The Audiovox SMT 5600 lives!

It was probably the first Windows Mobile-powered Smartphone to come out here in the US that got more things right than it got wrong, but has the Audiovox SMT 5600 gotten lost in the shuffle of the Cingular/AT&T Wireless merger? The smartphone has indeed disappeared from AT&T Wireless' website and is nowhere to be found on Cingular's, so we made a quick call to the new company's media relations office to get the scoop. The public relations rep we spoke to said that it is still possible to find the SMT 5600 at a few of the former AT&T Wireless stores and through their B2B channel, but that they aren't selling it online anymore. When asked if that meant the phone was basically dead (or dying), he told us that actually Cingular was testing the phone on their network and would be reintroducing it soon, but how soon, he couldn't say.

[MS Mobiles @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

From my sources I have heard that Cingular has not taken the decision yet whether it will be selling Audiovox STM5600. Are you saying that Cingular told you that they already took the decision???

[Peter Rojas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

They are testing the phone. Unless they find a serious problem with it, yes, they will start selling it.

[Eric Hill @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I bought an SMT5600 two weeks before the merger in case this happened. I'm *really* glad I did. It's nearly the perfect form factory and runs everything I've needed to do with it so far.

[Robert Scoble @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Amazon.com is still selling them too. And I LOVE my Audiovox.

Two things I'd like to see Microsoft (er, us) focus on: better Internet speeds (reading Web sites is frustratingly slow) and better camera.

[Robert Scoble @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Amazon.com is still selling them too. And I LOVE my Audiovox.

Two things I'd like to see Microsoft (er, us) focus on: better Internet speeds (reading Web sites is frustratingly slow) and better camera.

[Eric Lin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

i went to a former at&t wireless store yesterday, and there was the 5600 right on the store shelves, and for only about 200 bucks if you sign a contract. cheap, cool, and small!

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I saw it too at the local former AT&T Wireless now Cingular store. Since I'm off contract with Cingular, they offered it to me for $125, but I would have to switch to an AT&T plan. Since I have a bunch of rollover minutes I'll wait to see if it becomes available from Cingular. Right now I'm trying to decide between this phone and the Treo 650.

[Josh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

As for wishes (see #4), remember that the base OS comes from MSFT, but it undergoes a lot of customization - first by the hardware mfg. (i.e. HTC or Audiovox), then by the service provider (i.e. Cingular). So in the case of comment #4, Cingular would have to work on better network speeds, and Audiovox would have to work on a better camera. MSFT only provides the base OS. The hardware and service are up to the other companies.

[Marc Shiman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

But how do you sign a contract when AT&T won't sell you service anymore? Aren't they network locked to AT&T?

They have one at my local store too. They told me they'd only sell it to someone already on the network.

[lenn pryor @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Scoble -

The speed of internet access has nothing to do with Microsoft. It has to do with the carrier's network and until AT&T/Cingular gets on board with something more than EDGE it ain't gettin much better no matter what "we" do.

lenn

[Eric Lin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

lenn, robert. att/cingular have EDGE in most major cities, but the audiovox 5600 does not even support that, so you're still stuck with plain old gprs, which is dog slow it's true. however browsing is still slower than it needs to be. if you compare opera for Smartphone side by side with pocket IE on the same device and same network, you'll see that IE is definitely slower (nor does it do as good a job rendering sites into a single column).

as for a a bettter camera -- well, ya. not a single WinMo phone has a decent camera, not even the 1.3 mp one on the Moto units is all that impressive.

[A Clark @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

but it and unlock it here: http://simlock.c500-unlock.com/, then use it on any network you want. I got it and love it!

[Aaron @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I was able to snag one of the SMT 5600 phones from the AT&T/Cingular store at Kitsap Mall in Silverdale, WA. It's a great phone, but when I have a Cingular signal, a strange triangle-shaped icon appears in the top bar. There's no reference as to what this means in the manual, so I'm stumped. It's hard enough to find a car charger, too (charges via the Mini-USB jack) though I'm told the Motorola RAZR uses the same plug, so I have to wait for the store to get it in.

