GB version to $199. A fresh two-year contract is also required, and AT&T warns that some phones could be marred by "minor scratches." The reason for new offer is unclear, as several motives may be present. AT&T may for instance be hoping to boost sales in the face of a shrinking economy and lower wages; the carrier may alternately have received a sudden influx of used phones, or be looking to help Apple clear out inventory in advance of a new iPhone in the summer. A simpler explanation may be that AT&T intends to sell refurbished models on a periodic basis.

Rumor: Best Buy planning sizable discounts on iPhone


http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/02/20/best.buy.iphone.sale/

A tipster claims that the retailer will take $100 off the handsets for Reward Zone Premier members, bringing the price down to $100 for a new 8GB unit and $200 for the 16GB variant. The promotion would match the respective $100 and $200 offers from AT&T, but customers would receive new phones instead of refurbished devices. The source claimed that the discounts will be available only though February 22nd to the 28th. The $100 reduction will only be available to Premier members, while subscribers to the basic Reward Zone program will receive $50 off any iPhone. Customers that sign up for a new membership on or after February 22nd are only entitled to a modest discount of $10.

 

[MaxBurn]

Women's shelters take them and can reprogram them to be 911 only if they aren't good for anything else.

I did this on my last one. Check in your local hospital, they may have a bin for just this.

There are supposedly places you can sell it where it gets to be refurbed and sold again on gray market too. Don't expect a lot but maybe up to $50.

Always ebay too.

 

[Fushigi]

Never mind Fusighi's 'anti-Apple' bias, iTunes is not 'required' to purchase an iPhone, or to use, it per se.

It was required for the original iPhone. Looks like that fixed that for the 3G.

Nothing wrong with using iTunes w/iPhone however.

Apple software on Windows is most definitely 'wrong'. This reputation was earned based on many years of crappy Quicktime releases and more recently, Safari for Windows. I've seen nothing from them to lead me to believe they've changed their tune (pardon the pun) WRT Windows development.

Not directly iPhone related but did you see that Apple released 55 bug fixes at once for OSX, 48 of which are security related? Windows security looks pretty decent by comparison.

Yes, the Pre will be Sprint exclusive for roughly 2009 but will open up after that, including a GSM version. The GSM version will be on sale outside the US shortly. Carrier exclusivity and/or contracts are the price you pay for getting the expensive devices at discount.

I'll take Sprint's $15 EVDO data plan that actually delivers high speed over AT&T's $30 supposed 3G speeds any day of the week. And you can have a smartphone w/out data on Sprint. Not so for the iPhone. Not to mention around Chicagoland there are holes in AT&T's coverage. Not just 3G data but the ability to hold a voice call can be spotty. Sprint invested heavily in the area some years ago and we have generally excellent coverage.

Impulse buying of tech products can result in disappointment, I recommend you take more time to think about a purchase like the iPhone, where you'll be locked into a two year contract (that may change by this summer).

On this we agree. Even though I'd like a Pre based on what I've seen so far, I will still wait to see it in person before signing the dotted line.

 

[Adcadet]

This certainly isn't an impulse buy. I thought about it seriously when the iPhone first came out, and then again when the iPhone 3G came out. The only urgency is that my wife's old Razor is dying and with my busy schedule, I want a phone I can actually email and text message on so I can communicate a bit more with my wife.

Yes, I've mocked up the total price over 2 years. With my greater corporate discount at AT&T vs T-mo, the increased cost over 2 years will be less than $500 assuming I would stick with my old, hated Razor and T-mo.


Important Features in descending order of importance:

Works well with a corporate Exchange Server for email (calendar less important)

Works well with Gmail

Push email would be great, especially on the Exchange Server email

Works well with Google calender

Has a keyboard (real or virtual) that I can actually type on

Has GPS and a map system

Can surf the web reasonably well

Fits in a pocket reasonably well

Plays MP3s without hassle

Works well with Remember the Milk

Has a speakerphone



The contenders:
Black Berry Curve 8900 - doesn't have 3G, but neither does my city

Apple iPhone 3G - the only one of the three that would get 3G in my city, but also the only one without a physical keyboard

T-mobile G1 - T-mobile lacks 3G - is the G1 really that great on a non-3G network? The only one not officially supported by my work to function with our email system

Local coverage:
My city has 3G from ATT, Verizon and Sprint but not T-mobile.

 

[Handruin]

Never mind Fusighi's 'anti-Apple' bias, iTunes is not 'required' to purchase an iPhone, or to use, it per se.

It was required for the original iPhone. Looks like that fixed that for the 3G.

Nothing wrong with using iTunes w/iPhone however.

