Mobiles Review

The good news is that this is one fantasy you can afford to indulge yourself. The Pantech C300 does, indeed, have the appearance of something the CIA might issue. But not with the usual government price tag. In fact, this phone is free. It’s free with your Cingular Wireless service order and no undercover credentials are required.

World’s Smallest and Lightest Flip Phone
The Pantech C300 is indeed the world’s smallest and lightest flip phone. The gorgeous textured silver color case measures a palmable 2.7 x 1.7 x 0.8 inches. Weight? Featherweight. Just 2.5 ounces.

Digital Camera and Two High Resolution Displays
The outside of your C300 sports a vivid high resolution color display, the camera lens and flash. It fits easily into any pocket or bag, even a shirt pocket or those small high fashion purses. Flip it open and you’ll find a larger high resolution color display and a nicely laid out keyboard. The display gives you a great view of the clear color pictures you’ll take with the built-in VGA quality digital camera, plus pictures messages you receive from your fellow agents??¦er??¦friends. You can include sound as well as text with your pictures through the Pantech’s multimedia messaging capability.

Text and Instant Messaging Capable
Of course, there are situations when it is not prudent to speak (wink, wink). For those you have standard SMS text messaging available, plus instant messaging with AOL IM, Yahoo! Messenger and ICQ all built-in. You can even browse mobile web sites using the included WAP 2.0 browser.

Hands-Free Operations
At other times, it may be unsafe or inconvenient to be holding a cell phone to your ear. No problem. Just switch on the built-in speakerphone and you can converse hands-free.

It’s been a long, long while since we last saw a Windows Mobile based palmtop - many years, in fact - and to our great dismay, we might add. As the world switched its attention to handhelds and smartphones, palmtops suffered a steep decline in interbest; no wonder, since their feature sets languished and engineers did little to reduce their considerable girth. Strange is it then, how things can suddenly turn around - of which T-Mobile’s new palmtop communicator, the MDA Pro, is excellent proof.

Super-size me: a true story
At 128 x 81 x 25 mm and a 285 g, the T-Mobile MDA Pro easily trumps even heavyweights such as Nokia’s 9500 Communicator, yet remains surprisingly pocket friendly. Borrowing a page from the world of tablet convertibles, the device not only opens to become a clamshell; its screen half also swivels 180 degrees and closes to allow for tablet mode operation, with phone functionality not only preserved in both of these modes but also when closed.

Buttons sprout from every corner of the MDA Pro, allowing for quick access to important functions. It takes a bit of practice to open the device in clamshell mode without accidentally pressing one or two of them, but apart from this we’re as pleased with the buttons as we are with the sturdy, angular stylus; the large, dual alert LEDs and the front-mounted Infrared port. On the note of audio, we find - expectedly tinny - dual stereo speakers mounted in front, as well as a 3.5 mm earphone jack mounted in back - a bit impractical for pocket use.

The 1.3 Megapixel camera on the back of the MDA Pro takes decent pictures, but does not quite measure up to the likes of recent handsets; still, it trumps any other communicator on the market, although we have to say that the LED flash is more of a gimmick than anything else.

Finally, a proper thumbboard
Opening the MDA Pro is something of a revelation. Granted, the 3.6-inch transflective TFT screen with VGA resolution is a first for Windows Mobile communicators, performing superbly indoors as well as quite good outdoors - yet must is trumped by Nokia’s recent communicators in the latter mentioned scenario. The thumbboard, however, with its comfortably large and bevelled keys, is absolutely superb and - to our astonishment - doesn’t take a back seat to that of the highly acclaimed Nokia 9300 Communicator.

Dedicated keys for navigating the interface in a less stylus-intensive manner abound, and given the rework of the user interface in Windows Mobile 5.0 we also find two soft keys for this express purpose. The lack of a Ctrl key disappoints us, however, as certain functions such as copying, pasting and deleting objects could have been performed in far swifter manners than through context menus. Similarly, German users of the device may very well be disappointed in the lack of dedicated for certain German special characters.

