T-Mobile Launches GSM/802.11 Phone In Germany 110
prostoalex writes "German subscibers of T-Mobile can now get a hybrid PDA phone that supports both GSM and WiFi wireless networks. The new Mobile Digital Assistant (pretty pictures) will connect to cellular and wireless hotspots built by T-Mobile as well as any 802.11a/g Wireless LANs."
Some More Information (Score:5, Informative)
I read some more info and an original press release. It was posted on www.xda-developers.com (great resourse for MDA/XDA owners). Here are some additional links regarding the upcoming MDAIII:
http://www.t-mobile.net/CDA/tmd_mda_iii,20,,new
http://www.mtekk.com.
Re:Some More Information (Score:4, Interesting)
It seems to me that having the various components seperate is better than lumping them all together though. This allows parts to be upgraded or new parts added, and allowing him to choose best of breed, cheapest, etc for each component as he requires.
I suppose the downside might be that you are carrying multiple sets of batteries etc, but then you only have the bits you actually need with you, and multiple batteries perhaps equates to longer up time?
Re:Some More Information (Score:2)
Lan capability? (Score:2)
Re:Lan capability? (Score:5, Interesting)
Another potential use would be streaming MP3's from your home computer so you can walk around the house listening to them on your XDA.
Basically anything you write software. I've written a util for my XDAII which connects to my home server over GPRS, and links in with my home automation. So regardless of where I am, I am instantly alerted when someone approaches the house, presses the doorbell, etc. One click and I can stream the video from a small driveway camera, and another click and I can open the door/turn lights on/whatever.
Excellent utils (Score:1)
Re:Excellent utils (Score:2)
Currently I don't have much info availible online, except the first prototype of a remote access site I've started to make here [zone-mr.ath.cx]
Re:Lan capability? (Score:2)
From the article: (Score:5, Interesting)
Seeing how this thing will be sold in Germany, shouldn't it be a QWERTZ keyboard, or are they trying to irritate their customers? If it is a QWERTY, does it have Umlauts?
Re:From the article: (Score:2, Informative)
Re:From the article: (Score:2, Insightful)
Remapping the keys of a newly bought game surely is less a pain. And why would anyone need to change a photo or image just because a letter mapped different on a keyboard???
Re:From the article: (Score:1)
Lets see, I am in Germany and all the keyboards here look like this on the first (letter) row.
qwertzuiopü
Why would QWERTY be "wizened up"? Can you do this Ü, Ö, or Ä with a QWERTY keyboard? QWERTY is fine if (but no better) you are working ONLY in English. Keybuards tend to be language specific.
Re:From the article: (Score:1)
ALT and 154 on the numeric keypad gets you Ü.
Re:From the article: (Score:2)
Germans, and german speaking Swiss, still DO use qwertz. What the Germans have done right, however, is to provide an alternate spelling to deal with the Umlauts (e.g. ö -> oe). While accepted practice, given the choice Germans still prefer the Umlauts, and so sti
Re:More pictures and info here! (Score:2, Insightful)
Dvorak (Score:1)
Re:Dvorak (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Dvorak (Score:5, Funny)
ergonomics & finger finger typists (Score:2, Informative)
The key to good miniature keyboard design is limit the contact space between the digit (finger) and the key.
By making a meyboard out of 1mm diameter 'nipples' with the letter printed larger behing, the total distance between the pressable surface of each key becomes much greater:
The test:
Press the following five boxes with your grubby finger (will need to wipe monit
Re:ergonomics & finger finger typists (Score:2)
Now press the following smaller dots.
. . . . .
Easier huh?
Well, no. With the brackets one, by using my fingernail I can just barely hit one 'button' and not the adjacent ones, so I could in theory type; but with the dots I can't hit one with my fingernail and with a fingertip there is no way I can hit less that 3 buttons at once (I have big hands).
