e62: skype, wi-fi sd card, gps, unbranding (please advise)

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cccc

New member
hey all...great forum.

I'm considering going down to cingular today to purchase an e62,
(would buy [free vs. $100] online [letstalk.com or wirefly, etc] but cingular won't assist you in-store with internet purchases).

Anyway, I have a few "wish list" items I knew you could help with:

- In a perfect world, my e62 would be connected to my home network and let me browse and skypeout without chewing cell minutes. Then when I walk out of the house or get in the car it would switch to cell and I could call, use GPS, etc., and when I get to the office, switch over to my office network (even if it requires a few keystrokes).

- want to skype enable (please advise...searching hasn't produced much of an answer, but I've seen it for Windows Mobile & PocketPC...not sure about symbian) [I use outlook and sugarcrm(.com) and love skype's firefox extension that allows me to click-and-call any number inside a browser. Would be great if I click on my desktop or laptop and that skype call is initiated through my e62.]

- read that (even with unlimited data plan) IMs are treated as sms, therefore racking up additional, unanticipated charges...therefore, I want:

- wi-fi (can it be done via sd card? seen it, but haven't found a symbian driver)

- I've read about problems with java, and an unbranding walk-through to sidestep it. Is this stable? (I know it said it only changes the GUI, but don't want to lose any functionality)

- any other killer-app ideas would be much appreciated.

thanks!
 
i can put two things to rest.

no, there is no way currently to enable wifi on an e62. the sd plugins you are thinking of are for palm devices.

yes, with cingular's i'm client IM's are counted as sms but with a third party app (such as agile mobile) they just use data

and a word of advice. don't buy from wirefly/letstalk (same company) they are a bunch of con artists. you will never recieve your rebates.
 
exactly. Why get a crippled/locked phone if you can get the whole package? The only adv i see is the usb port on the e62.
 
1. The E62 is going to cost the OP $100, while the E61 would be at least $300. That's reason enough to for some to get the E62. I personally just got it (as a workphone) and it'll work fine.

HOWEVER, if you're wanting to use Skype, you might be better off to get the E61 indeed.

Assuming you stick with the E62, here's your answers:

1. It doesn't support seamless switching like you're talking about. That ability is coming, but it's not here on most wi-fi phones just yet.

2. Check out iSkoot or google for Symbian Skype. It's been done, just not officially supported yet.

3. Check out Agile Messenger or IM+. Both allow you to connect to multiple IM networks and use data instead of SMS.

4. Symbian does not support SDIO and therefore you cannot add WiFi through an SD card. Again, the E61 is the exact same phone, only with WiFi and a few physical changes like the data cord connection and stuff.

5. I did the unbranding thing (really it's rebranding, cause you're trading Cingular's branding for Rogers. There's no such thing as an unbranded E62, since it's a carrier exclusive.) as soon as i pulled the E62 out of the box this morning and it works great. You'll need to go to Nokiausa.com/support and have the internet and MMS settings sent to your phone (be sure when you do, delete the "Cingular Web" access point. Just keep Cingular MMS and Express) but other than that the only branding I can find on the Rogers firmware is the opening logo and the Internet is a big blue O. Other than that it's perfect. No worries, took me a total of about 20 min.

6 Killer apps depend on what you're going to use the phone for, really. Check out the freewares thread stickied, and also www.symbian-guru.com, on the left is a "softwares reviews". There's some on there, they should all have direct links, as well.
 
You are right I hate contracts.....mainly because I have never been completely happy with one phone for six months let alone two years. Seems about every two to six months there is a newer better phone out there and I have to try it.

d
 
That's easy, don't buy all your phones with a contract. I'm under contract because i'll sign a new one just to get a cheap phone to ebay for some quick cash.
 
well it has nothing to do with switching phones...i just hate being locked onto a company thats all. I am on monthly right now and I can leave anytime when fido sucks really really bad...
 
I should of been more specific. For example I tried the e62 for 30 days and liked it so I went to ebay and bought it for 175.00 and it works great no contract. Have done the same with my BB's. If I like the new 8800 or Treo 750 than I will probably put one of those under contract because the price will be pretty steep. Oh and I like the Eseries so much I also picked up the e61. So now I set with 4-BB's 2 e series and 1 moto. This just happens to be one of my weakness's. I will be selling on ebay next month the bb's to make room for the next gen of bb's the 8800 and I will keep one of the e series. I wish I could take bits and pieces from several phones and than I think I could be happy. For example I love the voice and reception quality of the eseries but the apps and email are quite sluggish where the bb"s voice and recetion are quite crappy but email and apps pop.......

d
 
exactly...
my e62 (purchased over the phone with letstalk.com, to minimize uncertainty of order completion) cost $22.47 (solely the amount of CA sales tax). And it comes with a free bluetooth headset, and a $50 rebate (that I'll get in about 6 months) that will cover the tax charge and $36 activation fee with cingular. (I'm not holding my breath - as with most rebates - but a nice perk if it does pay off.)


Saw a good walkthrough on this elsewhere and will attempt it. Do I lose any apps?


Will do. Thanks for the leads.

And thanks, all, for the insight.
 
http://symbianguru.typepad.com/welcome/2006/12/finally_a_java_.html

Here's a permalink to the walkthrough.

http://symbianguru.typepad.com/welcome/2006/12/finally_a_java_.html

Didn't lose any apps that I know of, but then again, I also did this as soon as I pulled the E62 out of the box, so who knows? The only branding that I found on the Rogers version is the splash startup screen, and the internet icon is a big blue O. Other than that, it's basically unbranded.

You will, however, need to go to nokiausa.com/support and have the cingular settings sent to your phone. delete the "Cingular Web" one and just keep the Cingular MMS and Express settings and you're good to go.
 
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