End of an Era

[sbisson]

I've been an Orange subscriber for a long time now, longer than I can remember. I've been through the whole WAP boom with them, through the first smartphones, and through more devices than I can remember.

However today I called up and asked for my PAC. Orange still hasn't launched a flat-rate data service, so it's time to go somewhere else.

I've decided to move to another operator with a lower-cost data tariff, and off-the-shelf mobile email. My current thinking is to go to T-Mobile with Web'n'Walk and Flext, and probably get a Blackberry Pearl. I did rather like the one I reviewed for IT Pro. The alternative is Vodafone's similar service, and a Treo 750W.

The one big question, of course, is the cost of getting mail while I travel....

It's a pity T-Mobile have't launched the Dash over here, as that might have tipped the odds one way or another. Still, I have 30 days to decide now.

Decisions, decisions.

I'd be interested in understanding what other folk have been looking at, and what you all recommend...

Comments

[cobrabay.livejournal.com]

I've been using Flext'n'web'n'walk since just before Christmas and I'm pretty happy with it. I've been picking up the POP3 mail from my main ISP and from Gmail without any hassle. I'm not so reliant on mobile email that going for a Blackberry enabled device seemed worth it. Web browsing has been fine as long as I can get a 3G signal (which is most times), though annoyingly I couldn't get a 3G or GPRS signal worth a damn at Picocon on Saturday, so was unable to cheat at the quiz.
I have the Web'n'Walk Plus flavour which allows IM access and using the phone as a modem. The basic Web'n'Walk doesn't give these. Using the phone as a modem with my laptop gives surprisingly good performance, not Wi-Fi, but certainly usable. I'd have had to pay more if I wanted to use the Web'n'Walk for VoIP access (Web'n'Walk Max).
I've got a T-Mobile MDA Vario II (another HTC TyTn clone).