Orange E650

Mr Honey's Day Out

I just got an Orange E650 that surfs and e-mails using built-in wi-fi, has all the Microsoft Office and Windows Media stuff and even doubles as a modem but otherwise looks and acts like a mobile phone. It's a bit fiddly but it is still [i]excellent[/i]. Like, someone was e-mailing me a bunch of artwork to proof and I was able to download the attachments in hi-res and send back my comments, on my phone. The best thing is it was free, it felt like time for an upgrade so I called Orange. If you have an Orange phone contract I highly recommend it, if only for the pleasure of setting everything up and knowing you own this kind of thing.

Forum

You — Thu, 17 May 2007 - 01:54

I am procrastinating over my upgrade with o2 atm.

Only trouble with orange is that it does not have good reception in my house.

Not really a problem though as I rarely use my phone to talk to people.

Do orange have any good data plans? I was considering T-mobile with there web&walk plans with unlimited usage for £7.50 plus plan price...

I may wait for a month or so to see if any other decent phones are launched. SE p1, Iphone and Samsung F700 are all on the radar. Feel like having a gadget again. A large screen would be nice.

Mr Honey's Day Out — Thu, 17 May 2007 - 02:04

I think Orange has good plans but haven't checked out the competition for ages. I pay about £30 per month for a very inclusive deal and I sometimes exceed that by a fiver or something. On a very heavy month or if I go abroad my bills aren't good, but I have learned to switch packages just before a trip and I can't remember the bills ever being this low - time was my monthly bills frequently exceeded a hundred. I don't really use GPRS because of the cost and the stop-start reception so this Wi-Fi thing is huge for me. A while ago I invested in some Netgear wall-plugs, one of which attaches to the router and runs Wi-Fi through the electric lines to any other power-socket, turning the building into a hotspot. I recommend that as well. 😃

You — Thu, 17 May 2007 - 02:07

I'm slightly paranoid about things like that!

prefer good ole wires.

Only wireless things I have are my mobile, a bluetooth dongle on the PC, and an infra red remote!

oh and the doorbell as I could not be bothered to replace the wiring...

Mr Honey's Day Out — Thu, 17 May 2007 - 02:12

I have always been like that, like I took to e-mail very slowly and tend to avoid microwave ovens (- recently I've been using it for melting cheese in a bagel but I insist on not buying anything microwaved in a restaurant or bakery). Now I am resigned to the signals all around us. I'm not gonna try that insulating wall-paint. In fact I'm enjoying my hotspot.

You — Thu, 17 May 2007 - 02:20

I find microwaved food can taste different, especially if it was originally frozen...

I have this paranoia but I also have a don't care attitude to everything.

What it normally means is I will not trust something but still use it without any worry.

PS wrapping your house in tin foil may actually AMPLIFY any waves broadcast... so beware! :twisted:

(It could act as a dish instead of a barrier... vibrating to send the signals further...)

Mr Honey's Day Out — Thu, 17 May 2007 - 02:49

[list][quote="[url=http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070516/wi_fi_alliance.html?.v=4]AP[/url]"][b]Next Gen of Wi-Fi Is Planned for Summer[/b]

SEATTLE (AP) -- The next generation of wireless Internet products certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance is expected to hit shelves this summer, even though a final standard for the technology isn't due for another year, the industry group says.

The Wi-Fi Alliance was announcing Wednesday that it will begin certifying wireless routers, networking cards, microchips and other so-called "Draft N" products in June. The products, which take their name from the upcoming 802.11n technical standard, are expected to reach retail stores shortly thereafter.

Wi-Fi comes in several flavors -- "b," "a," "g," and soon "n" -- referring to the subsection of the technical guidelines issued by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a technical professional organization.

The "n" version is expected to be about five times faster than the widely used "g" variety, though in practice, speeds rarely reach what's listed on the box. Draft N products are said to offer better reach through walls and into dead spots and will use multiple radios to send and receive data, making them better at handling big video files.

