Going Global with Treo 650 GSM -- Questions from someone in the market

[hmtreo]

Hi everyone --

I'm new here and am still shopping for a Treo, but am inches away from buying this device I've been wanting for years now. But being not very tech-savvy, I don't understand the ins and outs of bringing it across international boundaries.

I travel to and from Europe often and so I am planning to purchase a GSM version. As far as I understand it, Cingular and Cellular One are the only US carriers that currently offer the Treo 650 GSM phone, so I plan to initiate a service plan agreement with one of them, probably Cingular. But when I go to Europe -- to Hungary, specifically -- what happens if the phone companies there don't support the Treo? Will I still be able to use it as a telephone, without the data functions, or will I only be able to use it as a simple PDA? And if I ever find Cingular service to be too expensive or limited, is it possible to switch to another carrier that offers Treo 650s in their non-GSM versions, or am I still limited to the two that offer this version of the phone?

Also, a couple more unrelated questions:

-Am I right in understanding that the Treo 650 can't operate on standard WiFi networks, and that it isn't upgradable to do so?

-How is this device's functionality as an mp3 player? How does it compare to iPods in terms of user friendliness and sound?


Thanks very much in advance for any answers and assistance.

[millerhifi]

You could always pop for the unlocked GSM treo and then it wouldn't matter whose SIM card you put in it to work. It is a quad band world phone.
It doesn't really matter if the carrier in Hungary supports the treo or not. It is a GSM phone that meets the GSM standard. So it will work where ever you go. A lot of folks will buy a prepaid SIM card when they get to their destination rather than pay international rates with Cingular or whom ever.

[Geo]

Originally Posted by millerhifi

You could always pop for the unlocked GSM treo and then it wouldn't matter whose SIM card you put in it to work. It is a quad band world phone.
It doesn't really matter if the carrier in Hungary supports the treo or not. It is a GSM phone that meets the GSM standard. So it will work where ever you go. A lot of folks will buy a prepaid SIM card when they get to their destination rather than pay international rates with Cingular or whom ever.

Hi,
Yes, millerhifi is correct. I just went to Italy and used the local SIM card to save on calls and I was able to use the Treo as if I was back in the Great White North. The Italian GSM network SIM card and number is good for a year!
I used the web browser there and it worked great, just like back home.

I do not know how long you will be in Hungary, but if there is a GSM carrier, it will work since it is quad band. Pannon is the local provider in Hungary for voice and data in GSM.
check: http://www.pgsm.hu/sajtoszoba/ceginfo/index_en.php

I am not a Treo scientist, but I am a guy that loves his Treo and discovers many new things about it and how to use it.
Yes, it plays mp3's and even videos. But it is not an mp3 player where you can alter the sub and treble. You'll need a program for that.
Good luck and don't forget to try thr borsh!
Geo