buying a cellphone since the contract with sprintpcs "finally" up.
Compact factor
Accessorise factor
bluetooth factor
triband factor
network factor
reception factor

I have a samsung pretty new one, not good quality. i should say not for me to use it. just dont work well with me.

Anyone has a suggestion??

 

I currently use the Nokia 6310i, which I really like and it meets all your criteria. I use T-mobile and get excellent service and reception in the US and throughout Europe. It is the best phone that I have ever had. Excellent battery life, it fits well in your hand, but is a little longer than some phones. I like the extra length, because it fits better in your hand and against your ear when you are using the phone.

 

Without a doubt, the Ericsson T610/T616 with either Cingular or T-Mobile. Fantastic phone for the gadget-minded.

 

I just got a Nokia 3650 to go with it - it might be buigger than msot - but at the low, low price of $0... and it has bluetooth if MINI ever releases that for the MINI, as we are told...

the video recording on it is useless.. but it has the best camera of all phones out in the US, 640x480.. not to mention it is built like a rock when it comes to reception. use it with t-mobile... good plans, and good phones (fwiw... people i know with the sony mentioned above say the reception is heinous compared to other t-mobile phones.. YMMV)

 

You better check with mini.

I had a sticker on my winshield that said only approved electronic devices including cel phones were allowed in the Mini.

I will find the sticker and post a pic.

 

that is accurate - i had this sticker as well. i consider that to be the "dont talk on your cell phone while pumping gas" type of thing... 1 in a million, and still not proven to be accurate.if you are really concerned about it, you better not drive... same chance that your car may spontaneously conbust.. actually that might be more probable

 

I've heard very good things about the latest crop of Ericcsons. I'm a Nextel guy myself, and I really like their newer Motorolas, but the service plans are quite pricey, and I don't think they're doing Bluetooth yet...but I could be wrong.

 

Without a doubt the Sony Ericsson T610. I get great reception with T-Mobile, it has a built in camera, and it has bluetooth, which means so you will be able to USE IT WITH your MINI! MINI is coming out with a bluetooth kit. Also if you have a Mac, you can synch it to your Mac via bluetooth and update all your contacts. You can also use it with a bluetooth headset. So, you can have the phone in your bag, and the headset connects wirelessly. Just push the button on the headset to answer the call. Also looks and feels cool. Very nice device IMO.

 

while a couple people here may have good things to say about hte sony ericson, make sure you read revies on it by experts... i just went through this last week. and it is interesting how poorly the sony gets rated on reception quality compared to the other phones.

nextel doesnt have bluetooth - but does have EXCELLENT phones otherwise.. i with i could afford it!

 

>>Without a doubt the Sony Ericsson T610. I get great reception with T-Mobile, it has a built in camera, and it has bluetooth, which means so you will be able to USE IT WITH your MINI! MINI is coming out with a bluetooth kit. Also if you have a Mac, you can synch it to your Mac via bluetooth and update all your contacts. You can also use it with a bluetooth headset. So, you can have the phone in your bag, and the headset connects wirelessly. Just push the button on the headset to answer the call. Also looks and feels cool. Very nice device IMO.
>>





I'll second that. If interested here's a review I did a while back on the T616.

 

I know that Sprint will let you bring the phone back and cancel your plan w/in 14 days if your not satisfied for no charge and AT&T and T-Mobile used to offer the same thing.

Take advantage of that. Play around and see what you like. Plus thanks to the cell phone portability act (or something close to that) you may be able to keep your cell phone number when you change carriers. I believe that law kicks in soon...

 

november it kicks in...
if hte 3650 is too big for you - which is entirely understandable.. check out the Siemens 55 or 56.. i forget which is sold in the US

 

>>I just got a Nokia 3650 to go with it


That's what I have too.....The NOkia 3650

 

Very cool thread. Thanks. I'll be shopping soon. SprintPCS really irked me and my contract's up next month.

