Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 63

Well there is an article on CNet about the new Handspring cellphone module and a picture!!

Here's the link and picture:

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-201-2826861-0.html



-VisorHolic

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 58

It seems like we have to hold the Visor next to our face to talk.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 63

Notice its on an orange visor. Handspring obviously knows which color is their best.

-VisorHolic
Proud owner of an OVD

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: brooklyn
Posts: 268

quote:

---

Originally posted by Visorholic
Notice its on an orange visor. Handspring obviously knows which color is their best.

-VisorHolic
Proud owner of an OVD

---

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Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

Hey, that's not half bad looking.

I personally wouldn't use it without a handsfree headset - I wouldn't want to slime my VDX.

Has anyone heard any details on whether this does anything other than make voice calls? I'd consider buying it if in addition to acting as a phone, it had functionality similar to the Omnisky Minstrel unit - web browsing, etc.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Germany
Posts: 116

Saw an article on a German Site where they announced the Visor phone and it said that it will be available soon in a USA and a European version with Hands Free Set. Oh yeah!

Here is the link: http://www.heise.de/newsticker/data/ciw-20.09.00-002/

Chris

Registered: May 2000
Location: San Diego CA
Posts: 20

Wow this is awesome, I can't wait to buy one. This will be my first springboard module!

I hope they have good accessories like a headset (one ear speaker and microphone) or an external handset. It would be nice if this could use a standard plug not some funky plug like cellphones have. It shouldn't be $60 bucks for an accessory like this either... make it cheap and they will sell like hotcakes.

Also please make an app on the phone that has big buttons that are easy to press with your fingers, not something that you would have to take the stylus out for... it should have buttons that let you flip through your phonebook or assign autodials to numbers.... basically everything you would expect from a cellphone. Voice recording and playback whould be an extra bonus. Handspring are you listening?

Also where is that visor vehicle mount that was supposed to be released? I want to dump my old crappy erricson phone and start using my visor!

Handspring.... you rule!

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I've got a BVD with a Stowaway keyboard
Visors kick A$$!!!!!!

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 22

Interesting design...

It looks like the SpringBoard is a departure from the current Boxy design. Maybe it's taking styling cues from Prism?

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Baltimore MD, USA
Posts: 717

quote:

---

Originally posted by VTL
Has anyone heard any details on whether this does anything other than make voice calls? I'd consider buying it if in addition to acting as a phone, it had functionality similar to the Omnisky Minstrel unit - web browsing, etc.

---

According to this article:
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-20....ne.ron.lthd.ni

"Handspring's new product, for example, will integrate these applications even further, allowing VisorPhone users to call people directly from their PDA address books. Although not designed specifically for Internet access, the VisorPhone will also have the capabilities of a wireless modem and will allow Visor users to surf the Web."

However, according to this article:
http://www.mercurycenter.com/svtech.../hand092000.htm

"The add-on, caller VisorPhone, will cost $299 with a service contract and $499 without one, Handspring said Tuesday. "

Ouch!! That's pricy...

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Registered: Mar 2000
Location: nowheresburg, PH
Posts: 98

Poor Six Pak, overshadowed by the Visor phone. On the bright side, $199 becomes cheap I see a Serious competition on the VC springboard of the year award.

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Registered: Nov 1999
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 195

I'm a little out of touch with where phone service is headed, but my impression is that digital service is now more widely available and cheaper than traditional analog service. One of they ways this has happened has been through the introduction of the "tri-band" phones which can seamlessly switch from digital to analog as service needs require. I live in a rural section of NH where such service is the only way people can use digital phones and they are quite happy with the way this works.

SO is there any indication whether the cell phone module is purely digital, tri-band, or analog? If it's simply analog, isn't this an incredibly expensive way to enter a disappearing market?

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Registered: Aug 1999
Location: Inverness, FL
Posts: 428

The VisorPhone according to specs are a GSM phone. GSM is a great cell phonesystem (for the user), but is not yet widely used in the USA.

What so great about GSM?

Each user has tiny smart card which one can move from phone to phone. Once you put the smart card in any GSM cell phone, it [the phone] is programmed automatically with your id, phone number, and even address book.

