Would you get your Sprint PPC-6700 already?
By Ryan Block 
posted Sep 16th 2005 9:40AM
posted Sep 16th 2005 9:40AM
Looks like Sprint was
the first to pull the trigger on the release of one of this season's hottest new devices, the HTC Apache. According to their site, you'll be
able to pick one up on their site for a paltry sum of $480. Ok, we realize it's a bit of an investment, but you are
getting a Windows Mobile 5.0 device with EV-DO, a 1.3 megapixel camera, WiFi, Bluetooth, and, of course, that hot, hot
qwerty keyboard.
[Thanks, Zach and BlackFlux]
Looks great! :) I'm considering moving onto a PPC, but not until there is one available with both a qwerty board and a flip top.
Damnit i hate sprint, but i love this phone what to do, what to do. Think think think
Nah. QWERTY is all that it's got going for it. 1.3 Megapixel isnt sutable for such a machine, far too low.
Site sez Bluetooth 1.2. . .
Yes, QWERTY. the 1.3 mpix isn't going to do it but nobody cares since they all have 8 mpix super slim cameras anyway.
Sprint's site says its bluetooth 1.2, why does engadget say its 2.0?
I understand that the wizard has 2.0, but if sprint says it is 1.2, then...
I got a peek at one, and it is really cool... I've been a treonaut, but I might be converting. There is just so much packed inside this one little machine. WiFi + EVDO + slide out QWERTY + Windows Mobile 5= a pretty cool package.
the only thing i don't like is that it has a mini sd slot and not a regular one. Meaning I'm going to have to buy another card.
That's the Apache, not the Wizard. Same form factor, but the Apache has Intel 416 MHz CPU, while the Wizard has a TI dual core 190 Mhz blah blah blah. Oh yeah, the Wizard is GSM, the Apache is CDMA.
Hmmmm..... this just might replace my Blackberry :)
Wow, I'd thought that external aerials had gone out with the stone-age. :)
It's most likely 2.0. Not always will info on a cell carrier service site be 100% accurate.
This phone is an AudioVox, and if the past speaks for the future, then that scares the hell outta me from ever coming near this phone.
pics, more info, NOW...side by side with a Treo 650...
Hey nuber 10. No, it's not an Audiovox. It's a HTC product. Audiovox just rebranded it.
Audiovoxs handset division was purchased by UTStarcom
Problem with this is that you must deal with Sprint customer service if you get one and I hear it is absolutely the WORST out there. I guess HTC (or whoever manufactures this thing is screwed).
Please, a picture side-by-side with the Treo 650!! PLEASE!
I love the feature set but I looked at the dimensions on sprints page and yuck. The thing is basically the same size as an iPod but twice as thick 1". I can't imagine trying to stuff two iPods stacked on top of each other in my pocket. I wish they could have made this thing a little less thick I hate belt clips for my gadgets. Probably will still buy though mmmmmm EV-DO and Wi-Fi.
Vargas, just get a man bag. I git a Tumi bag and now I don't have to be jealous of all the stuff women get to carry ever again!
Its definetly not a Wizard.. To many diffrences like Process, Network, Mini-SD... I love the device.. but I hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate sprint.. and LOVE the freedom of an unlocked GSM phone.. Guess I'll just have to save the extra 2bills for the IMATE K-JAM
If it's a crappy 1.3mp camera or crappy 2.0mp camera, it just doesnt matter. HTC have yet to develop a smartphone/ppc with a decent camera. The Magician has one of the worst 1.3mp camera's I've ever seen, it was almost completely useless. We can only hope that the Wizard and this one will take normal pictures.
FYI. Is is only available currently to Business accounts. I was informed by TeleSales that it "Should" be available to Personal accounts in a week or two. Keeping my fingers crossed.
will the apache be released .. i'm still a cdma brat.
:( until they get a better minute plan for me..
Anybody know how this stacks up against the Samsung i730? I'm considering one of them...
So does this mean we would have both Wifi and Sprint Data connection as internet options?
Does anyone know if sprint locks out evdo using, say, bluetooth via laptop? I think verizon does this, if memory serves.
Check out: http://phonearena.com/htmls/Preview-of-the-HTC-Apache-or-PPC-6700-article-a_662.html
Verizon is getting this as well.
Sweet! Looks like its time to take my LG-325 back to Sprint over my reception problems complaints (It's still under warranty). I've been wanting to take it back also because it's one of the few LG-325's that you can't do DUN with via bluetooth.
Dream scenario - Sprint says, "sorry about your LG-325 problems, here's all your money back as store credit - would you like to use it towards the PPC-6700?" I say yes, pay the difference between the LG-325 and the PPC-6700, and (now that I have a new Pocket PC) then sell my HP IPAQ 4355 on ebay, and get a decent amount for it.
Then, after everything is said and done, I've turned two gadgets into one gadget, and for just a $100-$200.
I'm going to miss my HP 4355 though. :-(
Here's to hoping we can use this phone as a DUN via bluetooth - *raises glass
the i730 is much better. Sprint doesn't test their phones very long. sometimes they are pretty buggy...
i spoke to a woman in telesales today, she said that it will be available to non-business/corproate consumers on the 19th. this was after going to the nyc flatiron store where people were waiting upwards of an hour to talk to a rep/technician. while waiting to speak to someone morgan spurlock of the documentary "supersize me" came in. Hopefully he will do a docu on the horrible state that is cellular.
i730 is much better? Um... can I look into your crystal ball, too? Apparently you must have one, because the Apache has not been released and you already "know" that it sucks.