Which is why I couldn't use a credit card 'nipple' keyboard. Using one with SIX digits at once, as you suggested, would require me more effort than
Re:ergonomics & finger finger typists (Score:1)
If you view it in the reply box, you should get the point, the width is about 195% for the decimal version.
try it yourself by drawing around one of your cashcards, and then drawing two horizontal lines dividing it horizontally into 3 rows.
then draw three vertical lines, then in each vertical section, draw two vertical lines.
You now have 30 boxes.
You can try and fit your finger on them.
If you now draw a fair sized point in the center of each squ
27 boxes - erp! (Score:1)
Hot sunny days and math don't mix well.
Re:27 boxes - erp! (Score:1)
Hmm, well, being obsessive I did actually draw such a keyboard, and I guess it would work, although 3-4mm might be a better button diameter than 1mm. In fact, I guess I could type on it with 2 fingers per side -- couldn't use my thumbs, though, without clawing my hand up (I have huuuuge hands).
Okay, you sold it to me (provided it is fully programmable to a custom layout)... I await reciept of my demonstration model
Re:27 boxes - erp! (Score:1)
If you use the 'origami0.3a' drivers the keyboard you just made is actually extremely adaptable.
Just drawing the 'nips' in the center of the boxes isn't that great, you have to draw the ones on the edges, *right* at the end, this gives you that little bit more room.
3-4 mm , you could be right, the bigger the button, the more change your massive digit (ooeer) will hit an adja
Wrong links (Score:5, Informative)
The article talks about the MDA III yet the photos show an MDA I and II which have been out for ages and a reasonable amount of time respectivily. The most noticable thing about the MDA III is that it has an integrated sliding keyboard.
Photos of the MDA III can be found here [infosyncworld.com].
I have one in my desk drawer and although I haven't had a proper play with it, it's rather heavy, thick and the back is made of cheap feeling black plastic. The OS is Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition.
However it does come with an impressive line up of software - fonix voice apps, album, clearvue pdf, enroller, clearvue ppt, kse truefax, midlet manager, photo contacts, video mms and xBackup to name a few.
What is the difference? (Score:2, Interesting)
Are these converging or diverging and trying to control the markets with double speak? I would suggest that MDAs are more powerful, but the only real SmartPhones that are around are the Sony P900s, which looks fantastic.
Do you really want to lug an MDA around just for voice? I think seperating the application of a voice unit and a computing unit is best left alone, and a standard PDA and mobile is bett
Re:What is the difference? (Score:2, Insightful)
Similarly, as small as cellphone are getting, I could see a little (1" x 0.5"??) flipphone detaching from my PDA as well. Just leave all the functionality possible i
Re:What is the difference? (Score:1)
I would like a small handset, not too small though, just right to have some extra functionality squeezed in, like alarms, schedule.
PDA in my opinion went down a little, because what they were used for was supplied by decent phones.
Now, PDA's can be used for high end games, remote monitoring, real useful applications and data sharing.
PDA is a slate PC, a small 'tablet PC' (I hate the world tablet, it is so associated with M$)
So
Treo 600 is different (Score:2)
Re:Treo 600 is different (Score:1)
It looks pretty darn awesome, almost like an opened out laptop, but tiny!
Anyone compare this with a P900? I think for typing and reading you really shoudl have a sub-lap / PDA, but then, I haven't tried this!
Re:Treo 600 is different (Score:2)
Re:Wrong links (Score:5, Informative)
The MDA2/XDA2/iMate2/Qtek2020 (HTC Himalaya) also supports wifi, but only as an SDIO card option. Which means you can't extend the memory storage beyond the present 128MB RAM (with backup battery) and approx 15MB flash.
The apps that come with the MDAs are not necessarily included with the XDA/iMate/Qtek, but you can usually upgrade your own device with any vendor's ROMs, or even customize them, thanks to the people at xda-developers [xda-developers.com]. Special kudos to xda-developer Willem/itsme.
SIP VOIP apps are available for pocketpc, even skype is, and depending on how much you pay for your data traffic (e.g. an unlimited plan) it might already work out cheaper than regular calls.
