I'm in the market for a new cell phone. My contract with Verizon is up, so I am eligible for the $100 credit towards a new phone.

I'm not particular about flip versus nonflip, but if it's a flip I'd like to have a window to see the incoming call. I am also interested in Bluetooth capable phones so that I can transfer data to/from my Mac.

Right now I'm looking at the Motorola E815 and the Samsung SCH-a950 as possibilities.

Anyone else have opinions?

I've got a Motorola E815 from Verizon and can sing nothing but praises for it, except...

Verizon in notorious for crippling built in features as a so-called "security" issue, but more often than not in order to get you to pay extra for services.

For example, their Bluetooth only has the profile for headsets and handsfree voice enabled. You can't use the phone to transfer data via Bluetooth (OBEX) even though the phone is capable of that. The only way to turn those Bluetooth features on is by having someone that knows how...hack your phone and turn the crippled features back on.

Same with using the phone's Bluetooth as a wireless modem for connecting your laptop to the internet while on the road. It's been disabled. But that particular DUN (Dial Up Networking) hack is really a simple thing you can do yourself.

And you can't use Bluetooth to sync your phonebook from your cell phone to your laptop. To do that you'll need a cable and the optional Mobile Phone Tools Kit from either Verizon or Motorola. And that may only be for Windows. I don't know if they make Mobile Phone Tools software to go with Macs. If you were counting on Bluetooth to be your Mac phone/laptop interface for all these functions...you aren't going to pull it off without the hacks.

For pictures, music and video...you can transfer some of them via the built-in Flash Card slot (Flash Card not included and provided you have a Flash Card adapter for your laptop).

Despite these limitations...it's a great phone, IMHO. And with the hacks...it's an even greater phone. You'll love the display quality. If you go for the VCast $15 per month add-on (they'll likely give you a 30 day VCast free trial)...you'll get lots of video news and shows and highlights and such. And that $15 also includes unlimited Mobile Web using the hi-speed network, which makes checking emails and text news and various WAP sites, a snap.

And there's a whole bunch of pretty neat of "Get It Now" features and applications that you can add to your phone anytime...for a charge, of course. One of these allows you to control your phonebook management by using a Verizon internet web page interface to add or change your phone's phonebook. Just type the new contact and phone numbers and such on your computer via this web page, and hit Send...and they are instantly in your phone. You can manage the entire list from this site to. And it's a great "backup" if your phone ever loses the data or needs replacing.

But that's just a web management tool for your phonebook. If you really want to "sync" between the phone and some existing software you use (like Outlook)...then you'll need the cable and the Mobile Phone Tools kit.

The Bluetooth limitations probably apply to the Samsung phones as well. It's Verizon doing the crippling...not the phone manufacturers. I love Verizon for their great coverage and signal quality. But I hate them for limiting and crippling features just to make a few more bucks or because they think we can't secure our own data. That should be my decision if I want to use these features.

See here for the Bluetooth charts (there are 2 of them..."Profiles for Handsets" and "Profiles for PDA's") of the various phones and PDA's, to see just what you can and can not do with each device via Bluetooth.

http://dts.vzw.com/faqs/Bluetooth/faq.html#item9

Thanks for that info, Opus. I didn't know that!

I don't know if this helps or not (and Opus seems to have the 411), but when I got my new phone last year from Cingular, I was trying to decide between a Sony, a Nokia and a Motorola. The guy that I was working with said that either the Sony or Nokia were great but that he never recommends the Motorolas, people bring them in to be fixed all of the time.

Just thought I'd throw that into the mix. I don't know anything about Samsungs. I am very happy with my Sony, on the other hand IMO Nokia makes the highest quality phones overall.

stan4d_steph...

Some news just popped about Verizon now (finally) legally allowing "tethering" between a laptop and a cell phone so that you can use your EVDO equipped cell phone as a wireless modem on Verizon's Hi-Speed EVDO BroadbandAccess network.

The article also has a section about doing this with Macs. There is no web link (it came to me in a email newsletter) and it's too big to post here per TOS, so I've pasted it into an email and sent it to you.

But both pieces of news above are still via cable, and not Bluetooth. They're still holding off on that for now (though it's an easy hack to get around, unless they find a way to block it).

If anyone else want's the info, shoot me an email at my handle at good old America Online dot com.

Thanks for the info. Really all I want to be able to do is transfer contacts and calendar events between the phone and computer. At this point I don't need it to be able to function as a modem for a laptop.

I do have wireless at my house and have considered getting some sort of PDA/phone hybrid, but I really don't have a need for one now and don't think I want to spend the money to get one.

Thanks for the info. Really all I want to be able to do is transfer contacts and calendar events between the phone and computer. At this point I don't need it to be able to function as a modem for a laptop.

I kinda figured that, but wasn't sure and just wanted to update my original post's info.

I did find out that the Verizon and Motorola "Mobile Phone Tools" kits, will not support your Mac.

But I did find a third party software outfit that makes a product that will do the same thing and what you want with your Mac:

http://www.susteen.com/shop_macsoftware.htm

Just be very certain that their software supports whatever specific phone you end up buying.

Still..unless you hack your Verizon cell phone (whichever phone you buy)...it's gonna have to be done via a cable, and not Bluetooth.

Okay, here's a question: are there any cell providers who do support what I want to do? I might consider switching providers, although I would lose some benefits, like the $100 phone credit.

Okay, here's a question: are there any cell providers who do support what I want to do? I might consider switching providers, although I would lose some benefits, like the $100 phone credit.

Can't help you on other providers. My area of "expertise" is limited to Verizon on Bluetooth issues. Perhaps others will chime in and advise.

You might also register and post your questions or "Search" in either or both of these forums for advise:

http://www.howardforums.com

http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com

I'm pretty sure there are several that don't cripple the Bluetooth like Verizon does.

Okay, here's a question: are there any cell providers who do support what I want to do? I might consider switching providers, although I would lose some benefits, like the $100 phone credit.
Sprint doesn't restrict the Bluetooth profiles of their phones, and has a variety of models (http://www1.sprintpcs.com/explore/coverage/PhoneZipEntry.jsp) available. I've been quite satisfied with them over the past six years.

Edit to fix URL; enter your ZIP code to see available phones.

Cingular also has no restrictions on Bluetooth features and they also have a pretty wide variety of phones available.

I think Verizon is really the only carrier that is so restrictive on Bluetooth. They were pretty much the last one to even offer Bluetooth phones at all.

-Jeff

Also, if you switch providers you should get whatever deal they (the new provider) offer for signing up for new service. You should even be able to keep your number.

FYI, I went with the Motorola E815. I got 2 of them for $108, and will get another $50 in a mail-in rebate. Not bad, eh?

During my first use yesterday, I noticed an improvement in clarity over my previous phone. Thanks for the recommendation, Opus. :)