[2008] Possibly Off-Topic Question About Cellphones...

[RobDude]

Hi all,

Forgive me if this is the wrong place to ask such a question; but I didn't know where else to put it. My service contract is nearly up and that means I'm in the market for a new cell phone. What I've really been dying to do is write .Net code that will run on my cell phone. I have a million different things I'd like to be able to do and I want a phone that will let me do as much as possible.

At the very, very minimum; I want a cellphone that can run the compact version of the .Net framework AND provide me easy access to the GPS functionality.

My current phone does not let me access GPS data and makes me code in Java

Ideally though, I'd be able to tie into EVERYTHING in the phone. When it receives an incoming call, for example, if it's from a certain number I'd like to be able to stop the phone from every ringing/responding to/logging that call at all.

If anyone has suggestions for me, or even a better place to ask this question; I'd appreciate it.

[Shaggy Hiker]

The mobile dev section is probably a bit more appropriate, but this is a question I have been looking into idly for the last couple years. Bascially, you need a phone that runs some form of Windows Mobile, and as of last year, I felt all of the available options pretty much sucked. Some had screens that were unusual sizes (smaller than a PDA in pixel count), or had batteries that were good for only a very minimal amount of use. Within the last few months, one has come on the market that I actually like, and unless there is a better one by next spring, I will try to figure out what I'm talking about, and get it. I think I have a link to it on one of my computers, but I forget which one (not this one evidently).

However, the screen size isn't that big an issue if you are developing something JUST for that particular phone. My problem with the screen size is that I want to run my existing PDA apps on the phone, and having a different pixel count would mean that all the apps would have to be re-configured for the new dimensions. Worse, since the already tiny pixel count is decreased on those phones, there is even LESS screen area to work with.

GPS could be an issue. I haven't worked with it, and I don't know what the options are.

[kleinma]

Like shaggy says, you need something that runs windows mobile so you can target the .NET compact framework.

I had the HTC 6800 from Verizon Wireless, but I was less than thrilled with it, and returned it and have yet to pick something else up (still using a standard cell phone).

That is the other thing, the phone you get really is limited by the carrier, since you need to get a phone that is supposed on the carrier you are going to use.

Carriers can also lock features down, so you may or may not be locked out from accessing certain things. The 6800 didnt even have GPS which is rediculous for a NEW phone that was 500 bucks. One of the reasons I returned it. You could add on an external GPS via miniUSB, but that is just stupid when a 100 phone comes with GPS.

I feel the windows mobile market still has a lot of maturing to do..