HighEndBuzz

I don't have an Iphone yet, so I didn't know this was an issue...

Gregg Keizer

 

          

August 23, 2007 (Computerworld) AT&T Inc. will start sending iPhone customers thinner bills by default starting with their next billing cycle, the wireless carrier has told subscribers by text message.

The change comes a week after blogs and forums lit up with tales of new iPhone owners receiving bills stretching scores, or even hundreds, of pages. Justine Ezarik, a graphic designer and blogger from Pittsburgh, became a temporary YouTube star for the video showing her unwrapping her first bill, a 300-page pile that listed every one of the estimated 30,000 to 35,000 text messages she sends each month.

Yesterday, AT&T sent a text message to every iPhone. "We are simplifying your paper bill, removing itemized detail. To view all detail go to att.com/mywireless. Still need full paper bill? Call 611."

"From now on iPhone customers will get the summary bill, which has very little detail," confirmed AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel today. And as of Sept. 28, new wireless customers, including new iPhone users, will be sent summary bills by default, rather than the detailed accounts. "If customers want the detailed bill, they will be charged $1.99 a month per line," added Siegel. Previously, AT&T had not charged for the longer bills.

Current customers now receiving detailed bills will also be charged the $1.99-per-line monthly fee if they make any change to their account, such as adding a new line.

Siegel denied that the move was directly related to iPhone complaints. "We've been talking about this for months," he said. "With as many customers as AT&T has, you discuss things thoughtfully before you make a change."

But the decision to start with iPhone users was in response to the by-turns hilarious and heated accounts of customers stunned by the heft of their first bills. "They've seen their first bills and expressed their opinions, which is a good thing," said Siegel. "We don't want people to be overburdened with voluminous bills."

Customers can still drop paper billing entirely, Siegel noted. That's what Ezarik has done. "It's extremely simple to change -- it only took 3 seconds!" she wrote on her blog yesterday.

Nokia 9300

I've been using the Nokia 9300 for about 2 months now...I'm disappointed.  On the surface, it's a great phone.  Once you start using it, the real experience isn't what it should be.  The battery life is really short.  They claim it has a great battery life and 120hr standby...LIES!

The antenna is poor to say the least.  Even my crappy Razr has a better range.  The phone is constantly trying to pick up a signal when I know one exists.  On a positive note, the "pc" functionality of the Nokia is superb, email works great.  Pairing with my bluetooth headset is another story.  Some days it works automatically, some days it doesn't. 

I gave this phone a great review after I played with it in the Nokia Experience center...I was wrong.

I need a new phone that meets the needs of a business traveler that talks about 2000 minutes, needs email and great voice quality (that means no "blackberry" phones).  ANY IDEAS?

The best mobile phone of all time

I'm going to share a secret here: My selection for the best mobile phone of all time!  (now don't bring up the bag phone or any of those other analog relics, I'm talking best as in good, not "Smithsonian" quality) I actually still have one of these beauties and may just break it out and supplant my sim card from my lowly Razr.  The phone I'm talking about is the Ericsson T39 Tri-band GSM phone (you can still buy this bad-boy).  This is not the Sony/Ericsson brand, Ericsson used to make the best phones out there. 

If you like the basics: send and receive crisp, clear voice communications, this is the tool for you.  There simply isn't any better product on the market to this day (you can disagree, but if you've never used this model you don't have much to base that on.)

What this phone won't do for you is any of the other crap we take for granted.  No color LCD interface, no Internet, texting is clunky.  But with the great bluetooth functionality and very, very long battery life with the "thick" battery and international functionality, this was the best mobile phone I ever owned. 

Samsung at the CES

Samsung has yet to come out with a killer product in the mobile market.  Most of their technology is functional, yet unexciting.  It looks like the CES which is kicking off tomorrow (in Vegas baby)will be the launch of their new product line.  Here's the press:

SAMSUNG Unveils Unprecedented Product Portfolio At Consumer Electronics Show

Preview Reveals Breakthrough Technologies, New Designs for Samsung Phones in 2006(05, Jan, 2006 / SEC) LAS VEGAS, January 45, 2005 - Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung) today debuted the full line of mobile handsets it expects to introduce in the first half of 2006 at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. This preview of wireless devices will give consumers a glimpse into a lifestyle where mobile phones truly serve as personal entertainment portals.

Samsung is showcasing more than 25 devices with advanced multimedia and imaging capabilities, handsets that will launch carrier services and new mobile TV technologies in 2006, and a portfolio of ultra slim phones that rivals any other on the market.

technology

Motorola Bluetooth Products

As mentioned in an earlier post, the Bluetooth protocol has been embraced by phone manufacturers.  We wanted to highlight a few of the Motorola products since the Razr phone is such a hit this time of year. 