Tactile feedback is excellent, and audible feedback for once just right - which also goes for the five-way navigational pad flanking the screen on its right side. We’re also pleased by the well-working light sensor which activates the backlight of the thumbboard, but less so by the easily-dispersing bright orange colour of said backlight. Finally, a 0.3 MP camera is also found to the right of the screen, suitable only for its main purpose: enabling video calling.

Rolling up the sleeves
From the perspective of processing power, the MDA Pro can propel just about any application at swift speeds courtesy of its 520 MHz Intel processor. Disappointingly, however, although the device relies solely on non-volatile memory and as such negates the risk of data loss present in past Windows Mobile devices, only 48 MB is available for running programs whereas 44 MB is available for storage. In leighman’s terms: expect to make good use of the SD Card slot.

Where the MDA Pro really shines, however, is in terms of connectivity. Not only equipped with tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz and GPRS Class 10, the communicator is also the first Windows Mobile device to support 3G in the shape of WCDMA 2100 MHz - also known as UMTS. Unfortunately, the selection of Bluetooth profiles is limited, but Wi-Fi 802.11b compensates with solid security support whereas more traditional forms of connectivity include Infrared and USB 2.0 - the latter of which also supports USB charging; genius. Should that not be enough, there’s also an SDIO capable SD/MMC card slot which is certain to come in handy for memory expansion.

Performance for all of the above proved very good indeed, although 3G transfer rates weren’t among the very fastest we’ve seen. Signal reception and audio quality proved similarly good, although the MDA Pro exhibited slight microphone issues during our testing, resulting in low volume on the receiving end. Video call quality, on the other hand, was impeccable, and we were particularly impressed by the ability to carry out a call whilst simultaneously surfing the net over a 3G connection.

With all of these connecivity options and powerful specifications, it wouldn’t be unnatural for the MDA Pro to exhibit lackluster battery life - but in fact, it fared quite well. Claimed talk times and standby times of 8 hours and 11 days respectively are greatly exaggerated; in our tests, the device required charging every two days with average use. Needless to say, extensive use of 3G or Wi-Fi connectivity would impact this average severely.

A case of the emperor’s new clothes?
As the first device to make it to market powered by Windows Mobile 5.0, the MDA Pro has both praise and criticism coming to it. With the addition of soft keys to the user interface, one-handed navigation has now been vastly improved across the board. Pocket Internet Explorer has gained a new full screen mode and a progress bar, although we detest the fact that any link or button which activates the browser will always initiate loading of T-Mobile’s dedicated microbrowser site. Also, the new Office Mobile suite has not only received sorely needed feature upgrades but also a new member in PowerPoint Mobile - yet roundtrip support remains poor.

Similarly, the Connection Manager remains an unintuitive mess, and the removal of Wi-Fi synchronization support from ActiveSync 4.0 - required for Windows Mobile 5.0 devices - does not at all please us. Exchange users, on the other hand, will be pleased to learn that Tasks synchronization is now possible with Exchange servers running Service Pack 2 or higher. Also, the Contacts and Inbox applications have received visual makeovers, and now present data more legibly.

Other oddities include the loudspeaker not automatically engaging when the device is used for calls in clamshell mode, and similarly the device unintuitively failing to reanimate from standby mode if closed for too long. Thankfully, at least the display automatically reorientates itself depending on which mode the display is placed in. Lastly, it should also be noted that speaker dependent voice dialing is included, and even works with Bluetooth headsets - a highly welcome addition even though we would have preferred speaker independency.

