Audiovox SMT 5600 / SPV C500 (HTC Typhoon)
Cingular-AT&T merger and the locked SMT 5600
Do any savy AT&T employees know if a locked SMT 5600 will now work on the Cingular Wireless network now that they are officially merged?
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I'm not a savvy ATT Wireless employee, but I'm pretty sure the phone will work fine since they simply "combined" networks and did not eliminate any.
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Your SMT5600 will only work if you stay with your current AT&T plan that Cingular still honors.
According to Cingular FAQ, if you want a new plan, you must purchase a new phone.
Which makes me wonder what’s going to happen next year with my SMT5600. I just signed a one-year contract with AT&T and once it's over, Cingular is not assuring us that they will continue to renew AT&T contracts. More than likely, I may have to get a new phone from Cingular. Making my SMT5600 unusable, unless I get it unlocked.
According to Cingular FAQ, if you want a new plan, you must purchase a new phone.
Which makes me wonder what’s going to happen next year with my SMT5600. I just signed a one-year contract with AT&T and once it's over, Cingular is not assuring us that they will continue to renew AT&T contracts. More than likely, I may have to get a new phone from Cingular. Making my SMT5600 unusable, unless I get it unlocked.
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The Cingular FAQ section says you must buy a new GSM phone to use switch to a Cingular plan. Why couldn't you just unlock a GSM phone from ATT if you already have a GSM phone? I don't quite understand.
I'm looking to buy the 5600, but I'm concerned about not being able to use it later, also.
I'm looking to buy the 5600, but I'm concerned about not being able to use it later, also.
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You can use an unlocked phone with Cingular.
The problem right now is that the SMT5600 has not been unlocked by anyone yet. So if you just bought this phone, once your contract is up, Cingular will ask you to switch to one of their plans. Where in that case (unless your phone is unlocked) you will need one of their phones.
I have a one-year contract with AT&T using my SMT5600. So come next September when My contract is up, Cingular will make me choose one of their plans. If I haven't unlocked this phone by then... it's useless!
And even If I do manage to unlock it, some Cingular features might not work.
The problem right now is that the SMT5600 has not been unlocked by anyone yet. So if you just bought this phone, once your contract is up, Cingular will ask you to switch to one of their plans. Where in that case (unless your phone is unlocked) you will need one of their phones.
I have a one-year contract with AT&T using my SMT5600. So come next September when My contract is up, Cingular will make me choose one of their plans. If I haven't unlocked this phone by then... it's useless!
And even If I do manage to unlock it, some Cingular features might not work.
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I fell in love with this phone a week ago and I'm still discovering stuff. The only things I need help with: I can't get the bluetooth headset to turn the phone on so I can voicedial from it like I can with my T616. And I wonder how I can send the games from the T616 to the SMT5600 (I was able to ir the ringtones and pictures between them). Anyone know how to do either?
Also, I re-upped my AT&T contract for 2 years so I could get the phone for $125 and stay on the much cheaper plan I've been on. $39.99 GSM National for 550 anytime, unl N/W and 1000 M2M; shared with my wife for the added $9.99. Both Cingular and AT&T now charge $19.99 for the add-on shared line until you go up to a $59.99 plan. So far so good...
Also, I re-upped my AT&T contract for 2 years so I could get the phone for $125 and stay on the much cheaper plan I've been on. $39.99 GSM National for 550 anytime, unl N/W and 1000 M2M; shared with my wife for the added $9.99. Both Cingular and AT&T now charge $19.99 for the add-on shared line until you go up to a $59.99 plan. So far so good...
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ATTW sold you the phone for $125 and they let you put it on a sharable plan?? I tried to buy it several times, and was told you can't get it with a sharable plan. They all told me the sales "matrix" wouldn't allow them to enter the phone into the systems under a sharable plan. Hmm.
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thanks to all for the bt headset tips. I'll be trying that this morning. I almost always have the keypad lock on, so that might be it!
