Audiovox SMT 5600 / SPV C500 (HTC Typhoon)

Just arrived today. Charged it and powered it up. I will not write my official review until I've had a chance to play with the phone for a couple of weeks, but here are my first impressions:

1) The size of the phone is just WONDERFUL! It's about the size of the older Nokia 8260. A little taller, a lot thinner, and about the same depth. For a more current phone for comparison, it is shorter and thinner than the Nokia 35xx series phones, but the same width. The form factor is just perfect! I cannot wait to ditch this huge 3650!

2) Screen size is wonderful! Clarity is very good. Large numbers when dialing local numbers with 7 digits, which will be good for my wife.

3) Scroll/navigation button. While the first reviewer seems to have an ...
(continues)

Just finished talking with AT&T sales reps, and they told me that the voice plans that come this plan do not have unlimited nights and weekends. I.E., if the plan says "400 anytime minutes" that's ALL you get, anything over costs per minute.

I find this deplorable. I want this phone, because it's a cool phone. But I want it as a PHONE. I'm not a business user, so I'm paying my own phone bill, and there's no way I'm paying $100 a month to use this phone.

Maybe you business users won't be too disturbed by this, but I find it despicable.

-Interested in buying this phone.

Is AIM built-in? Can you download and install it, if not? Thanks..

I called AT&T Customer Care, and had to be transferred to an "Expert" (apparently, that means something as a designation) in order to discuss equipment upgrades.

Once transferred, I explained to the rep that I am a current customer (as opposed to a new customer) that already has service with AT&T and I am looking to upgrade my current phone to the new Audiovox SMT 5600.

This is the summary of what the "Expert" rep told me (in no particular order other than "as I remember it"):

1) The phone itself will cost me $200 after rebates (mail-in and instant).

2) Must have the $25/mo data plan ($24.99).

3) Must be on a qualifying voice plan.

4) My existing plan (at $100/mo) qualifies so I do not need a new voice plan (any voice plan ...
(continues)

I don't think Active Sync supports Lotus Notes. Can anyone recommend an easy way to sync lotus notes contacts with this Smartphone? Intellsync has a client for Smartphone version 2002, what about 2003 or this unit specifically?

Someone brought this up as a purchasing factor for them and it is for me too. Is there a site that compares these 2 phones yet? The 220s have been out a few days and the 5600 has been out for months in other countries right?

Any links would be appreciated.🙂

The Good:
My phone shipped from AT&T Wireless today. I've got a tracking number and everything! It will arrive Fedex tomorrow AM. I am looking forward to testing it.

The Bad:
Because of the specific plan I currently have, I could not just put the phone on my existing plan. I had to create a new line in order to evaluate the phone.

The (potentially) Ugly:
If I wind up liking the phone's transceiver, I will have to work AT&T Customer Service over pretty hard to get to keep the phone and cancel the new line of service and add a separate data plan to the phone and my existing line of service...or pick a new plan...or just take the phone to T-Mobile and bail on AT&T entirely.

I just checked my shipping system and we will be getting at least two of these at our store this week. Not sure on the pricing yet.

I read in an article posted on Howard Forums that Windows Mobile for Smartphones does not support voice dialing via a cordless bluetooth headset...

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?s=&thread ... »

This is what he wrote about the Motorola MPx220:

BIG PROBLEM!! NO VOICEDIAL FROM A BLUETOOTH HEADSET SUPPORTED!!

MicroSoft say's that this will not be resolved with its bluetooth stack until Mobile 2004... I don't want to wait that long.... Motorola needs to address this somehow, it is just not acceptable with a phone of this type....

Since this phone has a Windows Mobile OS does that also mean it would not support voice dialing via a bluetooth headset, a la the same problem as the Moto MPx220......
(continues)

Dose anybody know what is Bluetooth “CLASS 2”

Anyone know what the status of this phone is, or how someone would go about ordering one now? I work for AT&T Wireless Customer Care and there is no information about this internally yet.