Bluetooth H500: With up to 8 hours talk time, this would be considered the entry level wireless bluetooth device from Motorola.  It's a good value for about $70USD list however it's a bit clunky and doesn't have the long standby time some of the other devices (about 150hrs).  You can pair the device with any bluetooth application that carries voice such as your bluetooth enabled PC, Mobile or land line phone.

          RAZRWIRE™:  This is the top of the line (in price only) bluetooth device from Motorola.  I'm sure that's only because a big chunk of the margin on this has to be passed through to Oakley.  This is more of a fashion statement than a usable device.  I'm not knocking the functionality of the product, Motorola has some of the best hardware out there, but questioning its function as an extension of your phone.  At about $300USD, it's a hell of a price tag and costs more than some of the mobile devices it will serve.  Talk time is only about 4-6 hours and standby is listed at 100hrs.

Positioning from Motorola:
Keep It Up - the RAZRWIRE™ design is sleek and compact, yet talk times can last up to approximately 6 hours. Stay wirelessly connected while running, biking, and rowing - you name it. RAZRWIRE™ keeps up with the most extreme lifestyles.

Bluetooth HS850:  I actually purchased this one.  It retails for about $100USD, although I paid about $80.  The marketing material claims that you can pair this with up to 7 different Bluetooth devices, although I only have it paired with 2.  With the longest standby time of 200hrs and a talk time of 8hrs this device could be considered their top of the line technology model.  From a user perspective I found it very comfortable and user friendly.  It can be worn on either ear and has surprising audio quality.  The best feature of this product is the microphone.  People I talk with don't even know I'm on a headset.  I tried out the other on the list (not the sunglasses) and would recommend spending a bit more to get this model.  You'll find yourself using it for more than just your mobile phone.

Nokia 9300i

I went by the Nokia Experience center today to look at the new line of phones.  As usual, I got side-tracked and my focus went to the Nokia 9300.  I played with the phone for over 15 minutes and entered into a conversation with the techs there (you can't call them sales reps since you can't buy phones).  They brought out the 9500 and I was surprised to see that it's over an inch bigger and heavier.  Let me qualify that; the 9500 wasn't a live phone, it was the same size and weight but was one of those furniture store version...you know the fake TV in the display. 

In a previous post, I argued that the 9500 was the better choice, however the 9300i (Available for business customers form Cingular in Feb-06) has WiFi which was the great feature on the 9500.  I'm sold and If you look at the arms race between Nokia and Motorola it's starting to look like 1st Gulf War (Nokia's the good guys in this case).

Razr3 Review (follow-up)

As many of you recall, in October I got a new Razr3 and gave it a pretty average review.  I wanted to follow up with some additional information now that I've been using the phone for some time. 

I must say the phone is pretty solid.  Although it looks very fragile, I'll go on record to say that it can take a beating.  I'm not one of those guys that wears his phone on his hip in a holster (that's pretty 90's if you ask me), nor am I one of those tools that has his bluetooth wireless headset in his ear all the time (I'll post on those idiots another time...you look like idiots, no one is impressed go work in a jewelry store if you want to use a headset as a fashion statement).  I'm able to carry this phone in a shirt pocket under my blazer or in the front pocket of my jeans when I'm casual.  No bulges and I'm guessing if you're a woman with a purse it shouldn't be a big deal either.

If you're getting this to take advantage of text features or Internet browsing (both of which are available), save your money.  It's a miserable experience. 

I've also had the chance to use the speakerphone capability and can say that it's a great feature and works quite nicely.  Reception, compared to some of the other phones I've reviewed and used in the past, is still an issue.  I lose the signal quite a bit and hate it due to that issue. 

Another gripe I have is the vibrate feature.  It's simply not strong enough.  Even when it's in my pocket, I can barely feel the vibration.  Guess the phone's small form factor doesn't lend itself to large mechanical vibrate feature.

Overall, my view still hasn't changed.  I give it a weak 6 out of 10.  It's still a "cool" phone, even if every teenager is carrying one, but unless you're getting it free, save your cash.  Nokia is going to win the war in that price range.

BlackBerry 8700c

RIM has just...yawn, launched the new 8700c with Intel inside.  I'm not going to comment...yawn.  For anyone that has ever used a RIM device as a phone you know how painful it really is.  Here are a couple of rules to follow before you go out and purchase the device. 

Rule 1:  Buy a phone from a phone manufacturer if you want quality reception and a quality device to TALK and LISTEN with.  If hearing the other party and having the other party hear and understand you isn't important, then ignore Rule 1.

Rule 2:  RIM doesn't have such a device.  The BlackBerry is a very cool email communication tool, but their phones SUCK because of ....Rule 1.

Optional...attempt at an analogy...Rule 3:  The PC screen is a good platform to watch TV or a DVD, specifically when it comes to down-loadable video content.  The iPod is a good device to listen to music, audio books, etc.  iPods are not good devices to watch video AT ALL!

Anyone getting this?