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I think the triangle represents being connected to the GPRS data network.

[Steve Fisher @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I DONT KNOW???? I GOT ONE!!!

I tried to purchase the SMT 5600 phone right after i read the news of its demise on engadget.com. I had no problem purchasing it thru ATTwirless.com.
On a billing issue call today (a week after purchase), i asked of availability of purchasing additional smt 5600's. I was told it was still available for purchase via AT&T directly.
I was pitched hard by the custermer service rep though to "migrate" to cingular service. Better quality. Faster service... blah blah blah...
BUT ...that I would need to give up my new smt 5600, for a free new cingular phone. Obviously this smt 5600 is not up to cingular "standards". I do note my other phones instantly changed messeges on my screen from AT&T to cingular the second the merger was done. On my new SMT AT&T still shows as the carrier. Is this the issue?

I can telll you first hand it is not because the phone is of a bad design factor. The smt 5600 makes a really really nice phone, MP3, full legnth movie player, exceptional voice recorder etc, with all the great downloadable software available for windows mobile.

I lived with an HP Ipaq 4100 in my hand constantly. I am really really considering leaving it at home. The speed of text input the only serious plus for the IPAQ. But the SMT makes a good try with its T9 predictive text input.

Full unlimited internet though is costly on AT&T. I was able to secure it with for $50/mo above my voice service. The other 5 and 10 meg plans are impossible to limit yourself to with so much available in your hand.

happy hunting.

[james v @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

john, the triangle means roaming. when connected to gprs, the antennae symbol changes to a G. i love this phone. signal is a little less than my old startac on verizon, but the phone more than makes up for the spotty (well, only a little spotty) signal.

-james

[JCK @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

This phone is on sale at a former AT&T now Cingular store here in Washington D.C.

[Brad @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I love this phone. I got one from AT&T Store 2 days before the merger. The phone switches to Cingular if it needs too and gets great reception. Much better then my old Nokia 6820. The Camera is way better too. All the skins you can download are awesome. The triangle means you are roaming to Cingular. This is normal on this phone.

[hawk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

sweet.

[Ken Levy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I was in a Bellevue, WA AT&T Wireless store a few days ago to see if anything was new and I saw they are still selling the Audiovox 5600 there. I don't understand these rumors about any problems. I see blogs of many people who this phone and really like it. I have used mine for about 6 weeks now including one week in Europe in various countries (for voice and data), and I'll say it is BY FAR the best cell phone I have had and I've owned about 6 cell phones in the past 3 years. I have a friend at work who just bought one upgrading from the Motorola MPx200 like I did, and he is super happy with the Audiovox 5600 also. I've never had one problem with the phone, the reception is awesome compared to other phones, and the features are great. This must be something odd going on with this unit and Cingular and I have no idea what or why. I hope it gets worked and they continue to sell them.

[MitzEclipse @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

#20 post - Ken -

How did you use this SMT5600 in Europe? I thought this only had US bands on it: 850/1900? Wrong assumption? Hopefully I'm wrong.. I'd love to use this when I travel abroad... please fill me in

I'm using it for T-Mobile and I love it!

[Fusius @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Personally, I LOVE my SMT 5600. I got it about 2 weeks before the merger went through and I have YET to have an issue with it. It was a toss up between this and the Moto MPx220 (since I also owned an MPx200) and I opted for this one when I heard of all the issues the Moto Smartphone was having. I just can't say enough about this phone. The reception is TONS better than my MPx200. Hell, I even get reception in the restroom 2 floors underground when I used to NEVER get that. And this is with my phone being on AT&T's network, but roaming on Cingulars (even though I guess i'm not technically roaming at this point of the merger). Even the simple camera they give is great....taken LOTS of pics with it and i'm not even a great photographer. If they never bring it back, that's fine by me since I already have one, but I would love to see other people experience the joys of owning one....and I can honestly say that this phone definitely raises the bar on Smartphones. It's virtually perfect and if I were to ever get another phone, it would have to top this one out which at this point is almost impossible.