Apple software on Windows is most definitely 'wrong'. This reputation was earned based on many years of crappy Quicktime releases and more recently, Safari for Windows. I've seen nothing from them to lead me to believe they've changed their tune (pardon the pun) WRT Windows development.

Not directly iPhone related but did you see that Apple released 55 bug fixes at once for OSX, 48 of which are security related? Windows security looks pretty decent by comparison.

Yes, the Pre will be Sprint exclusive for roughly 2009 but will open up after that, including a GSM version. The GSM version will be on sale outside the US shortly. Carrier exclusivity and/or contracts are the price you pay for getting the expensive devices at discount.

I'll take Sprint's $15 EVDO data plan that actually delivers high speed over AT&T's $30 supposed 3G speeds any day of the week. And you can have a smartphone w/out data on Sprint. Not so for the iPhone. Not to mention around Chicagoland there are holes in AT&T's coverage. Not just 3G data but the ability to hold a voice call can be spotty. Sprint invested heavily in the area some years ago and we have generally excellent coverage.

Impulse buying of tech products can result in disappointment, I recommend you take more time to think about a purchase like the iPhone, where you'll be locked into a two year contract (that may change by this summer).

On this we agree. Even though I'd like a Pre based on what I've seen so far, I will still wait to see it in person before signing the dotted line.

Fushigi, take my advice and never worry about debating or clarifying anything logical with udaman, it isn't worth it. You know what you're talking about. I agree that apple software on windows is not very good. I believe you need iTunes if you want to get applications for the iPhone, but I don't know for sure. I've found iTunes to install some of the most bloated and sluggish software of any product I've ever installed. Even on a modern PC, it's a frustrating experience to manage music on my tiny iPod shuffle. Maybe it works ok on a mac, but there really is no need for a mac or their OS for anything I need. What's not excusable on either OS is if you happen to need to reinstall iTunes it will wipe clean your iPod of all it's music. The same might be true for an iPhone. Clearly a lacking design or consideration.

I've seen video reviews of the Pre and it looks nice, but it doesn't excite me. Sprint seems to have good pricing on data plans, but I don't trust the voice coverage of their service. Much like Adcadet I would like an iPhone some day. I'm waiting to see what their next generation offers before I consider anything. Adding a removable battery would be a nice revolutionary feature Apple could add. No one has ever done that before.

 

[Adcadet]

I agree, that Pre looks nice, but what is the compelling feature to get a Pre over an iPhone or G1?

I remain very interested in Android, but for now the only network that has an Android phone lacks 3G in my area.

 

[Fushigi]

Things that attract me to the Pre. Not all are unique to the platform, of course.

• The form factor, including the overall shape & contour lines, a real keyboard, and a replaceable battery.
• Not AT&T. I've documented before my issue with AT&T turning me over to a collection agency for refusing to pay for services I did not order, want, or use. AT&T cannot be trusted. And we've a corporate discount with Sprint.
• Works with work email/calendar. Also works with all of the various personal email accounts I use.
• Synergy. See chapter 6.
• A UI that works the way people work. Click Meet Pre here.
• No need for any software on the desktop.
• WebOS. The programming model makes a lot of sense. The design also means the browser should have very good compatibility.
• Pre was designed around letting you do your thing, not interrupting you when the outside world intrudes. I like some of the subtle things like the way alerts work.
• And of course the things you expect in a modern smartphone: WiFi, GPS, BT 2.x, search that extends outside the device, etc.

 

[Howell]

I agree that apple software on windows is not very good. I believe you need iTunes if you want to get applications for the iPhone, but I don't know for sure. I've found iTunes to install some of the most bloated and sluggish software of any product I've ever installed. Even on a modern PC, it's a frustrating experience to manage music on my tiny iPod shuffle. Maybe it works ok on a mac, but there really is no need for a mac or their OS for anything I need. What's not excusable on either OS is if you happen to need to reinstall iTunes it will wipe clean your iPod of all it's music. The same might be true for an iPhone. Clearly a lacking design or consideration.

News from the field:
iTunes and Quicktime installed and runs fine on my Vista laptop since I got my iPhone (IBM T43 with 1.5GB). I don't actually use Quicktime that I know of. My coworker has not complained to me about his XP T43 1GB and I would have heard about it. There are 7 iPhones among the employees of the office and the rest are MotoQs.

I have deleted my iPhone profile on the computer and when the phone was reconnected the profile was rebuilt and the phone left intact in a similar way to what happens when you delete an Activesync profile.

While I do not listen to music on the iPhone I do very occasionally listen to the music on HD through iTunes. I push play. It plays. Works fine for me. I have not worked with any iPods.

