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Updated:
04/21/2003
Mapopolis
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Updated: 10/25/2002
T-Mobile Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition
Retail Price: $549
Available Carrier: T-Mobile
(formerly Voicestream)
Links to Additional T-Mobile Information
Features:
T-Mobile-formerly VoiceStream-is
the first company to put out a truly integrated Pocket PC/phone combo,
the Pocket PC Phone Edition. (Audiovox delivered its Thera first, but
that model's cell phone isn't as integrated into the OS.)
Built by HTC, the contract manufacturer that makes HP's (once known as
Compaq) iPaq Pocket PCs, the Phone Edition resembles a toned-down or more
generic-looking version of an iPaq. A close look at its 5.0-by-2.8-by-0.7-inch
dimensions and 6.8-ounce weight reveals that the Phone Edition is larger
and more than an ounce heavier than the Handspring Treo 270. A protective
carrying case with an integrated belt clip is also included.
Since this combo is designed for business users, there are two convenient one-touch-access buttons located above the screen; they launch the calendar and contacts applications. At the bottom of the screen, on either side of the four-way rocker key, you'll find two buttons with phone icons. Press the green icon to place calls and launch the phone application; hit the red icon to end calls. To adjust the volume onscreen, there's a side button that also doubles as the Record Memo button in Pocket PC mode.
There's no CompactFlash expansion slot for adding accessories, but there is a Secure Digital (SD) slot at the base of the unit. New subscribers to the T-Mobile service will get a 32MB SD card in the box. Unlike with most GSM phones, the SIM card slips into a covered slot on the side of the phone instead of under the battery on the back of the unit.
The Phone Edition is equipped with the standard specs, including a 206MHz StrongARM processor, 32MB of RAM and ROM, an IR port, USB syncing, a 4,096-color reflective LCD, and the aforementioned SD card slot.
The most important feature is the integrated phone application. It has all the standards found on mobiles today: call logs, which you can view in multiple ways; caller ID, when available; SMS; call waiting; three-way calling; vibrate and customizable ring tones; and wireless Internet access. You can use that access to surf Web sites, check and send e-mail, and chat online via MSN Messenger--all features that are built into the Pocket PC OS. Since the T-Mobile is a Pocket PC, you can sync your contacts and appointments with your desktop computer.
Microsoft has also done a good job at integrating the phone capabilities into the other programs. For example, whenever a phone number is underlined in an e-mail or a document, you just tap it to launch the phone app. The Phone Edition also prompts you to add the contact to the phone book. Another nice touch: When you're listening to an MP3 with Windows Media Player and a call comes in, you can hear the ring over the music and view caller-ID info. If you answer, the song pauses until you're finished with the call.
Since the Phone Edition works on both GSM 900 and 1900 networks, it's considered a world mobile. It also works on next-generation GPRS data networks. While significantly faster than previous cell-phone data networks, GPRS networks are still not as fast as a dial-up modem. T-Mobile provides some on-the-fly data compression to improve the surfing experience. Checking e-mail is a trouble-free affair, but cruising the Web is still too slow for all but the most patient of souls and can't be done while using the phone. To be fair, you can't simultaneously talk and surf on most phones with GPRS service, but we expect to see this feature in models that are released in coming months.
A built-in lithium-polymer battery powers the Phone Edition. In tests, it managed about 30 minutes short of its rated 4 hours of talk time and met only about one-third of the promised 100 hours of standby time. In a standard Pocket PC battery-drain test, the T-Mobile lasted almost 7 hours with the backlight turned on (there are no intermediate backlight settings), which is about equal to other devices such as the Toshiba Pocket PC e740.