The most recent articles from IT Week

Review: iPhone 3G boosts web experience

Daniel Robinson — 2008-07-30T12:30:00.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, Wednesday 30 July 2008 at 12:30:00

Apple's 3G iPhone has faster web access, but lags behind other mobiles in corporate features

The iPhone 3G is an updated version of Apple's touch-screen smartphone, adding support for faster 3G network connections and also GPS capability for location-based services such as navigation. However, despite the addition of some enterprise-friendly features, the iPhone is still more of a consumer device than a business tool.

Available in the UK since July on O2's network, the iPhone 3G is a slick, user-friendly device that offers support for Microsoft Exchange email systems and an impressive web browser. This makes the device attractive for accessing web-based applications, but the lack of a keyboard will be a handicap for many users, and its device management capabilities are still rudimentary compared with other platforms.

The new iPhone is almost identical in appearance to the first version, with a 3.5in display that almost fills the front panel. There are few other controls – a single button beneath the screen returns the user to the "home" screen when pressed, an on/off switch is on the top edge of the case, and the left edge has a ringer off toggle and volume up/down button.

At 133g, the iPhone is heaver than a standard phone, but still lighter than many smartphones. It is also roughly the same size as many rival devices, such as the BlackBerry Curve. Like the original iPhone, this new model has 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in addition to its GSM and 3G cellular radios.

Unlike most other touch-screen devices, the iPhone's user interface is entirely finger driven. No stylus is supplied, as these do not work - the screen does not respond to pressure. A bonus of this is that you are less likely to accidentally dial a number with the iPhone in a bag or your pocket. The device's 320x480 display is also one of the best we have seen on any mobile device.

The home screen presents a set of application icons that the user simply touches to activate, with key functions such as phone, email and Safari (web browser) in a row at the bottom of the display. Inside an application, the controls are likewise activated by touch. When data input is required, an on-screen keyboard appears, and some functions are controlled by gestures. Inside the browser, for example, putting two fingers on the screen and pulling them apart zooms in, while an on-screen slider control is used to unlock the device.

We found the on-screen keyboard unsatisfactory compared with a physical keyboard, especially those on many BlackBerry models. Whenever your finger goes anywhere near the screen, it registers as a keypress, often causing the wrong character to be entered. In our experience, this makes the iPhone unsuitable for heavy-duty messaging, although the phone dialling keypad with fewer keys works just fine.

The iPhone's new 3G support provides HSDPA download speeds up to 3.6Mbit/s, and we found this noticeably improved loading of web pages in the Safari browser compared with the original iPhone, although browsing over a Wi-Fi connection is still faster.

For enterprise customers, the iPhone 3G now supports Microsoft's Exchange, and is capable of receiving email, contacts and calendar updates pushed over the cellular connection. Administrators can also gain limited control of an iPhone using policies applied via Exchange, such as enforcing passwords or remotely wiping a device. However, the iPhone does not implement all Exchange features.

To provision a handset, the iPhone 3G supports Configuration Profiles, XML files that contain settings for device security policies, VPN configuration, Exchange settings and certificates. Apple provides a web-based configuration console that enables administrators to create configuration files and email them direct to users from the console itself, or post them to a web site for downloading.

The other major new feature of the iPhone 3G is GPS. This provides the user's location for applications such as the built-in Google Maps, which can give directions to local amenities and user-specified destinations. The iPhone supports Assisted GPS (A-GPS), which makes use of information from the cellular network as well as satellites to determine location.

We found that the iPhone was unable to get a fix on our location in central London, due to the number of tall buildings that interfere with the satellite signals. Outside the capital, however, the iPhone had no difficulty pinpointing the location within minutes.

Another new feature aimed at enterprise buyers is VPN support. This includes L2TP, PPTP and Cisco IPSec protocols, with authentication via RSA SecurID or CryptoCard tokens. L2TP and PPTP additionally support MS-CHAPv2 authentication.

From a business perspective, the iPhone 3G thus has potential for some vertical applications, if developers can match the level of ease of use demonstrated in the built-in software. Our review unit shipped with 16GB of Flash storage (an 8GB unit is also available), which should provide ample space for applications and data.

This must be measured against the fact that the iPhone doubles as an iPod media player and has a link from the home screen direct to the iTunes music store, features that are unlikely to endear the device to corporate buyers.

