Pharos Traveller 137 now available, can use both AT&T and T-Mobile 3G

We're not sure what kind of wilded-out party people need a single phone that can use both AT&T and T-Mobile 3G in the States, but your dreams have finally come true: the Pharos Traveller 137 is finally available. Hope you like Windows Mobile 6.1, cause that's what you're getting for your $350 on two-year T-Mo contract or $600 unlocked. Expensive, yes, but you're basically getting every feature you can think of and Pharos says the 137 is WinMo 6.5-ready, so there's an upgrade path here -- too bad no firmware will ever make that resistive touchscreen feel good.

[Via PhoneScoop]

[NWIFSER @ Jun 4th 2009 4:08PM]

Is this dual-sim or just can do both bands, and you swap the sim?

[TheAxMan @ Jun 4th 2009 5:54PM]

It has just a single SIM card slot. (from the specs page).

So in other words, you basically get to *choose* which US GSM carrier you want to give your business to (imagine that).

Nilay needs to pause for two seconds, read the specs, and think a little before making facetious comments about stuff.

[NWIFSER @ Jun 4th 2009 10:31PM]

thanks

[shaunisadirty @ Jun 4th 2009 4:10PM]

More Windows bashing crap from Engadget. Had the iPhone been the first to use two 3G networks it would have been hearlded as a huge new feature, big update, and worth an extra little money.

[james @ Jun 4th 2009 4:28PM]

ewww wm 6.5 yuk

[reuthermonkey1 @ Jun 4th 2009 4:55PM]

You're 100% correct.

If this were the iPhone, their tune would be very different.

[greenlight @ Jun 4th 2009 4:11PM]

Do T-Mobile or AT&T have any roaming contracts on 3G? I know they have some limited roaming on GSM in markets they don't cover, but 3G?

[jay jay @ Jun 4th 2009 4:22PM]

if they did that would be great because you will be able to sign a cheap contract with tmobile and use at&t robust high speed 3g. i hope this phone can roam on both networks

[iDavey @ Jun 4th 2009 4:12PM]

Only if it had my Android...garwsh.

[ek @ Jun 4th 2009 7:15PM]

Dude... There's a WinMo phone on your avatar...

[nyuhsuk @ Jun 5th 2009 12:58PM]

And his username is a play on Apple's naming scheme...

[iDavey @ Jun 5th 2009 1:07PM]

Exactly...so what does that tell you? =]
;)

[iLoveApple @ Jun 4th 2009 4:18PM]

"too bad no firmware will ever make that resistive touchscreen feel good."

Damn right.

[va jj @ Jun 4th 2009 4:19PM]

since when does tmobile have 3g?

[jay jay @ Jun 4th 2009 4:24PM]

was that a joke?
if it wasn't they had a 3g network for a little over a year they brought a 3g spectrum that was on sale from the analog to digital switch over.

[SwineFlu @ Jun 4th 2009 4:25PM]

They have 3G in like 3 cities

[jay jay @ Jun 4th 2009 4:33PM]

at swine flu
they have 3g in like 40 cities (which is still small compare to at&t who has 3g in like 360 cities)

[va jj @ Jun 4th 2009 4:37PM]

they have 3g sprint,att,verizon here but tmobile only has edge.

[ghozt @ Jun 5th 2009 1:52AM]

Idiot, get a clue.

[Kumar @ Jun 4th 2009 4:26PM]

Awesome, a blogger so used to the messed up cell network system in the states that they don't see the value of being able to buy a phone and then choose a network, and not be forced to do it the other way around and be locked into a specific provider.

A quick browse of the linked article finds that it also has an enabled FM player and forward facing camera for conference calls, though I don't think it's supported (yet) on any US GSM network.

The last time I checked, a capacitive touch screen won't work with 6.1 or 6.5 WinMo. It is what it is, and this looks like it could be a useful phone for mobile businesses looking for an easy way to combine a navigator and communication device for it's employees.

[GeekGirl @ Jun 4th 2009 4:40PM]

Yawn...........

[Karl @ Jun 4th 2009 4:43PM]

How the f*** does a company make such a one-of-a-kind device and NOT give it a f***ing keyboard? Are they serious?

[Adam @ Jun 4th 2009 4:47PM]

It's a GPS device first, phone second. You don't need a keyboard for that.

Also, I'm 99% the article is wrong about it being compatible with both AT&T and TMO 3G. TMO 3G only. It will work on edge on both.

Lastly, this doesn't have a 3.5mm headphone jack, which always bugs me.

[Kumar @ Jun 4th 2009 5:36PM]

I gave up trying to decipher the bandwidths a long time ago...is this (below) for both? Got it from the Pharos info page.