[Dan Bedford @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I've been a Cingular cutomer for over a year, and I received a catalog yesterday with some information for Cingular/AT&T customers. I had a bunch of information in it including new phones coming soon. The Audiovox is coming soon along with the Sony Ericsson S710 and a few others. Also that Motorola M$ smartphone.

[Buzzcut @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

http://www.mobileplanet.com/product.asp?cat%5Fid=105&cat%5Fname=Wireless+%26+Smartphones&dept%5Fid=1046&pf%5Fid=MP950003&listing=1

[Valdina @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

[quoting MitzEclipse]: "How did you use this SMT5600 in Europe? I thought this only had US bands on it: 850/1900? Wrong assumption? Hopefully I'm wrong.."

You will be happy to know that you are wrong. ; )

According to the spec sheet that comes with the phone, it supports tri-band GSM: 850/1800/1900

[Valdina @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

The only swirl I have heard about this device are issues related to Windoze for Smartphones and it's ability to recognize memory higher than 256MB.

Has anyone here successfully upgraded their Mini SD storage on this to 512MB/1GB?

[Don Giovanni @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Quotes as of 11/24/2004
No sub AWS $320, Amazon $350
1 year AWS $290, Amazon $25 (200 mail-in)
2 year AWS $250, Amazon -$25 (250 mail-in)

Activation is about $36
Sells with $40 plan, I huess you can change to cheapest plan $30 per month.

[JC @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I have the SMT 5600 and working with 512MB miniSD.

You will be hardpressed to find the 1GB miniSD in the USA but there some companies in Korea already selling 1GB miniSD cards.

[cromag @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Get one on ebay and unlock it. I have a link on my ePionion review of the SMT5600 here.
http://www.epinions.com/content_161634946692

[keller @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Don-

If you actually try to add the SMT5600 to your cart on Amazon, they automatically add a $30 10MB (not even unlimited!) data plan, and there doesn't seem to be a way to take it off. I'm gonna go to an ATT store and ask them if I can cancel (or at least change) that data part of the plan if I buy from Amazon. I've been looking for a new phone for a while, and this seems like a winner.

[seawolf @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Amazon will ask you to select a dataplan but when they open the account, you will get NO data plan attached. Several subscribers have been reporting this on mpx200.org. So it goes both ways....You r under the impression you have a data plan only to get an eye-popping bill at the end of the month.

[keller @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

So, I went down to an old ATT Wireless store (it now has a Cingular banner outside, and is all Cingular on the inside) to ask them a few questions about the SMT 5600, and ended up walking out with a phone (the 2nd to last one in the store) and a new service plan.

Here's the story: I told them that after a $200 amazon rebate I could get the SMT 5600 with a 1-year ATT contract for $25. So, the guy at the store gave me the phone for $125, w/ a 1 year contract, 15% off the monthly service plan, free mobile-to-mobile (normally requires a 2-year contract), free first month of the data plan, and he waived the $36 activation fee. He also said that on amazon, if you order the phone and plan, and then try and change it to your existing number (which is what I was planning on doing) that amazon would take back the rebate.

The downside is that they force you to have a data plan, and since they made me get an ATT plan, data is $7.99 for 1MB, $12.99 for 4MB, $19.99 for 8MB, $29.99 for 10MB, $39.99 for 20MB, $59.99 for 40MB, $74.99 for 60MB, $99.99 for 100MB. Where's the unlimited for like $20 ro $25 like everybody else has? This phone has a great broswer, but I think just loading up the engadget page used up all my data for the month.

I must say that this phone is pretty slick. Its the same size, if not smaller, as the S/E T637 (which I was also considering), the screen is huge, and it connects and charges all through a standard mini-USB plug. However, I will need PocketMac ( http://www.pocketmac.net/products/pmphone3/pmphone3.html ) to sync it with my Mac. Also, I get better service at my house that I did with my verizon phone.

[keller @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Oh, and of course the first thing I did when I got it was listen to the latest podcast on WM10 Mobile on "speakerphone". =)

[Rob @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I went to a local AT&T store in TX today, and they had several SMT5600's stored away. I am an existing AT&T customer and she told me that she could not just sell me the phone by itself, and that I would have to get an unlimited data plan for $49.99 added on to my current voice plan. Does this sound right? I was under the impression I could just get the phone by itself and stick my SIM in, and use it just fine.