There is also no easy way for a customer to replace the battery. Unlike most other mobile handsets, this means that users cannot carry a spare on a business trip in case the main battery runs out. It also means that the iPhone must be returned to Apple to replace a defective battery.

Apple would not specify the size of the battery inside the new iPhone, but quotes the handset as lasting for five hours of talk time, or up to 300 hours on standby. Apple also claims the device can deliver up to five hours internet use on a 3G connection, or six hours on Wi-Fi.

Review: Has the BlackBerry met its match?

Daniel Robinson — 2008-07-11T14:58:00.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, Friday 11 July 2008 at 14:58:00

Nokia’s corporate messaging phone boasts a sleek design, an impressive range of features and good battery life

Nokia’s E71 is a corporate handset designed for messaging with a comprehensive specification including GPS for navigation, Microsoft Exchange email support, a VPN for secure communication, and voice-over-IP (VoIP) for making calls over a Wi-Fi connection.

Due to become available before the end of July, the E71 is the successor to Nokia’s E61 but is a slimmer and more capable device. With its qwerty keyboard, the new model is an obvious rival for RIM’s BlackBerry, but heavy email users will probably find it too cramped in comparison. Nevertheless, we expect that the E71 will find favour as a high-end corporate phone thanks to its combination of features and decent battery life.

In tests, we found the E71 easier to use than previous E-series handsets, although there are a multitude of configuration settings that will make some form of management tool essential for IT departments planning to deploy it to users.

The handset itself is about the same size as a BlackBerry Curve, but is slightly heavier at 126g despite being noticeably thinner – no more than 10mm at its thickest point. This means users will not need to carry a separate phone and email device, as was necessary with some bulkier older BlackBerry models. It also feels sturdy, thanks to its stainless steel casing.

However, the E71’s compact design means its qwerty keys are small and closely spaced, although they have a domed profile to make them easier to press. We have grown used to tiny phone keypads and so had no difficulty keying in emails and text messages using thumb typing, but colleagues that regularly use a BlackBerry said they found the keys too small for easy use.

Nokia’s 2.3in 320x240 display is easy to read in all but the brightest sunlight, and the phone’s home screen has shortcuts to commonly accessed functions such as email, calendar, web browser, a search tool and maps. The user can customise which shortcuts are displayed.

One interesting feature is the E71’s support for a second home screen. This enables users to keep their work and personal use of the handset separate. The second screen can be configured with a different background, application shortcuts and email notifications from the main screen, and users can switch between the two at any time.

We found that the small screen meant we had to pan and zoom a lot when viewing web pages in Nokia’s browser, but we were able to satisfactorily access many common sites. The E71 has a Flash Lite player, which lets users view Flash content in web pages.

Like many other current handsets, the E71 supports HSDPA, which extends the 3G data bandwidth to support speeds up to 3.6Mbit/s, although this is unlikely to be seen in practice. It also has 802.11g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and is a quad-band device for making GSM voice calls.

We tested the E71 using a SIM supplied by Vodafone, and we were able to get a 3G data connection pretty much all the time, both inside and outside London. This gave a reasonable experience when surfing the web, but was not as responsive as when using Wi-Fi.

Using Wi-Fi on the E71 is an improvement over the E61. We found we could search for available networks and select one, then simply enter the passcode to gain access. The E71 remembers these settings and will then automatically connect to access points it knows about.

As a messaging device, the E71 supports Microsoft’s ActiveSync protocol for Exchange mail systems, plus Nokia’s own Intellisync middleware, which can link with Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino or Novell GroupWise. These suites can also be used to apply management settings, and remotely lock or wipe the handset. Email support also covers POP3 mail accounts, with a wizard that automates much of the setup.

One neat security feature is that the user can define a word or phrase that locks the handset when sent to it as an SMS text message. This allows the E71 and any memory card in it to be remotely locked if it is misplaced or stolen, and requires a PIN to unlock it again. The phone replies with a message to let you know that the remote lock has been successful.

For navigation, the E71 supports Assisted GPS (A-GPS), which augments the satellite signals with position information from the cellular network. Nokia’s Maps application allows users to get a fix on their location, but we found the handset can take anything up to 20 minutes to get an initial fix, which can be frustrating. Nokia Maps can also search for amenities and give walking or driving instructions to navigate there. It can give spoken instructions, but users are required to pay for this latter service.

