[February 10, 2010] Best smart phones for business users Tweet Feb 10, 2010 (CNET.com - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) -- Smart phones have changed the way we work, so no longer are we slaves to our desks. These PDA/cell phone combos help us stay in touch with the office, get work done on the road, check e-mail, obtain news and more. So which models are best suited for power business users? Well, there are a number of qualified candidates out there, but unfortunately, we can pick only a few, so here they are. These smart phones are stocked with productivity tools and robust e-mail capabilities as well as connectivity features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HSPDA and EV-DO. Plus, they've proven themselves in the performance department. Compare reviews: http://reviews.cnet.com/4321-6452_7-6544038.html ___ LG Expo (AT&T) _ CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent) _ The good: The LG Expo is well designed and boasts a sharp display and excellent QWERTY keyboard. The Windows Mobile 6.5 device also offers Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth and GPS. Its call quality was excellent and the smart phone's general performance was quite snappy. _ The bad: The smart phone lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack. There's no dedicated Start menu button, often requiring you to use the stylus. We also wish the Expo had a built-in stylus holder. _ The cost: $199.99 _ The bottom line: Offering both power and style, the LG Expo is one of the best smart phones for business users on the market today. _ Full review: http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/lg-expo-at-t/4505-6452_7-33894699.html ___ RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700 (T-Mobile) _ CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent) _ The good: The RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700 boasts a sleeker design that includes an optical trackpad, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a brilliant display. The smart phone is 3G capable and offers Wi-Fi with UMA support, Bluetooth and GPS. It also gets a faster processor and updates to BlackBerry OS 5.0. _ The bad: The BlackBerry browser doesn't compare to the competition. The handset's compact size results in a smaller display and keyboard, but they aren't deal-breakers. _ The cost: $129.99 _ The bottom line: The RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700 brings T-Mobile its first 3G BlackBerry and improves on its predecessor with a sleeker design and more power. We only wish it had a better browser to complete the package. _ Full review: http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/rim-blackberry-bold-9700/4505-6452_7-33785661.html ___ Motorola Droid (Verizon Wireless) _ CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent) _ The good: The Motorola Droid boasts a gorgeous display and the benefits of Android 2.0, including a faster Web browser, Google Maps Navigation app and better messaging and contact management. It also offers excellent call quality, long talk time and improved speed over previous Android devices. _ The bad: The QWERTY keyboard feels flat and the dialpad control is restricted to the home screen. Music and video capabilities still trail behind the competition. Dual-mode functionality for world-roaming capabilities would have been a nice addition. The Droid does not support Bluetooth voice dialing. _ The cost: $199.99 to $599.99 _ The bottom line: Despite some design issues and a couple of missing features, the Motorola Droid is the most powerful and fastest Google Android device to date. It fully embraces the openness of the Android platform and offers Verizon customers a smart phone that certainly rivals the other touch-screen devices on the market. _ Full review: http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/motorola-droid-verizon-wireless/4505-6452_7-33783559.html ___ Nokia E72 - black (Unlocked) _ CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent) _ The good: The Nokia E72 brings upgrades such as a faster processor, more memory and a better camera. The phone's design is both sleek and sturdy. It offers excellent messaging capabilities, 3G support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. _ The bad: The optical trackpad doesn't work very well. Speakerphone volume is a bit low. It has a lower-resolution screen compared with some of its competitors. Without carrier backing, the E72 carries an expensive price tag. _ The cost: $349.99 to $429.99 _ The bottom line: Though the price might be off-putting to many, the Nokia E72 is a well-designed and full-featured messaging smart phone for business users. _ Full review: http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/nokia-e72-black-unlocked/4505-6452_7-33882676.html ___ The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Senior Associate Editor Bonnie Cha, Senior Editor Kent German and Senior Features Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com. ___ (c) 2010, CNET Networks, Inc., a CBS Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. _____ TO SUBSCRIBE TO PLUGGED IN Items in the Plugged In package are not included in your MCT News Service subscription. You can subscribe to the Plugged In package or purchase the items a la carte on MCT Direct at www.mctdirect.com. 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