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From: Tim on 5 Feb 2010 03:20
Richard Colton wrote:
> "Steve Terry" <gfourwwk(a)tesco.net> wrote in message
> news:hkeruo$pkj$1(a)news.eternal-september.org...
>> "Tim" <timdownie2003(a)obvious.yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:7t0631FvajU1(a)mid.individual.net...
>>> Steve Terry wrote:
>>>> "Theo Markettos" <theom+news(a)chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote in
>>>> message news:Wlz*-xM2s(a)news.chiark.greenend.org.uk...
>>>>> Steve Dulieu <steve.dulieu(a)greenyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>>>> <snip>
>>>>>
>>>>> The Sigmatel S9000 looks more like the sort of thing:
>>>>> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180447114844
>>>>>
>>>>> but the software is everything, and I have no idea if it's any
>>>>> good. And, in
>>>>> common with many Chinese phones, I can't seem to find any feedback
>>>>> on the web.
>>>>> Theo
>>>>>
>>>> I would guess at that price it's probably not a dual phone, but
>>>> only has a switcher between sims
>>>
>>> I suspect that too but it'll still be handy for me. I'll let you
>>> all know
>>> when it arrives.
>>> Tim
>>>
>>>
>> You used to be able to buy triple sim backs for Nokia 3310
>> costing a couple of quid
>
> Yes, but the SIM's were not active all the time. Most multiple SIM
> adaptors had to be switched using power cycle of the handset.
>
> Samsung used to make a twin sim phone, could have been the G800 from
> memory, that allowed both SIMs active at once.

Still do. They were mentioned near the start of this thread.

Tim
From: Tim on 18 Feb 2010 07:39
Theo Markettos wrote:
> Tim <timdownie2003(a)obvious.yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>> Well if you can wait, I'll let you know what it's like when I get
>> mine. ;-)
>>
>> I need a small twin sim phone for running as I find a lot of coverage
>> problems with single networks on my longer runs. This'll be dead
>> handy if it works.
>
> It's a deal :) Did you order one?

Well, it arrived today.

First impressions are pretty much what you'd expect for a phone of that
price BUT, it really does do what it says on the tin. Both sims are active
and you can make or receive calls on either sim without having to do any
rebooting or other switching. It has two green "call" buttons, one for each
sim to allow you to choose which line you want for outgoing calls and it
continuously displays the signal strength for each network. It has a micro
SD card slot for added memory (not supplied). It comes with a nokia type
battery and a USB charger with a nokia adaptor (the horrid new skinny plug).
Instructions consist of a smal folded piece of A5 paper and don't seem to be
for this handet but fortunately most of the functions are easy enough to
work out

It will play mp3s but it has no headphone socket, you can only play things
through its own speaker. The FM radio seems to work and it has a pull out
aerial to improve reception.

The torch is reasonably bright from its two LEDs. Possibly a bit too easy
to turn on by accident, even with the keypad locked and it doesn't seem to
auto power off so that might need watching.

As far as texting goes, I haven't found any option for predictive text but
you can text in arabic. ;-)

As standard it only has two ring tones which are both quite horrid and there
doesn't seem to be a "vibrate" option. I haven't found out if you can add
ring tones.

All in all, I'm pretty pleased although the potential for the torch
flattening the battery is a bit worrying. As a cheap way of having two
active sims it's certainly a solution worth considering if you're not fussy
about the other phone functions. It'll certainly do me on my West Highland
Way travels.

Tim



From: Theo Markettos on 18 Feb 2010 18:54
Tim <timdownie2003(a)obvious.yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> Well, it arrived today.

Thanks for the review, that's really useful :)

I was doing a little digging earlier today, and I discovered that the
S9000, S3720, S33 and S3000 might be the same platform:
http://www.commerce.com.tw/modules.php?modules=products&action=detail&ID=E0273689&no=187015&category=0

(the S3720 is also on eBay for 17.99+6.99 post)

They appear to use the MTK6233 chip. There's loads of stuff on the net
about it in Chinese. I wouldn't be surprised, given the cookie-cutter
nature of much low-end Chinese stuff, if the firmware can be replaced by
that of another phone. (There are also plenty of reflashing tools on the
net, though I'm not sure if there's access to a flashing connector)

I managed to find some schematic fragments:
http://www.ziddu.com/download/4017191/mtk6223schematics.rar.html

Not sure I would do anything with them, but you can never have too much
technical info :)

> The torch is reasonably bright from its two LEDs. Possibly a bit too easy
> to turn on by accident, even with the keypad locked and it doesn't seem to
> auto power off so that might need watching.

How do you turn the torch on and off? Is there a separate button? Could it
be unwired if you don't need the torch?

> As far as texting goes, I haven't found any option for predictive text but
> you can text in arabic. ;-)

Handy ;-)

> All in all, I'm pretty pleased although the potential for the torch
> flattening the battery is a bit worrying. As a cheap way of having two
> active sims it's certainly a solution worth considering if you're not fussy
> about the other phone functions. It'll certainly do me on my West Highland
> Way travels.

Can you pop the IMEIs into:
http://www.numberingplans.com/?page=analysis&sub=imeinr
and tell us what it says? It would be useful to know if they've allocated
them properly, or just made up fake ones.

Thanks,
Theo
From: Tim on 19 Feb 2010 03:22
Theo Markettos wrote:
> Tim <timdownie2003(a)obvious.yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>> Well, it arrived today.
..
>
> Can you pop the IMEIs into:
> http://www.numberingplans.com/?page=analysis&sub=imeinr
> and tell us what it says? It would be useful to know if they've
> allocated them properly, or just made up fake ones.

They both come up as "very likely" for validity.

Regarding the phone, I can't see me using it in any situation *other* than
when I specifically want to be able to access two networks. The bl**dy ring
tones are just so terrible and the lack of predictive text is very annoying.
It's also hard to change from lower to upper case without going through all
the language options each time. In practice, you'd just text in upper *or*
lower case.

It'll still be handy for what I want it for though.

Tim

ps. The torch has a button in the keypad. I suppose one could disable it
but I haven't accidentally turned it on yet so I'll leave it for the
meantime.

From: Theo Markettos on 19 Feb 2010 05:26
Tim <timdownie2003(a)obvious.yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> They both come up as "very likely" for validity.

Thanks.

> Regarding the phone, I can't see me using it in any situation *other* than
> when I specifically want to be able to access two networks. The bl**dy
> ring tones are just so terrible and the lack of predictive text is very
> annoying.

Can't you load in extra ringtones? I can't see a whole lot of point to
having a flash card socket otherwise... unless for playing MP3s through the
tiny speaker.

Lack of vibrate is a bit annoying. Does it have silent/discreet/etc modes?

> It's also hard to change from lower to upper case without going through all
> the language options each time. In practice, you'd just text in upper *or*
> lower case.

Ah well, you can't have everything ;-)

Theo
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