Excluding possible 3rd party solutions:

iTunes is required:
to update the firmware on the phone
make backups of the phone
possibly to initially activate the phone, my memory is foggy on this one

iTunes is advisable but not required:
to install and update iPhone applications

iTunes is not required:
to configure the iPhone
use the phone


Right now the biggest shortcoming of the iPhone is in the area of application data backup and restore. Particularly in terms of granularity and keeping a number of backup revisions. There are 3rd party procedural hacks for the revision issue but not the granularity issue.

The coverage is not as good as I had with Verizon.

I don't have to worry about the cost because the office picks up the tab.

ps. Questions? Please notify me through PM as I'm only here sporadically.

 

[Howell]

Works well with a corporate Exchange Server for email (calendar less important)
Works well with Gmail
Push email would be great, especially on the Exchange Server email
Works well with Google calender
Has a keyboard (real or virtual) that I can actually type on
Has GPS and a map system
Can surf the web reasonably well
Fits in a pocket reasonably well
Plays MP3s without hassle
Works well with Remember the Milk
Has a speakerphone

The iPhone works in push mode with Exchange server dependent on the exchange server being updated (particular service pack or version, can't remember). The calendar works fine but there are some quirky limitations. Like you can't invite other people to events created on the phone. I think this could be fixed with a software update.

Works fine for Gmail for basic IMAP type operations. You will lose the ability to sync to Gmail contacts if you enable exchange sync. Some Gmail operations are not available even through safari on the phone. Like being unable to tag mail into folders.

I would use Gcal through Safari if I didn't have exchange. Gcal sync may break when you turn on the exchange sync(untested). You can read but not edit Gdoc documents. Other things are quirky too.

I have never owned a full screen phone before but surfing on the iPhone beats surfing on the MotoQ. GPS and map combo are amazingly useful and easy to use. Speaker phone is almost too loud at full volume.

I really like how thin and slick it is. I have dropped it a number of times and have chips in the case and screen that do not affect function.

I use Things in place of Remember the Milk. I have not used RtM.

 

[Adcadet]

Anybody try running the iPhone without a data plan? Most of the time I'll be covered by Wifi and I'm wondering if it would make sense not to have a data plan to save some money. At least during the months when I'm not traveling.

 

[Fushigi]

Adcadet - As I said above, a $30 a month data plan is mandatory for an iPhone on AT&T. Go to the AT&T site & look up available plans in your area.

Howell - Good update. FYI the original iPhone required iTunes for activation; the 3G does not. When uda refuted my statement on that I looked it up.

I also like how iTunes is required is required for phone firmware updates. Makes no sense. Seems like iTunes has had major scope creep and is need of re-branding.

 

[Stereodude]

Seems like iTunes has had major scope creep and is need of re-branding.

I wonder if they'll consider calling it Trojan Horse?

 

[Mercutio]

AD, I love the data plan on my phone. You're getting raped on the AT&T version, but for me the ability to access the internet essentially anywhere with no additional setup has probably been more useful in my life than whatever capabilities a mobile phone offers. I use my phone to check or add to Amazon wish lists while I'm at a bookstore, to listen to NPR in places where FM reception sucks and I've done seriously heroic things from RDP sessions, just pulled off to the side of the road.

The Internet really is everywhere for me, now. The world is ever so much closer to being tolerable.

 

[Mercutio]

AD, I love the data plan on my phone. You're getting raped on the AT&T version, but for me the ability to access the internet essentially anywhere with no additional setup has probably been more useful in my life than whatever capabilities a mobile phone offers. I use my phone to check or add to Amazon wish lists while I'm at a bookstore, to listen to NPR in places where FM reception sucks and I've done seriously heroic things from RDP sessions, just pulled off to the side of the road.

The Internet really is everywhere for me, now. The world is ever so much closer to being tolerable.

 

[CougTek]

The Internet really is everywhere for me, now. The world is ever so much closer to being tolerable.

You only like to communicate with people online? I'm sure you'd like to chat with me in person. Since I don't speak English, I would have to write messages on cardboards like Will E. Coyote. You would find it very entertaining.

 

[Mercutio]

You only like to communicate with people online?

I really prefer it that way, yes. I consider a good month one in which I haven't use my phone for personal reasons at all.

 

[Adcadet]

Merc - what phone do you use?

 

[udaman]

Live coverage of Apple's iPhone 3.0 event


http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/03/17/apple.iphone.3.event.live/

LOL, I only recently realized that is shorthand for 'updated' ...story has been updated.

seems there are noteworthy improvements...though I'm sure Merc would complain about p2p limitations .

Hell, I don't have any of that functionality on my ancient, simple cell phone circa 2000, don't even understand what 'push' technology is, or MMS...but I guess I know someone who's a twitter freak and who would use IM (Instant Messaging)...both societal, dysfunctional, social diseases .