The most iresome trouble with these handsets is that the OS can be very buggy. I know it might seem like Microsoft-bashing, but they've really stuck to some of the worst features of windows for their embedded windowsCE/pocketpc platform. It has a registry! Which even has a HKEY_USERS key, even though it's empty because it's a single user device (and HKCU is not backed up by syncing). Also, DLL hell exists on the platform. Apps need to be installed and will try to install files in default locations. The package management is woeful, like in it's big brother. And back-ups frequently do not work.
The best thing about it, is the extensibility and the LARGE number of applications and tools available for it. The developer community seems to be bigger than the EPOC community was, or the Palm developer community. This in spite of the fact that the platform lacks easy scripting, and you're basically stuck to either handcrafting c++ or going the VB.NET route. Rather daunting, either way.
Pocket outlook is very nice, too bad activesync will only sync with regular outlook (you get a copy, although it comes with product activation).
Webbrowsing over gprs is a joy, though it is a shame there is no opera for pocketpc, if only to give it a whirl.
Oh, and parent poster.. If you don't have time to play with it.. Send it to me please?
Re:Wrong links (Score:1)
Actually Sandisk makes a SDIO WiFi card with 256MB memory on it: Connect Wi-Fi SD Card [sandisk.com]
--AlphaDecay
Now THIS is a smart move (Score:2, Insightful)
On the other hand, at this point, I don't think 3G OR 802.11 have managed to break out on a global scale a la GSM yet... so your pretty toy will remain just that for another 3/4 years....
Re:Now THIS is a smart move (Score:2)
Re:Now THIS is a smart move (Score:1)
Re:Now THIS is a smart move (Score:2)
The only way this could be 3G compatible is via some additional plug in device (and even then I'm not sure how feasible this is).
3G devices need special hardware which the MDA III doesn't have I'm afriad.
Re:Now THIS is a smart move (Score:2)
As rumours of the MDAIII only leaked 2 weeks ago, and the product was confirmed officially yesterday, the article you read may well have been journalist speculation before any real details were known.
(Which is a big shame. I'd love to switch to 3G, but I couldn't part with my XDA).
Re:A brief history of Wi-Fi - MOD PARENT DOWN! (Score:1, Offtopic)
Re:A brief history of Wi-Fi (Score:2)
Few people have a kind word to say about telecoms regulators. But the success of Wi-Fi shows what can be achieved when regulators and technologists work together
===
So instead of regulating it all, they let a few percent be unregulated and a success was born.
I don't really see why that should make me have kind words for regulators.
Malware gateway (Score:1, Interesting)
Will they allow VOIP? (Score:5, Interesting)
I wonder if they will allow you to make VOIP calls over the WiFi link using this handset. That would be really neat, but unfortunately VOIP is a threat the the profits of companies like T-mobile. So they will probably do something to prevent this. Unless of course they charge for the WiFi connection by usage, which of course removes the principal benefit of VOIP for the user.
Re:Will they allow VOIP? (Score:1)
Now, I guess GSM has its advantages (not sure but I'd say better range, etc.) so it might not be obsoleted at once.
Re:Will they allow VOIP? (Score:1, Interesting)
It even changes the display on your cellular phone to match the feature sets on your company VOIP phone.
Re:Will they allow VOIP? (Score:1)
I don't know if the benefits will be taken away. Think if you live in a crappy apartment complex or someplace that has a really weak
Re:Will they allow VOIP? (Score:1)
It's just a Pocket PC... (Score:2)
T-Mobile don't have any control over the use of the WiFi in the phone, if you want to use it on your own AP, or anyone elses for that matter. The only scenario where they would is if you *happen* to be using a T-Mobile hotspot, which you could also use with any other W
Re:Did not yet RTFA, but... (Score:2)
will connect to cellular and wireless hotspots built by T-Mobile as well as any 802.11a/g Wireless LANs.
Re:Did not yet RTFA, but... (Score:2)
I read that, but I was wondering why they are explicitely stating that it can connect to "hotspots built by T-Mobile". Why should they mention it at all if they are standards compliant?!
BTW, I now RTFA.
