[mythtv-users] OT: OpenMoko

[Ivan Kowalenko]

On Sep 12, 2007, at 14.33, joe.white at wachovia.com wrote:

> mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org wrote on 09/12/2007 02:14:09 PM:
>
> > I've seen some articles on the OpenMoko and done some reading on  
> the web
> > site. One thing I haven't seen that one of you might know the  
> answer to.
> > The site says ATT/Cingular is a supported carrier. Once the OpenMoko
> > becomes more usable (developers do their thing, etc), how would one
> > convert to it? I have a Cingular 8525 right now that has a SIM card.
> > Would that SIM card simply be able to be installed in the  
> OpenMoko or
> > does something else have to happen to switch phones?

The GSM standard was basically built so all you have to do is move  
the SIM card from one phone to another. American GSM cell providers  
(AT&T and T-Mobile) lock their phones so you can't use them with  
anyone else's SIM cards. They will, in some situations provide you an  
unlock code, but that's not what we're talking about.

The Neo1973 is an unlocked phone, so all you have to do is put your  
SIM card in there and have at it! However, if you want to use data  
services, you need to configure them on your phone. AT&T will NOT  
provide support for phones they don't sell to you, but you can  
extrapolate all of the information you'll need from their Knowledge  
Base.

[snip]

> > I'll be watching the OpenMoko project. I'm not a huge developer,  
> but I
> > love open source and the freedoms that it can provide.

Me too, but I'm waiting until the "consumer" version is available,  
since that version will include WiFi.

> I talked to an AT&T rep the other week about switching to an  
> externally purchased phone, and what-all it would entail on my part  
> and on theirs.  The rep indicated that all I would need to do is to  
> remove the sim card from Phone A and place it into Phone B and then  
> call them and provide the IMEI for Phone B and (voila!)  all would  
> be well.

That AT&T Rep is a lying bastard. I'm sorry, but he's wrong. Not to  
say he's a bad person, but his script is completely wrong. All you  
have to do is move the SIM card from one phone to another, and you  
can make calls as well as send and receive text messages.

All will NOT be well if you want to use other data services (MMS and  
Internet/WAP access). AT&T will NOT help you configure those. Even if  
you have a Windows Mobile phone, running the same WinMo version as  
one of their devices, they will do NOTHING to help you configure it.  
Fortunately, they DO provide steps on how to configure all their  
WinMo phones in their Knowledge Base, and anyone bright enough to use  
an OpenMoko surely can extrapolate the information out of that  
information.

You DON'T have to give them your IMEI. That is a completely  
unnecessary step, and it's just them trying to assert their control  
over you in any way possible.

> He also said that they would have to change the price structure if  
> I purchased a PDA phones which he defined as a phone with a  
> keyboard, which sounded a bit arbitrary.  My Nokia N75 can do most  
> of the same things keyboarded phones with an OS can do.

As long as we're off-topic, I'm going to do my little rant on this.  
AT&T is the ONLY company to make a distinction between a  
"smartphone" (the only device that qualifies is the HTC StrTrk, AKA:  
Cingular 3125) and "PDAs." Funny thing is that the StrTrk runs the  
EXACT SAME OS and mostly the same hardware as the Blackjack, yet they  
qualify the Blackjack as a PDA, and charge people more for unlimited  
data, WITHOUT text messaging. At least they're not like Sprint, and  
jacking up the SMS rate to 20¢.

> Also in the past, when I have switched phones, I have never  
> provided the IMEI.  But then I have never purchased a phone out of  
> plan before, either.

In reality, you never have to provide your IMEI. There are only a few  
purposes to this. One is to see what phone you bought. If I got an  
HTC Touch, and went to AT&T, and said that I got a 3125, gave them  
the Touch's IMEI, they can tell what phone I bought. They can also  
see which tower your phone is on, but I'm not too scared about that.  
The only advantage YOU get out of this, is if your phone is stolen,  
they can blacklist your IMEI... if you live in Europe. American  
providers do NOT blacklist IMEIs, which I think is kind of stupid.  
But oh well.