Audiovox SMT 5600 »
Like Scoble and half a dozen others that have blogged about it recently, I now have the Audiovox SMT 5600 from AT&T Wireless. Their price on the phone is listed as $199 with a two-year agreement, but I only have a one-year agreement and it was $199.
Actually $149 after an online user rebate of $50. I ordered the phone late Tuesday, it arrived yesterday afternoon via Fedex and I just received a text message that my number was transferred successfully from Sprint PCS. I'm impressed at the speed.
As to the phone itself, it's tiny. About 4.25" by 1.75" at its widest points and not even 0.75" deep, with no external antenna to break off or otherwise be inconvenient. Specs say a 2.2" screen (diagonal, I assume). Seems about right. The screen is plenty bright. The scroller control is pretty sweet, though it's going to take me a bit to get used to it. The buttons are a bit smaller than I would prefer in an ideal situation. The clarity is awesome on my end, and quite good on the other end (or so I'm told).
I have tried a bit of browsing, and found that Don't Back Down actually displays pretty decently on this little screen (new design only, the old one blows on the small screen). I did try and send a picture via "mmode email", but it didn't work. Maybe that wasn't the appropriate method. I'll have to look more into that.
As to the camera, it's decent. I haven't hooked up the unit to a PC, and I wasn't able to get the picture transferred via the email method I chose, but it looks okay on the small screen. I don't expect much - mostly quick candid shots that might otherwise go uncaptured entirely. The coolest feature about it is the "camcorder" mode. Denise and I recorded a couple of quick little movies last night (get your mind out of the gutter), and they seemed quite watchable - at least on the small screen. Have to see about transferring via the cable shortly.
I'll let you know more as I test it further.
Comments (3)
My one year contract with TMobile is up soon, so it's time for me to consider switching. With a one-year contract, the Audiovox is only $25 after rebates at amazon.com
I could be tempted. Let me know how you get on with it.
Rod.
Posted by Rod on October 29, 2004 12:59 PM
I actually saw that deal, and was planning to go that way with it, but decided not to. For some reason that day, they had a bluetooth headset with a discount on it that I was going to get, but you enter the discount code at checkout and I couldn't get it to work. After a bunch of times, I emailed them about it and decided I wouldn't do it, because I was sick of trying and because the plans weren't as clear on the Amazon site as they were at AT&T.
For instance, it does not appear that you can order the $25 unlimited data plan at Amazon, which is a must for me, and I didn't want to go back to AT&T to get it after receiving the Amazon phone. Figured that would be a pain, even though it might be simple. I also was unable to transfer my number through Amazon (at least, it wasn't obvious how to do it). So I ended up at AT&T and spent a bit more. Since someone's buying the phone for me, I was less than concerned with the ~$100 difference.
The advantage to Amazon is that I believe you can order the phone without a data plan at all - so if that's your liking, it might be a very good idea. The phone number transfer may be an issue to some, but not to others.
All in all, I'm happy with it thus far. Only thing I don't like is the carrying case that comes with it. Need to look for another option. I'm also a little miffed that I'm going to have to look in the manual to find out how to do certain things. Been a while since I've had to do that with a phone. But as for operation and the like? It's been working well.
Posted by Chad Everett on October 29, 2004 1:12 PM
I just got the SMT 5600. My previous phone was a Motorola MPX 200, and it is like going from a Hyundai to a Cadillac! The reception is much better (no more dropped calls/weak signal), and the speed seems much faster. I am also disappointed in the case, but hopefully aftermarket accessories will appear soon.
Posted by Les on November 25, 2004 10:47 AM