[Tom Chappell @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Everyone,
The unlimited data plan is only needed if you plan to connect your laptop to this phone for web surfing. You can get WAP browsing services or mmode unlimited for $24.99 (Possibly $29.99 sorry can't remember what I paid). MMode was from AT&T though maybe Cingular requires something different.

[filoniz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Hi! I was just wondering. I don't know about you guys(existing customer of At&t). But Cingular now offer roll over plan and cheaper data plans. I love this phone and the price they are offering now for At&t but was unable to commit myself to losing roll over plan which is a big sale point for me with cingular. When and if the phone actually made it thru for cingular will if be offer at this cheap price as with At&t?? Thanks for any comment!

[Brian Richards @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I just got one of these through Letstalk.com. After Reabtes it's like $100 (plus exoribitant taxes) and NO DATA PLAN REQUIRED. I think that wirelessfly.com is pretty close to that too.

I was worried about this GSM stuff since reception is my #1 priority for work, but wanted (needed really) to get myself down to having just ONE device in my pocket. I am happy to say that this phone gets roughly equivalent reception to my old faithful ATT TDMA phone in the San Fernando Valley areas.

[Alexa @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I love this phone too (the only thing that could be better is an Apple phone ;-) I've had it about a month and a half and it just froze on me yesterday while viewing web pages in IE. I went to the Cingular store to see what was going on and they couldn't help at all as they said they aren't selling it but they thought I could do a reboot. They said I should try a local AT&T branded store. Instead, I called ATT Wireless and they said it sounded like I needed a new phone since it wouldn't load beyond the Audiovox logo screen and that there wasn't a way to reboot. They also don't service these at all - they said these phones are all being handled by Audiovox under warranty for exchanges/returns etc. I called Audiovox this morning and talked to a great person there who said you CAN reboot (hold down softkeys under screen + power button at same time until new screen appears, release and then hit the 0 button - ignore that text if it says to hit the 8 key like mine did). It worked like a charm and most of my contacts were still there as they were on the sim card. I did lose all the IE favorites and phone settings but that's easily replaced.

[SmartPhone Man @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Greetings Everyone! I am a former AT&T employee, current Cingular employee and I just recently purchased my SMT5600. Post #35 is exactly right on the nose with the cost of the unlimited Mmode. It is $24.99 on top of any voice service you sign up for. At the store level we haven't heard any definate on if we are going to be carrying the phone through Cingular yet...we are still selling the phone attached through AT&T plans with a 2 year contract for $230. Believe it or not, this phone attracts ALOT more attention than the new MOTO RAZR phone.

[michael @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

My girlfriend knew I liked the phone, so she went to the cinulatt store in Santa Monica. When she asked if the phone was mac compatible he said " Oh yes , in fact it works better on a mac than a PC, and promptly sold her the phone for
$346.39 after taxes, but said she will get a rebate for $150
with a 2 year commitment. I called CINGULATT they didn't
know, I called Audio Vox and their 24 hour hotline op's didn't know. Thanks to the poster above for the mac link.
anyway, still not sure what to do. I know I like the phone
but not sure if its worth the wait for cingulatt to make up there mind.

[Chris Emerson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

So i am really excited to pick up one of these phones. I am an AT&T customer in the Los Angeles area. My only concern is...what if...I get the SMT5600 under an AT&T plan, as I must right now being all that is offered, and then Cingular tests the phone and they come back saying they are not going to offer the SMT 5600 under a Cingular network. What happens then? Isn't the merger to create one network...or will there always be an AT&T network and Cingular network seperate from one another? Will the phone work in places with the AT&T net. coverage, but maybe not as good where there is the Cingular net coverage? Plus...just one more question I promise...how would all this differ if they come back and say YES they WILL offer it under Cingular net.? I am just not sure how all this works so i don't know. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. thank everyone so much for their time.

