[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by sanagg1

Check Nokia X8 at following link may like it.
Yes it does have 12MP Carl Zeiss optics with autofocus.
NOKIA

X8?? Where? The link points to N8.

[ghodlur]

BHPians,

I will needed to go an project assignment to UK for upto 6 months and need an imp information from you guys. I presently own a Samsung FGH480i touch screen phone.

1) Should I go for Dual SIM phone if I need to keep my existing SIM or go & buy a plan in UK which comes with a phone?

2) Which phone would be a cost effective dual SIM phone and would it work with a UK SIM card (any service provide like Orange, T-mobile etc)

Suggestions/advice please.

[silversteed]

^^^ I would vote against a locked phone (phone given as part of a plan). Reasons?
1. Firmware updates/bug fixes for such phones are made available only ages after they're released for non-locked phones
2. You will have to pay a handsome amount to the phone company to have it unlocked, in case you wish to change the operator
3. Hassles involved in getting the phone repaired/replaced
4. Certain features would be disabled (some websites would be blocked, sometimes mailbox access can be disabled, etc) by the operator so that users will stick to them.

Europe and Asia use the same GSM frequency bands, so your Samsung would be good enough, if you are happy with using only the UK SIM.

If you are inclined to using both the SIMs, then take a look at the newly launched Nokia C1-00 (a basic phone) or Samsung B7722.

Hope this helps

[amitk26]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

BHPians,

I will needed to go an project assignment to UK for upto 6 months and need an imp information from you guys. I presently own a Samsung FGH480i touch screen phone.

1) Should I go for Dual SIM phone if I need to keep my existing SIM or go & buy a plan in UK which comes with a phone?

2) Which phone would be a cost effective dual SIM phone and would it work with a UK SIM card (any service provide like Orange, T-mobile etc)

Suggestions/advice please.

As soon as you land on Hethrow (assuming you are flying there) you can buy a Libra SIM ( Libra is a MVNO) their rates are quite cheap compared to mainstream operators as they are targeted towards people from Indian subcontinent.
After coming out of baggage claim area locate the point of sale for Hotel shuttles , This SIM is available at the same place for min 10 pounds and you can recharge subsequently.

This is based on my last year short trip to UK .

[navin]

Originally Posted by Gandhi

Why don't you consider Samsung Wave?..

My wife is not a techie. She has still to get an email address. What she loves to do is take pics of the kids (she does a lot of volunteer work in school) and she communicates via SMS and phone calls (60-70 SMS a day and lots of phone calls).

Choices:

1. N8 but no keyboard for SMS (are virtual keyboards as use friendly as tactile ones)?
   
2. iPhone4 - wow factor but has neither a keyboard nor a very good camera (especially for indoor lighting) but 3 old friends have recomnded this.
   
3. BB Torch should be good for SMS via the QWERTY keyboard and a half decent camera (maybe equal to the iPhone or most other phones).
   
4. E7 - still not available but reports say it's camera does NOT have an autofocus.
   
5. Sony Vivaz Pro - not much sold so support will be iffy and not many reports about it so it is an unknown entity.
   
6. HTC Desire Z - same as Sony Vivaz. We dont know anyone who has one.

Do the Vivaz or Desire Z have a camera much better than the BB Torch?

So...
Which is the best camera phone? N8?
Which is the best QWERTY phone? BB Torch?
Which phone combines both best?

BTW unrelated question. Why is the iPhone 4 so hot? It does not have a decnet camera, it is purely touch and hence not easy to type with, it does not do email like a BlackBerry, I am really confused about this.

Originally Posted by harishnair

They are listed in the Sony India website, so try contacting the nearest Sony showroom. BTW, X2 has the Windows Mobile OS.

No Windows Mobile! Much to diffcult to use.

Originally Posted by Spitfire

X8?? Where? The link points to N8.

I thought he meant the X6.

[s0uljah]

Guys what does the BB 9700 cost in Bangalore currently?

[Cesc]

@navin - IMO touch phones (with split screens with a full qwerty keypad while SMSing) are better than hard keys once you get used to them - which in itself should not take more than a week. I would suggest you get wifey something like a Samsung Galaxy S or N8 - both have capacitative screens and hence good touch response. N8 beats the Galaxy S in the camera dept. but the Galaxy S is otherwise better all around. The Wave is another choice but it is not available anywhere these days and also Wave's low-light pic capability is a bit weak.

[ghodlur]

[quote=silversteed;2159181Europe and Asia use the same GSM frequency bands, so your Samsung would be good enough, if you are happy with using only the UK SIM.

