Travel Technology - A "Specific" - What Mobile Phone Do I want question

Background: I have a Siemens S55 (tri-band version of the US-based S56). I like the phone quite a bit as its: small, NON clamshell, and has these attributes that I need:
* Bluetooth
* Voice Dialing
* PC Connectivity
* Tri-band / GSM


Recently, I've noticed a decline in battery life which I "suspect" is due to the fact that its not quad band, and in the Chicago area has to spend time "finding" the right band to connect to. I have an employee discount which makes switching providers (currently Cingular) not worth it.

I'm looking for a new phone without spending a lot for things I don't really use such as fancy camera, video, Internet access, etc.
I know that the Razr meets all of my requirements, but I don't prefer the clamshell, so I'm hoping that someone knows of another phone which is Quad band and meets my needs.

Any help will be greatly appreciated - perhaps with a bundle of RCC drink chits! ;)

Best, Dave

If you like everything about the RAZR except the clamshell, what about the SLVR?

What about the SLVR?
Much appreciated, I had looked at that phone, but the size is the thing that keeps me away from it. SLVR is 114cm x 49cm vs the S55 which is 101cm x 42cm. I know, I know, its not that big a difference, but the Nokia/Samsung/Sony lines "seem" to have smaller profiles.
That's sort of along the lines I was thinking.

In any event, Thanks very much for the info. Any others?
Best, Dave

Here you go - quad phone, no flip, Motorola ....
http://onlinestorez.cingular.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/cell-phones.jsp?q_isPrepaid=false&source=INC230056&zip=22202&RFlow=B&q_deviceId=cdsku9870144&WT.svl=mod

Sorry the link doesn't seem to bring you right to it but if you scroll down it's the Motorola L2

I have a blackberry 7100x and I think it has pretty much everything you need.

Its not as good as Nokias, but its alright... I think you should be able to
buy one for around $100+change.
(I only use it as a phone)

Why not just get a new battery for the Siemens? Personally I'd stay away from all Motorola phones, I just don't like them at all.

I like the configuration of my Samsung T809 (http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/detail.aspx?device=a3823c12-6ced-4420-9110-26a9baa0c22c).

Why not just get a new battery for the Siemens? Personally I'd stay away from all Motorola phones, I just don't like them at all.
I've done just that.....new 900amph battery cost me about $25, not a bad price at all, its just that it too is running at WAY too short on talk/standby time.
I am only guessing that the Cingular towers are not picking up as well on my triband as my colleagues Quad. If that's the case, I may be outta luck.

Best, Dave

I like the configuration of my Samsung T809 (http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/detail.aspx?device=a3823c12-6ced-4420-9110-26a9baa0c22c).
Thanks Carol......I'm in the same bus with the "sliders" as I am with the "clamshells", altho I sense that I may not have many choices here.

Best, Dave

The SLVR is really quite small. Any smaller and I'd be worried about dropping it. I just got one and I'm quite happy with it.

My thanks to all!! After some searching thru the options that were offered up by gracious and friendly FT'ers (are there any other kind?) :D, I came across the following website that may be of help to others:
HERE (http://www.gsmarena.com/search.php3) it is.

Best, Dave

And here's one that I couldn't do without.

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/finder.php

Much appreciated, I had looked at that phone, but the size is the thing that keeps me away from it. SLVR is 114cm x 49cm vs the S55 which is 101cm x 42cm. I know, I know, its not that big a difference, but the Nokia/Samsung/Sony lines "seem" to have smaller profiles.
That's sort of along the lines I was thinking.

In any event, Thanks very much for the info. Any others?
Best, Dave

are you REALLY talking about dinging it for a differance of 3 millimeters in one direction and five in the other.

I have the SLVR, and it fits just about everywhere. Honestly, I cannot imagine it that much smaller. While it is wider than SOME phones I have, the fact that it is about .25 inch thick makes up for that.

How about a triband with 850? There is a version of the Nokia 6230 (and the updated 6230i) with 850, 1800, 1900. I have the 900, 1800, 1900 version. One of the best phones, maybe the best I have ever had as a phone. Also has BT and can be used as a high speed modem (EDGE). People also seem to like some of the newer quad band Nokias. Im not a bit Moto fan.

Uh, someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that many phones can be told not to roam/search...i.e. you can "lock" them to a certain frequency. If you really love your Siemens so much, why not spend an hour or two over at Howardforums searching and/or posing the question regarding your current model phone.

Uh, someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that many phones can be told not to roam/search...i.e. you can "lock" them to a certain frequency. If you really love your Siemens so much, why not spend an hour or two over at Howardforums searching and/or posing the question regarding your current model phone.

Im not sure but I dont think you can lock frequencies. You can lock carriers, but since his carrier, Cingular, is the one with the 850 that wont help. If he is in an 850 it will still be searching for coverage.

you cannot lock a frequency, but you can limit the freqs. that some phones search on. The sony ericssons I have had in the past allowed this, and there were certainly FW hacks for motos and nokias that enabled this.

The new Samsung TRACE is a very nice little phone:

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/Detail.aspx?device=e86aaa0e-9d88-40ed-bff1-78c7428c3f1e

The new Samsung TRACE is a very nice little phone:

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/Detail.aspx?device=e86aaa0e-9d88-40ed-bff1-78c7428c3f1e


Wow, that is a little more than half as thin as a Razr. How is the reception on it. A lot of people complained about the reception on the previous real thin Samsung (t508 maybe was the name?).

are you REALLY talking about dinging it for a differance of 3 millimeters in one direction and five in the other.
I can well appreciate that its not that big a difference, but I believe you've misstated the size difference in the two phones. The Siemens is 101mm while the SLVR is 114mm. Its the length difference that I'm seeking to avoid.
Best, Dave

The new Samsung TRACE is a very nice little phone
That is an interesting looking option, and one that I hadn't seen before. Thanks for posting!!

Dave

I probably used the wrong word when I wrote "lock"...what I did in fact mean (as someone else mentioned) was the ability to tell the phone not to search for other freqs. Many of the Motorolas I've used have that option.

Just seems to me that if the OP is that in love with this one particular phone, it's probably worth searching around a bit to see if he can change the default behavior of it to stop searching for networks and just go temporarily out-of-service.

I like the configuration of my Samsung T809 (http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/detail.aspx?device=a3823c12-6ced-4420-9110-26a9baa0c22c).


The OP specified voice dialing. Does this phone have that? I have and have not been able to find that feature.

The OP specified voice dialing. Does this phone have that? I have and have not been able to find that feature.
Well, sort of back to square 1-1/2....;)
Despite a very nice show by ScottC, the new Samsung Trace t-519 does not (to my knowledge) have voice dialling capabilities. At least I was unable to find it listed in the owner's manual.
To the extent that someone knows this to be wrong, do please advise, as the t-519 certainly seems like a good fit for all other requirements.
In any event, thanks ALL for your input!!

Best, Dave

IMHO - small is great 'cos you have it wherever you are
But on a side note - save the money and buy a new abttery and you will get a new lease of life. All abtteries decline and will nto store charge fully over time - the more they are cycled the quicker they deterioate

Save the money and buy a new abttery and you will get a new lease of life.
Understood and appreciated. Unfortunately, as I had said upthread, I have done just this. IMO, the problem is the searching for 850 band GSM on my tri-band.
Best, Dave