Can you help me......

[hennessy1]

I have verizon wireless for a carrier and I'm looking into getting a smartphone. I don't want a blackberry because of the extra $30 charge on my bill each month so that narrows it down to palm and windows mobile. I went to the store yesterday and I like the full layout keyboards better then the tiny keys for the palms and like the blackberrys because I have big fingers. The two I saw that I liked were the Samsung SCH-i760 and the Verizon Wireless XV6800. So I was wondering if you guys can give me your input a little on these as I am new to the smartphone circle. I heard good and bad things about WM6 so I am unclear on that. If you guys can persuade me to go another way thats ok I am not attached to any specific phone for now. But between the two phones I listed here what exactly would one give me that the other can not? I also like the wifi feature of those phones I believe they both have. Thank you for your input.

 

[pm]

First, the whole WM6 thing is a matter of preference. Some people that I know like the fact that it's familiar to them and feels like Windows. Some others hate it because they feel the interface is cumbersomeand like other interfaces. It's a preference thing as to what you will like. If you mess with a WM6 phone in the store and you like it, then I wouldn't listen to what other people say.

I don't know much about either phone, but their stats are very similar:
XV6800: http://www.verizonwireless.com...l&selectedPhoneId=3411
i760: http://www.verizonwireless.com...l&selectedPhoneId=3364

I didn't see any major feature that one had that the other didn't. The XV has better battery life, the i760 is lighter and has a numeric pad on the front - which some people like for dialing without looking at the screen.

I can't make any recommendations because I've never even seen the phones, but I didn't see any glaring features that were missing on either one. A quick glance at Google seems to show that the XV6800 has better reviews than the i760.

 

[theblackbox]

i have an i760 and love it. it's a nice mix of touch screen and keypad. after the samsung wm 6.1 update the phone is much better, and more capable. the only gripe i have is battery life. it comes with an extended battery but i haven't used it yet.

 

[hennessy1]

Blackbox the XV6800 uses the same os but the update was only available to the samsung. Does the samsung just use windows update to receive it or is it different. I have a samsung now and I like the features of it alot. One other thing the sales rep at the store I went to said that they charge $20 for activating the phone(transfering the esn) Now what I don't get about that is when I have an issue with my current phone and they transfer it from one to the other Iam not charged so what exactly about transfering it to another model make it $20 more expensive. Also thank you pm and blackbox for your help.

 

[bruceb]

You do not need to have the VZ sales rep transfer the ESN .. You can activate your new phone at Verizon Wireless web site.
Link here explains how to do it:

http://www.verizonwireless.com...new/activatesplash.jsp

You will need this information to do it:

You've recently upgraded to a new phone and wish to start using with your existing mobile number.
Here's what you'll need:

* Your mobile number
* Billing Zip Code
* Customer receipt, which contains Order Number and Location Code
* Last 4 digits of account holder?s social security number

 

[hennessy1]

See now if I was'nt on a budget I'd feel better giving you the $20 then verizon. Thank you.
Could it be done with a ebay purchased phone as well?

 

[bruceb]

The only thing you need to be sure of is that the phone from Ebay is deactivated from it's old account. And also that it was not a stolen phone. If it was, then the ESN will be Blacklisted and you can't activate it. A simple phone call to Verizon Wireless can check to see if the ESN is clear to use.

 

[hennessy1]

So I take it when they say no we wont provide the esn before buying is a clear indication to avoid that seller.

 

[MadAmos]

Run away!.... run away!

 

[Funyuns101]

eBay phones w/clear ESN's work just fine. I'm actually trying to sell my older Samsung i730 (predecessor of the i760). They are very nice phones, albeit a bit fat & heavy.
I'd imagine that the seller should be able to give you the ESN, but you should, of course, not buy from people with poor feedback.

 

[theblackbox]

Originally posted by: hennessy1
Blackbox the XV6800 uses the same os but the update was only available to the samsung. Does the samsung just use windows update to receive it or is it different. I have a samsung now and I like the features of it alot. One other thing the sales rep at the store I went to said that they charge $20 for activating the phone(transfering the esn) Now what I don't get about that is when I have an issue with my current phone and they transfer it from one to the other Iam not charged so what exactly about transfering it to another model make it $20 more expensive. Also thank you pm and blackbox for your help.

the update was available through samsung, and verizon branded. the update had the 6.1 update and the radio update as well.

i know you sent a pm asking what i didn't like, the only thing i really don't care for is the battery life. i have been very happy with the phone otherwise.

 

[hennessy1]

Did the samsung come with the extended battery? I tried to pry some of this information out of the rep but all he did was read me the card above the phone which to me isnt very good customer service by admitting to them you have no idea what your talking about and rather read from a card which the customer can do as well. I was also wondering which software would be available since I currently use the vz navigator. But these smartphones don't use that.

 

[Funyuns101]

Originally posted by: hennessy1
Did the samsung come with the extended battery? I tried to pry some of this information out of the rep but all he did was read me the card above the phone which to me isnt very good customer service by admitting to them you have no idea what your talking about and rather read from a card which the customer can do as well. I was also wondering which software would be available since I currently use the vz navigator. But these smartphones don't use that.

the i730 did...
and from VZW's site, the i760 comes with:
# Standard Battery (1040 mAh)
# Extended Battery
# USB Data Cable
# Travel Charger
etc etc

you could use google maps which works well for me

 

[hennessy1]

Well I purchased the xv6800 and I like it. I was wondering though if anyone knew or knows when the update they said is suppose to happen happen? I like the fact I don't need to buy ringtones anymore as I can use my full songs as them now. Also does verizon tell you there is an update or is it an over the air update like some phones do? I was wondering also if anyone has the insurance on their phone I didn't get it at the time of purchase but I am still considering it.

 

[hennessy1]

anyone have anything?

 

[theblackbox]

Originally posted by: hennessy1
anyone have anything?

i do tec insurance. i went through three Q's last year when i was on the AT and spent 7 months in my tent. they didn't hassle me about replacing them at all.
the i760 upgrade was on the samsung site. check pdaphone.com to see if they have any info for you.

I still love my i760