Gear rated to handle n-level wireless already is being sold. But the Wi-Fi Alliance said certified Draft N items from different vendors are guaranteed to work together and to work with older certified Wi-Fi products.

Karen Hanley, senior director of marketing for the Austin, Texas-based industry group, said the wireless industry shipped 200 million Wi-Fi products last year worldwide. Over the next few years, the category will expand from mostly laptops and access points to Wi-Fi enabled cell phones, televisions and video games.

Hanley said the final 802.11n standard isn't expected until 2009.[/quote][/list:u]

And with a lick of special paint I wouldn't even need a microwave.

MuslimSisLilSis — Thu, 17 May 2007 - 20:41

me and my sister are planning to upgrade and get web n talk

does T mobile do it?

and whats the connection speed like?

she's currently on 900min anytime/anynetwork on 17.50 (after cashback)

im on 500min for about £10

can u get web and talk on these priceplans?

Mr Honey's Day Out — Thu, 17 May 2007 - 23:35

It's an HTC Vox smartphone. T-Mobile don't do it, I looked it up. They do have some cool phones like the SDA which is sleeker but doesn't have a slide-out qwerty keyboard, and the Dash, which does. You can also get an MDA Vario or from June a T-Mobile Wing (HTC Atlas) - qwerty and touchscreen with similar features including Sat Nav. (The Wing is slightly better than what I have so if it's free and you can wait, I recommend it.) I don't know if these are free. You can go 3G rather than wi-fi but I think the costs are higher. I'm no expert. [url=http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/eshop/personal/phones/upgrade-paymonthly.do]C… here[/url] for what's available.

MuslimSister — Fri, 18 May 2007 - 22:35

Web n Talk on T-mobile isnt exactly cheap is it.

They're asking for £32.50 for 30min of unlimited web access. Thats like a pound a minute!

You — Fri, 18 May 2007 - 23:24

that is probably 30 mins talk time AND unlimited web access.

The web bit is £7.50 for unlimited usage, plus the normal plan.

so, that one would be a £25 plan plus the web (on the phone - it costs more for a data plan whichwill include ie a laptop.)

Not the most cost effective unless you use the web ALOT. On your phone.

MuslimBro — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 - 01:39

This may seem really simple but I just wanted confirmation,

do you keep the phone after your contract ends?

coz I've seen some amazing offers which seem too good to be true.

You — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 - 01:41

You keep it. It is yours.

Unless you terminate early, where you breached your contract, it is probably possible for the network to ask you to return it under breach of contract.

MuslimBro — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 - 01:47

That's good.

coz I'm thinking about getting the Nokia N95 on contract plus I get a free gift 😃

The iPhone looks really good but it comes at a price, you still thinking about getting it?

You — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 - 01:53

Wait and see.

I may wait for the SE W960 which will be arriving in Q4 (October-december time).

Sirus — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 - 02:04

when are the iphones out? And what networks will they be on?

Im currently on o2 - 400 anytym mins and 1000 texts for 20 quid

i have a t-mob contract as well, that i dont need anymore now that my o2 one has got better.....25 quid for the Flext30 price plan, but i have the web n walk - 7 quid only........but its probably the only reason i still have the tmobile contract, the MDA compact 3 is good for surfing the net and MSN/Hotmail on the go

Honeyman, the E650 is basically orange's version of the Vario ryt?

You — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 - 02:12

iPhone is out today in America.

No idea when in Europe. Announcement will be made on Monday.

It will be available on Vdaphone, T-mobile or through CarphoneWarehouse.

Mr Honey's Day Out — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 - 23:30

[quote="Sirus"]the E650 is basically orange's version of the Vario ryt?[/quote]

Both are made by HTC. If you want to compare, the Orange E650 is the HTC Vox smartphone and the slightly older and heavier Vario is the HTC Wizard, or the HTC Hermes (Vario II), which strictly speaking might be classed as pocket PC phones and have no numbers on the front but a larger display. In terms of capabilities they are similar and have Wi-Fi and that sliding keyboard although I think the Vox runs on a more recent version of Windows Mobile.