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BUYER'S GUIDE: All-in-ones

BY MICHAEL ANTONIAK

Always at hand
Where to begin?
Multifunction handhelds
Cellular contacts

Always at hand

More and more people are turning to multipurpose mobile devices to meet their communication needs. And with so many choices in the market there’s now an all-in-one solution for every practitioner. The latest multifunction handhelds—called smartphones, PDAs, Pocket PCs, or camera phones, depending on their primary functionality—pack the essential tools, information, and communication links you require in one compact device.

Which of these versatile marvels best matches your style, dexterity, and essential needs?

It depends. At their core, all-in-ones include phone, e-mail, and text-messaging capabilities, as well as contact-management and scheduling software.

Aside from these features, there’s great variance in both the form and functionality of the hardware. Other distinguishing features include the screen, data entry method, memory, expandability, wireless connectivity, and camera resolution.

Before you buy, decide which of these features matter most. Some people want a large screen for comfortable viewing and Web browsing. Others put data entry first and require a QWERTY keypad or electronic stylus and a touch-sensitive screen. A few seek the most performance in the lightest package.

If you expect to print photos from your all-in-one, you’ll want more than the VGA-level resolution offered in many models; you’ll want at least 1 mega pixel. For a mobile connection to printers and other devices or to link up with a wireless Internet connection, you’ll need Bluetooth or Wi-Fi compatibility, respectively. And if your all-in-one will be an alternative to a notebook, concentrate on its processing power, operating system, and software compatibility.

Once you establish your usage profile, you can consider extras such as removable memory, voice and video recording capability, speakerphone, and voice-activated dialing. Take time to find the all-in-one that’s the perfect fit, and you’ll be able to do more and carry less.

Where to begin?

Although there’s an abundance of competing all-in-one products, only a few may be practical and available to you. Do a little research before you pick your hardware.

  • If you want a device that gives you MLS access, ask your MLS provider which platforms—PDA, cell phone, or Web—and specific devices it supports.
  • If you’re satisfied with the service from your present cellular provider, see if it supports any of the devices served by your MLS. Your most cost-effective solution is likely an upgraded service plan and a new handheld.
  • Assess and identify the costs of the communication channels—Web access, e-mail, messaging—you intend to use. Your best deal may be a monthly flat-rate plan for voice, data, and mobile Web access.

    Multifunction handhelds

    Koi/KX2 $149.99 Kyocera Wireless, www.kyocerawireless.com,800/349-4188.
    1.2-megapixel multifunction phone. Phone/messaging/personal information management/Web browsing/e-mail/camera. Tri-mode phone with speakerphone. 2-inch screen. 16MB RAM. Video and voice recording capability. 4 ounces. Available through Verizon Wireless.

    BlackBerry 7100 $249.99 Research In Motion, www.blackberry.com.
    Compact multifunction handheld. Phone/messaging/personal information management/Web browsing/e-mail. Quad-band digital phone with speakerphone. 32MB RAM. QWERTY keypad. Compatible with Bluetooth wireless headsets and car kits. 4.24 ounces. Available through Cingular and T-Mobile.

    hiptop2 $299.99 Danger Inc., www.danger.com,650/289-5000.
    Ultracompact smartphone with flipscreen. Phone/messaging/personal information management/Web browsing/e-mail/camera. Tri-band phone with speakerphone. Screen flips up to reveal QWERTY keypad. VGA digital camera with flash. External buttons for controlling functions when unit is closed. 7 ounces. Available as Sidekick II through T-Mobile.

    i860 $299.99 Motorola, www.motorola.com, 866/289-6686.
    Multifunction camera phone. Phone/messaging/e-mail/personal information management/camera/walkie-talkie. Digital phone with speakerphone. VGA camera, video and voice recording capability, voice-activated dialing, and internal and external LCD screens. 25MB RAM. 4.77 ounces. Available through Nextel Communications.

    MM-5600 $429.99 Sanyo Wireless Communications, www.sanyowireless.com,
    818/998-7322 x433.
    Multimedia camera phone. Phone/messaging/e-mail/personal information management/camera/walkie-talkie. Digital phone. 1.3MP digital camera with flash. Video and voice recording capability. Mini SD memory card slot. Direct printing of images to PictBridge-compatible printers. 4.5 ounces. Available through Sprint.