If you are inclined to using both the SIMs, then take a look at the newly launched Nokia C1-00 (a basic phone) or Samsung B7722.
[/quote]

Originally Posted by amitk26

As soon as you land on Hethrow (assuming you are flying there) you can buy a Libra SIM ( Libra is a MVNO) their rates are quite cheap compared to mainstream operators as they are targeted towards people from Indian subcontinent.
After coming out of baggage claim area locate the point of sale for Hotel shuttles , This SIM is available at the same place for min 10 pounds and you can recharge subsequently.

This is based on my last year short trip to UK .

Thanks Silversteed & Amit,

Thanks for the info. Will try to locate the service provider as AMit suggested. I will then be planning to use the UK SIM in my Samsung phone.

[silversteed]

@navin:
I'm yet to see a Nokia phone beat a Sony Ericsson in the Camera department. The only exceptions, IMO, are N73-ME, N82 and N95-8GB (Open to correction). So, if your wife likes taking pics, it's better to go for a SE. And ladies like the finish and looks of SE in general, compared to Nokia (My sis swears by her SE W910i despite its buggy OS).

I'd suggest the Vivaz Pro or Aino. Both are sold in very less numbers. But that doesn't mean support would be an issue. SE has been launching a myriad similar models - Vivaz, Aino, Satio, Idou, etc. The USP remain more or less the same.

The former has a touch screen plus a QWERTY keyboard and touch screen, while the latter has a touch screen that's active only for multimedia apps, and a regular alpha-numeric keypad. My colleague's Aino is really good in the camera and audio departments.

One grouse about the Vivaz pro is the SE BT headset that comes with the package. It picks up ambient noise as good as our voice, unlike a wired headset.

EDIT: The vivaz pro retails for ~20k INR

@ghodlur: Enjoy your trip

[SRK]

Answers in bold.

Originally Posted by navin

My wife is not a techie. She has still to get an email address. What she loves to do is take pics of the kids (she does a lot of volunteer work in school) and she communicates via SMS and phone calls (60-70 SMS a day and lots of phone calls).

Choices:

1. N8:
   Qwerty Keypad available only in landscape mode. You get normal phone keypad in potrait mode.
   
   But the Message system (Conversations) is good. It is more like a chat like thing.
   As the phone is touchscreen, the typing speed would be a bit slow.
   Camera is great, no doubt.
   (I use one)
   
2. iPhone4:
   Camera output is great, also its the most easy to use phone. Just click the screen to focus a particular object rest all is done by the software
   Only thing is the pics appear to be very exposed, more like as if they were post-processed.
   Also the video is shot in HD.
   Used one and I found it simple and easy to use.
   Also the touch screen is very responsive so typing would be easy.
   But heard that the phone's auto-correct system can play games and if attention is not paid on whats written, you could send some wrong messages.
   
   * Too Expensive and you won't even get a warranty.
   
   
3. BB Torch:
   Haven't used it but might get to try one soon.
   Has a physical qwerty.
   Don't know about the camera quality
   Touch screen is said to be impressive.
   
4. E7:
   Targeted at Business people has a physical qwerty.
   Most features are similar to N8.
   
   

Some more choices from my side:
Nokia C6 (5MP Camera, Physical Qwerty)
Samsung Wave (a nice phone, image quality similar to iPhone4, Bada OS)
Nokia N97 (old)


But I feel your wife would love to use the iPhone4. Easy and simple for her requirements.

Regards,
Shoeb

[harry10]

How much responsive is the touch in N8.
Is it a good buy at 24500?
do you guys recommend this phone?

[SRK]

Originally Posted by harry10

How much responsive is the touch in N8.
Is it a good buy at 24500?
do you guys recommend this phone?

Pretty responsive (not like the iPhone4 though).

By the way, why are you paying Rs. 500/- more?
The MPR has reduced to Rs.24,000/-

Also when I visited Gujarat last month I was offered one for around Rs.23,000/-may be because the VAT is 4% there.

Try some local mobile shop they tend to be cheaper than the Priority ones sometimes (but ask for a bill with VAT and warranty).

Regards,
Shoeb

[harry10]

confused between nokia n8 and galaxy S.
any suggestions?

Also what is current price of galaxy S?

[kpzen]

Originally Posted by harry10

confused between nokia n8 and galaxy S.
any suggestions?

Also what is current price of galaxy S?

May i confuse you more

HTC DESIRE

[Cesc]

Originally Posted by harry10

confused between nokia n8 and galaxy S.
any suggestions?

Also what is current price of galaxy S?

I would say pick the N8 only if photography is top of your list. N8 has an excellent camera but Galaxy S is better otherwise. I used both and found the Galaxy S has a better screen, is faster and has better touch response - at least I found the response equivalent to the iphone.

Galaxy S is a bit costlier though (23k for N8 as compared to around 26k for the Galaxy S).