Nokia also includes a VoIP client with the E71 that enables users to make and receive calls over Wi-Fi. This uses the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), commonly used by corporate messaging servers and IP PBX equipment. We tested it using an internet-based SIP service provider, and found the call quality comparable to that when using the cellular network.

Configuring SIP requires a great deal of information to be keyed in, which means most workers are unlikely to be able to set this up themselves. It can be set to automatically switch over to VoIP calls if it is connected to an authorised Wi-Fi access point, which should make it possible for firms to save on mobile call costs by ensuring that calls are routed via the company PBX when users are on-site.

Nokia’s Mobile VPN is an IPSec-based client, compatible with Check Point and Cisco gateways, which can be managed via a policy server. Other applications supplied with the E71 include Quickoffice, which supports Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint files (in the formats used up to Office 2003). It also has a Zip archive tool, Adobe PDF reader and a printing tool.

Although the Nokia is a slim-line handset, it comes with a decent-sized 1500mAh battery pack that seems to deliver a long battery life. During tests, we made frequent use of the 3G, Wi-Fi and GPS functions, yet still found the E71 lasted for about a week between charges. The charger for the handset is also very small – the size of a mains plug – making it easier to carry on journeys.

The E71 supports Micro SD Flash memory cards for storage, up to a maximum 8GB in size. The slot is to the left of the handset, adjacent to the display, and is protected by a rubbery cover. Next to this is a mini USB connector for linking the E71 to a PC for synchronisation using Nokia’s PC Suite. The E71 also has a built-in 3.2 megapixel camera with flash.

Review: smartphone points users in right direction

Daniel Robinson — 2008-05-02T13:05:00.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, Friday 2 May 2008 at 13:05:00

HP’s latest smartphone boasts satellite navigation capabilities, but battery life is limited

HP’s iPaq 614 Business Navigator is, as its name suggests, a device that combines mobile communications and navigation capabilities for professional users. As such, it is basically a smartphone with built-in GPS that can be used for turn-by-turn navigation, especially when combined with an optional HP car mounting kit.

Shipping since March, the iPaq 614 is about the size of a large bar of soap, putting it somewhere between a phone and a PDA. This is also an apt description of the device, which is designed for one-handed operation, but which also has a touch-screen and runs the Professional version of Windows Mobile 6 rather than the Smartphone edition.

As well as built-in GPS, the iPaq 614 supports 3G mobile networks with HSDPA – where this is available – and is a quad-band handset for making voice calls. It also has 802.11b/g Wi-Fi for faster browsing, and Bluetooth for linking to wireless headsets and other peripherals.

We found the iPaq 614 quite a handy compromise between the larger Pocket PC-style devices and smaller smartphones, and its larger 2.8in display is easier to read, especially when viewing web pages. HP has supplemented the standard phone dialling pad with several shortcuts such as a Windows menu key, OK button, and Clear and Enter keys. There are also two context-sensitive keys beneath the display. At 145g, it is also light for its size.

BlackBerry users will appreciate the jog dial to the left of the iPaq’s display, which lets you scroll through menus and select options while holding the device in one hand. There is also an unusual navigation control, the Smart-Touch wheel, which can be seen as a raised circle over the number keys. Sweeping your thumb clockwise around this scrolls down, while the reverse direction scrolls up.

However, despite HP’s efforts to make this a device for one-handed operation, we found there were occasions when it was easier to accomplish tasks by using the stylus, stored behind the bottom left of the iPaq. We could not close some windows without tapping the screen, for example.

While the phone, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios can all be turned on or off independently, there is no control for the GPS receiver. This comes on automatically when you open any application that needs it, according to HP. The iPaq 614 ships with Google Maps as its built-in navigation aid, but this downloads map data via the internet as required, and so will eat into a user’s data plan allowance. HP said its optional GPS Navigation Kit, available later in May, includes UK and European maps on a Micro SD card.

We found that the iPaq 614 was unable to get a fix on our position anywhere near IT Week’s offices in central London, due to the many high buildings that block clear reception of the satellite signals. It worked much better in suburban areas, but the device does take several minutes to get an initial fix after Google Maps is opened.