# Unlocked 3.5G smartphone for use on any GSM network
# Tri-band AWS 1700/1900/2100 MHz, UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA: 384K/7.2M/2M bits per sec
# Quad-band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, GSM/GPRS/EDGE

[Adam @ Jun 4th 2009 5:42PM]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure just having the 1900 band is insufficient for use on the AT&T 3G network. You need both the 850 and 1900 band.

[Soccer Mom @ Jun 4th 2009 4:46PM]

"too bad no firmware will ever make that resistive touchscreen feel good."

That's the reason why I don't plan to buy another WinMo device. All the HTCs, Motos and Samsungs I've owned over the years have horrendously bad resistive screens. There is nothing in this world that will make resistive screen to act or have the same quality feel as capacitive. Perhaps, manufacturers should have realized by now that having super invention as "stylus" doesn't compensate for the bad-bad-bad look and feel of the resistive screen. I also don't mind not having Asian fonts on my phone (the major reason provided in defense of resistive screens), I am just fine using plain English...

[Hitman @ Jun 4th 2009 5:13PM]

If this comes pre-installed with SPB Mobile shell, I'm very interested in knowing how the UI on this phone performs. Because, I've had an HTC Fuze for a while now, with SPB Mobile shell, and it lags a bit sometimes...

[djmanoloco @ Jun 4th 2009 7:03PM]

@ Hitman:

I have the same set up you do bro, HTC Fuze with SPB Mobile Shell. I noticed an increase in lag when I installed Fennec. I uninstalled it but my phone still lags here and there. Also with S2u2 at times I can't answer a call and the phone freezes for a couple of seconds. It's frustrating but at least I can customize to my desire.

$600 for an unlocked cell phone is kind of steep. Here's a cheap alternative (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13480~r.34808797). This SIM card unlock attachement runs for $4.26. It works. I've tried it for HTC Fuze, Palm Centro, Samsung BlackJack, Sony Ericsson W310, and some Samsung phone that I cannot recall the model.

[digitallysick @ Jun 4th 2009 5:21PM]

As much as I hate winmo, at least the phone offers decent features and works with both 3g types

[hfm @ Jun 4th 2009 5:48PM]

So what's the issue with a phone that has support for more 3G freq? Wouldn't it be nice if all GSM phones supported all 3G frequencies?

[*brotha @ Jun 4th 2009 6:26PM]

now if this phone had a 3.5 mm headphone jack

then i would consider getting it.

[nutzareus @ Jun 4th 2009 8:26PM]

Lay off the sauce on the 3.5mm jack! GET OVER IT! Did you bitch as much when your iPhone didn't come with copy and paste? STFU!

[djmanoloco @ Jun 4th 2009 7:06PM]

My HTC Fuze came with a USB attachement that has a 2.5mm and 3.5mm jack. I'm sure this would include the same. By the way there is a radio FM Cab floating out there that you can install to your HTC Fuze to listent to local radio stations.

[Arian Kooshesh @ Jun 4th 2009 8:21PM]

hahahhahahahahahah
hahah
ah
ah
ah
ah
ah


ahhhhhh

137.com

[Ryan R @ Jun 4th 2009 8:41PM]

guys,
its meant for people who have t-mobile in the states, and actually LEAVE america from time to time and want their phone to work when they get there

the fact that att's 3g is more similar to that of other countries is coincidental

[Lancelot @ Jun 4th 2009 9:41PM]

I was really excited until I read that it has Winmo & a single sim.. I can't imagine what it would cost to have an acct. on both networks but it would be cool.. Maybe they'll do an Android model that will support both sims at once. In any case Winmo is so 19th century, & lord knows I'm so over Blue Screens Of Death..

[clayts @ Jun 4th 2009 9:36PM]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but doesnt the border of the 137 look like the rumored border of the new iPhone?

[Rupert @ Jun 4th 2009 10:17PM]

Bit OFF, but clearly this is the metal bezel which was circulating recently as the new iPhone's one......

[shaunisadirty @ Jun 4th 2009 10:14PM]

Wow, click on the Read link to go to the phone's website, watch the video, look at the spec list. This is actually quite an impressive phone. No wonder Engadget hates it so much, they're jealous the iPhone can't do all that stuff. So am I.

[Ryan Bauer @ Jul 1st 2009 1:04PM]

The phone will soon be available with the new 5G "buzzirk mobile" Plans will be unlimited use of everything for $79.95 US. That means truly unltd data, unlike other companies who have a cap. Also, unltd North American long distance for those of us with family anywhere in North America. And for those of you who have family/friends elsewhere, $89.95 gets the international plan, 40+ countries, unltd long distance.
No contracts, no credit check, not a penny of extra fees.
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