Absolutely Frustrating!

My last phone was a Nokia 6300, which I bought in Feb. Nice, sleek and super slim. However, in less than 8 months, I've made 3 trips to the service centre! Screen freezed, phone auto shut off, and all sorts of other nonsense. But even these 3 trips did not fixed the phone, the last couple of weeks, I can't even make calls out or receive any calls because after 5 seconds of talktime, the line will just cut off.

I told everyone that unless they can finish saying what they want to say in 5 seconds, please don't call me. So for 2 weeks, my phone was pretty quiet except for the sms-es, which, thank heavens, was still working.

And on last Saturday, I finally got a new phone. I've given up on Nokia (the 6300 was my last try at Nokia phones) and bought a Sony Ericsson. Before my purchase, I checked around on the stability of Ericsson's phones and was pretty satisfied with what I've heard. So I went ahead and bought this.



Cool phone with all the functions that I want. In a nice red. My first slide phone. I was pretty happy with my new phone and I didn't even care when the screen hang on the first hour I got the phone.

I even tolerated the second screen hang on the second day.

Something drastic happened on the third day. The phone kept restarting by itself. It switches off and on by itself over and over again. The phone will be on for 2 minutes, off for 20 seconds, then on again for 2 minutes and so on. It will go on doing this until the battery is almost flat.

I tried every method I could think of, switching SIM cards, taking out the battery and putting it back again, on and off the phone. I even took out my 2GB memory stick when my gal friend told me it might be the cause of the problem! But still, the phone continue having fun by itself. Going on, off, on, off.

And if I need to sms someone or check on a number, I have to do it in 2 minutes flat. So I'm like an idiot, staring and waiting for the phone to switch itself on again, make a mad dash to type in my sms and press send before it goes off again. There are countless times which I managed to finish typing my sms but couldn't find my contact in time and the whole sms just disappear and I got to do everything all over again!

I called up Ericsson customer service, the guy went through the routine series of questions, whether I downloaded anything, blah blah. I told him I only saved a few songs in the memory stick and that's all. And of course the usual routine of changing a nicer screen saver, wallpaper etc. He suggested that I download a software from their website to upgrade the phone's software. I asked why do I need to do that since it's a new phone? Does he meant to tell me that new phones have to do this extra step? He replied no, but deduced that my phone's software most probably has some problems. If that is the case, isn't it better that I get an exchage for a new phone, I asked. He said no, they don't have exchange policy. So I ask if I upgrade my software, most probably my phone should be working? He said most probably.

Since I had to meet some friends in Orchard, I thought of going to the service centre there and get them to upgrade the software on the spot so I can know if it's really the software problem or it's a faulty handset. But after 1 hour of waiting, I was told that they are not able to do it on the spot, since it will take 3 hours and it was already 8pm. I didn't want to leave the phone there, cos I don't want to give them a chance to repair the phone. If it's really faulty, I want a new set. So I told the lady I will try to upgrade the software at home.

But when I tried to upgrade, I couldn't do it because the software is already upgraded! So how do I upgrade an already updated software? There's no function to remove and re-install software like PCs and so I'm quite stuck with a crappy phone, and once again, I lost touch with the world, almost.

I took Bob's spare Dopod since my new, cool phone is literally useless. But when I tried to read sms-es, or reply them, it will bring me to this blank page and I can't proceed further. Frustration!!!

Anyway, I had intended to bring my swanky new phone to the Ericsson service centre today, but I thought I better checked with SingTel if it's possible to change a new set. Called the Singtel people and they suggest that I bring down the whole set with box and they will check for me.

Now I just pray and hope I can get this settled fast. I think the position of the stars and the sun is not favourable for me these weeks, I guess I'm not suppose to get near any electronical communication device as I bring bad luck to them, or me. Actually, what I want to say is, mobile phones and me, no fate.