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Dell to Get Into Cell Phones in 2006
prostoalex writes "BrightHand looks into the future of Dell Axim PDA line. X30 will be discontinued, X50 will get another update of Windows Mobile, and pretty soon Dell might be entering the cell phone business with PDA+phone Axim combo. The phone line will replaces the X50 model in mid-2006."
as an owner of an HP iPaq 6315, I think this will be good for the market. The more competition there is in the market for PocketPC phones, the cheaper they'll get and the more they'll try to innovate.
I've had my iPaq since January, and it has definitely impacted my life. I surf the web, play games, and listen to MP3's on the bus, can view the PDF bus schedules if I need to, I can sync with MS money, which is really handy because I'm terrible about keeping a check register. I think if these were cheaper (I got mine used & unlocked off of the company bb for $400) and there were a little more innovation, everyone would want one.
And nobody ever uses the term "linker" to refer to either a compiler or an assembler. They use it to refer to a program that links the object code produced by the assembler to to static blocks of code that get stuck on the beginning and end of the object code to form an executable. Early computers didn't have linkers to do this; you had to put the specially-marked decks of punch-cards at the beginning and end of the object code for it to run.
Any phone will work with any carrier, so long as they are using the same base technology. You can't use a GSM phone on a CDMA network - nor can you use a dual band european GSM phone on an american GSM network. This is less and less an issue as more and more phones are becoming tri or quad band (There are four GSM bands, 850/900/1800/1900).
... without a big 1 or 2 year contract. That's just the way it is in the US, the carriers set it up so that cellphones have no value, and their value is subsidized by a big early cancellation fee on a 1 or 2 year contract.
You *can* buy a cellphone and use it with any carrier - what you can't do is buy a cellphone for pennies after rebate
Elsewhere, you buy your phone and get your service - and there's actual proper competition. If you don't like your service, you leave.
Incidentally, carriers locking these phones to only work on their network is complete bullshit. You're buying the phone alongside the contract, and then getting a rebate. If they want to lock the phone to them, then you shouldn't be "paying full price and then getting a rebate". I've had mixed experiences with this - my t68i with Tmobile doesn't work with my current Cingular plan, but my v600 with Cingular (currently) was able to swap SIMs with my coworkers v600 with Tmobile [his similarly worked, but he needed to enter an access code to connect to Cingulars network - which is undoubtedly stored in my phone somewhere]. From what I've read, it's still quite common practice to lock them.
cyn, free software and *nix operating systems enthusiast.
Having worked as a Dell Level 1 tech back in the glory days (i.e. before overseas outsourcing), I have to say that I understand why they require these guys to go through the dumb questions. The VAST MAJORITY of the calls that come into tech support are really really stupid and I would say 75% or more of them are fixed by the time they make it through the standard checklist.
Surely the typical /. reader isn't going to call in unless they have already tried all that stuff, and I understand how frustrating it is to those who actually know something about computers, but believe me the tech's on the other end are not justified in assuming that incoming callers are competent users.
Insider Hint: the best way for the tech-savvy to get support is to use the online request service option. Avoid the phones like the plague. When you make an online request, take a few sentences to let the tech on the other end know that you have done all the obvious stuff. Since I know what they are looking for, I almost always get a "your part/tech is on the way" response within an hour.
No, I think "business" is just what we all think it means: A Blackberry replacement for executives and salespeople.
Perspective is everything. As a distributor I think 'warehouse' when I hear the word business.
We use axim X50s in our warehouse. The units cost 300$ plus 100$ for a three year warranty and another hundred for drop all insurance. That makes 500$ for the pda plus 150$ for an sdio bar code reader 650$ total. Symbols piece o'junk entry model is 1200$ without a service contract. That is why I go dell on PDA. I replace about 2 per year, under warranty
The problem is that most cell phones aren't sold at what they're worth.
I have to disagree. The market dictates the value of the product. In fact, I think the subsidy from the carriers is causing the price of cell phone prices to be inflated. Think about it; that would buy a cell phone for 600+ dollars? No one, I can get a fully functional handheld computer and kick in the transceiver for that price.
CDMA technology is stagnating
CDMA is very popular in Asian markets and they have streaming videophones. GSM is in the European market and I would guess that CDMA to GSM ratio worldwide is close to 50% if not tilted to the CDMA a little. Which technology is better? I think CDMA is a little better; however, I think that neither is quite perfect. Some years from now, A common technology will bridge the two and the war will be over and maybe perfection?