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The N900 is an interesting beast. If my father called, and asked me what smartphone to get, I'd suggest an Android device. If an old friend called, who happen

by tshtf 16y ago

The N900 is an interesting beast. If my father called, and asked me what smartphone to get, I'd suggest an Android device. If an old friend called, who happened to be familiar with Linux, I'd advise the N900 with no reservations. The N900 is more open than Android in that it uses the traditional APIs used on the Linux desktop. You can install pidgin, irssi, otr, asterisk, and just about everything else that is popular with Linux. It even comes with an xterm app by default. The N900 also has incredible integration with Skype, including video. It also supports adding SIP accounts. Both Skype and SIP work very well over 3G on T-Mobile US.

losvedir 16y ago
> Both Skype and SIP work very well over 3G on T-Mobile US. Interesting, where? I have an N900 on T-Mobile in Boston and it's been very disappointing. I had visions of a "data only" relationship with the phone, but neither Skype nor SIP over 3G are of acceptable quality. Over wifi, works pretty well, though. How have you set yours up? I tried Google Voice -> Gizmo5, buying a skype number, and some other things and nothing worked. For instance, the phone can't seem to handle an incoming SIP call and phone call at the same time -- so I couldn't forward my Google Voice number to both my actual cell number and SIP, and answer with either depending on the situation. Then, I have general issues with the phone -- no good maps solution (the Nokia program is terrible, and can't use Google Maps), email is painfully slow to open and inconsistent about polling every 5 minutes like I want it to, I've hung up on incoming calls several times because the "Answer" button gets replaced by the "Hang up and send a text message" button when I'm taking it out of my pocket, etc. All in all, I've been somewhat disappointed with the phone.
- tshtf 16y ago
  I'm currently in Northwest Arkansas. Skype calls work just about as well as SIP calls over 3G, which is to say the same quality as regular calls over GSM. I've used my old Gizmo account with SIP, as well as Callcentric and Skype. No issues. With respect to maps and email, you have a point. The N900 is not up to speed there. It's a good geek phone, but not something I'd recommend to my parents.
- karimyaghmour 16y ago
  I can't comment on SIP because I haven't used it (yet) on the phone. For the map, though, there is Sygic's app: http://www.sygic.com/ http://www.sygic.com/. The app itself is free from OVI, but the maps you have to buy :( Still looks like this would do a decent job. I'm actually going to try it on a trip next week.

by tshtf 16y ago

losvedir 16y ago

> Both Skype and SIP work very well over 3G on T-Mobile US. Interesting, where? I have an N900 on T-Mobile in Boston and it's been very disappointing. I had visions of a "data only" relationship with the phone, but neither Skype nor SIP over 3G are of acceptable quality. Over wifi, works pretty well, though. How have you set yours up? I tried Google Voice -> Gizmo5, buying a skype number, and some other things and nothing worked. For instance, the phone can't seem to handle an incoming SIP call and phone call at the same time -- so I couldn't forward my Google Voice number to both my actual cell number and SIP, and answer with either depending on the situation. Then, I have general issues with the phone -- no good maps solution (the Nokia program is terrible, and can't use Google Maps), email is painfully slow to open and inconsistent about polling every 5 minutes like I want it to, I've hung up on incoming calls several times because the "Answer" button gets replaced by the "Hang up and send a text message" button when I'm taking it out of my pocket, etc. All in all, I've been somewhat disappointed with the phone.

tshtf 16y ago
I'm currently in Northwest Arkansas. Skype calls work just about as well as SIP calls over 3G, which is to say the same quality as regular calls over GSM. I've used my old Gizmo account with SIP, as well as Callcentric and Skype. No issues. With respect to maps and email, you have a point. The N900 is not up to speed there. It's a good geek phone, but not something I'd recommend to my parents.
karimyaghmour 16y ago
I can't comment on SIP because I haven't used it (yet) on the phone. For the map, though, there is Sygic's app: http://www.sygic.com/ http://www.sygic.com/. The app itself is free from OVI, but the maps you have to buy :( Still looks like this would do a decent job. I'm actually going to try it on a trip next week.