raccoon

Exactly! Even I'm a bit sceptical about the radiation claim. As I mentioned, I only have two handsets with their manuals with me - my old RIM (LG RD2030) and my brand new GSM. I have only compared the SAR ratings of these 2 sets and the difference is negligible! Also, as far as I can remember, the ratings given are the maximum recorded for that device ...and obviously cell phones emit varying amounts of radiation in different circumstances. IMHO, the radiation given out while you are actually talking would be the most important since you will be holding the handset right next to your head (assuming you arent on headsent/speaker). And we dont have this data. There are many other issues too... so Its going to be tricky to even try to speculate here. We really need some hard evidence to support this radiation claims, as its an important issue ...but I havent been able to find any! If anybody knows better, please do let us know!! Moreover, it would be intresting if you guys can check out the SAR ratings for CDMA and GSM handsets and let us know here...

As Iv mentioned in another thread, technologically, CDMA is likely to shine in adverse conditions ...like giving better voice clarity and lesser call drops when you are on a call inside a fast moving train/car, etc., in humid weather, inside dense buildings, etc. Also CDMA is supposed to have better voice privacy. Also a CDMA phone is likely to give the same call quality even if you have one bar signal intensity ...on a GSM it may not be so clear. CDMA is also significantly more spectrum efficient, which should generally mean that congestion would be less in a CDMA network (At least where spectrum is a bottleneck ...but there are other factors also...). CDMA is also better faster with respect to data transfer. Lastly, it is reported that CDMA handsets emit significantly lesser radiation than GSM handsets ...however I dont know how reliable these reports are. On comparing the Specific AbsorptionRatings of my new GSM and my old Reliance phone, I find the difference quite negligible... But along with these advantages come disadvantages like lesser battery life (as the chips are doing more work), more heat radiation from the handset, etc., etc. Well, thats the tech aspect, but as anuragz rightly pointed out, as a user, service standard, tariffs, handsets, etc, are what generally matter a lot more rather than what technology ur mobile is using ...because the difference is really not so notable. In fact how many users do you know who even know what tech their mobile phone is using?? Few years ago, it was predicted that CDMA would edge out GSM. However, today, thanks to the policies and management of our wonderful CDMA operators (and Im sure partly also because of Qualcom), it is predicted that it may well be CDMA that may be relegated to the dust bin of telecom history. As things stand today, there seems to be absolutely no incentive to use CDMA unless its many disadvantages are subsidised by lower tariffs and better service and facilities. And I really dont understand why people are crazy about DAPO just because of its free SMS ...this when other operators are charging anywhere from 5 to 25 paise for an SMS! Its different if you need to shoot out millions of SMSes everday ...but how many SMSes does a guy need to survive anyway???

As khs123 has already said - the issue has been discussed threadbare in other threads (rhymes well, eh? ). At the minimum do read this thread...

Even a stupid, ordinary BSNL landline has call waiting ...but NOT RIM pre-paid! And we are supposed to believe it is a mobile phone!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! And eu tu Tata??? Gawd... I hope both these CDMA operators rot in hell!!! The heavens know how many problems I'v faced dude to the lack of call waiting! Actually, I was considering the option of the lifetime prepaid for my RIM and giving it to someone for now, but now Reliance has withdrawn the installment scheme for its lifetime (10 yrs) scheme! (Im not willing to fork out nearly 1K right now). And every other operator is still offering this option! I guess Reliance wants me out as badly as I wanted to get rid of them! Lol ...mebbe I should be thankful to them for closing this last option for me... And believe me, the pain and hassle of loosing the number and all is not half as bad as the pain of having to live with Reliance! I agree, it might be a practical probelm if its a business phone... but otherwise its mostly inertia ...I mean how much effort can it take to send all your friends, etc a group SMS informing them about the change? And I admit I was in that state myself ...but not anymore!

