Looking for an affordable, powerful and feature-packed phone that will increase your productivity? The Cingular 2125 is absolutely the best wireless phone for the job. When it was introduced last year, it was touted as the first Smartphone in the US to feature the MS Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system. For those of us that 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 company and the other to the client. Because my cell phones are virtual life-lines during a deployment, it is imperative that I keep up to date with the available technology. Thinking it was time for a change, I recently purchased the new Samsung Blackjack PDA. After a week of frustration and remorse, I could not wait to return to the familiarity of my 2125!
Favorite Features
Jam-packed with accessories, this little jewel is a slim, stylish all inclusive package. Stand-out features include the eye-catching 2.2″ QVGA High Resolution Color Screen, excellent reception (even inside buildings) and the multiple Bluetooth, Infrared and USB connectivity. One of my favorite features is the ability to sync my calendar events with my computer and then have the phone alert me of the appointment. This keeps me on time and on top of my busy schedule.
The (ring) Auto Mode feature has saved me from embarrassing distractions on numerous occasions. Once you have synced your calendar schedule into the phone, it will automatically turn off the ringer and turn on the vibrate mode when you go into a scheduled meeting. AND… the little wonder will automatically change itself back to ring mode when your meeting is over!
A CD comes with the phone and contains MS Outlook and ClearVue software so that you can install a series of views for MS Office and Adobe Acrobat documents. You can, also, Drag and Drop between folders and the data, photo and MP3 transfer is lightening fast. If you have Windows Media Center on your computer, you can sync streaming video and television movies to the device. The In-flight mode turns off the ringer and you can use the stereo headphones (included) to turn the device into a music/video player during in-flight travel. Supporting a Mini SD card slot, you can pick up a card starting at $20. The voice quality is great and you will love the convenience of the Speakerphone, hands-free dialing and the time-saver voice recorder.
Other Features
I don’t miss my Blackjack’s QUERTY keyboard but the 2125’s joystick navigation button took a few days to adjust back to. As for the new, faster Edge Network, it is a much welcomed upgrade from the standard GPRS I have used on other phones. For email and game enthusiasts, you can connect to a POP or Exchange server for access to the Internet/mail and the phone accepts tons of Pocket PC applications, MP3’s and games. If you need mobility, the 2125 becomes a wireless modem with a choice of Bluetooth, Infrared or USB tethered access. The battery life is decent if you don’t constantly use the back lit display and the camera/camcorder are user-friendly and easy to access.
Three Ways to Save Big
Want those big bucks you save on the initial purchase to carry over to your monthly bill? Listen up! It’s simple to make your savings three-fold.
1. The SmartPhone plans for unlimited data usage are $19.99 a month. (The PDA plans start at $49.99 a month!)
2. Cingular is the only US wireless carrier to offer the Rollover Minutes Plan, which allows you to retain your unused monthly minutes for up to a year.
3. Amazon.com has a fantastic on-line offer 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 FREE SHIPPING and you have a truly phenomenal bargain.
My money’s on the Cingular 2125. It may not be the newest kid on the block…but it is the accessory-loaded work-horse this road-warrior can depend on!
