A Mac-Lovin' Cellphone

December 30, 2005 11:17 AM

Having read this prior question, I'd like to pose something similar in the hope that six months of iSync 2.1 experience will better inform the answer. I'm looking for a phone that painlessly syncs with iSync 2.1, preferably via Bluetooth. I'm not interested in email access, or a camera, or any sort of browsing. Bonus points for T-Mobile affiliation.
posted by boombot to technology (9 comments total)

I needed to replace my phone recently and was also looking for bluetooth syncability. I went with a Sony Ericsson Z520a (Cingular). Works great in both directions (with any inexplicable failed syncs solved with second tries a few moments later).
posted by Dick Paris at 11:41 AM on December 30, 2005

The Motorola Razr works very, very well. The Apple Site has a good list.

I also sync my Motorola a630 using a slight hack, but it's pretty simple to do.
posted by snickerdoodle at 11:43 AM on December 30, 2005

Motorola RAZR V3, works great. Cingular, though.
posted by nicwolff at 11:44 AM on December 30, 2005

T-Mobile does offer the Razr v3. I've read, though, that the phone's Address Book lacks the ability to group contacts and is something of a navigational nightmare. Is this no longer the case?
posted by boombot at 12:01 PM on December 30, 2005

Basically any Sony-Ericsson bluetooth phone will work perfectly. There are certain Nokia models that work, but be aware that there are many Nokia phones that do not work at all with iSync (the popular N6230, which I have, is one example of a phone with no iSync support whatsoever).

Since you don't care much about phone features, consider going with an older model. You could probably find a S-E T610 out there for relatively cheap. eBay's got several up right now for under fifty bucks, some of them new and unused. It's a great phone with an excellent UI (unlike my Nokia, which I consider a regrettable purchase).
posted by majick at 12:15 PM on December 30, 2005

Both my parents got RAZRs for Christmas, so I've been spending the last week showing them how to use them. The navigation's not bad, but the address book on all Motorolas leave something to be desired. My a630 allows you to set up contact categories for grouping purposes, so I assume the RAZR can do the same. It's too cumbersome to be useful, though, so I just wind up devising wacky naming conventions. Unfortunately, Tmobile's Bluetooth offerings seem limited to the Motorolas.
posted by snickerdoodle at 1:16 PM on December 30, 2005

I'm another RAZR/Cingular user. I've only synced twice, but had no problems either time.
posted by kimota at 4:40 PM on December 30, 2005

If you want a phone that has Bluetooth and will work with iSync, you'll probably get a camera whether you want one or not. I'll second the recommendation for Sony Ericcson-- I now use a Z520a which recently replaced a T616 (both on AT&T/Cingular), and both were very easy to set up and use with iSync.
posted by andrewraff at 6:02 PM on December 30, 2005

The Sony Ericsson T610 is an awesome little phone. It's sad T-Mobile doesn't offer them anymore. . . You can grab a (free) copy of Float's Mobile Agent and do all sorts of neat things with that phone.
posted by BrandonAbell at 11:52 AM on December 31, 2005