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Bluetooth headsets, cross-country trips, and insider info By Joni Blecher (6/20/02) Senior Editor Joni Blecher, a.k.a. the Cell Phone Diva, wants to answer all your questions about cell phones, service plans, and wireless connectivity. Send her a question! Rumor confirmation Q: I heard that the Sanyo SCP-4700 is going to be replaced by a new 4900. Have you heard of a release date? Also, what do you think of the Sanyo SCP-6200? --Mark A: Yes, the SCP-4900 will replace the 4700. The new model will have about the same thickness as the 4700, only slightly smaller and with a built-in speaker. But that's where the similarities end. The 4900 will support Java (J2ME), work on next-generation 1xRTT voice and data networks, and have a 4,096-color screen. (That's more colors than are currently available on the SCP-5150's screen). We'll probably see the SCP-4900 by the end of the summer, when 3G networks are fully deployed. As for the 6200, I really like this phone. In fact, I call it the "sexy phone" because it's such an eye-catcher. It also has analog roaming and a sharper screen, and it works on next-generation 1xRTT voice networks. Finally, while the 6200 isn't quite as slender as its predecessor, the SCP-6000, it's still pretty darn sleek. Road trippin' Q: I'm getting ready for a cross-country road trip that will take me through the northern part of the United States. I'm starting in Oakland, California, and heading east via Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota, and so on. Which wireless company has the best national coverage? The maps on their Web sites seem virtually useless. I want a plan with free long distance and no roaming fees. I've been with Cingular for years, but my contract is up, and I haven't been too pleased with coverage in my local area. Can you help? --Confused A: Being a veteran road tripper myself, I know the importance of having a reliable cell phone while you travel. The most important feature you need is analog roaming so that your phone can still roam onto the old analog networks if you travel outside of a digital-service (CDMA, GSM or TDMA) coverage area. To identify a phone that has this feature, look for either analog or AMPS 800 in the mobile's technology listings. However, you'll pay dearly for the calls that you make when you roam onto an analog network, so you should use this feature for emergencies only. Another hitch is that you probably won't receive any calls when you're in analog-roam mode. Instead, incoming messages will get automatically routed to your voicemail, and you won't be notified until you roam back into a digital network coverage area. As for a carrier, I would definitely go with either Sprint PCS or Verizon Wireless. Most of their phones have analog-roaming capability, and they have decent coverage. That said, I've traveled your route and know that you'll be driving many, many miles without any coverage at all, regardless of the service provider. So pick a phone that will let you know you when you roam into analog mode and will prompt you about the increased fees before you place a call. Find a plan that doesn't limit the calls you make during peak hours (typically 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) since that's probably when you'll be using the phone most while on the road. Have a safe trip and a great journey! Waiting for speed Q: I'm in the market for a new phone. I currently have the old Samsung 3500, but I'm looking for something smaller and lighter and that has better audio and is easier to read (in other words, a big screen) since I use the wireless Web. I've been seriously thinking about the SCP-5150, but I'm waiting to hear what you have to say about the SPH-A460. And the eternal question: Is there something else coming out next month that blows them both out of the water? --David A: We should have a review of the SPH-A460 up shortly. But since you asked, I do like it better than the SPH-A400. For starters, the A460 has an unconventionally shaped external LCD (a circle instead of a rectangle) that displays caller ID info. It also has a nicer internal screen that shows animated graphics, but that's all I'm willing to share for now. You'll have to read the review to get the inside scoop. If you can wait two months, I wouldn't get either the A460 or the SCP-5150. Since you surf the wireless Web, it would behoove you to wait for 1xRTT data-ready phones from Sprint, which should be available by the end of summer. I recently reviewed the LG VX1 and tested its wireless Web capabilities using Verizon Wireless's 1xRTT data network. Trust me--it blows away what you're using now. Talking about the Bluetooth blues Q: I really want to get a Bluetooth headset, but I refuse to switch to GSM service because of coverage and price. My current plan is to get a Motorola 270c and add the Bluetooth sleeve, but this is not exactly the sexiest solution in the world. When do you think we will start to see Bluetooth built into phones destined for U.S. wireless networks? --Bill A: It's true; we tend to see more GSM phones (such as the Sony Ericsson T68) that support Bluetooth. But you don't have to get a GSM phone in order to add this feature. Earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show, Plantronics introduced the M1500 Bluetooth headset, which will work with just about any cell phone. You can buy the headset with a relatively small adapter that you plug into the headset jack on a cell phone. It will cost about $200 and should start shipping in the next couple of months. |
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Joni Blecher is a section editor for CNET Reviews.
