Cingular Treo 650 review roundup

No doubt we'll be adding to this list over the coming weeks, but here's a roundup of the first few reviews of the new Cingular version of the Treo 650 that we've been able to find. If you see any more, let us know.

Read - MSNBC
Read - PC Magazine
Read - MobileTechReview
Read - G4TechTV
Read - CNET
Read - SPUG (technically a review of the unlocked GSM version)

[nial @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Looks like Cingular is actually selling it for real now. Only problem is the data plans. It has the exact same checkout as for the Treo 600, which leads me to believe that there will unfortunately be no good deal for EDGE data. I was hoping they would come out with something that could actually compete with Sprint in terms of speed and price, but I guess that we'll have to wait longer.

[Aaron @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I have no plans to leave t-mobile right now, evgen though cingular's edge stuff tempted me. At the prices they're charging though, it's not even a possibility.

$20/month is the highest for data you should need to pay. I remember when Sprint used to charge $10!

I'd like the sprint $15 price, but I'm not leaving GSM. PErhaps in 2008 when t-mobile wakes up and adds EDGE, I'll be happy.

[nial @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

OK, I lied. I called Cingular, and it looks like if you get any voice plan you can add unlimited EDGE and a shitload of SMS/MMS for $20/month. There is also a lousy plan for less. This is at least for the Treo 650. Now it's time to evaluate if I should send back the brand new Treo 650 from Sprint and get one from Cingular instead. Does anyone know if the speed difference is worth an extra $10 a month for me?

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Nial - Cingular told you this? I called the sales line, and they knew nothing about it, except that "something" was happening "tomorrow," and they directed me to the customer service line. After spending quite a while on hold with customer service, I was told that the best they had was a PDA plan for $29/month for 5 MB of data...
I wonder if they'll have a Treo-related special tomorrow, since that was originally the official launch date.

[Bill Williams @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

As a frequent traveling road warrior who lives on airplanes, in taxicabs and hotels, insurance is important to me. When I inquired at my local Cingular store about insurance for a Treo 650, they gave me an emphatic "Not available." I was ready to buy one on the spot but that turned me off completely. I'll have to ponder this for a while... anyone know of an insurance plan that's availalbe for gadgets like this?

[Ethan Becker @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Hi Everyone.
I also travel world wide often. I'm writing this post from my treo. once used to the keyboard, it is very cool. My new monthly bill will be about 150.00 the special media data package is 49 for inlimited. I rally like this unit. however, I just learned that I can not use the phone as a bluetooth modem with my powerbook. there is a good chance I may send this back unless I can find a hack. from what I can tell cingular disabled the feature. totaly lame... best regards, ethan

[Andrew Broughton @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Re: insurance. I'm not boasting when I say that I've had three Treo 600's. I broke the LCD screen on the first one, then had one die on me. That was replaced by palm One with a third 600 whose screen I just broke, too (don't ask). I now need a new phone, covet a 650, but don't want to break that one. Someone told me yesterday that if you pay with VISA you have 12 months insurance. Anyone know about this?

[Adriaan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I just moved from T-Mobile to Cingular to get the Treo 650. I used to have the HP Smartphone with MS software. It was the worst 12 months of my life!!! (not even, think it has only been 9 months). The Treo 650 is the best mailphone device available. The Cingular version fixed all the toothing problems the Sprint version had. Unlimited data from Cingular for $24.99 per month. Get this phone right now!!

[Bruce Wagner @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

What exactly were the "toothing problems" you referred to?

Problems with toothing working...? Or NOT working...?

[Bob Burns @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I am not as happy as I thought I would be with this phone based on other reviews. The internet access (from cingular) is slow and expensive with quirky Blazer software. The software will not connect to email accounts (hotmail or outlook). As a phone, it is a brick compared to all the smaller light-weight phones available. Cingular coverage is not as good as other providers - esp inside of buildings. Other phones (eg Sprint) are often able to connect in places where I cannot get but a single bar.

[RJC @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Has any one heard of Mobileprotex https://www.mobileprotex.com. They have a few PDA and smart phone insurance policies and seem to cover the TREO phones. Not sure if this is a scam or the real thing. Please respond to this site and CC my email address [e-mail] thanks.