I tried to change my plan via their new phone-in software and the change didn't go through. When I complained and tried to get a refund, they avoided and avoided the issue and I couldn't figure out why. Finally it turned out they weren't taking me seriously - they actually called me a liar! Sheesh! so I got to the supervisor level, pointed out how I only made 5 minutes worth of calls for 3 months in a row, and he took care of it. Duh! They had me confused with one of those types who use up all their minutes, go over and don't want to pay the .45 per minute fee.

I'd like to try out Cingular (sp?) and get rollover minutes.

 

I had Cingular for a long time. I was very pleased with them, but their phones were becoming fast out-dated. I changed over to Sprint PCS due to the better phones. No real complaints with them either. Now that Cingular is getting some better phones again, I may switch back when my contract is up.

 

I'll go along with all the recommendations for the Sony-Ericsson T610. I bought one in the UK before they were avaialble here in the USA. I use T-Mobile and have good coverage/service in major US cities and in Europe.

Also, one of the best bluetooth phones on the market now. I sync with My Palm Tungsten T and I use a bluetooth headset.

I have heard that Mini will have a handsfree bluetooth kit available through dealers soon! Another good reason to consider a phone with bluetooth.

--Radman

 

Does anyone know about what we can and cannot plug into the ciggie light adaptors to keep our warrantee? I remember reading on MINI2 about a dealership claiming a certain electrical item voided it, that the manual is apparently really picky about what they'll allow to be plugged into it? It might have been the one in the back but still.

 

 

What service you choose depends greatly on location. Here in Boulder, CO, old and new (GSM) ATT sucks, Verizon and Sprint are OK, and T-Mobile is great. I have a BRG MCS and just got the SonyEricsson T300 and the green cover is almost exactly the same as Mini BRG! However the T300 is being phased out (per above posts, the newer one is better, has camera in phone rather than as an attachment, and has BlueTooth). I got mine for $0 plus a $100 rebate. Can't beat that!

 

boulder, co is very nice. you are very lucky to live there. in philly ATT GSM is heinous. t-mobile is very nice, verizon is phenomenal and sprint is ver nice as well.

I do not have a cungular review for this area. but the idea of rollover minutes is enticing.

 

One problem is that he has asked for tri-band, which means he is interested in traveling, which really gives him only two options for a service provider. ATT GSM or T-Mobile. ATT coverae area is bad, fees are expensive, and roaming fees in the rest of the world are expensive. I travel around the world, and T-mobile has excellent coverage throughout Europe and the best roaming fees. T-mobile also has cheaper plans than ATT and much better coverage in the US.

 

>>
>>One problem is that he has asked for tri-band, which means he is interested in traveling, which really gives him only two options for a service provider. ATT GSM or T-Mobile. ATT coverae area is bad, fees are expensive, and roaming fees in the rest of the world are expensive. I travel around the world, and T-mobile has excellent coverage throughout Europe and the best roaming fees. T-mobile also has cheaper plans than ATT and much better coverage in the US.

If you're travelling to Europe and using your phone I'd highly recommend getting your GSM phone unlocked and using cheap prepaid sims you buy in your destination country. This is much much cheaper.

And for the record coverages are different in every city and area in the US. Thus some areas Tmobile might be great and in others it might be almost non-exsistant. In Chicago ATT GSM has been fantastic for me. And with 900 anytime minutes (unlimted night and weekends) at $39.99 I can't complain about costs.

 

Just received this phone last week. So far I love it. It doesn't offer Bluetooth but beyond that it matches your list pretty well. Reception seems to be pretty good. I'll have to really test it out on my trip to Chicago in two weeks.
The package was purchased through ATT Wireless. So far so good.

Happy Motoring,
SW

 

Should have noted...... it's a Nokia 6800

SW

 

Just a note.....Verizon scored the highest in Consumer Reports article concerning cell phone service nation wide. The Article is in the Feb. 03 issue.

Hope this helps.

Can you hear me now.....