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4:34 pm
March 19, 2011
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As a newbie I am trying to find some details for pros & cons for choosing this phone( I was reading some of the threads posted here, for this item). Thank you in advance, for your replies.
- First would this phone be a good choice for choosing an Android phone for occasionally browsing the net through WiFi and some basic android apps (i.e. maps, weather,mail) through WiFi again.
- Not sure if I will activate the Data...is it worth it? as I was reading that after unlocking from Bell and add the Data, the phone will not respond to many of the features/apps..., again needed for wifi, some apps on Android, push email;
- if the phone needs to be rooted, is there some info, how to do that on this or other websites ? again I'm a newbie, sorry for pushing it...
- it is $99.99 at Bestbuy, so Futureshop if matches the prices should be 96.99 and also Futureshop gives you $30 in Store credit ( I assume you can use it with Bell for a short period as Pay as you go); That will make the phone $66.99, but if unlocking for $14.99, on Fastgsm ( as I was reading - I hope it will work...) you get the phone unlocked for $81.98, which I would say it's a pretty good deal.
Please let me know if all this from above would make sense for choosing the Gio at the price mentioned?!
Thank you.
Cheers.
6:11 pm
April 22, 2009
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I like the Gio, I own one, and it is probably the best value Android phone on the market. As you have to go though the hassle to root the phone already, you might as well go through the hassle of unlocking it for free and save yourself $15. There is a good tutorial here. http://forums.redflagdeals.com.....st13455659 I strongly recommend you read it through a few times before you go through with the unlocking and rooting. I am sure someone on kijiji can root and unlock this phone for $15, which would be a much better value than fastGSM if this is not your thing.
As for activating Speakout browsing, it depends where you are going to be. My GIO currently does not even have a SIM card in it, and I am still getting the full phone experience through wifi. Text plus takes care of the free texting, Fongo's Dell Voice Android phone client takes care of the free incoming phone number and free calls to most Canadian cities, and for calls to other places in North America, I use the free Nettalk Android app. As long as I am near a good WIFI connect, I am set. The Gio has a decent battery life to make this practical, I can get a good part of a day even with the WIFI on.
Browsing with Speaking on an Android phone is a little tricky if you are using anything other than browsing. You have to set up an autoproxy program to use things like maps. Of course, not that google has offline maps, a data plan is not as important. Personally I would get the Gio first, play with the wifi stuff, and then decide if you want to unlock and root it.
6:43 pm
March 19, 2011
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Thank you Bridonca for the link and info; that's a lot of information, that I will go through hopefully soon enough.
But like you said I have to get the phone, check the WiFi and I will see if I am prepared to go through with the unlock and root. The unlock will help using it overseas (Europe would be the reason).
Using it without a SIM it's even more interesting as I wasn't planning that, but you never know.
Once again, I appreciate the help and the posts on this forum.
Adrian
8:13 am
July 22, 2011
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Hi is the samsung GIO phone still at $99 i saw it on Canada day for $126 at Future shop with a $30 or so instore credit.
Please let me know
Thank you
10:05 am
March 19, 2011
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Yes at Bestbuy, here is the link:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/pr.....138508en02
You should ask for price match at FS and after the should apply the $30 in store credit for pay as you go plans only.
Good luck.
11:44 am
July 22, 2011
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Thank you Adrian for your link and reply.
I will print it and see what happens i was looking at the white color phone.
Also if the credit is for instore other than phone services that would be good as i have already a plan with rogers. And will have to get this unlocked.
Thank you again i will go and find out for myself.
1:05 pm
March 19, 2011
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Rainforest,
Regarding the in store credit, this is what FS is stating : " $30 activation credit only available on monthly prepaid phone plans from Bell." Would be interesting if you can obtain something else...Can you please post if you have been successful?
If you are planning to unlock it, can you also please let us know how it went? Thanks in advance.
1:16 pm
March 19, 2011
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One more question rainforest: where did you see the white one? Both BB & FS are selling the black one only. Thanks.
7:07 am
July 22, 2011
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Thank you Adrian for your posts
After you told me about the sale i phoned FS and they also told me that it does not come in white thats when i realised it was the samsung 551 which was white and price was 125$ and it was virgin mobile (did not matter as i was getting it unlocked) which i had seen on Canada day.
It has both keyboards. Also it had a 30$ in store credit (not towards the signup of a contract i hope)
As for unlocking we know of a person who does it. price varies according to the type of phone.
