Questions before purchase

[Maelos]

Im interested in buying a smartphone for use on a GSM network. Im looking around at my options, and the B2 looks pretty tasty. I have a few questions though, and this seems like the place to get them answered.

1. Unlocking
If I buy this phone, I am not on the T-Mobile network, which would mean I need to have it unlocked. Would flashing back to Galaxy ROM remove the carrier lock, or is that tied more deeply to the phone than just the ROM?

2. Battery
I have seen some reports about shoddy battery life with this phone, does flashing to the Galaxy ROM reduce this issue to a tolerable level?

3. Comparison
I would LOVE to have a N1, but that is far beyond my price range, so I have been looking at the mytouch or B2 instead, are these comparable phones, or is the B2 more on par with a HTC Hero?

Thanks for any help.

 

[tritran18518]

1. I don't know
2. yes
3. Bh2 with original firmware is suck. with galaxy firmware, it is a different story. Bh is more comparable with myTouch 3G or cliq

 

[Maelos]

Thanks for the answers, can anyone answer if running galaxy ROM removes the carrier lock?

 

[yatimameiji]

I'm not sure, as running the galaxy rom is simply swapping out one os for an other, doesn't affect the radio, as far as I can guess. Though if you are not a Tmo customer, then that means you are buying the BH2 at retail value and you should be able to simply call Tmo to have them unlock it. It requires the IMEI code which is on the sticker under the battery.

 

[2FR35H]

If your with AT&T any android phone currently that you get is needing unlocked. I would not recommend the behold 2 for an android phone. Actually I would recommend you wait till the motorola backflip comes out to AT&T so that you can use 3g its basically like the click with a different style keyboard.

 

[Maelos]

Im not AT&T, I'm with a company called iwireless. They are on the same network as TMobile, but are technically a different company.

 

[yatimameiji]

Im not AT&T, I'm with a company called iwireless. They are on the same network as TMobile, but are technically a different company.

Have you given your provider or even Tmo a call? I know calling customer care is a hassle but surprisingly they may know more then we do in this regard

 

[2FR35H]

Im not AT&T, I'm with a company called iwireless. They are on the same network as TMobile, but are technically a different company.

Oh if its the same 3g bands then go for nexus one they have much better support for keeping the phone current. Behold 2 is great but we are stuck on .5 while most have at least 1.6 android and higher.

 

[kam187]

Flashing to galaxy will not unlock it. You can get it unlocked from t-mobile, or a bunch of online companies for about $15.

Personally I wouldnt advise you to get a behold2, especially on contract. Consider buying a nexus one on t-mobile contract or offline, OR look for a behold2 on ebay. Or a galaxy which is a total bargain right now.

 

[Maelos]

The Behold2's on ebay are really high priced right now, ~$300 for unlocked bids, same price for Buy It Now unlocked. TMobile will sell me one retail for $309 which I can then unlock.

Would you suggest the mytouch 3g 1.2 over the behold2?

 

[yatimameiji]

The first question should have been, what do you want in a phone?

 

[kam187]

$309 without contract?

 

[Maelos]

$309 without contract?

Correct. $309 w/o contract, they will sim unlock it over the phone with me and need me to fax in my sales receipt within 7 days of the unlock.

 

[yatimameiji]

$309 without contract?

Ugh I should have waited to buy the phone >_< Oh well thats how technology goes and I am so addicted to technology. Now off to look at some gadget porn lol

 

[kam187]

Not bad at that price. Even a Galaxy after shipping etc will be no less than $250, and for the extra $50 or so bucks you should get the behold 2.

What phone do u have now btw? I wonder if you're better off waiting a few months for more phones to come out and prices to drop.

(and you really cant stretch an extra $200 for a nexus? - imho it is more than $200 better!)

 

[Maelos]

What phone do u have now btw? I wonder if you're better off waiting a few months for more phones to come out and prices to drop.

I have an Alcatel OneTouch Tribe. OT-800A is the model number.

I recently got onto GoogleVoice, and my current phone has 0 support for dialing out from directory as GV. Which is why I wanted something Android to natively support GoogleApps. I had looked at the mytouch, but heard it was slightly underpowered when compared to a Galaxy ROM'd B2. As Im not on TMobile, running a 3rd party ROM isnt an issue since I wouldnt be getting OTA updates anyway. My current carrier IS getting N1s nearer the end of march, I work for a Telco that is a dealer for my carrier and can get phones at a cheaper price. Might wait to see what I can get the N1 at.

 

[kam187]

Ahh i see. From what I can tell thats a 'dumb phone' and can only handle Java midlets?

If i were you I would definatly wait for the N1.

 

[2FR35H]

(and you really cant stretch an extra $200 for a nexus? - imho it is more than $200 better!)

lol $200 extra doesn't always come easy. I do agree nexus is better but budget wise is it really worth $500 I would say nexus worth around 350 from craigslist but the only thing keeping it 500 would be that its hardly being sold elsewhere craigslist isn't selling it. It's not in stores... You gotta buy direct from google or amazon but google is good at pricing it.

 

[2FR35H]

My current carrier IS getting N1s nearer the end of march, I work for a Telco that is a dealer for my carrier and can get phones at a cheaper price. Might wait to see what I can get the N1 at.

You should definitely get the nexus one.

 

[LightofHonor]

Correct. $309 w/o contract, they will sim unlock it over the phone with me and need me to fax in my sales receipt within 7 days of the unlock.

False. I even tried to buy it from them at that price and they wouldn't sell it to me. They told me it was an error. Even buying it online through the upgrade plan presented me with the $379 price.

Now I haven't actually tried starting a new plan and seeing if I get that price, but everything T-mobile said to me says its wrong. The stores don't honor it anyways.

Good luck to you if you decide to go that route!

 

[2FR35H]

False. I even tried to buy it from them at that price and they wouldn't sell it to me. They told me it was an error. Even buying it online through the upgrade plan presented me with the $379 price.

Now I haven't actually tried starting a new plan and seeing if I get that price, but everything T-mobile said to me says its wrong. The stores don't honor it anyways.

Good luck to you if you decide to go that route!

I thought without contract it was 500? they dropped in price?

 

[tritran18518]

go to ebay, and you will get it with half a price . I got my BH2 99,99% new, just $250. That's why i easily accept its problems ^^

 

[LightofHonor]

I thought without contract it was 500? they dropped in price?

Yep. $379 without contract. Website falsely states $309.

go to ebay, and you will get it with half a price . I got my BH2 99,99% new, just $250. That's why i easily accept its problems ^^

Thats what I ended up doing for mine and my brothers... except mine was $275

 

[2FR35H]

Yep. $379 without contract. Website falsely states $309.




Thats what I ended up doing for mine and my brothers... except mine was $275

google's website still says $529 where $379 from?

 

[bundo]

They're talking about the BH2 without contract.