The right cell phone for overlanding??

[Paul R]

I have been wondering which phone to get for a while as well. I have had a BB Pearl for a while and I am getting sick of it. It does a lot of great things, but only e-mail is superior to othre options.

I am with T-mobile for another year or so so I have been looking into their phones, and I am having a tough time deciding which phone to use. I would love to jailbreak an I-phone and run it but I am extremely worried about dropping it and breaking the screen. So I don't think that is the best option for me.

I am really looking close into the G1 Google Phone as I already use gmail and I have been pleased with most of google's products. Any one have any experience with this phone yet?

Another phone T-mobile is bringing out shortly is the Samsung Behold touch screen phone but I am worried about the durability like the i-phone.

 

[1leglance]

Well since I started this thread I guess I should reply.
I am a data, email, text nut case so understand that fact going in.
I have the Verizon Blackberry World Edition so that I can get data, email just about anywhere, unlock it and swap sim cards, tether it to my laptop for use on a bigger screen than the BB or for sights that depand something secure.
It has worked well in Europe so far, haven't tried mex yet.
I know the folks with ATT get great service in mex.

 

[H2O_Doc]

ATT will allow tethring now with the iPhone and there are applications that will allow you to access your computer desktop. With that, I decided to pick-up (or reserve until Friday) an iPhone. The last tour I led in Peru had three or four folks with iPhones that worked without problems. I'm in Peru often enough that it matters.

Maybe a thread someone could start (if there hasn't been one recently) is a discussion of Expo-relevant iphone applications?

I think I found an Expo-worthy iPhone skin:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001B8YN9E

 

[kellymoe]

I think I'm going to wait for the price to drop on the Sonim S1. On the surface it seems an ideal adventure phone.
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2009/06/sonim_technologies_land_rover_s1.html

 

[CanuckMariner/Nomad]

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but those of you who do have a cell and with whomever the provider is, how often do you travel into areas that do NOT have cell coverage or a signal to get out?

I am constantly hassled by a friend who has a cell but I do not. Mostly, do to where I go, there is generally no signal anyways, so what's the point in having it? or is it that I just go to the wrong remote areas?

 

[kellymoe]

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but those of you who do have a cell and with whomever the provider is, how often do you travel into areas that do NOT have cell coverage or a signal to get out?

I am constantly hassled by a friend who has a cell but I do not. Mostly, do to where I go, there is generally no signal anyways, so what's the point in having it? or is it that I just go to the wrong remote areas?

Many areas of the desert Southwest have pretty good coverage these days but certainly there are even more areas that do not have coverage. I just want a phone I don't have to treat like fine china and the Sonim S1 seems a pretty good call.

I have a HAM for back up but really I don't mind being completely out of touch with the outside world. I went decades without a phone or a HAM and I did just fine without either.

 

[James86004]

We originally got a cell phone because a cell phone with its free long distance was significantly cheaper than our monthly long-distance bill.

Then I found they saved me a lot of money and grief in the scenario when SWMBO sent me to the grocery store to get ingredient X. In the old days I would get to the store and find that ingredient X comes in three flavors: bumberchute, mousebreath, and sunflower. Now I had two choices. If I bought all three, I would waste money. If I guessed, I was invariably wrong (mousebreath! I never would have guessed that!) and got a lot of grief and a second trip to the store. Now I just call her up.

I do miss our old bag phone. It worked in remote parts of southern Utah just fine, but the new digital ones don't. Of course, it was also a dollar a minute to use.

 

[sprocket3]

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but those of you who do have a cell and with whomever the provider is, how often do you travel into areas that do NOT have cell coverage or a signal to get out?

I am constantly hassled by a friend who has a cell but I do not. Mostly, do to where I go, there is generally no signal anyways, so what's the point in having it? or is it that I just go to the wrong remote areas?