On the subject of pricing, I spoke to someone at NBO and she told me what you alluded to, that they can't do a shared plan and you must add the data plan first. HOWEVER, she told me "off the record" that I should go to the AT$T store and see if they would sell me the phone as a COAM (Customer Owned and Maintained) which they did. All they wanted was to allow them to re-up my contract for 2 years. That was it and I got the FAN discount on the 5600 at $124.99. Give it a try!
On the subject of pricing, I spoke to someone at NBO and she told me what you alluded to, that they can't do a shared plan and you must add the data plan first. HOWEVER, she told me "off the record" that I should go to the AT$T store and see if they would sell me the phone as a COAM (Customer Owned and Maintained) which they did. All they wanted was to allow them to re-up my contract for 2 years. That was it and I got the FAN discount on the 5600 at $124.99. Give it a try!
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Ok, BT headset voice dialing.
With most headsets, all you need to do is press the headset answer/function button once. Just a press, not a hold. Press that button, then wait a couple of seconds. Eventually, you'll hear a high-pitched beep (probably from your headset). That beep is the phone telling you to speak the name you want to voice dial. If you hold the button on the headset down too long, you'll get the auto-redial function (redials last number called).
I tried this with my Motorola HS-810 as well as my Nokia HDW-2, and both worked the same way. I will presume that whatever BT headset you have will function the same way.
On the subject of games, I doubt highly that ANY game from a non-Windows-Smartphone phone will work on a ...
(continues)
With most headsets, all you need to do is press the headset answer/function button once. Just a press, not a hold. Press that button, then wait a couple of seconds. Eventually, you'll hear a high-pitched beep (probably from your headset). That beep is the phone telling you to speak the name you want to voice dial. If you hold the button on the headset down too long, you'll get the auto-redial function (redials last number called).
I tried this with my Motorola HS-810 as well as my Nokia HDW-2, and both worked the same way. I will presume that whatever BT headset you have will function the same way.
On the subject of games, I doubt highly that ANY game from a non-Windows-Smartphone phone will work on a ...
(continues)
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By the way, just in the case the following also helps....
When the keypad on the Audiovox is locked (press and hold the red "End Call" key so the left softkey is "Unlock"), you cannot initiate voice dialing from a BT headset. You can still answer a call that way, but the phone's keypad must be unlocked in order to voice dial from the headset.
Personally, I dislike that feature. If I have the phone in my pocket, a carring case, etc, and have its keypad locked, I'd still like local control from the BT headset.
When the keypad on the Audiovox is locked (press and hold the red "End Call" key so the left softkey is "Unlock"), you cannot initiate voice dialing from a BT headset. You can still answer a call that way, but the phone's keypad must be unlocked in order to voice dial from the headset.
Personally, I dislike that feature. If I have the phone in my pocket, a carring case, etc, and have its keypad locked, I'd still like local control from the BT headset.
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Good reminder, GadgeTT.
Yeah, that whole "Control the phone from BT regardless of keylock" thing is a sticky one. I know why they did what they did, but it would be nice to at least have the option to run the phone from the headset even with keylock.
At the end of the day, it may not have been up to Audiovox. It may very likely be a shortcoming of MS Windows Mobile Smartphone Edition and not specific to the phone...unless you know of other Windows Mobile Smartphones that do work with the headset when the keys are locked. I wouldn't be the list bit surprised if this is a result of shortsighted thinking on Microsoft's part.
Yeah, that whole "Control the phone from BT regardless of keylock" thing is a sticky one. I know why they did what they did, but it would be nice to at least have the option to run the phone from the headset even with keylock.
At the end of the day, it may not have been up to Audiovox. It may very likely be a shortcoming of MS Windows Mobile Smartphone Edition and not specific to the phone...unless you know of other Windows Mobile Smartphones that do work with the headset when the keys are locked. I wouldn't be the list bit surprised if this is a result of shortsighted thinking on Microsoft's part.
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I'll try it today for myself. Thanks for the info. I ordered one last night on a new line for my son. I'll change it to a sharable later, with a different GSM phone, and hopefully get to keep the 5600. It was $149, with a $50 discount and instant rebate. I want one for myself, though!
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