We tested the iPaq 614 using a Vodafone SIM, and found we could get a decent 3G connection in central London, even HSDPA intermittently. However, this dropped back to GPRS outside of the capital. When using 3G, we found download speeds made web browsing tolerable, but the version of Internet Explorer in Windows Mobile 6 is still not up to the standard set by Apple’s Safari browser in the iPhone.

The chief use of the iPaq 614 is likely to be as a phone and navigation aid, but as with other Windows Mobile devices it can link to Microsoft Exchange servers for push email delivery. The lack of a qwerty keypad makes it unsuitable for heavy email use, but HP does ship tools such as Voice Reply and Voice Commander that are designed to allow speech input and control.

The bright and clear 2.8in screen of the iPaq 614 also makes it better suited for displaying emails than many smaller phones, and a dedicated button switches this between portrait and landscape modes.

Powering the iPaq 614 is a 1590mAh lithium-polymer pack with a quoted life of up to four hours talk time and up to 10 days on standby. We were able to use the device for a couple of days from a single charge, but heavy use will likely shorten this.

Another niggle is that the SIM card and Micro SD card slots are both behind the battery, which means the phone has to be powered down and the battery removed in order to insert or remove a memory card.

The iPaq 614 is based on a 520MHz PXA270 processor with 128MB RAM and 256MB Flash ROM. It also features a three megapixel camera and ships with a built-in agent for HP’s Enterprise Mobility Suite (EMS) management tools.

Review: Nokia adds VoIP to business handset

Daniel Robinson — 2008-01-21T00:00:00.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, Monday 21 January 2008 at 00:00:00

The Nokia E51 fits the business essentials into a slim handset with IP telephony support

Nokia’s E51 handset is aimed squarely at business users, offering email access and advanced capabilities such as IP telephony over Wi-Fi, yet delivers this in a slimline and unobtrusive design in keeping with Nokia’s traditional candybar phone products. However, we were unable to test the E51’s IP telephony functions, so firms interested in this need to carefully evaluate that it works with their infrastructure.

Available since October 2007, the E51 blends smartphone features with those of a standard handset. It runs Nokia’s S60 3rd Edition SP1 user environment atop the Symbian OS 9.2 platform, and supports high-speed HSDPA 3G networks and 802.11g Wi-Fi capability, as well as quad-band GSM for voice calls.

Despite this, it weighs just 100g, so can easily be slipped into a pocket, and apart from its 2in colour display it could be just a conventional phone.

The design of the phone should make the E51 appeal to firms looking for a handset to standardise on for mobile workers, especially organisations considering IP telephony for calls made on-campus in the future. In this respect, the E51 is similar to HP’s iPaq 514 Voice Messenger, which we tested last year.

As part of Nokia’s corporate E series, the E51 has much in common with other phones in the range, such as the E61. But while several of these have a qwerty keyboard, the E51 instead has a standard numeric keypad, making it less suitable for heavy email and messaging use, and more of a voice-focused device.

We found the E51 easy to use, at least when accessing most features that workers will typically need on a regular basis. Configuring the device is a different matter however, with a host of different settings that need entering in numerous places in the menu for features such as Wi-Fi, email and internet telephony. Fortunately, Nokia enables IT managers to remotely provision most of these settings for employees using its Intellisync Device Management tool.

For example, we found it a chore to set up the E51 to send and receive email, largely because the numeric keypad makes it a long-winded process to key in email addresses. In fairness to Nokia, the E51 comes with a setup wizard that automatically discovered most settings after we filled in our email address, but HP’s iPaq 514 ships with a Windows configuration tool that let us enter settings on a PC, then transfer them over via a USB connection. Out of the box, the E51 supports Microsoft’s ActiveSync protocol for getting push email from Exchange servers, plus Imap and POP3 for other mail accounts.

We experienced some difficulties with the E51’s Wi-Fi interface, and found that the phone would regularly lose its connection with our test wireless access point. This is a problem we have previously encountered with other Nokia handsets, but in this case it was solved by switching to a different access point that was not hidden. We would advise IT departments interested in the E51 for this feature to test it with their wireless infrastructure before deployment.

