Want to buy: Cingular 8100 or 8500

[moonrock]

These phones are SUPER hard to come across! Basically its the 8125 or 8525 MINUS the camera. My boyfriend is in the Navy and due to security clearances is not allowed to have a camera phone.

Does anyone have one they are looking to get rid of or any idea of somewhere that has one for sale?

I've checked ebay and craigslist and all of that, no luck. I have a friend who works for Cingular (one in store, one at corporate!) and no luck with either of them, they both just said they are "rare" and would be hard to locate.

Thanks! :)

[plasticbiker]

I take it that your looking for this in due to workplace restrictions on camera phones? If so, would i work to remove the camera all together? For the 8125 it is fairly easy, just pop the upper back cover off and the camera disconnects.

Odds are you can find a cameraless cover for the back as well from one of the parts dealers.

[moonrock]

Thanks! :D oddly enough the moment i posted this message everywhere I could think of, I found one on craigslist (in a totally diff city/state as me) that was willing to ship to me, and also one popped up on Ebay. If anyone is interested in an 8100 there is one on ebay right now ending on the 2nd LOL :)

[rpcameron]

Cingular usually only sells the 8100/8500 to businesses (as part of a B2B deal) because of the no camera restriction. I am unaware of any retail outlet that sells these versions.

[moonrock]

I actually noticed it on the "corporate' site (i logged in with my work email for a "discount") for $249 after a 2yr contract, etc. I am looking for one as an Xmas gift, so signing a contract is really not much of an option, as the person I am buying it for isn't currently on a GSM provider, he'll have to sign up on one after receiving the phone. Such a pain! I had to pick the most difficult gift ever, right??

[TauTau]

I've been looking for 8100 covers since it came out, without any luck.

[moonrock]

Just the cover or the actual phone itself? Maybe contact HTC about it? I didnt really look for covers, because I figured disassembling the phone was... a bit much. :) It sounds (from above) to be pretty easy though, now that I located an actual 8100!

[TauTau]

if you know where all the nozzles are, it's easy... In the process of finding out I of course broke one ;)
I contacted nearly every HTC agency around the world, some don't even respond, some just say they don't have the phone and so no parts. Cingular (the only ones selling the cameraless Wizard) said I should contact my provider... and so on... a real hassle.