[Haunry @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I bought the SMT5600 and the AT&T plan from Wirefly.com about 2 weeks back. I don't know what's going on, they said they would FedEx it overnight, and it's been over two weeks now - nobody's helping me or anything at all. When I called, they said, if you want, you can change your phone to something else, but for SMT5600, you would have to wait for our inventory replenishment to happen between Dec 13-19. Today, I'm sitting on Dec 17 and nothins happenin here. Does anyone know of any forum where I can ask Wirefly to get my phone on priority for me, and make them pay for making false comittments? I don't want to lose the phone or the plan, I don't know if anyone's offering that any more. As far as I know, I have seen these things happening only in the US. If this had been any other country, there would be some bureau or government office of consumer affairs and monopolies that would have been able to help me. And how is America then a free country, or how do companies here serve customers better? I really doubt ... I think the customers here are the most exploited, and the companies here are scott-free to run they wish to run their business - based on false promises and comittments. Can anyone help me file a complaint and get me my phone/plan asap, and at the same time, do some teaching to wirefly so that they do not keep customers like me waiting for ages?

[Toby Brosnahan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I went into a former AT&T store now Cingular, and there was the Audiovox showing it's self off. I asked many questions to the sales rep and the manger about the phone. They told me that YES Cingular is NOW supporting the phone, and they would be in stock in 1-2 weeks. He showed me the lastest deals for the phone, and rates (all with Cingular) and another Audiovox, the PPC6601 phone that is soon coming; it was in the Cingular newspaper I called several other Cingular stores that were NOT an AT&T store converted over. None of them carried ANY audiovox phone, ever. I talked with a manger and he told me to check out the phone and see who's company logo is on the start screen just to be sure. As posted above to get a good deal on the phone they wanted me to purchase a unlimted data plan which is 79.99 here in San Diego....I think they ment the Media Plus packages. Why would a have a data plan (meant for laptops) that costs twice as much on my voice plan? I am going to go this weekend check on the logo and data plan. I will let you know.

[Toby Brosnahan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I went into a former AT&T store now Cingular, and there was the Audiovox showing it's self off. I asked many questions to the sales rep and the manger about the phone. They told me that YES Cingular is NOW supporting the phone, and they would be in stock in 1-2 weeks. He showed me the lastest deals for the phone, and rates (all with Cingular) and another Audiovox, the PPC6601 phone that is soon coming; it was in the Cingular newspaper I called several other Cingular stores that were NOT an AT&T store converted over. None of them carried ANY audiovox phone, ever. I talked with a manger and he told me to check out the phone and see who's company logo is on the start screen just to be sure. As posted above to get a good deal on the phone they wanted me to purchase a unlimted data plan which is 79.99 here in San Diego....I think they ment the Media Plus packages. Why would a have a data plan (meant for laptops) that costs twice as much on my voice plan? I am going to go this weekend check on the logo and data plan. I will let you know.

[Ernie @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Great thread. I just picked up one of these on Friday 12/20 and was told it was only sold with an ATT plan but would be supported by Cingulars network. (Purchased at an old ATT store - now Cingulatt store in Seattle)

Great phone, everything works perfectly, even syncing to an Exchange 03 server via ActiveSync through the mMode network.

[Sara @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I am having the same problem Haunry is with the Wirefly people. Curses!

[Cee @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I have had a 5600 for about 6 weeks. Well I am on my 2nd as the 1st one wouldn't sync with my PC. I love it, EXCEPT I cannot get it to work with my Bluetooth UConnect in my car. Both my Sony's work fine, so know the UConnect is working OK. Anyone else used this phone with UConnect?

[Geo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I ordered my 5600 from wirefly on Dec 15th and received it on Dec 20th. Perhaps they've gotten their "replenishment"... Btw, great phone so far.

[Chris Emerson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Are you sure about Cingular supporting this phone??? I went into two different Cingular stores here in Los Angeles and both said that Cingular will not be carrying any Audiovox models in their stores for distribution on their network.

[Space Ghost @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I ordered the smt5600 from att's NBO because we have a FAN agreement with my work.

Price = 199.00 plus tax
Unlimited MMode = 24.99

get the best deals, see if your company has any discounts thru att even after the merger there are still very powerful discounts that will be honoured