So am sorry that is the one i got confused with the GIO i will wait patiently for back to school sale or ... to get it on sale. I already have 2 sony erricsson phone gsm unlocked so i will use it in the meantime
Thank you for your help and sorry for the confusion
4:13 pm
March 19, 2011
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No worries and thanks for the feedback.
I obtained the the price match from FS, based on BB offer and Bell has to give $30 on activation of the new account. Will be lost after 30 days.
By now I was able to successfully install the Fongo's Dell Voice, the rest I am working on them...
Good luck on finding the white 551.
8:54 pm
March 19, 2011
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As I found a lot of good info here, I want to share from my Samsung Gio purchasing experience. I managed to buy one from FS, after they matched the BB price; I registered online the phone, in order to save $10 - this is how much Bell charge to register over the phone... I ended up with only $10 instead of $30, due to the fact that the add on FS website, has a small link that states, only for MONTHLY plans - this is the catch!!! , so there is a very misleading add and also the same goes for the Bell small plans booklet -it is confusing.
On the other hand, I followed the link that bridonca (thank you again), indicated above, also. I tried the apps suggested above,all of them are working and I managed to root and unlock the phone, based on the link from above.
I hope this provide some feedback that the method is still working well, just follow exactly the steps
8:14 am
July 22, 2011
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Thank you Adrian for sharing i do not have a GIO but may decide to buy at a later date perhaps during the back to school sale.
Did FS give you also an additional 10% or something they advertise if you found it cheaper elsewhere.?
12:06 pm
March 19, 2011
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You were corect rainforest, a 10% discount I was asking for and for some reason I end up with more. They took 89.99 as pricing for the BB (don't know why), I took and that's it paying $101.68, tax included.
I had quite a conversation over the phone with the Bell rep about the $30 credit and instead of having only $10 - they thrown another $5 credit as start up, so the phone came down to $86.68 - which I am happy with.
As I mentioned thanks to bridonca (great info), I followed the instructions - tried apps - all working, I rooted the phone and unlock it following those instructions that work perfect even in Win 7.
I am more than happy with the results vs. cost. I was missing a lot apparently and let's hope I can keep the pace with times...
I am not a fan of the sliding phones and also found a nice case for it:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1108692.....728wt_1135 , that I am planning to buy.
I am thinking maybe I should buy a second one for my wife, she might like the idea
I have a feeling that these phones are available less and less so good luck hunting one for a lower price!
12:09 pm
March 19, 2011
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I forgot to mention that I was a newbie [still am...:) ] 10 days ago and with lots of reading , good advice, I managed to do all that by myself, and that's a really good feeling !!!
Cheers!
7:51 am
July 22, 2011
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Glad for you and thank you for sharing the case cover info.
Yes this website has excellent members and the turn around time for answers are swift.
Thank you all
8:28 am
July 22, 2011
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Hi Adrian if the link below is the same as the one you get from ebay they have it at amazon.ca
very good and very happy with amazon.ca if the product is not up to mark you can contact them and they will contact the buyer and they will refund it.
Atleast you will get your moneyback.
The shipping cost is about 3 $ for canada. please compare the two the amazon does not say +LCD....
Good luck
11:52 am
April 22, 2009
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rainforest: That type of case really sucks! That tab is a huge annoyance to open and close. I use one of my old Nokia E71 cases, and it is easier to get the Gio in and out of this case. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/HOT-Sof.....0898922081
11:57 am
July 22, 2011
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Thank you Bridonca for your input i just read Adrian post and thought this would be similar to the one he will be getting from ebay.
I may in future get a samsung gio and would try to go thru these post before i buy a case hopefully he will decide after seeing your post.
9:15 am
July 22, 2011
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Hi Memebers
I was wondering if anyone could please let me know if the samsung 551 or the samsung GIO is better and which one is more lighter in weight.
The samsung 551 on sale in Superstore for 98$ and i think the GIO is also on sale at bestbuy thats what the website shows.
Both i saw on the website.
Appreciate you help
9:54 am
April 22, 2009
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The Gio is better, because it has a better screen, better battery life, and a more powerful CPU, than the Galaxy 550 or Galaxy 551.
I did not know President's Choice Mobile sold the Galaxy 551. I know they sell the Galaxy 550 though. The difference between the 2 of them, is that the Galaxy 551 has a physical keyboard.