All incoming calls to your number will instantly be directed to the phone, and all outgoing calls will be billed to your account.

This makes it very easy for the user to change in between phones etc.

GSM is not compatible with analog, TDMA, CDMA, and IDEN (Nextel) systems.

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<B>Marcus Adolfsson</B>
Editor

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 9

not supported in Japan

I am happy for everyone who lives in the U.S. It seems like you have a great springboard coming. Unfortunately here in Japan this module will be useless because they don`t support the GSM system. We have to settle using a PDC phone and hooking up to a xircom modem. (When they finally comeout).

I really feel like I am missing out on all of the cool stuff.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 195

quote:

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Originally posted by marcus
The VisorPhone according to specs are a GSM phone. GSM is a great cell phonesystem (for the user), but is not yet widely used in the USA.

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Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Baltimore MD, USA
Posts: 717

quote:

---

Originally posted by VoxDei
Just how "not widely used" is this system, anyway? As standards "shake out" there are always systems that come and go. Is this one on the way up or will users of this rather expensive module be stuck, two or three years down the road, with hardware that dosen't have an infrastructure to support it?

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Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1683

As Winchell mentioned, GSM is the European standard. The US has not standard. Which is why we have to buy a new cell phone almost everytime we switch carriers.

Unfortunately, GSM isn't widely used, though I believe VoiceStream is now using it. I think it is smart that Handspring is going with the GSM format...hopefully it will push the standard farther in this country.

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Registered: Mar 2000
Location: nowheresburg, PH
Posts: 98

reply to mr fridge

mr. fridge,

Konnichiwa.

I was fortunate to work "for a very short time" in one of the major contractors(Shinjuku Based) of NTT Docomo while I was an exchange student in Japan. Its true that as of this point Japan hasnt embraced GSM technology "yet". It was Four years ago when I met one of their software engineers whose team was responsible in coding the building blocks that would facilitate the handshake between the existing "Personal Handyphone" system with GSM. I lost contact with the person two years ago. And that was four years ago. They probably scrapped it, or, they could be in the final stages of their project, We'll never know until they announce it.

re: visor phone, I hope they have a service provider here in the northeast. Omnipoint maybe. I guess I'll be swithching providers anytime soon.

sore jya, mata.

Perze

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I do not know what weapons will be used
in world war III, but im sure that we
will use rocks in world war IV. --Albert Einstein
----------------------------------------

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 94

GSM Coverage in US

Just some quick GSM things...

there are three GSM Frequencies used worldwide right now, 900, 1800, 1900 (i hope those are right

For the phone to work worldwide it would need to use all three frequencies and hopefully analog for when a digital signal is not present.

in the US you can get coast to coast coverage with gsm, the companies that have it don't push the technology as much as sprint or at&t push CDMA. voicestream can almost give you coast to coast, the biggest holes (and they are big) are the southeast and the western us (mostly CA, northwest). In those areas you can roam (in digital) to pac bell (west) or bellsouth (south east).

As HS has announced regional coverage is being provided by these three and powertel (which is midwest i think). While GSM coverage is not as pervasive as CDMA, it's still not bad. Most europeans I know that come over with a phone that works have no problem switching over to US GSM networks.


There are still some questions though, I don't know if they'll have a port for the id cards (like someone was talking about before).

Another thing is that coast to coast GSM coverage seems a little more expensive then say sprint, but on the same par as at&t or verizon. regional coverage plans seem better then most providers.

I'm still torn though, if it does true browsing too, then it looks a lot more attractive then the omnisky or minstrel. of course then I'd need to sell my sprint phone, good thing I didn't sign a contract!

Minh

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

It would be really cool if the VisorPhone had a microphone somewhere on it, so that when the module is outside the Visor and the phone rings, you could answer with, "Hello....Can you hold on a second?", then have a chance to pop the module in.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: bright side of the moon.
Posts: 996

quote:

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Originally posted by Gameboy70
It would be really cool if the VisorPhone had a microphone somewhere on it, so that when the module is outside the Visor and the phone rings, you could answer with, "Hello....Can you hold on a second?", then have a chance to pop the module in.

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