Help concerning smartphone please!

[ris]

Hello,

I would like to know if the sony-ericsson p910i can load the free med software. I'm thinking of buying a smartphone mainly for the medical application uses, and since phones like the blueberry or the Treo aren't available in my country i was wondering about the p910i. If that is not good enough, could you please recommend me a smartphone?

Thank You!

Ris

[Admin]

The p910i doesn't have very much free medical software that I'm aware of.

You really need to go for a Palm OS or Pocket PC (Windows Mobile) device if you want to load up software.

Which country are you in? The Palm Treo 650 is probably one of your best bets for loading free software on but if it's not available there are quite a few Pocket PC Phones that can load free software (make sure they use Windows Mobile Pocket PC Phone edition).

Let me know which other smartphones you are looking at before you buy as many (like the p910i will not run the majority of medical software).

Chris

[ris]

Hello,

Thank you for the quick reply!

I'm in Mauritius, and second hand p910i phones have started flooding in, so I thought it would be a good bargain...oh well I guess not.

What about the Nokia 6680? (I haven't seen any Treo equivalents on the market here...and I'm not sure if it they will work on the local phone networks...)
PDA-wise the HP Ipaq RZ1710 Handheld PDA 203MHz or HP iPaq RX1950 Pocket PC 300MHz?

Thank you for the advice!

Ris

[ris]

Or to make things easier...which Nokia or SE smartphones would do the trick? No other brand is readily available over here anyway...I'm choosing smartphone because then i wont have to tug around 2 pieces of hardware (phone and PDA)

[Admin]

Nokia or similar 'smartphones' won't run most medical software as they use a different OS.

You need a smartphone that runs either Palm OS or 'Windows Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition'. Make sure you don't get a 'Windows Mobile Smartphone Edition' as that won't run most apps either.

Both those PDAs should be fine but I'm sure you'll be able to get a PDA-phone combo that works.

I would have thought an imported treo would work OK as long as your mobile phone network is 'GSM'. Here's the info from the Palm website:

Our "unlocked" GSM Treo™ 650 smartphone works with almost any GSM/GPRS network worldwide, so you can use it with your existing GSM/GPRS service plan. Or use it overseas with additional international service from your service provider or a new SIM from an international service provider. Perfect for the frequent international traveler

.

http://web.palm.com/products/communicators/config/unlocked_gsm.jhtml?categoryId=30025&creativeID=LFB |treo650_unlocked_599_20051026

If you buy a second hand one, make sure it is unlocked. Some phone companies sell the handsets 'locked' into their particular network. It is usually possible to unlock them but it can be a bit of a hassle.

[Admin]

According to this page: http://www.cellular.co.za/cellular-networks-j-ro.htm Mauritus Telecom is a GSM network. This means that if you buy a Mauritius Telecom SIM card and stick it in an unlocked Treo 650 it will work.

Please double check this info before you spend any money though.

[ris]

I have checked around...found someone to import the treo 700w, will get a price list in 2 days. None of the 2 phone companies in mauritius have replied my emails about whether the treo will work on their networks though...but since both are gsm i suppose there should be no reason it shouldnt work. Will let you know when I get the price list!

Thanks for all the help!

Ris

[Admin]

The 700w is an EVDO phone - that means it uses the EVDO high speed network which I don't think you have in mauritius.

I would have thought you would be better with a Treo 650 which is a GSM/GPRS phone. Better to stick with the Treo 650 I would have thought if you want it to work in Mauritius.

[ris]

Hello,

Ok, the importer is refusing to bring in the treo...seems I'm the only one in the whole country who wants it LOL...and it won't be cost effective for him to bring only one unit. I guess here ends my dream for owning a pda phone! ebay and other online shops don't deliver to mauritius.

So now I'll start looking for PDA's! I guess I'll be asking for your advice from another thread. Heard a new shop just opened will let you know what stuff is available soon.

Thanks a lot!

ris

[nabeelimran]

Hi ris, Admin!

I was reading ur discussion, and couldnt help thinking i had the same query as ris (infact after one month of 'internet-querying', i still have the same question...which PDA Phone will be best for me - A General Physician/Trainee-in-Surgery?).

First, ris, you might want to check the GSM Bandwidth ur mobile service providers are ,well, providing (the Palm Treo650 works on 850/900/1800/1900 MHz)

Secondly, 700w, as far as i know, at present only works with Verizon Wireless, and that too in the United States.

Thirdly, Admin, do u mean to say that 'most' medical software wont run on a Symbian OS - based PDA Phone ?

And lastly, will u please help me too, (i almost bought a P910i !!!), and i also intend to use the phone for :
* my mobile phone,
* occasional snaps/short movies,
* my medical software PDR, etc,
* occasional web-browsing (GPRS and Wireless LAN),
* what else?

Thanks in advance.