URGENT: Please Help In Choosing Gsm Handset

[max]

Hello all,

I am planning to go to the US for a couple of years. I want to buy a new GSM handset. The following are my main requirements:

1. MUST have VoIP functionality over wifi
2. MUST be expandable ( Symbian OS / Windows Mobile OS ) i.e. additional applications should be easy to install
3. MUST work in the USA
4. MUST be sturdy

Now the not so important requirements are:

1. Good music player ( OGG, MP3, WMA, AAC etc.. )
2. Must play videos ( DivX, mpeg, WMVs, RM etc... etc... )
3. Must be quick. Not sluggish.
4. If it has a touch screen, that'll be great!

BUDGET: 15K-20K
The budget is kind of flexible.

Accordingly I've been able to find out the following phones:

1. Nokia N81 8GB
2. Nokia N78
3. HTC Touch
4. HTC Touch Cruise

I can install skype on the HTC phones as they run Windows Mobile but I cant do that with Nokia phones BUT they have a built in SIP client which works over WIFI which is great. I THINK that client can be configured with any VoIP service. Any suggestions here?

I also know that there are brands such as i-mate, O2 selling Windows Mobile devices. Can someone shed some light on good phones which meet my requirements?

How good is the GSM coverage in USA? Do they use the same GSM frequencies as we do? What is better UMTS or HSDPA? Help me out here please!

TIA!

 

[manu1991]

America uses the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz GSM bands as opposed to 900 MHz and 1800 MHz used in India , but all the phones in that range are quad band so that wont make any difference . connectivity should be good

HSDPA is faster than UMTS as it provides upto 14.4 mbps downlinks

more info here : HSDPA vs. UMTS ~ Full Speed

in windows , HTC Touch Cruise or HTC P3600i would be great

in symbian Nokia's N82 would be a great choice

the processors in them are P3600i 500 Mhz > Cruise 400 Mhz > N82 332 Mhz

also for the kind of usage you have wm6 would be better

 

[max]

The only problem with going for a Windows Mobile is that it is very unreliable. I've seen friends struggle with lockups, memory leaks, slow interface and stuff like that. I dont know how good WM6 is. Infact I have a friend working at MS and he is himself disgusted with WM6.Nevertheless, any idea how much does the P3600i cost?

 

[ItsMe]

Why dont you try to buy it from US, as you will have lot many options there.