Users can connect to a Wi-Fi network relatively easily by scanning with a tool provided on the home screen. If it finds a previously defined access point, the user can proceed directly to browsing the web using that connection; otherwise it will prompt for the access point’s password, and then automatically add it to the access point list. Users can also manually add access points using the Settings tool.

Aside from the phone’s standard voice call features, the E51 also supports IP telephony using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), enabling calls to be made over Wi-Fi. This can be configured so that the phone automatically makes a voice-over-IP call whenever a Wi-Fi connection is available, or to let staff choose which transport to use.

Sadly, we were unable to test IP telephony on the E51 as we could not get this feature operating in the time available for testing, even with assistance from Nokia. The feature requires a SIP profile to be created to hook up with a PBX or server providing voice services, and this needs a long list of parameters, much more

than with HP’s iPaq 514, for example, which we were able to make IP calls on.

However, our review unit featured a number of tools that are also likely to prove beneficial to enterprise users. The most notable is Team Suite, a collaboration tool that lets the user maintain a list of colleagues, and set up a conference call with several or all of them at once, plus send messages to them. There is also a Search tool akin to Google’s desktop search that enables you to quickly find information in contacts, notes, calendar entries, appointments and emails on the phone.

Nokia also ships the Quickoffice mobile productivity suite that supports Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint document formats. The version included on the E51 only supports viewing of files, but users can purchase and download an upgrade to full editing capability. Other applications include Nokia Maps, which can be used for navigation when combined with a Bluetooth GPS receiver, and various media players.

The screen of the E51 reveals that this is not just a standard handset, and fits a 240x320 display into its 2in area. We found this bright and sharp, making it easy to read. Although small, it gives a reasonable experience when using the Nokia web browser to view pages. The browser itself renders web pages very well for a mobile product, but we found we had to pan and zoom a great deal.

In our tests, we found web pages loaded quickly when we had a connection to a 3G data network or a Wi-Fi access point, but this slowed considerably if a standard GPRS connection was the only one available, which will be the situation for many users away from metropolitan areas.

Our review handset itself was stylish in design, with a metallic trim and a slide-off metal cover for the battery compartment at the rear. This is also where the SIM card slot and a slot for MicroSD Flash cards are found. The phone also boasts a 2 megapixel digital camera, and ships with a USB PC sync cable and wired headset for making calls.

Battery life is quoted at up to 4.4 hours of talk time, and up to 13 days on standby.

Business review: iPhone out of touch with business needs

Daniel Robinson — 2007-12-17T00:00:00.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, Monday 17 December 2007 at 00:00:00

The iPhone has an impressive user interface but lacks key features for corporate use

Apple’s iPhone handset sports an advanced touch-driven user interface and an excellent browser that lets the user view full web pages while on the move. However, it does not appear to be an ideal device for either web-based applications or business email access, where the iPhone’s on-screen keyboard makes it unsuitable as a BlackBerry replacement.

The iPhone, available in the UK now from Apple and O2, combines the functions of a smartphone and an iPod media player in a stylish slimline device. It weighs about 135g, making it a little heavier than a standard mobile phone but lighter than many devices with a qwerty keyboard.

We found the iPhone made access to basic functions such as phone calls and voicemail very easy, which will make it appeal to the less tech-savvy user. However, while its web browser excels at displaying pages, the device only supports GPRS networks (with Edge where available) making browsing slow when out of range of a Wi-Fi access point. The iPhone also relies on a “soft” on-screen keyboard for input, and lacks the level of support for corporate email accounts found in many Windows Mobile or Symbian handsets.

Apple has aimed the iPhone at consumers, but it does have some potential as a business client. It runs a version of the OS X operating system used on Apple’s desktop Mac systems, albeit with a different user interface, so could potentially serve as a future platform for developing applications. It also has 8GB of built-in Flash, which could also prove useful for holding application data sets. Apple has said it will deliver a developers’ toolkit sometime early in 2008. However, the iPhone is not currently supported by any major management tools, so administrators cannot remotely lock or wipe the device as is possible with a BlackBerry.

The iPhone has a very minimalist appearance, with just a single control beneath its 3.5in touch-screen display. This is the home key, which returns the user to the main screen and also wakens the device if it has blanked the screen. On the device’s side there is a ringer mute and volume controls, plus a sleep/wake button on top.

