After bouncing around between a number of different cell phones (and cell phone companies), looking for that elusive “perfect phone/pda/awesome device”, I’ve finally figured out what it is that I actually want in my “always with me” device.
It’s not an Android phone. It’s not an iPhone. Nor is it a Palm Pre, a Blackberry, a Sidekick or a Windows Mobile phone.
In fact, it’s not a phone at all.
Here’s what I want (and how I’m planning to achieve it) :
Goal: I don’t want to be bugged by phone calls. But I still want to be able to make (and receive) them when I want to. I’d also like to have this be super cheap if possible.
Solution: Skype
Rates are cheap, flexibility is high. In the US you can get a phone number and a subscription (that includes unlimited calls to any US number) for a little over $100. Per year. No limits on calls or calling time.
By comparison: The cheapest plan AT&T offers (in my area) is $40 per month. $480 per year. And that’s limited to 450 minutes. $380 dollars saved per year? That’s a brand new netbook or game console thank you very much.
Plus with Skype the calls can be made from any computer or device with skype support. Kinda rad.
Goal: Voice mail transcripts.
Solution: Google Voice
Google Voice is free. You get a number. People call that number. Google then forwards the call to any other number you like (if you have one). If you don’t answer that number? Google Voice takes a voice mail.
And then auto-transcribes it for you so you can quickly read your voice mails and find the important ones. Super handy. In a big meeting and get a voice mail? No problem! Just glance down at your device and you know if the call was important or not!
Plus, if I give people my Google Voice number I have complete number portability. If I stop using Skype I can just point Google Voice to a new number. No biggy!
Goal: Always-on Data and Instant Messaging.
Solution: 3G or WiMax
Pretty flexible here. Just need some form of always on data service that is fast enough for Skype voice calls. And 3G or WiMax will both work dandy.
The always on instant messaging here is key. Most people that want to get ahold of me have one IM service or another available to them at all times (or close to it). This would replace text messaging for me nicely (and would be free… as opposed to the ridiculous rates we normally pay for text messaging).
Goal: Multitasking is a must. I need my IM client running along with Skype and a web browser.
Solution: Maemo, Android, WebOS, Windows Mobile
This one is straight forward. Basically it just rules out the iPhone as a possible candidate.
Result:
So where do that leave me? I need an always on, 24×7 data-service device that fits in my pocket, has a good Skype client, a good (multi service) IM client and a good web browser (with flash preferably). Ideally I’d also like a physical keyboard (I’m not a huge touch screen keyboard guy).
This brings me to only a few options. Android is out of the running (no full Skype client). As is WebOS (Palm Pre).
Really, there are only two actual options: Windows Mobile and Maemo (Nokia N810/N900).
Both will do the job that I’m looking for.
Nothing against Windows Mobile… but I’m going to go with a Maemo powered device.
Now the real question is this:
Do I shell out for an N900 (with no voice cell phone plan and only a 3G data plan mind you) or go for the older N810 WiMax edition (perhaps getting one used off eBay)?
Both look like fully valid options. The nerd in me loves the idea of getting the newer N900… but it’ll likely be far cheaper to go the N810WiMax route.
Of course, by going this route, I’ll save a substantial amount of money each year on cell voice plans.
Anyone have any experience doing what I’ve described here? Good or bad?
January 27th, 2010 - 1:09 am
If you’re going to do this I think it’s best to do it with the best possible device with the best possible features. Settling for the bare minimum features of the N810 might be something you regret eventually.
I think you’ve said before on a podcast that you were excited for the N900 because the N8xx range was almost what you need to go phoneless.
Get the N900, future Bryan will thank you.
Will you run in to any dialing 911 issues?
January 27th, 2010 - 4:01 am
I’m sticking with my Palm Pre but I understand what you’re going for. The only thing of yours that it doesn’t really cover is Skype, but if you consider the cost of a monthly wimax/3g service you might as well just drop the extra bit a month and get actual phone/texting as well. Even flash is going to be available in the browser come February (beta should be any day now).
I’ve considered picking up a skype account as a ‘home phone’ but I’ve come to realize it would just be a waste of money as I use my cell on an unlimited plan for everything anyway.
January 27th, 2010 - 7:24 am
Hello, I’m using a Nokia E90 for mobile voip and Skype(over nimbuzz) over 3G in Austria.
I pay about 10€ a month for voice&data services (1gb=4€)
As I dont’t use voip all the time and calling only costs me 4ct a minute I’m using “normal calls” and voip mixed.
- maybe it would be cheaper to use a real flat and voip all the time, but I’m not staying long enough. So the mix is great.
The only problem is, that my cellphone could use a second battery
Hope you find a real solution
*maemo want 2*
January 27th, 2010 - 9:09 am
N900 FTW.
Posting this right now from my own. The Skype integration is top-notch and I can’t recommend it enough.
January 27th, 2010 - 11:05 am
Im wondering about the total monthly cost you’re looking at.
About 8$/month for the skype but what about data? I could not even find an unlimited data plan from anywhere. How much do you think the data plan would cost?
January 27th, 2010 - 2:17 pm
I’ve done this with my N810, using Google Voice (which, BTW, also offers free SMS) and Skype. Works like a charm. I’m not in, and never go near, any of the few areas where WiMax exists, but can get to a wifi almost anywhere these days, including, of course, throughout my own home. Not sure why the extra $ for the N900 would be a benefit if this is all you want to do (although I use my N810 for SO MUCH more throughout all day, every day) but if your inner geek really wants the 900 and $ aren’t an issue then by all means, go crazy and enjoy :).
January 27th, 2010 - 4:21 pm
I have done something similar, in a limited capacity, while traveling with a Nokia N95 running Fring to connect to Skype. It was pretty awesome to just use my phone to make calls as if I had paid to have a cell connection; other than the ringtone, you wouldn’t have known taking a Skype call was any different than taking a regular call from a carrier (as long as I stayed within range of the WiFi router, of course!).
This is one of the brilliant things about the Nokia N900: Skype is just IN THERE. When you create a contact you just add their Skype name and when you want to call them, just choose to make a Skype call. BOOM, instant Skype call. No fuss, no muss. While the Skype client for the N8xx is OK, it’s really a cut down version of the desktop client, and I don’t think you’ll be happy with it, especially with the N900 and Maemo 5 being so slick.
One caveat: if you get the N900 NAM (North America) you’ll be limited to T-Mobile for a 3G cell connection (AT&T doesn’t use the same frequencies as T-Mo). Fortunately, there were a couple of tricks posted somewhere to get a T-Mo data-only connection for < $50/mo, I think.
January 27th, 2010 - 4:22 pm
The big issue I ran into trying to do the exact same thing your looking at is there is no way to turn off Skype voicemail that I could find. It always picked up before my GV would and I never got the transcriptions and I couldn’t do custom greetings.
Have you thought / looked into this and do you have a solution / workaround?
January 29th, 2010 - 4:05 pm
It will prolly work for non-biz type people. For businnes folks, please don’t forget you might have issue with GoToMeeting as the conference code is not recognized through Skype dialing.
February 19th, 2010 - 2:53 am
N900 all the way .. assuming you haven’t already made a decision by now. It’s newer, shinier, and has slick Skype integration.