Availability
The T-Mobile MDA Pro is at the time of press available exclusively from mobile network operator T-Mobile in Germany, selling for ?‚¬430 with a two-year service agreement, or ?‚¬750 EUR in a SIM unlocked version with no service agreement. T-Mobile MDA Pro

Conclusion
Concealed beneath its modestly attractive exterior, the T-Mobile MDA Pro harbours an impressive mix of unparallelled connectivity options, raw power and an excellent thumbboard. A high-quality display further enhances a positive impression, as do several software upgrades and visual makeovers in Windows Mobile 5.0 - although several areas remain unpolished. Furthermore, prospective buyers should be acutely aware of GPRS-UMTS handover issues which could cause severe head aches for heavy data users. Apart from this problem, however, the MDA Pro comes recommended as a very well-rounded communicator indeed.

Intro
Smart phones have come a long way in terms of design and form factor. You’re no longer restricted to carrying around bricks for phones and instead have a choice of sleek, sexy numbers like the Motorola Q, the T-Mobile SDA, and the RIM BlackBerry Pearl. Yet, smart phones are limited in that they all sport a candy-bar-style form factor??“that is, until now. Today, Cingular announced at the CTIA 2006 fall show the immediate availability of the Cingular 3125 (a.k.a. HTC StarTrek), the first Windows Mobile 5 smart phone to rock a sleek clamshell design. To sweeten the deal, it carries a very reasonable price tag of $149.99 with a contract. Overall, we like the new look, though there’s a period of acclimation and some quirks, such as small side keys and an inconveniently located expansion slot. Feature-wise, there’s nothing really new here as in the Cingular 2125 and the T-Mobile SDA. However, for flip phone fanatics who want that Windows Mobile functionality, the Cingular 3125 is a solid choice??“actually, it’s your only choice.

Design
We have mixed feelings about the Cingular 3125’s design. While we’re fans of the clamshell form factor and its slim profile (3.87 by 2.02 by 0.64 inches; 3.82 ounces), this isn’t the most attractive handset we’ve seen, and it’s a bit long in its closed and opened state. The former is not a problem if you slip it into a purse, but a couple of guys complained to us about the length of the phone as it stuck out of their jeans pocket. Also, when held up to the ear for phone calls, the mouthpiece extends down quite a bit. That said, we commend the thinness of the smart phone (?  la the Motorola Razr) and to be fair, we grew to like it more as we got acclimated to the design.

On the front flap is a 1.2-inch LCD that garnered a lot of oohs and aahs from passersby, thanks to its sharp 128?—128-pixel resolution and the cool blue font, which offers a nice contrast against the phone’s black casing. The screen shows off all the basic info, such as date, time, network strength, and battery life, and we really like that you can change the wallpaper and backlight time-out. When the music player is activated, the external screen will show you the track title, artist, song length, and volume. Conveniently, just below the screen, you also have music player controls, including track forward, track back, and play/stop. Above the display is the Cingular 3125’s camera lens, but disappointingly, there’s no flash or self-portrait mirror, though you can use the external display for the latter.

A button on the right side of the phone activates the camera. However, this sliver of a control occupies the top, thinner half of the flap, making it hard to find and press by feel. The same problem exists on the left spine, where you will find the voice recorder button and volume up/down keys. We really had a hard time adjusting the audio levels during phone calls and often had to pull the handset away from our face to find the controls; it’s even worse when you hold the mobile in your right hand as you have to use your index finger to manipulate the buttons, which seems a bit unnatural when compared to using your thumbs.
There’s some redemption when you open the Cingular 3125 and are presented with a beautiful internal screen and a spacious keypad. The TFT LCD measures 2.2 inches diagonally and boasts a sharp, 240?—320-pixel resolution. Colors are bright, and text and images are extrasharp. Like all devices running Windows Mobile Smartphone Edition, the 3125 does not have a touch screen. Rather, you navigate the menus and enter commands via the controls below the display. You have two soft keys, talk and end buttons, a home page shortcut, a back button, a five-way navigation control, and a numerical dial pad. Like the phone itself, the style of the keypad reminds us of the Motorola Razr with its flat design and laser-cut look. The buttons were easy to press and the numerical dial pad was particularly roomy, so even users with larger fingers shouldn’t have a problem. That said, the lack of a QWERTY keyboard makes the 3125 better for viewing e-mail rather than sending it.
The Cingular 3125 does have a Micro SD expansion slot, but it’s inconveniently located behind the battery cover and the SIM card. We’re already irked that we have to remove the battery cover, but having to go through two hoops to access the expansion slot is truly a hassle. Finishing out the 3125’s design elements is a power/USB cable connector on the lower right side, as well as two small LEDs on the lower-left corner of the front cover that blink different colors for network status (green), Bluetooth (blue), and battery status (orange).