Its screen is very clear and sharp, and one of the best we have seen on any mobile device. It also feels sturdy enough to stand up to being prodded all the time in everyday use. However, the screen rapidly becomes covered in unsightly fingerprints. This is because Apple’s user interface is finger driven, rather than using a stylus. In fact, it is touch-sensitive, and so does not respond to a stylus.

The home screen of the iPhone presents a grid of colourful icons, with the four chief functions Phone, Mail, Safari web browser and iPod in a separate strip along the bottom. Much thought has clearly gone into the user interface, which makes extensive use of animated effects, such as the way an application expands to fill the screen when you tap its icon, then collapses back again when you return to the home screen. Apple’s voicemail system makes good use of its visual interface to let you pick just the message you want to listen to, rather than having to listen to them in sequence.

In applications such as the Safari browser, fingertip control is used for navigation, so that you push the page up with your finger to scroll down, for example. Many options can also be set by flicking an on-screen slider switch.

Safari is probably the best mobile browser we have seen, especially in its handling of standard web pages. It loads up a view of the entire page, exactly as it would be seen on a desktop computer. This usually makes text too small to read, but users can easily zoom in to areas of interest.

To zoom in, you place two digits on the screen and move them apart, as if you are attempting to stretch the page. Reversing the gesture zooms out again. One neat feature is that the browser will automatically change the screen from portrait to landscape orientation if you rotate the iPhone 90 degrees while browsing.

We found Safari worked very well with commercial web sites such as BBC News, making the iPhone a good choice as a web access device. However, it proved less successful with web-based applications. It was incompatible with the iNotes web-based access for Lotus Notes, while GoogleMail served up a mobile version of the site designed for PDAs. Other applications such as IT Week’s content management system simply halted upon identifying it as an unsupported browser.

We found the GPRS slow for browsing. With a Wi-Fi connection, the experience is much more satisfactory, and we also found the iPhone’s Wi-Fi easy to configure and connect to our test access point. Wi-Fi can be turned on or off by a switch in the Settings screen, but is automatically turned off if the phone is put into flight mode.

Because the iPhone has no physical keypad, users are forced to use on-screen soft keys to dial numbers, enter web addresses and type emails and text messages. The numeric keypad for dialling posed no problem, but the qwerty keyboard slowed us down considerably and we constantly hit the wrong keys when typing. BlackBerry users will be unlikely to find the iPhone an acceptable alternative.

Apple’s Mail client is easy to configure for consumer POP and web-based email accounts, but only supports access to corporate email systems via the Imap protocol. This can be used to retrieve email from Microsoft Exchange accounts if the IT department has enabled Imap connectivity on the server, but does not allow access to contacts or calendar information, unlike the ActiveSync protocol used by Microsoft’s Windows Mobile handsets. However, some third-party email vendors, including Synchronica and Visto, have added support for the iPhone to their products that mobilise access to Exchange accounts.

Apple ships the iPhone with a cradle that holds the handset upright while charging or synching with a PC or Mac. A supplied cable plugs into either the cradle or directly into the iPhone at one end, and to a PC USB port or a mains charger at the other end. A supplied stereo headset lets the user listen to music, and has a small attached microphone and button for answering calls.

The iPhone has a built-in rechargeable battery that offers a talk time of up to 8 hours and standby time up to 250 hours. We found that browser sessions, even on GPRS, rapidly depleted the battery, however. If the iPhone is also used as an iPod music player by users, this will also shorten the battery life.

Review: Mini BlackBerry adds Wi-Fi support

Daniel Robinson — 2007-11-23T00:00:00.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, Friday 23 November 2007 at 00:00:00

RIM’s BlackBerry 8120 is more compact than other models, but compromises on its keypad

The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 from Research In Motion (RIM) fits all of the essential BlackBerry features into a device no bigger than a standard phone, and adds Wi-Fi into the bargain. However, its size means that its keyboard is a bit of a compromise, making it less suitable for heavy email use than other BlackBerry models.

Available now through O2, the BlackBerry 8120 is the successor to last year’s 8100 Pearl model, adding Wi-Fi capability but keeping the weight down to just 91g. This makes the device one of the lightest smartphones available, and no heavier than many talk-and-text handsets. However, the new Pearl has the advantage that it can also link to a BlackBerry Enterprise Server to get push email and bring it under central control by a company’s IT department.