WiFi on a phone - I never thought I'd see this... (Score:5, Insightful)
The threats are VOIP and IM. It doesn't look like this phone supports VOIP natively, but there is plenty of code which does on that platform. IM threatens the insanely lucrative SMS revenue and the major users of SMS (ie teenagers) are already using IM.
I guess since T-Mobile have a big stake in WiFi access points they can afford to produce a product like this, unlike their competitors which don't and can't. We'll see!
Re:WiFi on a phone - I never thought I'd see this. (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:WiFi on a phone - I never thought I'd see this. (Score:2)
T-Mobile also already has a plan that is $30/mo, has unlimited AOL IM and unlimited SMS. (And unlimited email and web browsing). It's the Sidekick plan.
Handy (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Handy (Score:2, Informative)
Wouldn't you say that the foremost ability of a mobile phone, apart from letting you communicate, is that is allows you to be mobile? Unless you want to stay within the same hotspot for every conversation these features are only that great.
Re:Handy (Score:2)
Besides WiFI has some roaming on a smaller scale. You could still talk while you walk on your workplace or campus.
It's a Shame (Score:3, Interesting)
I think a sub-notebook with a WLAN and GSM card will probably be more use.
Re:It's a Shame (Pocket PC) (Score:3, Informative)
Re:It's a Shame (Score:2, Interesting)
This thing first and foremost is a telephone, I could at least see holding this thing up to my head to make a phone call. I'd hate to have to pull my Libretto L5 [dynabook.com]* out and hold it up to my head like a Nokia N-gage [sidetalking.com].
Nokia's WiFi (Score:2, Interesting)
Other similar devices (Score:3, Informative)
It's not an MDA (Score:2)
In Germany:Don't go to Telekom.. go to Burger King (Score:1)
BTW some select Burger Kings(one I know of in Ingolstadt) offer wireless internet for free, (food/beverage purchase required).
Bluetooth (Score:1)
Not exactly new is it... (Score:2)
Okay it didn't do auto handover but if I'd bothered to write a litte app to monitor the 802.11b/GSM connection status it could easily have been setup to fail over as needed...
Re:Not exactly new is it... (Score:2)
Lot of these coming, from what I know - Nokia, Motorola both have GSM/802.11 stuff coming.
Pricing? (Score:2)
Yes, but does it... (Score:2)
Instead of buying a $600 active repeater, or bodging together a passive repeater, people could simply use their existing broadband connection and 802.11 network.
Sooo, a touch screen eh? *coughclamshellcough* (Score:2, Insightful)
like the Motorola MPX [howardforums.com]
I walk around with a phone, not in an armoured purse, not with 4 bodyguards around me but no.. *drumroll* just in my jeans pocket.
If I, for some alcoholic reason, bump phone-first into something less soft than say a baby's bottom, Id like the screen to survive, please.
And don't come to me about protective cases, this design is flawed from the beginning, and I
Re:Sooo, a touch screen eh? *coughclamshellcough* (Score:2)
Re: *coughclamshellcough* (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't understand why PDA makers seem to be averse to not only clamshells but even hard protective covers. I avoided replacing my Visor Prism for a long time because all the new handhelds... PalmOS and Pocket PC alike... seemed to be designed witt the idea that broken screens ensure a steady revenue stream.
Y
Nice, but... (Score:2)
Nice... (Score:1)
Uh-huh, show me real screen shots.
Re:Nice... (Score:2)
Too bad it looks pretty lame on my computer, its standard font is Times..
bizmodel? (Score:2)
This is not new (Score:1)
Oh dear... (Score:1, Insightful)
as well as any 802.11a/g Wireless LAN? (Score:2)
That's not the MDAIII (Score:1)
The MDAIII picture is available on Geekzone [geekzone.co.nz] for example.
The Pocket PC will also be available on a CDMA version on Sprint (USA), Verizon (USA) and Telecom New Zealand (New Zealand) sometime very soon.
The first release was in China, dubbed as CU928 [geekzone.co.nz] (image of Chinese version available).