TDMA and Bluetooth

[rwknowles]

Hello folks, my wife just bought a new car that has a built in hands-free system but to use it she needs to purchase a Bluetooth compatible cell phone. This in itself is not a problem but I would like to find a Bluetooth phone that operates on the Digital (TDMA) network - I do not mind that I have to upgrade to a GSM cellular subscription program nor do I mind that the phone would be dual- or tri-band (Analog/digital/GSM).
Anyone know of such an animal in the US. Thanks for your help!

[Michael]

I'm not sure I understand what you are looking for, but I can tell you this:

There are no TDMA phones with Bluetooth.

(Unless you are referring to GSM actually being based on TDMA, but that seems unlikely).

If you want a Bluetooth phone, you need GSM at this point. AT&T, Cingular, or T-Mobile.

[rwknowles]

Mike,

I appreciate your response and I may be out of luck, but.......

Just to state my question a bit differently:

The Ericsson T62U, for example, operates on two GSM networks and also on TDAM 800/1900 networks. So at first blush this particular phone seems to satisfy my desire to have digital reception (which I want for areas not serviced by GSM at this time) and also is GSM capatible so that I can have Bluetooth - EXCEPT that this particular phone does not support Bluetooth.

I really do not want to change anything at all - we both have AT&T One Rate plans and we are completely satisfied with the old Nokia 6100 series but now wifey went out and bought a new Lexus and we can not use our Nokias with a hands free set-up unless we want to tear the car apart to install a hard-wire system which is not only out of the question but it is a waste of time and money seeing as how the car has a factory hands-free system that utilizes the stereo speakers, volumn controls, etc.

So........again, I am looking for a Bluetooth enabled cell phone that that will interact with her car.......and, as you mentioned it does not appear that we will find this without going to a 'GSM' phone. Again, this is OK but I hate to lose the ability to talk on digital networks when out of GSM coverage areas - this is why I am on the hunt for a TDMA/GSA/Bluetooth package if one exists.

The Lexus dealer is no help because wife bought the first car sold from their multi-location dealerships - they know as little as I do.

Whew, did any of that change what you said above?? Any other comments?? In a nutshell are you saying that ANY telephone with TDMA capabilities (whether or not in conjunction with GSM capabilities) will not operate via Bluetooth?

Thanks, Mike!!

[Michael]

No, that didn't change anything.

There are even fewer GAIT phones (GSM/TDMA dual-mode), and none of them are Bluetooth.

You can use an adapter on the T62U, I believe. A DBA-10. I don't believe they are made anymore, but you can probably find one somewhere. But a snap-on dongle is not exactly practical.

Supposedly there was to be a Bluetooth "Smartback" for the T6x series, but I never saw one anywhere. Not listed on the SE site, either.

It isn't that TDMA is incompatible with Bluetooth. That isn't the case. There just are no TDMA-capable Bluetooth phones. No CDMA version either, that I am aware of (SE T608 may actually make it to market, though - but still, that is CDMA, not TDMA).

[rwknowles]

Ok Michael,

I'll stop beating my head against the wall and just accept that she will be getting a GSM phone compatible with Bluetooth.

If you ever come across an animal like I was searching for please give me a shout.

Nice forum by the way.

Ron K.

[gsantarelli1]

If you do get GSM service and get a Bluetooth phone, a nice cheap one to get is the Ericsson R520. They can be found on ebay for $60-$100 and they come brand new in the box. The RF signal is great and they have bluetooth built in. What kind of car did you get? I hear Jeep is releasing a Liberty next year with a turbo-diesel engine and a Bluetooth connectivity kit :-)....can't wait.

[Michael]

I have two R520s, including a prototype.

Awesome phone, and dirt cheap.

[rwknowles]

Thank you for the response. I purchased a Nokia 6310i for her and it seems to be working fine in the Seattle area. As a side note: I just purchased yesterday a Cellsocket brand desktop cradle/charger/antenna devise that allows her to snap in the 6310i when at home and then use her 2-line portable phone to answer and make normal house calls (line 1) and calls through the cell (line 2). I have an Extensis brand in my office and use it continually but Extensis is no longer manufactered nor is it/was it compatible with GSM phones.
Finally, I am now on the hunt for a permanent hardwire vehicle cradle set-up that will allow her to snap the 6310i into the cradle when she enters the car and it will have charge capability and and external GSM antenna boosted to the max of 2 watt (or so I am told). She and I have used the handfree hardmounts in all our cars forever and she misses having the charge capability and a nice place to put the phone while driving. In addition her built in handsfree set-up that came in this year's model will not allow for dashboard screen dialing when you are traveling more than 4 mph so she needs easy access to her cell so she can swerve all over the road while dialing out.
Her car is a 2004 Lexis LX 470.
More than you wanted to know I would guess!?!?!

Ron K.
Seattle, WA