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!
A Bluetooth Treo
Q: I want to buy the
PalmOne Treo 600, but I really need Bluetooth. Have you heard if there is a card that works with this phone or if the company is revising this model anytime soon and adding Bluetooth?
--Perry A: The existing Treo 600 doesn't support Bluetooth at all. However, there's been buzz all over the Net about a next-generation Treo. Initially rumored to be the Treo 610, the new model was going to lose the camera and improve the screen. Months have gone by since those stories circulated, however, but now a new flood of gossip is appearing, dubbing the latest model the Treo 650. Rumored specs include a faster processor, Bluetooth support, a slightly altered keypad, an improved screen, and an integrated camera.
Don't rush out to the stores yet, though. We might not see a new Treo for a few more months. If you can't wait, another e-mail-centric smart phone with integrated Bluetooth, the RIM BlackBerry 7100t, should hit stores next month.
European vacation
Q: I'm thinking of buying a cell phone overseas. If it supports GSM 900/1800/1900, would it work in New York using AT&T Wireless service?
--Mauricio
A: If you can insert your SIM card and if the SIM in the phone you purchase is unlocked (this means you can use any SIM card in the phone and get service), the mobile should work in the States. But be warned that you probably won't be able to access many of AT&T's data services, as the phone may not be set up to receive them. You should, however, be able to make and receive calls just fine.
Special delivery
Q: I'm considering buying a camera phone. Can you send pictures to e-mail addresses without subscribing to a GPRS network such as T-Mobile's T-zones?
--chennyboy2002
A: Technically, if you can get the images off the phone via an IR port, Bluetooth, or a cable and have an Internet service provider, you can send the pictures as an attachment to any e-mail address that will accept them. However, if you want to send the pictures directly from the handset, you'll need to subscribe to the carrier's data service, such as T-Mobile's GPRS network. Plus, if you plan to send the images directly to another cell phone, the recipient will need to use the same carrier and have a mobile that accepts images; in other words, it should be multimedia message-capable.
Have you even been puzzled by a visit to a carrier store? TalkBack to me below.
Manage updates with the Download App
