RSSCingular 2125 Windows Phone in Stores
By Ed Oswald | Published January 18, 2006, 12:09 PM
Cingular on Wednesday announced the availability of the self-branded 2125 Windows Mobile Smartphone in retail locations throughout the United States. The device is the first traditional-style cell phone to include the Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system, the company said.
The 2125 has been available through the company's Web site since December 12. Built by HTC, the phone includes Bluetooth, quad-band capability and EDGE data support.
Cingular is targeting the device at the B2B market, and has included applications on the phone that are aim at that segment. These programs include Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile and Microsoft Exchange Server, GoodLink from Good Technology, Cingular Xpress Mail and MSN Hotmail.
Users would also be able to exchange instant messages over a mobile version of MSN Messenger, as well as the carrier's own MMS service.
"This sets the stage for Cingular to bring to market later this year a new and eagerly anticipated addition to its industry-leading e-mail portfolio, the Microsoft Messaging and Security Feature Pack featuring direct push e-mail technology," vice president of business data services Jeff Bradley said.
Microsoft plans to deliver this update for Windows Mobile 5.0 devices in the first half of the year. The company hopes that it would put the OS on more equal footing with Research in Motion's BlackBerry device.
Cingular's 2125 is powered by a TI OMAP 850 200 MHz processor, the same chip used in the highly-anticipated HTC Wizard devices from both T-Mobile and Cingular due out shortly. 64MB of SDRAM and 64MB of Flash ROM are included in the device with a Mini-SD expansion slot to add additional memory.
The 2125 has already received rave reviews from tech pundits and consumers alike. Joe Wilcox, senior analyst with Jupiter Research, says he was very impressed with the device.
"Over the weekend, I purchased successor Cingular 2125, and I love it," he said. Wilcox also added that devices like the 2125 could become a reference point for what smartphones "could and should be," much like the Compaq iPAQ became the standard for Microsoft's Pocket PC platform.
The 2125 is available for $199 USD when purchased alongside a two-year contract with the carrier, and requires Cingular MEdia Net data plan for full functionality, which would cost an additional $19.99 USD per month for unlimited access.
My company has Cingular and everyone is up in arms about it. Lots of dropped calls and/or no signal. Few users had Verizon and they were happy with it.
For me personally, I don't like Congular's customer service. Then again I don't like Verizon's either. At least I know with my phone I won't get dropped calls or no signal unless I'm underground or in an area with no service at all. Oh and I am with Verizon.
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|Customers report that dropped calls still happen way too often, but they feel much better that they can at least feel "cool" with the device. Cingular representatives attempted to comment, but their call dropped before we could get a quote.
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|..Lol. Service in FL is good for me.. Anyone with experience have any negative comments?
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|Dropped calls are something you live with with every provider. It's so bad that I prefer SMS/IM on my cell to voice talking now.
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|yeah it really depends on your area.
T-mobile works flawlessly for me in st. louis and orlando (when i'm there).
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|Here in KC, I dropped Verizon for Cingular, as in the rural areas (after you get out into "kansas") your only choices are Cingular and Alltel. Since Alltel doesn't have a great presence in KC, but I need connectivity everywhere in the state, Cingular was the only real option.
Oddly, even though we are national headquarters for Sprint here, their service seemed to really suck for me.
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|Cingular has had a MUCH larger coverage area than Verizon or any other major service provider since they bought AT&T Wireless. I have had no dropped calls in the five years I've been with Cingular and AT&T Wireless.
Sprint has never been a good phone company for personal non business use. Currently Sprint only has about two or three rate plans at outrageous prices compared to the competition.
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