review of some smart phones

[amphibian]

http://www.wirelessweek.com/index.as...eless+Internet

New smart phones getting up to speed

Wednesday April 17 12:00am
The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC)
Copyright 2002 The News and Observer

After years of hype about what next-generation wireless
devices can do, several have begun to land in local consumers'
hands. That means all the people holding their breath for the
nirvana of a handheld broadband experience in a combination cell
phone-personal digital assistant can exhale -- partially.
There is indeed a new variety of "smart phones" that allow
users to make a call, type e-mail or consult a data file without
juggling multiple gadgets. Many new phones sport sleek design
features that make typing information into a phone keyboard a
more pleasant experience than the finger-cramping exercise it has
been so far.

<snip>

Bill Geschwind just bought a Samsung I300 for $ 375, which
allows him to look up a phone number in his contacts database and
dial with a few touches on the device's color screen. Then he
holds it up to his ear like a regular cell phone.

"I bought it to reduce my gadget head count," said the
36-year-old Geschwind, who oversees desktop management support
for UNC-Chapel Hill's division of student affairs. "Before, I
would use a Palm to find a phone number and then type in the
number on my cell phone -- that's kind of awkward when you're
walking down the street."

The phone, which hit the market in August and works on the
Sprint PCS network, won't be able to use that company's
high-speed data network, due to be available in the Triangle and
nationwide in July. But that doesn't bother Geschwind.

<snip>

The Handspring Treo, which will go for about $ 400, flips open
to operate as both a PDA and a phone. Information can be tapped
in with a real keyboard, a virtual one on the screen or with
handwriting-recognition technology, which allows the user to draw
letters on the screen that are recognized by the operating
system. The user can hold it up to his ear or use the
speakerphone feature.

Consumers can buy the Handspring Treo on the Web site now, and
the phone will work. Software downloads will be available later
that will upgrade the device so it can use Cingular's 2.5G
network.

Other devices do the same thing, but a little less
efficiently. The $ 500 BlackBerry 5810, for example, adds phone
capability to its familiar handheld messaging keyboard, but it
requires an earpiece that plugs into the device with a wire.

Cingular subscribers also can use the Sony-Ericsson T68 phone,
which has been a big hit in Europe with its color screen that can
display photographs. The device, which will sell for about $ 350,
is also one of the few devices equipped with Bluetooth, a
technology that allows two different gadgets to communicate with
each other without wires.

That comes in handy when users want to transfer files or
update calendar information from another device. Extras include a
digital camera that can transmit photos to the phone with
Bluetooth.

While these devices all work on Cingular's network, many of
the eye-catching features don't need the high-speed connections
to work. And those networks pose limitations on where you can use
the phones.

<snip>

Sprint PCS will make available the Samsung SPH-n400 and
SPH-a500 phones when its high-speed network comes on the air
nationwide in July. Those phones feature full-color screens and
polyphonic ringers as well as fast Internet connections. Sprint
also has struck a deal with Handspring to develop its own version
of the Treo smart phone to be released at the same time.

<snip>

The Kyocera 2235 phone, which goes for $ 79.99 with a two-year
subscriber commitment to Verizon Wireless, works on their current
network and also will be able to perform e-mail and data
functions on the Express Network when it becomes available.

That service promises the same kind of features that Cingular
offers -- corporate e-mail access and faster Web browsing.

The key difference is speed. The technology Sprint PCS and
Verizon Wireless are using should be able to send information at
an average of 40 kilobits to 60 kilobits per second or comparable
to current home dialup Internet connections, according to Zweig
of Shosteck Associates.

The Cingular network provides a connection that ranges from
9.6 kilobits per second -- about as fast as current wireless
connections get -- to a maximum of 40 kilobits per second, said
Don Van Liew, the Raleigh-based manager of network technical
operations for Cingular's Southeast region. But Cingular could
increase the speed of its service as demand grows for the data
features, he said.

Slower connections could be a big factor in winning
subscribers if people get interested in the Internet access cards
for laptop computers that Cingular and Verizon Wireless are
offering.

Both providers will market Sierra Wireless AirCards that tap
into the 2.5G networks to deliver laptop phone service, a
versatile e-mail function and Internet browsing -- although it is
limited to wireless access protocol, or WAP, sites, the
bare-bones Internet sites already available on Internet-enabled
phones.

While the new devices don't deliver on the jaw-dropping
promises of 3G service, they're still a welcome improvement for
some local gadget addicts.

<snip>

Sony Ericsson T68

- Bright color screen

- Built-in miniature joystick for playing games

- Attachable camera that can be used to send photos by e-mail

- Can be hooked to a laptop as a modem for Internet access

###

Sierra Wireless AirCard

- Provides wireless Internet connections for laptops on both
Cingular and Verizon wireless high-speed data networks.

- Allows for e-mail, Web browsing and corporate network
access.

- Provides phone service capability for Cingular networks.

###

Handspring Treo

- Combination personal digital assistant and mobile phone in
one device: messaging, Web browsing, phone and PDA functions.

- Choice of keyboard, virtual keyboard, or
handwriting-recognition software.

- Versions are being developed to access high-speed networks
for Cingular and Sprint PCS.

- Provides 2.5 hours of talk time.

[Jack]

Thanks for the info amphibian

Jack