The UK-based company Carrier Devices recently
began marketing two Windows Mobile 2003-based phone devices. Both of
it’s new “i-mate” handhelds incorporate an unlocked tri-band GSM/GPRS
phone and included a built-in digital camera as well as Bluetooth
capability.
The i-mate Phone Edition
The i-mate Pocket PC Phone Edition is the most
recent design released by the Taiwan manufacturer HTC. Physically,
it’s virtually identical to the XDA II released by the European O2.
The Phone Edition has Intel’s latest mobile
computing processor, the 400 MHz Intel PXA263. I-mate offers two
versions of this device: one with 64 MB SDRAM and 32 MB flash ROM,
and another with an ample 128 MB SDRAM and 64 MB flash ROM. A
portion of the flash ROM on both devices is available to the end
user for secure file storage.
Other hardware features are described in the
spec sheet at the end of this article. However, noteworthy among
them are the built-in digital camera and Bluetooth wireless
capability. The color VGA camera is similar in quality to the
cameras found in other phones—no where near the quality of a
dedicated digital camera, but sufficient for displaying images and
short video on a small screen.
Both i-mate devices have integrated cameras and
the Album application, which lets you display images in thumbnail or
full-screen view.
More important is the Bluetooth capability. This
not only lets you use wireless handsets, you can also communicate
with Bluetooth-enabled laptop PCs and use it as a wireless modem to
browse the Web and check e-mail from the laptop. Integrated
Bluetooth also lets your device work with the new breed of
Bluetooth-enabled GPS receivers, offering you turn-by-turn driving
instructions and accurate information about your current location.
The device comes with Microsoft’s Windows Mobile
2003 Phone Edition software built in and ready to use. This software
includes the latest version of the Pocket PC operating system, the
Phone Dialer application, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Inbox, Pocket
Internet Explorer, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Notes, File Explorer,
Windows Media Player 9.0, Bluetooth Manager, and a variety of other
programs. A full list of this software is on the Pocket PC
magazine Web site (http://www.PocketPCmag.com/bg/MS_Software.asp),
and a full description is on Microsoft’s Web site (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/prod...).
In addition to the standard Microsoft
applications, the i-mate Phone Edition has a number of other
programs:
Phone Edition pros and cons
We really liked the intelligent design of this
Phone Edition Pocket PC. The location of the slots, buttons, and
other controls were well spaced and easy to access. We like the
placement of the SD card slot on the top of the device. Some Pocket
PCs have the slot on the left edge, which is fine unless you are
using a Wi-Fi or GPS card, which protrudes out of the slot and makes
it more difficult to hold. With the slot on top, the protrusion is
out of the way and gives GPS cards a clear view of the sky and
better reception. The IR port is also on the top of the device,
making it easy to point and beam information to other PDAs.
We found that the start-up time was
impressive—almost instantaneous. The device handled program
applications like an exotic sports car. We even liked the nice feel
the stylus has—very thin, but solid enough not to bend when used.
PROS
- Improved performance thanks to Window Mobile 2003 OS.
- Controls are well placed and easy to use.
- Excellent form factor—fits comfortably in the hand.
- Integrated Bluetooth 1.1.
- Unlocked Tri-band GSM/GPRS phone can be used with service
providers worldwide.
- Very fast startup time.
- External antenna jack for phone for better reception in
automobiles.
CONS
- Wi-Fi not integrated into the device.
- Microphone/headset plug awkwardly located at the bottom of
device.
- External speaker’s sound quality is “tinny” and lacks bass
response; sound is distorted at full-volume.
- Priced at $850, this is an expensive device.
The i-mate Windows Mobile 2003 Smartphone2
The i-mate Windows Mobile 2003 Smartphone2 is
also based on a design by HTC and physically identical to devices
marketed by other vendors, including Orange. It is powered by the
132 MHz OMAP processor from Texas Instruments and comes with 64 MB
of SDRAM and 32 MB of flash ROM. Additional hardware information can
be found in the spec sheet at the end of this article.
Like the Phone Edition described above,
Smartphone2 is a GSM/GPRS device. Like all Windows Mobile
Smartphones, it has a 2.2 inch diagonal, 176 x 220 pixel color
screen. This is not a touch screen—to navigate through the various
applications and select menu options, you use the navigation buttons
and alphanumeric keypad located below the display.
