Nokia communicator 9500

[TUS 373]

I have had my eye on the Nokia communicators for a couple of years now, and note that this incarnation, the 9500, is a little smaller, lighter than predecessors and also has WiFi onboard.

Just wondering what the consensus is about these phones, and would it be a useful adjunct to collecting emails while on the move instead of using my laptop, and wobby Bluetooth connection to my Nokia 6310i?

Also, where can these be purchased from without taking out new airtime contracts. I need an unlocked or T-mobile one - but these are still >£300 on ebay.

[Plotloss]

You'd be better off getting a small bluetooth mobile and a PDA I reckon.

[TUS 373]

Well, I am not expert on PDAs - I still have a Psion 3a!!

I'm just looking at ways of making life easier and not having to carry numerous gadgets, lose them, suffer from flat batteries and have to read lots of instruction books. The more I can do with as few things as possible, the better really. Just IMHO.

[JamieBeeston]

the 9300 is due out soon

95% of the features of the 9500, but alot smaller.

its only mainly lacking wifi, but its was getting on for about 2cm bigger than an 8210..

so not bad for the pocket.

[TUS 373]

Yes, seen the 9300 advertised. we have a Wifi at home and in some places I work. Its a heck of alot cheaper using that for net access that going over the mobile network. The size/weight if the phone is not a great issue, it wouldn't be going in the trouser pocket - and it is still alot smaller than a notebook computer. It is really the 9500 I would like to learn about.

[Zod]

JamieBeeston said:

the 9300 is due out soon 95% of the features of the 9500, but alot smaller. its only mainly lacking wifi, but its was getting on for about 2cm bigger than an 8210.. so not bad for the pocket.

It's been out for over a month. I have one and it is an impressive piece of kit. A 3G version of this would be perfect.

[sybaseian]

just got an XDA IIi - same price on any tarrif direct form o2....

http://shop.o2.co.uk/shop/handset/O2/XDAIIi

but if you need a keyboard, get the XDA IIs instead.

Both use activesync to keep contacts, calendar, email upto date with your PC, etc. I also have setup email direct on the XDA so that I can read emails when away from my PC (just make sure that the email server doesn't delete the emails it downloads to your PDA). Also running Tomtom 3 on it as well as using a the inbuilt phone. If I'm using wifi, I can also use VoIP for free on it.......

>> Edited by sybaseian on Thursday 7th April 19:46

[maranellouk]

Oh, very strange all this!

I was just in the shop today with 4 phones in my hand deciding what to buy.

Nokia 9500
O2 XDA IIs
02 mini
Motorola V3

Went for the O2 XDA IIs because the Nokia, like its recent offerings, just lacked that certain something. Too blocky but I still like it.

So, went for the O2......then, the cheeky bugger pulled out the V3...in mat black....bought that too. It looks like a sexy bloody phone should do. Unlike the latest ugly things with gadets you'll never use on them.

I am traveling a fair bit so wireless was extremely important. Hate having to whip the old laptop out you see.

First impressions: Very sweet, will be even sweeter when I work out how to get it from Chinese into English (Chinese reading isn't nearly good enough yet). Touch screen works well and the keyboard looks v.tiny at first but has raised bumps to make it very easy, I say this having big hands and big fingers.

Bought a 512mb SD card for it and chucked a load of music and PH brunters clips and it runs well enough with Media Player.

Phone quality is good and am waiting for my bluetooth handsfree with caller ID display to arrive in the morning so will update.

I wouldn't go for the 9300 though although it certainly looks nicer. If you are going to get something this big (price/size wise) then get somthing with wireless.

Oh, make sure you buy a plastic screen protector too as the screen is big and absolutely begging to be scratched.

MARA

[tycho]

l use my SE V800 and Toshiba E800 via Bluetooth. It is great as I can use wifi in the house and a bluetooth 3g connection elsewhere. The pda has a 640x480 screen which is great for surfing and i got it cheap (£250 from £450) as it is end of line.

[hut49]

I'm a Blackberry convert. Great phone, always seems to be able to get a good signal, has full outlook email, calendar, contacts, etc off the office server, amazing battery life. Since I have two lives one in US and one in UK I also have a Motorola V600 - when it rings I know it's someone from the UK - probably close friend or family. When the Blackberry rings it's always business!

[sybaseian]

hut49 said:

I'm a Blackberry convert. Great phone, always seems to be able to get a good signal, has full outlook email, calendar, contacts, etc off the office server, amazing battery life. Since I have two lives one in US and one in UK I also have a Motorola V600 - when it rings I know it's someone from the UK - probably close friend or family. When the Blackberry rings it's always business!

Blackberry is good if your company is paying £1000s for the full enterprise server. For personal use it seems to lack something. o2 are likely to introduce Blackberry for the XDA later this year. I had thought about getting the new seimens Blackberry but in the end it came down to cutting down on the gadgets - ipod, phone, pda and laptop.......

[Zod]

sybaseian said:

hut49 said: I'm a Blackberry convert. Great phone, always seems to be able to get a good signal, has full outlook email, calendar, contacts, etc off the office server, amazing battery life. Since I have two lives one in US and one in UK I also have a Motorola V600 - when it rings I know it's someone from the UK - probably close friend or family. When the Blackberry rings it's always business! Blackberry is good if your company is paying £1000s for the full enterprise server. For personal use it seems to lack something. o2 are likely to introduce Blackberry for the XDA later this year. I had thought about getting the new seimens Blackberry but in the end it came down to cutting down on the gadgets - ipod, phone, pda and laptop.......

You get BES for free if you have enough blackberries.

>> Edited by Zod on Friday 8th April 00:05