It would take a special brand of crappy for the Apache to be worse than the i730 - go check out an i730 review at www.mobileburn.com - although if anyone could come up with incredibly inept crap, it'd probably be Sprint. Even so, claiming this machine is worse than the i730 is nonsense.
#22 & #31: So either the 19th, the 23rd, or the 30th is what you guys heard for consumers; I heard October 16th. Is Sprint retarded, or can they just not get the right information to the right people?!?
Telesales told me about a month. Grrrr. GEEK ME NOW!
I HATE SPRINT...I'VE BEEN WITH THEM FOR 8 YEARS AND THEY COULD CARE LESS...ALTHOUGH, THIS PHONE IS TEMPTING. I THINK I'LL WAIT FOR THE WIZARD ON T-MOBILE. T-MOBILE SWEPT AWAY THE COMPETITION ACCORDING TO JD POWERS AND ASSOC. FINALLY, A COMPANY THAT GIVES A S**T ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. ANY T-MOBILE USERS OUT THERE FEEL DIFFERENTLY? WHEN IS THE WIZARD'S LATEST RELEASE DATE?
i think the keyboard is on crooked
The thing is basically the same size as an iPod but twice as thick 1". I can't imagine trying to stuff two iPods stacked on top of each other in my pocket. I wish they could have made this thing a little less thick I hate belt clips for my gadgets.
HAS ANYONE HEARD THE BATTERY LIFE AND THE PRICE OF UNLIMITED DATA VIA EVDO FROM SPRINT. IT IS 45$ FROM VERIZON. M DREXLER
Ordered the phone today, extended my current sprint plan got the 150 savings. Also the telephone consultant was a bit foggy on the data plan. Its either included in my minutes or an addtional $15 a month. Either way better deal than the verizon phone.
If this phone can be unlocked can you use t-mobile service??
730i vs the ppc-6700 http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000373053364/
Who is manufacturing the hand-set
If you own an I730 dont rush out to get the HTC, the sheer looks of the HTC alone are reason enough to keep the i730 which is a much sleeker unit with a more phone like appearance and better construction (the HTC's keyboard is more rigid and does not have the nice "spring" action of the i730. That said, I will probably be returning my 730 in order to get the HTC because I would have had to pay Sprint a 150.00 termination fee in order to continue with my I730 on Verizon.
The HTC looks like a good unit, and the camera is a useful feature for those "just-in-time" shots when you simply dont have another camera handy. Whether it is a substantial improvement over the 730 remains to be seen.
Does anyone know when this could be coming out on Verizon?
Yeah, any news on a Verizon release for the 6700? I e-mailed customer support, and even though I didn't expect a straight answer, this is what I got:
"Thank you for contacting our Verizon Wireless website. We are eager to assist you with information regarding Windows Mobile 5.0 availability.
We appreciate your interest in the latest technology in wireless data service. Verizon Wireless is constantly improving the services and features that we offer to our customers for their communication needs. Currently, we are unable to provide information regarding if/when Windows Mobile 5.0 will be made available, as this may raise expectations that may not be met.
If you have further questions or concerns, please write to us again through www.VerizonWireless.com. We appreciate your business and thank you for choosing Verizon Wireless."
Yeah, any news on a Verizon release for the 6700? I e-mailed customer support, and even though I didn't expect a straight answer, this is what I got:
"Thank you for contacting our Verizon Wireless website. We are eager to assist you with information regarding Windows Mobile 5.0 availability.
We appreciate your interest in the latest technology in wireless data service. Verizon Wireless is constantly improving the services and features that we offer to our customers for their communication needs. Currently, we are unable to provide information regarding if/when Windows Mobile 5.0 will be made available, as this may raise expectations that may not be met.
If you have further questions or concerns, please write to us again through www.VerizonWireless.com. We appreciate your business and thank you for choosing Verizon Wireless."
I cannot find this on the sprintpcs site. All I see for PDAs are the Treo 650 & Samsung i600. Can someone post the URL?
Ok, I searched for it on Google and found:
http://www.sprint.com/business/products/phones/ppc6700_allPcsPhones.jsp
* Available Starting 9/19/05
I sent them an email...
I tried to order this phone online and it was a DISASTER. Sprint's customer service is HORRENDOUS. They lost my first order (found this out when I called to check on why it hadn't come in yet); I re-ordered it and was told I had to pay almost $200 more than my first price. I was so mad after waiting 40 minutes I said forget it. What a nightmare.
I will say this:
I have the PPC-6601, and today recieved 7 of these PPC-6700's to deploy in our office. Side by side, the screen is far too small for me, though the OS was given a much needed overhaul.
THe real issue though was the fact that on my 6601, I had solid 100% signal, and on all of the 6700's their signal was much lower. I will have to see what the people I gave these to have to say about it. I still have mine new in the box waiting to hear how they work coverage wise before I replace mine.
The USB port is a welcomed addition, as is the finally functional keypad. I never use the 6601 kp, and think I would actually use this one from time to time, especially when writing emails.
As said, the screen size, lack of vga, and signal strength are cons.
Pros include EVDO and the new keypad.
Also:
Big PRO: Wifi works like a charm. When in a wifi area, it does not dial sprint internet offerings, and is rather fast. PCAnywhere and Remote Desktop connections work well over wifi and evdo. The new app to control wireless connections like wifi, bluetooth, and phone is great, and all inclusive. Only worry is battery life while on wifi.