Although its small size makes the 8120 easy to slip into your pocket, the slimline design only leaves enough space for Blackberry’s SureType keyboard. This enables the user to key in text, but in many cases is slower and less satisfactory than a full qwerty keyboard. Its screen is also smaller than other BlackBerry models, and some users may find it more difficult to read text for this reason.

The major new feature of the 8120 is its 802.11b/g Wi-Fi support, which we found easy to set up and use. A Wi-Fi setup tool has been added to the applications list, and this allows the user to scan for available networks or manually add a connection. The BlackBerry could not find our test access point by scanning (the access point was configured not to broadcast its identity) but connected after we added its details manually.

By default, the 8120 will automatically re-connect to Wi-Fi networks in the connection list if they are available, and will also automatically use the faster network for both web browsing and email. The BlackBerry supports WEP, WPA and WPA2 security.

Wi-Fi support in the new BlackBerry holds out the possibility of using the device for IP telephony. However, the device does not ship with either a SIP or UMA client to support this, leaving it up to business customers or their systems integrator to provision this feature if needed.

Because the 8120 does not support 3G networks, users will mostly have to fall back on GPRS for email and browsing if there is no nearby Wi-Fi access point. However, we found we were able to get an Edge connection when using our handset on O2’s network in central London. Edge is an enhancement to GPRS that offers higher data transfer rates but is not currently available in all areas of the UK.

Also added is a revamped user interface with a new font rendering technology, although most users will be hard pushed to notice any difference. The icons and display seemed little different to most other BlackBerry devices we have seen since the 8700g handset was introduced in early 2006. That said, we found the display of the new 8120 to be exceptionally bright and clear compared with many rival mobile devices, even if it is a little on the small side at just over 2in measured diagonally.

A further enhancement is a new “Page View” option in the BlackBerry browser that attempts to display a full web page and lets the user pan and zoom using the pearl trackball. However, unlike the browser in the iPhone, we found that this still does not display the web page as you would see it on a desktop PC browser. In many cases, web sites also detect that you are using a BlackBerry and automatically serve up a mobile/PDA version of the site instead of the full version.

For test purposes we were provided with an email account on a BlackBerry server and can verify that emails addressed to the device arrived within seconds of being sent from a desktop PC.

We had a mixed experience using the SureType keyboard to compose emails and SMS text messages. Because each key has two characters on it, the device has to rely on prediction to work out which word you are trying to type. This works pretty well in the body of emails, where you are generally typing plain English, but keying in less familiar words, such as email addresses, can become a frustratingly slow process.

This may be less of a problem for workers if they typically send messages to colleagues by selecting their details from the corporate address book. When making voice calls, the central three columns of keys serve as the numeric keypad.

The pearl miniature trackball, after which the device is named, enables the use of an on-screen pointer in applications such as the browser, where older BlackBerry models had a thumbwheel that could only scroll up and down.

The 8120 also has some more consumer-oriented features, such as its digital camera, now upgraded to 2 megapixels from the 1.3 megapixels of the original Pearl, and capable of capturing video. There is also a media player for music and video content.

The 8120 also features RIM’s BlackBerry Maps application, which can be used for navigation when combined with an external GPS receiver, plus BlackBerry Messenger for instant messaging.

Because the 8120 has the same 900 mAh removable battery as the original Pearl, its quoted battery life is about the same 4 hours talk time and about 15 days on standby. This will obviously be shortened by heavy use of the Wi-Fi interface, however.

Like its predecessor, the 8120 has a slot for MicroSD Flash memory cards, but this is now located in the side of the case and protected by small plastic flap, instead of inside the battery compartment. O2 ships the device with a 1GB card included.

The device also has a mini USB slot for its supplied PC sync cable and its mains charger. A wired headset is also supplied, or the user can use the 8120’s Bluetooth interface to connect a wireless headset.

Review: HP’s Windows Mobile handset offers advanced voice features to corporates

Daniel Robinson — 2007-08-03T00:00:00.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, Friday 3 August 2007 at 00:00:00

The business-oriented Voice Messenger smartphone boasts support for VoIP, Wi-Fi and SIP

HP’s iPaq 514 Voice Messenger is a business smartphone that offers the user advanced features, such as IP telephony via a Wi-Fi connection, in addition to all the standard capabilities in a Windows Mobile device. However, despite this, the handset seems to have been designed with more emphasis on ease of use than many rival models.