Well said khs123 ...but as far as I'm concerned, at midnight today, my trusty RIM LG RD2030 died a peaceful death (nothing wrong with the phone ...just that that the validity of my voucher ran out). Now I have no intention of recharging. RIM's shenanigans aside, over the years, my old workhorse (handset) has served me well ...and I'v used it for around 3.5 years ....without letting it get a single scratch and havent dropped it even once. I'm kinda sad that this baby might never be a working phone again. I bought a new GSM with an Airtel Connection last week, so now my stint with RIM ceases ...and I'm not sure if I belong here anymore, as I am no longer associated with RIM... As for my experience with Airtel in the last week or so, I have no regrets at all about leaving RIM. Now I have all the things that as a RIM user I only used to dream about, namely- 1) Call waiting and all the other value added services. (Lack of this has been the chief factor of forcing me to leave RIM). 2) Can send and recieve much longer SMSes ........YAY!!! (the 2nd most imp. factor for me!) 3) Better tariffs and cheaper SMSes, in general. (other tariff details aside, Airtel now gives Rs. 211 talk time on 350 voucher ...and I can call local Airtel mobiles at only 10p in the aft/night) 4) Can choose much better handsets 5) Balance on screen automatically after every call/SMS ...and on demand ...and it ACTUALLY works every single time, unlike RIM! 6) Can get thru to customer service even at peak hours ...unlike RIM. 7) Everthing is a lot more flexible - can change handset at will or in emergency, etc, etc. 8) SMSes delivery is far more reliable than RIM ...and strangely, SMS sending is much faster than RIM ...in fact so fast, that one cannot get time to cancel the sending once the "Send" button is pressed! And have not experienecd a single "send failure" or "network failure" messges that were so common with RIM! Way coooool!!! 9) Can send/recieve MMS to all operators 10) Longer battery life ...GSM handsets generally have better batt life anyway. 11) Correct status messages when the phone is off/busy/out of coverage/etc. The only disadvantage over RIM I find is that Airtel's signal strength isn't as strong as RIM's inside buildings, etc. But this is something you can live with considering all the other advantages... As for Reliance's previously touted better voice clarity, I frakly cant really make out any difference. Perhaps it (Reliance) may shine in adverse conditions like inside dense buildings/basements, while travelling fast in car/train, in rains (humidity), etc. But I guess thats something I will be able to comment about only with time... This said, lemme point out here that Airtel is openly advertising a 64 K SIM on its website for the Friendz plan ...and has given me a measly 16 K SIM. Also you cannot call Bombay Airtel nos at 10/paise, nor form your group with them insipite of Airtel stating clearly on its site that Bombay numbers are considered local, etc... A good reminder to the fact that no operator is really so trustworthy ...always keep your eyes wide open, ask other customers and always READ THE FINE PRINT! If I can encourage even few other people to ditch the sleeping RIM and seek much better options with other operators, the purpose of this post will be served Ditching RIM is the only concrete contribution you can make to the situation...

Oh ok, sorry... Yes, its not that cool ...esp. when around 50p/min (local) tariff is not available with most operators ...and when corporate subscribers are paying 30p/min! Dont know about tariffs in your circle though...

I dont think there is anything "superiour" about out old BSNL connections ...its just that the way of implementing and policies of our CDMA operators that suk big time! Its high time we get FWPs also with something like a SIM/RUIM ...and then we can buy the instruments from wherever! Just the way we can buy wireline phones from anywhere and connect them to our BSNL lines. This would make FWPs way more attractive ...and more "reliable" as we dont have to depend on the operator when the phone conks out on us ...esp. in an emergency ...or when we are expecting important calls!

A VERY happy b'day Mohsin! Wishing you the best ...and a Reliance-free year ahead!

Yes I'v alrady thought of that ...and trying to acquire a connection that way ...but its a bit dicy ...esp. if it cannot be in my name. Also the address needs to be mine ...no sense in the bill going to a friends house, LOL! So Id prefer to acquire it myself without anyones help ...but if thats not possible, Id be very much inclined to acquire it this way, as the difference in tariffs is so substantial! Hell ....I could kill for one! Btw, what is the tariff of your corporate connection like?

You said it ...RIM has become one long saga of pain! I cant get a corporate conn thru company that way... Btw, arent corporate connections given in bulk? Or are they now even given individually? Many of my friends/neighbours/etc now have corporate connections ...and I feel like an idiot paying Re. 1 per call when they are paying only 25-30 paise! And most of my contacts are on Idea (Idea has better coverage here) ... so Airtel's 10paise happy hrs talking is of limited use... Thanks so much for the info...

Dear Anuragz, I really wish I had known this before!! On Reliance I'm on pre paid and using the Rs. 360 Maharashtra voucher which gives RIM-RIM (local) @ 40 paise, RIM-other mobiles @ 80 paise, local landline @ Rs. 1.2. Not sure about STD. SMS is 1/2/5 for local/national/international. But fixed charges work out to be Rs. 160 on this voucher! Getting fed up to my neck with RIM, Iv just bought a GSM with the Airtel Friendz pre paid card. Tariff is - Voice calls- As for my requirement - 95% of my calls are to local (including Bombay) mobiles ....and I could be v happy with say 400-500 SMSes per month. I hardly make STD calls ....and if required I can use other phones, so STD not so important for me. And no, not willing to pay a minimum 600+ bill for my requirements! If I can get a plan which is reasonably cheaper than the above Airtel plan, I would be willing to change! Dont mind going post paid for that ...but prefer pre-paid. Im told a corporate plan would be the cheapest ...call rates Im told are 25/30 paise for all local calls, 50 paise for all STD and about 450 SMSes free ....all on a rental of about Rs. 150 ...if i recall correctly. But problem is how do I get a corporate connection? Any suggestions? Do you think I could get myself a corporate plan by the way you have described?

