Tmobile MDA versus Sidekick2/Sidekick3 versus Cingular 8125

[toontimer]

Brand new to forum, so I apologize in advance....

I have Tmo for last 4 years, and a Sidekick device for 2 years (SK1, then upgraded to SK2). Now the SK3 is available, but it won't allow me to connect my laptop to GPRS/G3/EDGE, etc...
So now I am considering switching devices to either a Tmobile MDA or Cingular 8125 Pocket PC in order to connect my laptop to these wireless networks via a CF Bluetooth Wireless Card http://www.socketcom.com/product/BL4539-642.asp.
Cingular has a decent plan at $70/month unlimited, and Tmobile is around $100/month. I just wonder which device performs better for this function, the Cingular 8125 Pocket PC or the Tmobile MDA. I'm told that the Sidekick3 is bluetooth compatible, but the data plan is different than for the other devices because the SK3 uses the manufacturer server connections rather than Tmobile's own network. (This would explain why the SK2/SK3 data plan is unlimited versus the PC notebook datacard plans that Tmobile offers at a higher cost.) I really like the Cingular $70 unlimited plan, and the 8125 Pocket PC, but I am partial to the Sidekick device since it's familiar. In addition, I have Bluetooth stereo headphones (by IoGear) that utilize A2DP, but the reviews of the Cingular 8125 Pocket PC all indicate that it doesn't connect with A2DP. Is there a fix for this?
So back to my original question: Who suggests which device over the other for connecting a laptop to the wireless networks (such as EDGE/G3/GPRS, but not WiFi), and what kind of connection speed would I expect to obtain?
Any feedback and advice appreciated.

[difensore]

First of all the Cingular 8125 and T-Mobile MDA are almost the same device sans the casing.

As far as I have known T-Mobile is trailing Cingular when it comes to the Data Server. While Cingular is getting ready for full 3G connectivity, T-Mobile just launched their EDGE server a couple of months ago.

There is actually a huge difference using a device like a Sidekick and a Pocket PC ... while the Sidekick is fun and really popular here in the US, the Pocket PC is slowly starting to be recognized here ... The Pocket PC is a more versatile device compared to a SideKick aka Danger Hiptop or Blackberry ... While all of them are similar functionality, each device is geared toward a different market. BlackBerry is obviously for the business / corporate crowd while the SideKick is for the student / young mobile users. The pocket pc is on both extremities ... it can be for fun and a serious workhorse ...

I would honestly hold off from getting the 8125 or the MDA (or the rest of the world knows is as the MDA Vario) since there is an upgraded model of these devices called HTC Hermes / TyTn / Qtek 9600 / XDA Trion which offers full 3G capability not like the 8125 and the (US) MDA which only uses EDGE.

From experience, either just bring your mobile device (i.e. pocket pc) and use to surf the net ...(that's how i use my XDA Exec / HTC Universal) or just get a separate data card for your laptop ... then if you want to have internet connectivity on your laptop just move your SIM card to your data card and you won't any bluetooth issues!

with bluetooth headset issues, the original ROM which was shipping with obth MDA and 8125 weren't ready for that but there are updates for these ROMs which make them compatible ...

enjoy!

[Rjp20]

I would honestly hold off from getting the 8125 or the MDA (or the rest of the world knows is as the MDA Vario) since there is an upgraded model of these devices called HTC Hermes / TyTn / Qtek 9600 / XDA Trion which offers full 3G capability not like the 8125 and the (US) MDA which only uses EDGE.

enjoy!

Great information!!! I am going to get the 8125 and unlock it to use with my T-Mobile service in a couple of weeks... Do you think I should also hold out for the HTC Hermes??? When is it comming out??? I wont be using EDGE at all, I will be using Wifi. So do you think it would be worth it for me to wait???

Rjp20

[Rudegar]

is both those odd very locked sidekicks and blackbarry
mainly a american thing ?
never seen much of them other places
apart from ppl wanting pda's to do push stuff like bbarry can

[difensore]

Hey RJP20,

well, it depends if you are just waiting for Cingular / T-Mobile to release them in the US ..... if you are then you'll wait a LOOOOOOOOONG time ... while if your willing to buy the device without a plan the upgraded version will be available in the next month or so ...

if you are just using the WiFi capability, well it would depend on you, but the upgrade isn't just on 3G but also the processor speed as well. Look into getting a HTC Universal if you want it for surfing the 'net through WiFi ... it has the largest screen ...

i don't really see the point of getting a Cingular 8125 / T-Mobile MDA (Vario) and not using the EDGE/3G capability and just using the WiFi component ... i would rather get the Sony VAIO UX series palm sized PC... well that's my 2 cents worth ...





Hey Rudegar,

Yup you are totally correct. The US market is quite odd when it comes to mobile devices. Actually Sidekicks are just for T-Mobile in the US while Blackberries are locked to a phone carrier which is very odd since the hardware is all the same. Essentially you can unlock all of these phones and uses on either network but a vast majority of users here do not know what is the technology behind the wireless devices.

It's a little more complex here in the US since the rest of the world basically uses GSM/GPRS/EDGE technology, here in the US, 50% of the users are using CDMA devices which is basically a standard which should've been laid to rest because you are limited to whatever devices the carrier sells or if you could find an "unlocked" CDMA phone ...

There is an aggressive marketing plan here in the US to keep the competition between GSM and CDMA at a very high level.... proof? ... well the largest CDMA based carried is Verizon and who owns Verizon? it's one of the biggest GSM carriers in the world - Vodafone ... The only way Vodafone would be able to get into the US Market was to use CDMA technology and not GSM according to the government.

[uta8111]

Just out of curiosity, why do think there will be such a long wait for Cingular/T-Mobile to release Hermes in the U.S. associated with plans?

[gehzumteufel]

Hey RJP20,

There is an aggressive marketing plan here in the US to keep the competition between GSM and CDMA at a very high level.... proof? ... well the largest CDMA based carried is Verizon and who owns Verizon? it's one of the biggest GSM carriers in the world - Vodafone ... The only way Vodafone would be able to get into the US Market was to use CDMA technology and not GSM according to the government.

not to come on strong but if you really knew where verizon came from you wouldnt be saying that. verizon is one part of the former AT&T or as it is referred to as MA BELL. if that isnt enough infrmation then i suggest google. cingular was also born out of this.

[gehzumteufel]

Hey RJP20,

There is an aggressive marketing plan here in the US to keep the competition between GSM and CDMA at a very high level.... proof? ... well the largest CDMA based carried is Verizon and who owns Verizon? it's one of the biggest GSM carriers in the world - Vodafone ... The only way Vodafone would be able to get into the US Market was to use CDMA technology and not GSM according to the government.

not to come on strong but if you really knew where verizon came from you wouldnt be saying that. verizon is one part of the former AT&T or as it is referred to as MA BELL. if that isnt enough infrmation then i suggest google. cingular was also born out of this.