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[January 13, 2005]

The Windows Smartphone Is Designed For True Mobile Use

By Jarred Lowe


Imagine having the comfort of your computer on a cell phone: the email, the contact list, the scheduler and so much more in a layout that feels and looks familiar? Sounds like it'd cut down on the learning curve too. Of course it would. Many cell phones and PDA's look like Windows or try to mimic the comfortable feel of a computer like the Pocket PC. We all know imitation is a form of flattery. But what you might not realize is that cell phones now come with the Windows software made by Microsoft. There are two models available in the marketplace, the Samsung SCH-1600 and the Motoro­la MPx200.

 

Simply put, these cell phones have the graphical look and feel of a PC. Technically speaking, these are advanced handsets running Microsoft Windows Mobile Software for Smartphone.

Some of the features you'll recognize like the program list, Inbox, Contacts, Cal­endar, Internet Explorer, ActiveSync, File Manager, Tasks, Voice Recorder, MSN Mes­senger, Favorites, Calculator, and Games. But, there are big differences with the Windows Smartphone, which make it a lot easier to use as a model device. With your Pocket PC phone and some smartphones you have a touchscreen or a joystick. These Windows Mobile-based units (Samsung SCH-1600 and the Motorola MPX200) are designed for one-handed use. This is a big, big plus. Everything you need you can access by pushing buttons. There are no pesky pop-ups, pulldowns or overlapping win­dows.

32MB of RAM divided into storage and program space. An SD Card slot can be used for additional data story.

Advantages of the Windows Smartphone vs. the Pocket PC

The Pocket PC phone and some of the other smartphones on the market come with a touchscreen or a joystick, which can be a hindrance when trying to do multiple tasks. On the plus side, both the Samsung and the Motorolla Windows Mobile-based cell phones (Samsung SCH-1600 and the Motorola MPX200) are designed for one-handed use. Everything you need can be accessed by pushing buttons. There are no pesky pop-ups, pulldowns or overlapping win­dows. Most of the features are accessable with a thumb.

Features

The Windows Smartphone Motorola MPx200 includes: speed dial, call history, speakerphone, profiles, con­ference calls, ring tones, and numerous other features. The menu is customizable. You can custom select nine items by either scrolling down, pressing enter, or punching in the number.

The Motorola MPx200 display is 2.2 inches diagonal with 176 x 220 pixel resolution. The footprint is 3.4 x 1.8 inches and is an inch thick and weighs 4.2 ounces. The Motorola is a GSM phone and also has a SIM Manager.

Emailing on the road

You can send email using Outlook like you do on your PC. It works the same way it does with a Pocket PC. With the Inbox you can set up di­rect access to a POP3 or an IMAP4 email account on your home or office PC, or use AT&T's Office Online for an extra fee.

Audio Sound

One of the features, which surprises me the most is it's sound. It comes in stereo. The Windows Media Player 8 supports MP3, Microsoft's Windows audio and video for­mats, WMA and WMV. The SD Card is big enough so I can listen to music for hours.

Is it better than using a Nokia cell phone with its' graphical user interfaces, applications, utilities, games, internet access and PC connectivity?

Absolutely! While flashing my cell phone in my favorite coffee shop I'm staring right at the Windows Mobile-based smart-phone, which contains the Microsoft-class user interface, like I'm used to seeing on my computer. It has all the great functionality inherent in Windows.

What's the screen like?

It has the usual Speed Dial, Call History, and but the menu is customizable. You can custom select nine items by either scrolling down,
pressing enter, or punching in the number. The Motorola MPx200 display is 2.2 inches diagonal with 176 x 220 pixel resolution. The footprint is 3.4 x 1.8 inches and is an inch thick and weighs 4.2 ounces.

How about readability and functionality for entering appointments and things?

My Motorola MPx200 comes with all the standard phone features: speakerphone, profiles, con­ference calls, ring tones, including an incredible integra­tion with the Contacts database. I love how the Win­dows Mobile-based smartphone integrates with Out­look. It works the same way it does with a Pocket PC. Lots of times I use it for emailing research project details to my professors. With the Inbox I set up di­rect access to my POP3 but you can also have set it for access to an IMAP4 mail account, or use AT&T's Office Online for an extra fee.

Is the Motorola a GSM phone?

Yes. It also uses GPRS and has a SIM Manager, which is a big plus for traveling overseas.

Source: Pen Computing

Website: http://www.free-cellular-phone-deals.com

Author: Jarred Lowe

Jarred Lowe researched hundreds of articles and found information meeting all his future smart phone & pda needs by browsing through articles on: http://www.free-cellular-phone-deals.com/cell-phone-accessories.html (smart phone reviews) and http://www.free-cellular-phone-deals.com/free-cell-phones.html (cell phone service providers).

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