Features
Much of the buzz surrounding the Cingular 3125 centered around its design, but this phone has a solid feature set as well. However, its features are still standard fare for a smart phone and very similar to its candy-bar-style cousin, the Cingular 2125. The 3125 runs Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone Edition and comes with the complete ClearVue Suite for viewing Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files. You can’t edit the documents, but given the lack of a full keyboard or touch screen, it’s not the ideal device for such a thing anyway. Still, the ability to even access these files allows you to be more productive on the road, and we’re happy to report that we had no problems transferring and opening all four types of documents on our test unit. Other PIM tools include a calendar, a task manager, a calculator, and a download agent.

The Cingular 3125 comes with Outlook Mobile and is compatible with the Microsoft Exchange Server with direct push e-mail solutions available through Microsoft, GoodLink, and Cingular Xpress Mail. You can also configure the 3125 to access your POP3 and IMAP4 e-mail accounts. For instant-messaging fans, only the MSN client is preloaded onto the device. Users of other popular IM apps, such as Yahoo and AOL, will have to go through the Web browser. Alternatively, text and multimedia messaging are available for quick notes.

You also get Windows Media Player 10 Mobile??“after all, it can’t be all about work, right? The 3125 supports MP3, WMA, AAC, and AMR-NB music files (you can also shop for music via the Cingular Music store) and MPEG-4, WMV, AVI, and H.263 video formats.

As a phone, the 3125’s address book is limited only by the available memory (64MB RAM, 128MB ROM), while the SIM card holds an additional 250 contacts. For each entry, you can store up to 12 numbers, three e-mail and instant-messaging addresses, birthdays, anniversaries, and more. You can also pair them with a picture for caller ID, a group category, and one of 14 ring tones. As a bonus, the phone supports MIDI, MP3, WMA, AMR-NB, and AAC ring tones. You get a vibrate mode, a speakerphone, speed dial, and voice tags. In addition, Bluetooth 1.2 is onboard for use with headsets and car kits, but like the 2125, the 3125 lacks integrated Wi-Fi, although there is EDGE support.

The Cingular 3125 is equipped with a 1.3-megapixel camera with 2X zoom and video-recording capabilities. For still images, you have a choice of four quality settings (Basic, Normal, Fine, and Super-Fine) and four resolutions (160?—120, 320?—240, 640?—480, and 1,280?—1,024). And while there’s no flash, there is a Night mode under the white balance settings. You also get a self-timer, a time- and date-stamp option, and a photo counter. The 3125’s camera records video with sound in MPEG-4, H.263, or Motion-JPEG AVI format, and it offers two resolutions (176?—144 or 128?—96).

Performance
We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; EDGE) Cingular 3125 in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and overall, call quality was good. On our end, conversations were loud and clear. Our callers reported excellent audio quality and added that they couldn’t tell we were on a cell phone. Unfortunately, activating the speakerphone diminished audio quality a bit. Our friends reported no problems, but they sounded garbled to us.

Aside from its phoning capabilities, the 3125 was sometimes sluggish to perform other tasks. There was a bit of lag time as we switched between screens or called up different apps. However, music sounded great on the device and Web pages and video looked amazing on the sharp screen.

The Cingular 3125 is rated for 7 hours of talk time and up to 9 days of standby time. In our tests, we were able to get a good 8 hours of talk time from the phone’s lithium-ion battery.