It's real hit and miss. I have spent a lot of time in the least populated area of the lower 48 states (around Alvord Dry Lake in SE Oregon). It has amazed me where I got cell coverage or could send a text out even when a call didn't work. It's not 100% but still worth thinking about and could save you out there.

 

[CanuckMariner/Nomad]

Many areas of the desert Southwest have pretty good coverage these days but certainly there are even more areas that do not have coverage. I just want a phone I don't have to treat like fine china and the Sonim S1 seems a pretty good call.

I have a HAM for back up but really I don't mind being completely out of touch with the outside world. I went decades without a phone or a HAM and I did just fine without either.

I have a Ham as well but the cell phone thing, I am with you, as I have done without it for so long, why start now?

It's real hit and miss. I have spent a lot of time in the least populated area of the lower 48 states (around Alvord Dry Lake in SE Oregon). It has amazed me where I got cell coverage or could send a text out even when a call didn't work. It's not 100% but still worth thinking about and could save you out there.

Ya, I get the urge now and then but hold back. When Cells first came out, I said wait 'til they come free and no one believed me as the money is not in the cell but in the contract. Soon they will be so cheap everyone will have them, funny thing though, land line phones used to come with the service rental and now we buy our own phones and the rate is still the same or higher. Cells will make these obsolete!

BTW, Mike, emailed you recently about your Douglas overland offer some time ago as I maybe in the area in late November/December 09.

 

[6Pins]

I think I'm going to wait for the price to drop on the Sonim S1. On the surface it seems an ideal adventure phone.
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2009/06/sonim_technologies_land_rover_s1.html

Anybody know what carriers here (US) are offering these phones? They are apparently available @ Best Buy or directly fron Sonim, but it doesn't say what carriers. Is it as simple as pulling the SIM card from my AT&T phone?

 

[daniel3507]

Anybody know what carriers here (US) are offering these phones? They are apparently available @ Best Buy or directly fron Sonim, but it doesn't say what carriers. Is it as simple as pulling the SIM card from my AT&T phone?

Yeah thats pretty much it. Swap in the SIM card and i think thats it. I wish it worked with sprint though.

 

[gary in ohio]

Anybody know what carriers here (US) are offering these phones? They are apparently available @ Best Buy or directly fron Sonim, but it doesn't say what carriers. Is it as simple as pulling the SIM card from my AT&T phone?

Its more than sim cards.. Within a carrier you can move sim cards (most of the time), but between carriers its not generally possible. Versizon for example doesnt have sim cards to move. There is also a radio frequency and modulation difference. A quick check shows it as a GSM 900/1800/1900mhz phone so that will limit you to AT&T,Cellular one and T-mobile. Looks like a nice phone but a bit pricey.

 

[craig333]

Hard to tell who will have better coverage in a year. Years ago I went with att because they had the best coverage in the mountains. Its not no longer true. But its hard to say who might be better in a few years. They change rapidly.

 

[kellymoe]

I ended up buying a Samsung Rugby. It's a tough as nails phone and gets great reception. The only downside is that its kinda bulky and therefor not really a pocket phone unless you want a bulge in your pants. If you are looking for a water, dust and impact resistant phone the Rugby is a good choice.

 

[uli2000]

Anybody know what carriers here (US) are offering these phones? They are apparently available @ Best Buy or directly fron Sonim, but it doesn't say what carriers. Is it as simple as pulling the SIM card from my AT&T phone?

It doesnt look like the US version is avalible yet, if ever. The Land Rover S1 can be bought from the UK. Would work ok with Tmobile, but would be spotty w/ AT&T due to the lack of the 850mhz band. The Sonim XP3 is avalible unlocked thru tiger direct and a few other places. Here's the Tiger Direct listing at amazon. A few buck cheaper at Best Buy. The XP3 would work with both Tmobile and AT&T, plus some international countries with its 850/1800/1900mhz radio. Pretty abysmal reviews for all the Sonim phones, with the exception of durability.