Are you looking for an affordable, powerful and feature-packed phone that will increase your productivity? The Cingular 2125 is an absolutely great wireless phone. When it was introduced last year, it was the first Smartphone released in the US to run on the MS Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system. For those of us who make a living on the road, this Quad Band international roaming “Candy-Bar- style phone was a god send. As a disaster inspector I usually carry two cell phones, one dedicated to my team and one to the client. Because cell phones are virtual lifelines in deployment, it is necessary for me to keep up to date with available technology. Thinking that it is time for a change, recently the new Samsung I bought a Blackjack PDA.
Fine Features
Jam-packed with accessories, this gem is a slim, all-in-one package including a brush. Stand-out features include an eye-catching 2.2″ QVGA High Resolution Color Screen, excellent reception (even inside buildings) and multiple Bluetooth, infrared and USB connectivity. One of my favorite features is the ability to sync my calendar of events with my computer. This keeps me on time and on top of my business schedule.
The (ring) Auto Mode feature has saved me from getting distracted on numerous occasions. When you sync your calendar card to your phone, it will automatically turn off your finger and turn it into scrolling mode when you enter a scheduled meeting. AND… little surprise it will automatically switch to ring mode when your meeting is complete!
A CD comes with the phone and contains MS Outlook and ClearVue software so you can install a series of views for MS Office and Acrobat documents. You can also Drag and Drop between folders and notes, photo and MP3 transfer is fast and light. If you have Windows Media Center on your computer, you can sync streaming video and television movies to your device. The mode on the fly is deflected on the finger and you can use the stereo-headphones (included) as a device in a music / video player a player on a flight during a trip. Supporting a mini SD card slot, the card starts at $20. The voice quality is great and I love the convenience of the speakerphone, hands free dialing and voice memos are a time saver.
Other notes
I don’t miss my Blackjack QUERTY keyboard but the 2125 navigation button took a few days to settle. As for the new, faster Edge Network, it’s a very welcome upgrade from the standard GPRS I’ve had on other phones. For email and game enthusiasts, you can connect to a POP or Exchange server for Internet/mail and phone access to tons of Pocket PC applications, MP3s and games. If you need mobility, the 2125 wireless modem comes with a choice of Bluetooth, infrared or USB tethered access. Battery life is decent if you don’t use the display cases on the back constantly and the camera/camcorder is friendly and easy to access.
Three Ways to Save Big
Do you want those big bucks you saved on the initial purchase to transfer to your monthly bill? Up! It’s simple to triple your savings.
1. SmartPhone plans for unlimited data use are $19.99 a month. (PDA plans start at $49.99 per month!)
2. Cingular is the only US wireless carrier to offer a Rollover Minutes plan, which allows you to keep unused monthly minutes for up to a year.
3. Amazon.com has fantastic online offers right now. With a 2 year new service plan, (and Cingular/Amazon Rebates,) you can get the phone for FREE! That’s a whopping savings of $399.99 off the original debut price. Throw in the BIG BIG and you have a truly phenomenal deal.
My money’s on the belt 2125. It may not be the latest kid on the block…but the accessory loaded work horse this road warrior can hang on to!
