M Class Hands-Free Cell Phone Question

I have a 2000 ML320, but it came without a cell phone. I am wanting to add this to the vehicle. What options do I have as far as phones and service providers that will work with the Command System? It appears that it must be a Motorola Timeport cell phone that utilizes the TDMA network, which appears to be only offered by Cingular or AT&T Wireless. Am I wrong?

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 While I am unsure of the 2000 model year my wife has a 2001 ML with the integrated phone system and I have a 2002 E with it also. THis is what I know about those two model years (one with timeport and one with v60). You must purchase the phone from Mercedes Benz or find someone who has one for sale that came from MB. If you try to use a phone supplied by ATT or Verizon in the cradle it will not work in the car (I have tested this). The MB dealer will provide you a phone for a specific network, not sure which ones for 2000.

Hope this helps.

Maybe I am being naive, but it strikes me that almost any phone should be retro-fittable to the COMAND system.  Some functionality might be lost due to software limitations, but basic functionality?

I have searched, but have not found any aftermarket installers of cell phones for the COMAND system.  Am I completely wrong on this?

You are going down the same path I took early this year. So I tested a V60 Phone from AT&T wireless in my E320. My E320 uses a V60 also from AT&T wireless so I thought at a minimum that would at least answer. I inserted the phone in the cradle turned on the car it did not recognize a phone was present. I called the phone it did not ring. AT&T and Verizon both state that you need to get the phone from MB for it to work in the car.