The Smartphone2 comes with a built-in digital
camera and integrated Bluetooth capability. Like the camera found on
the i-mate Phone Edition, the Smartphone2 camera produces relatively
low-resolution JPG images and MPEG4 videos that are suitable for
display on smaller screens, and can be mailed as attachments using
Inbox. The Bluetooth offers the same advantages as described for the
Phone Edition.
The i-mate Smartphone comes with Album (shown
here) and other third-party programs.
The Phone Edition comes with Microsoft’s Windows
Mobile 2003 for Smartphone software built in and ready to use. This
includes Smartphone-optimized versions of Contacts, Calendar, Tasks,
Inbox, Pocket Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, Solitaire,
Jawbreaker, File Manager, MSN Messenger, Speed Dial, STK Service,
Voice Notes, Calculator, and Space Maker. In addition, it includes
optimized versions of Album, Camera, PhotoContacts, MMS Composer,
SIM Manager, SIM Tool Kit, and Wireless Modem (described in Phone
Edition review). It does not include xBackup.
Club i-mate
When you purchase either of these devices, you
get a free membership in Club i-mate, a Pocket PC/Smartphone support
Web site that offers the following:
- Free games and software downloads
- Discounted software titles
- Online multiplayer games
- Additional Ring-tones, music, backgrounds, and themes
- Community forums
- Over-the-air device configuration
- Live online tech support
- Contests and prizes
In addition, Club i-mate offers free hosted
Microsoft Exchange e-mail with Exchange ActiveSync. This service
integrates with your desktop PC and mobile device and allows e-mail,
as well as changes to your Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks to be
pushed to your mobile device similar to the way information is
pushed to Blackberry devices.
Smartphone pros and cons
The two features we liked most about the
Smartphone2 were the built-in Bluetooth and VGA camera. The built-in
Bluetooth is this phone’s primary selling point. With it, you can
use a Bluetooth headset, and keep the phone stored in your pocket
while making and receiving calls. In addition, you can use Bluetooth
to connect the phone to your PDA or notebook PC, and access the
Internet through the phone.
The VGA camera is fine for snapping quick,
low-res images suitable for displaying on smaller screens, but it
doesn’t produce the quality necessary for printable images. In
addition, it may be a liability if your company prohibits phones
with cameras. Video chat and conferencing is the wave of the future,
but you won’t be doing that with this phone because the camera’s
lens is mounted on the back of the device. However, it does have a
small mirror-like button below the lens opening to reflect your
image, which makes it possible to take self-portraits. We disliked
the power button on this phone. We had a hard time turning the
device on and off during testing. We also found that the menu
selection buttons were too close to the phone’s “Send” and “End
call” buttons, which caused us to occasionally press the wrong
button.
PROS
- Improved performance thanks to Window Mobile 2003 OS.
- Built-in Bluetooth 1.1.
- Unlocked Tri-band GSM/GPRS phone can be used with service
providers worldwide.
- Directional “joystick-action”makes it easy to navigate menus.
CONS
- Difficult to power on/off the device.
- It’s almost twice the size of a clam-shell device design and
is bulky and not as pretty as the sleek clamshell Smartphones
available from Motorola.
- Priced at $600, this is an expensive device.
Unlocked GSM/GPRS devices
Both of these devices are available in the U.S.
through the official i-mate distributor Sound Solutions (http://www.soundsolutionsam.com).
The Phone Edition device is priced at $850 and the Smartphone at
$600. This is high compared to devices sold through wireless
carriers, but the devices are not sold with a wireless contract that
helps to subsidize a lower price. The big advantage is that both of
these Windows Mobile devices are application-unlocked and SIM-unlocked.
That means that you can install third-party Smartphone applications
and use the SIM card that came with your current GSM service in
either of these devices. Of course, your wireless service has to
support GPRS data capability to browse the Web and check your
e-mail. The two largest GSM/GPRS networks in the U.S. are T-Mobile
and Cingular (which is in the process of acquiring AT&T Wireless).
Important note: In most cases, wireless service operators only
provide technical support for the mobile devices they sell. You may
be able to use one of these devices with your AT&T Wireless account,
but don’t expect help specific to the device from their tech
support.
In addition to the integrated digital camera and
Bluetooth capability, the i-mate Windows Mobile devices offer users
the flexibility of selecting GSM-based service providers around the
world, and changing providers without having to purchase a new Phone
Edition or Smartphone device. |
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