Free??? Whats "free" about the flash light? Anyway, flashlight can really be a life saving feature ...& I speak from experience! I wish all phones would have this ...but very few do!

Dudes, let me remind you that this is not about what Reliance WAS once upon a time! The problem is that RIGHT NOW it suxxxxx in all ways... And some people here really need to get out of this blind devotion to ANY company... they are all here to make profit 1st (and 2nd and 3rd...! LOL!!!) ...and our aim as customers, is to select the deal which is best for us, right now! RIM may have saved you money ONCE UPON A TIME in the so called golden past ...but in the present you WILL loose $$$...

Anuragz, I am well aware that you can use certain handsets with both Tata and RIM ...but as you yourself mentioned, none of them are allowing this officially. I just dont have the time or incentive to figure out which ones and how right now ...and I certainly dont want to risk money in experimenting! And unless they officially allow it and make the process as simple as just changing a SIM/RUIM, that option is not going to go well with the mass of the mobile subscriber base. You have said very soon the tariffs of CDMA operators and GSM operators will be more or less at par! Dude, just look at the plans - Reliance tariffs are ALREADY higher then most/all other operators! Nobody need wait for it - that situation already exists! LOL! As the most obvious example Reliance is still charging Rs. 1.79 under its base pre paid tariff! Not a single other operator as far as I know has such a high tariff, currently! Is this so??? But tell me, even if I find someone who has a fantastic plan, how on earth do I get the operator to subscribe me under THAT plan? I reckon I'll most likely be told that that plan was a limited period offer or a special plan or something, and I cannot subscribe to it now! So how would it be useful to me???

There is truth in that statement, so we need to accept that nothing is constant! If you want good services and tariffs, be prapared to jump on the boat that offers the best deal! The biggest hassle to this is the number change! But since number portability is not likely to happen anytime soon, we have to choose between retaining our number or getting the best deal. Cant have the best of both worlds without number portability! Thats the sad fact.

Thanks Anuragz! Seems Tata is the way to go now ...but RIM has made me wary and I wouldn't invest in a middle or upper end CDMA handset now. And carrying two phones is way cumbersome (besides having to pay double rentals, etc) ...so GSM is the way to go for me. If Tata was on GSM, I would seriously consider it as an option for my new GSM handset.. It would be so much better if we can at least change handets between the CDMA operators. In my opinion, it would widen the market, and people may be more willing to invest in more expensive handsets ...besides the 2nd hand market would also grow. But apparently our esteemed telephone companies dont concur... I belive this inflexibility will be one of the factors which will eventually lead to the demise of CDMA...

Thats pretty comprehensive! Thanks! Since you have used both RIM and Tata (...have you also used a GSM)? Could you tell us your experience of texting with Tata? I mean can you send and recieve long (greater than 160 characters) SMSes with Tata? if yes, can u send and recieve as one message (like in GSM) ...or do you get them in fragments? Any other problem whatsoever with SMSing?

The Reliance site mentions a VGA cam and not a 1.3 megapixel cam! Also, sad that the screen is only 65 k! Still, hows the resolution? And most important - does it have a RUIM slot?

Well, Bombay seems to be the only region you can order in ...in the whole of Maharashtra!

I don't think its fair to blame only Reliance in this regard. Just look at the number of plans Hutch is offering in say Bombay...!!! Havent checked out other operators ...but I wont be surprised if its similar with them. Its a sad fact that most/many people I know just simply dont know/cant understand their tariffs! They just cough up the amount stated in the bill ...or keep recharging if its pre-paid! Im sure these varied and confounding schemes are plays by ALL/MOST operators to milk unwary customers...

Thats good ...but does it justify this much difference in price? Also, you gotta discount the features clipped off... Besides are we gonna anywhere close to 800 kbps RIGHTnow??? Its almost never any use to invest in hardware which is future compatible ...cus it gets outdated way fast anyway!

Don't blame ADAG ...the ****ers are those who buy his overpriced junk...! You buy ...he supplies!

I dont understand - whats the use of buying this grossly overpriced yet "mutilated" piece of CDMA scrap when you can go GSM and buy the V3i much, much cheaper ...with all the features???

What speeds are they promising? And if anybody is using it, please tell us how much you are actually getting...

Cool thanks so much... I just want it to dispay the missed call log and all seperately, if possible. Any leads at all on where to get hands on Diego?