Ann <a...@randrinc.com> wrote:

> very interesting.  Keep us posted on your progress.

Well, yesterday I have received a Motorola V66 phone in like-new
condition, even though the model itself is almost 10 y old.  As I've
said before, I used to use an identical phone up until May of 2009 or
so, and I'm very happy to have switched back to it.  Out with the new,
in with the old!

The cell radio interface in this V66 is exactly the same as in the
Openmoko phone: GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz.  900 and 1800 MHz bands aren't
used in the USA-occupied territories, so that leaves GSM1900 as the only
usable cell interface.  And I'm happy to report that my V66 is picking
up good signal and working just fine on the T-Mobile network.  This is a
pure GSM phone, just like I want: no UMTS/3G, not even EDGE, just plain
old mobile voice phone service, plus SMS and GPRS.

Armed with the knowledge that GSM1900-only phones *are* usable in my
geographic area, I'm going to order my Openmoko hardware unit soon, and
I'll take a stab at rolling my own Linux From Scratch distro for it.

Only experience will tell whether or not the Openmoko phone will be
practically usable for me.  But even if not, the ancient V66 is still a
heck of a lot better for me than any currently available phone.

MS
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