    P910a $499 Sony Ericsson, www.sonyericsson.com, 866/766-9374.
    Ultracompact multifunction phone. Phone/messaging/personal information management/Web browsing/e-mail/camera. GSM tri-band phone. 64MB RAM. Memory Stick Duo expansion card slot. VGA camera with image-editing software. Keypad on back of flip case. Supports Bluetooth and infrared wireless data transfers. 5.4 ounces. Carriers to be announced.

    SX66 $550 Siemens Communications Inc., www.siemens-mobile.com/usa, 800/765-6123.
    Pocket PC smartphone running Windows Mobile. Phone/messaging/PDA/Web browsing/e-mail/camera. Quad-band digital phone. 400MHz processor, 128MB RAM. SD memory card slot. 3.5-inch touch-sensitive screen. Slide-out QWERTY keypad and electronic stylus. Built-in support for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless connections. 7.4 ounces. Available through Cingular.

    iPAQ h6315 $599 Hewlett-Packard, www.hp.com/go/nar, 800/888-8177.
    Pocket PC smartphone running Windows Mobile. Phone/messaging/PDA/Web browsing/e-mail/camera. Quad-band digital phone. Built-in support for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and IrDA wireless connections. 55MB RAM. SD memory card slot. Touch-sensitive 3.5-inch color screen. Removable snap-on keypad for entering text. VGA camera. 6.7 ounces. Available through T-Mobile.

    Voq Professional Phone $599 Sierra Wireless, www.voq.com, 604/232-1488.
    Pocket PC smartphone running Windows Mobile. Phone/messaging/PDA/Web browsing/e-mail. Digital phone with speakerphone. 200MHz processor, 32MB RAM. 3.5-inch touch-sensitive screen. SD memory card slot. Flip-open QWERTY keypad. 5.1 ounces. Available through resellers.

    XV6600WOC $629.99 Audiovox Communications, www.audiovox.com, 800/229-1235.
    Pocket PC smartphone running Windows Mobile. Phone/text messaging/PDA/Web browsing/e-mail. Digital dual-band phone with speakerphone. 400MHz processor, 128MB RAM. Slide-away QWERTY keypad and touch-sensitive screen for entering text and controlling functions. Bluetooth compatible. SD memory card slot. 2.1 x 2.8-inch screen; 6.3 ounces. Available through Sprint (with built-in camera) and Verizon Wireless.

    Treo 650 $699 palmOne Inc., www.palmone.com, 800/881-7256.
    Palm OS-compatible smartphone. Phone/messaging/PDA/Web browsing/e-mail/camera. Dual-band digital phone. 312MHz processor, 32MB RAM. Runs Palm OS software applications. QWERTY keypad. 1.84-inch touch-sensitive screen with electronic stylus. SD memory card slot. Supports Bluetooth and infrared wireless data transfers. VGA digital camera. 6.3 ounces. Available through Cingular and Sprint.

    i730 TBA Samsung, www.samsung.com,800/726-7864.
    Pocket PC smartphone running Windows Mobile OS. Phone/messaging/personal information management/Web browsing/e-mail. Dual-band, digital phone with speakerphone and voice-activated dialing. 520MHz processor, 64MB RAM. SD memory card slot. Slide-out QWERTY keypad. 2.8-inch touch-sensitive screen. Bluetooth support. Stereo speakers for music playback. 6.4 ounces. Carriers to be announced.

    Cellular service contacts

    Cingular, www.cingular.com, 888/333-6651
    Nextel, www.nextel.com/nar, 877/607-8998
    Sprint, www.sprint.com, 888/253-1315
    T-Mobile, www.tmobile.com, 800/866-2453
    Verizon, www.verizon.com, 800/256-4646

    Cellular providers are listed at the end of each product description where the manufacturer has provided that information.

    Prices are the manufacturers’ suggested retail prices and are subject to change. This list isn’t comprehensive; NAR doesn’t evaluate or endorse these products and services and isn’t responsible for changes in company info.

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