Spotlight coming to iPhone in OS-wide form, too: flick left at the home screen to bring up a search for all data on the phone. Find specific apps and content.

that will be a help (search engine).

1:53 -- ngmoco (Rolando, Topple) is up. Sees "social play" as key to the next round of iPhone games. A new game, Touch Pets, can notify users about being invited to "play dates" with other users' dogs. Effectively, a social network. Also supports add-on content packs, such as toys for the pets.

...^^^see my twitter thread on SF.

1:26 -- Push notification is finally coming. Had to completely rearchitect the server for the feature. True background apps are still technically bad for the customer as they kill standby time (by as much as 80%). By contrast, an IM app on push notification only reduces standby at about 23 percent.

...^^^all escapes me , standby time, meaning reduced batter life, or is that something else???

 

[Fushigi]

Push will literally "push" or download emails from your email server to your phone as messages arrive. On my Treo I get messages from Exchange literally at the same time or even before they hit Outlook (which also does push). It's how BlackBerrys get email, it's the basis for MS ActiveSync, and can be faked well enough with an IMAP connection. The downside is it generally will eat a lot of battery.

iPhone 3.0 finally gets cut and paste. Having not been an iPhone user I find it astonishing that this basic smartphone feature has been absent this long. Treos, for instance, have had cut and paste since day 1.

Still no real multitasking.

Improved, but not really universal search.

Stereo BT and MMS .. again, improvements that are overdue considering how many basic non-smart phones have them.

A good update for iPhone users but nothing of note to convince others to switch.

 

[Mercutio]

Still no real multitasking.

Stereo BT and MMS .. again, improvements that are overdue considering how many basic non-smart phones have them.

I was actually surprise to hear that iPhones don't support Multitasking, as that's something Windows CE managed to handle 10 years ago on hardware that was approximately 1/20 the MIPS of the CPU of my current device. I took it for granted that it would be supported.

And how the hell do you hands-free an iPhone if you don't have BT support?

 

[Handruin]

I thought it had basic BT which works for hands-free, just not stereo BT.

 

[Howell]

I was actually surprise to hear that iPhones don't support Multitasking, as that's something Windows CE managed to handle 10 years ago on hardware that was approximately 1/20 the MIPS of the CPU of my current device. I took it for granted that it would be supported.

It doesn't support multitasking not because it is technically incapable but to conserve battery life.

 

[timwhit]

Even my Blackberry can multitask. It's not the fastest, but it does it.

 

[Fushigi]

Stereo BT is for listening to music via BT headphones, not so much for placing calls.

I don't buy the battery life excuse for Apple not supporting multitasking. Other devices do it. I'll grant my current PalmOS device does not, but that OS was designed in the 90s before such a thing was thought to ever be necessary in a PDA (let alone having phone integration). Palm was going to add multitasking by slipstreaming Linux underneath PalmOS but instead decided to come up with WebOS for the Pre, which does multitask.

 

[Stereodude]

I can only imagine how bad the audio quality of Stereo BT is.

 

[Handruin]

The only audio over BT I've experienced is my hands-free through my car and the audio is marginal, but it's not a fair comparison.

I doubt the consumers interested in stereo BT are even on the same level as you might be for audio requirements. ;-) I would guess it's all a factor of BT bandwidth, no? Assuming high enough bandwidth and zero errors during audio transfer, I would suspect that it should sound as good as the underlying recording.

 

[Fushigi]

BT 2.0 is 3Mb; plenty for audio. I think the primary interest is in eliminating the headphone wires and has little to do with quality. No wires lets you leave the unit to the side or in a pocket while you work out, pace the room, dig in your briefcase, etc.

Although it could be the BT equipment I've used, I've found the quality of BT to be slightly less than a wired connection. And the 33 foot range sometimes seems overly optimistic.

 

[Howell]

Even my Blackberry can multitask. It's not the fastest, but it does it.

I'm interested in how you guys functionally make use of multitasking on your phones. I can't think of a circumstance under which I've missed it except one. It would be nice if I could start a web page loading and switch to something else so that when I came back to it it was loaded.

 

[Adcadet]

I wish I could play an NPR stream while doing something else, just like I can if I download the entire broadcast and play it via the iPod functionality.

 

[ddrueding]

Most of the NPR shows I listen to have their own MP3 download.

 

[Mercutio]

I do listen to audio streams from my NPR station. I usually have one or more browsers open. I have three different browsers that I use for different purposes. I usually have a game open and my e-mail runs constantly.

My phone runs about two days if I don't charge it. For all the stuff I keep going at once it does not seem to impact the battery life.