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First Impressions of Visorphone


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Topic: First Impressions of Visorphone

linuxopus
Member

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

Well... it arrived today. I have used several different phones in the past (Motorola, Samsung, Nokia) and I must say I am pretty impressed with the capabilities of Visorphone. I use PacBell (current subscriber). I just slipped in the SIM card and it worked without a hitch. On the whole, I think Handspring and its partners have done a great systems integration job with this module. Are there other things that could be added? Sure! But, for most people they have covered most of the major features and then some. The integration with other Palm-based apps is just great!

I also ordered and received the Visorphone case. I am less than impressed with it. The idea is good, but the implementation is not. I have previously used the swivel belt clip with a Nokia phone and managed to tear it off along with a chunk of the phone case. The belt clip on this guy is right over the screen. I'm more than a little concerned about damaging the Prism with this arrangement. What I have found to be better is Omnisky's slipper case. I carry the Visorphone and all my modules in a large fanny pack or travel vest. It seems to work pretty well. The problem I have with the Visorphone case is that I tend to screen calls. So, I have to see the screen. Much easier to slip it out of the OS case, than the VP case. Hopefully, someone will design something better in the near future.

01-05-2001 06:43 AM

j762538
Member

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: El Segundo,CA
Posts: 374

Just wondering if other Visorphone owners have problems getting a signal inside buildings?

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01-05-2001 07:57 PM

linuxopus
Member

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

Actually... my experience so far has been that the VisorPhone reception is better than what I was getting with my Nokia.

01-06-2001 04:14 AM

Zaw
Member

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 61

Don't know much about GSM but i know it use a SIM card that contain your account information etc.

My Plan with CellOne/ATT is ending very soon and thinking about getting a Visor Phone for 299 from PacBell. I also want take my phone to where visor doesn't belong.

So can this be my slution? :

I get Visor Phone. and a more durable regular GSM cellular phone. When I want to use Visor Phone i put the SIM card in visor phone and go. If i'm going some where that visor don't belong I put SIM card into Regular GSM cell phone ..

????????????

01-10-2001 10:30 PM

Rob
Member

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: at work...
Posts: 736

quote:
Originally posted by Zaw
So can this be my slution? :

I get Visor Phone. and a more durable regular GSM cellular phone. When I want to use Visor Phone i put the SIM card in visor phone and go. If i'm going some where that visor don't belong I put SIM card into Regular GSM cell phone ..

????????????

Yes, this should work. In fact, I have a VisorPhone with PacBellWireless and recently swapped the SIM card into my Mom's old PCS(GSM) phone from pac bell, and it worked fine.

01-10-2001 11:54 PM

dkessler
Member

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Plant City, FL
Posts: 385

quote:
Originally posted by Zaw
I get Visor Phone. and a more durable regular GSM cellular phone. When I want to use Visor Phone i put the SIM card in visor phone and go. If i'm going some where that visor don't belong I put SIM card into Regular GSM cell phone ..

This will work IF the regular phone you get is not "locked" to another service provider. In the US, GSM phones purchased at a discount in conjunction with a service contract are often locked to that provider. For example, putting a PacBell SIM into a VoiceStream phone will not work unless VoiceStream's lock has been removed.

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01-11-2001 08:44 PM

BEN
Member

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 638

quote:
Originally posted by Rob

I have a VisorPhone with PacBellWireless and recently swapped the SIM card into my Mom's old PCS(GSM) phone from pac bell, and it worked fine.

Maybe I'm a little confused, but isn't PCS a version of CDMA? How can you have a CDMA\GSM phone?

BEN

01-11-2001 09:34 PM

Rob
Member

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: at work...
Posts: 736

quote:
Originally posted by BEN

Maybe I'm a little confused, but isn't PCS a version of CDMA? How can you have a CDMA\GSM phone?

Actually, PCS is another name for GSM in the U.S. (1900MHz). Both Pacific Bell Wireless PCS and Sprint PCS use GSM. CDMA (e.g. from Verizon) and TDMA (e.g. from AT&T wireless) are different digital standards and are not compatible with each other or with GSM networks. Isn't telecommunications deregulation fun?

01-11-2001 09:44 PM

Zaw
Member

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 61

quote:
Originally posted by Rob
quote:
Originally posted by BEN

Maybe I'm a little confused, but isn't PCS a version of CDMA? How can you have a CDMA\GSM phone?

Actually, PCS is another name for GSM in the U.S. (1900MHz). Both Pacific Bell Wireless PCS and Sprint PCS use GSM. CDMA (e.g. from Verizon) and TDMA (e.g. from AT&T wireless) are different digital standards and are not compatible with each other or with GSM networks. Isn't telecommunications deregulation fun?

Hey Rob.

Do you pay extra to PacHell to connect to your dial up ISP for surfing the web and checking e-mail etc.

Like the PacHell plan but OffPeaks start at 8:00PM..

01-11-2001 09:57 PM

Rob
Member

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: at work...
Posts: 736

quote:
Originally posted by Zaw

Do you pay extra to PacHell to connect to your dial up ISP for surfing the web and checking e-mail etc.

Like the PacHell plan but OffPeaks start at 8:00PM..

Yeah, you have to pay $5.00/mo. AND $0.15/min. for data calls (PCS e-mail a.k.a. SMS messaging is $5.00/mo. but there's no per-minute or per-message fee).

01-11-2001 10:44 PM