Available since July, the Voice Messenger is – as its name suggests – a more voice-oriented device than other HP iPaq models. It is styled as a candybar phone handset with a 2in colour screen and weighs just 102g. With Windows Mobile 6 and its ability to link directly with corporate Exchange mail servers, the device is worth evaluating as a standard handset for business users, especially those considering IP telephony deployments.

Unlike HP’s Mobile Messenger devices, the iPaq 514 has a standard phone keypad rather than a full qwerty one. This makes the unit less suitable for heavy email use, but we found it easier to use than other similar devices, thanks to well-sized keys and an indicator at the top of the screen that shows whether the phone is using the T9 or multipress input methods. Users can switch between methods using the '*' key while in a text field, and holding this down also brings up a list of symbols – handy for entering '@' in email addresses, for example.

The iPaq 514 is a quad-band GPRS phone, although it lacks 3G support for high-speed data. However, it does have 802.11b/g Wi-Fi capability. As might be expected, we found browsing the web much faster when connected to a Wi-Fi access point than with GPRS.

HP also enables users to make VoIP calls using the Microsoft Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) client in Windows Mobile 6. This is intended to link to a corporate IP PBX or SIP server, but lacking such infrastructure, we found we could use the iPaq to make internet calls using an online SIP service accessed via a broadband connection. We found the call quality impressive, but the volume was a little on the quiet side even when we turned the sound up.

Once configured, the SIP client will attempt to register with the server whenever Wi-Fi is active and the handset is connected to an access point. Users can set the phone to one of three settings: automatically use VoIP for calls whenever Wi-Fi is available; only use VoIP if the cellular network is unavailable; or turn VoIP off completely.

However, it is not possible to configure the SIP client from the iPaq 514 itself. Instead, HP includes a tool – the HP iPaq Setup Assistant – that allows the handset to be configured from a Windows PC when it is connected. As well as VoIP, the tool allows users to configure email, Wi-Fi access point settings, speed dial options and even browser favourites, and set them all with the click of a mouse when done.

In a corporate environment, the SIP client and other device settings can be configured remotely by an administrator using HP’s Enterprise Mobility Suite.

The iPaq 514 has the usual complement of tools and applications for a Windows Mobile handset, which in Windows Mobile 6 includes Microsoft’s Office Mobile suite comprising the mobile versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. In previous versions of the platform, only larger Pocket PC devices had these applications. We were able to view Office documents emailed to the handset from a PC, edit them and then return them.

The Outlook mail client in Windows Mobile 6 can now display HTML-formatted messages, and can search for emails through a user’s entire inbox with Exchange Server 2007 mail systems. We were unable to test this feature, but found the mail client easy to configure for POP3 accounts. The device can be set to automatically check a POP3 account for messages at intervals ranging from once every five minutes to once a day.

HP includes a speech recognition tool – Voice Commander – that enables users to perform tasks by voice control. This includes calling people in the contacts list, viewing appointments and starting other applications. This requires no training, and we found it generally recognised commands if we spoke slowly. There is also a separate Voice Recorder for memos.

We were impressed by the battery life of the iPaq 514, which we used for at least a week without it needing a recharge. This is despite the fact that we made frequent use of the Wi-Fi interface to test VoIP, as well as browsing the web over Wi-Fi. In the past, we found Windows Mobile devices often required charging every day, even with only modest use of the handset.

The handset takes an 1100mAh battery that can be removed by sliding off the back of the case. The USB cable for linking to a PC also serves to connect the phone to its supplied mains charger.

As well as Wi-Fi, the iPaq 514 has a Bluetooth wireless interface with support for various profiles including wireless headsets, synchronisation and hands-free kits. The handset also has a MicroSD slot for Flash storage cards, protected by a flexible cover. A 1.3 megapixel camera is also built in, which is a relatively low resolution by recent cameraphone standards, but which seems to take reasonable quality snapshots.

Business review: BlackBerry Curve

Daniel Robinson — 2007-05-17T00:00:00.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, Thursday 17 May 2007 at 00:00:00

RIM’s new BlackBerry 8300 Curve offers all the mobile business essentials in a slim and light format

The BlackBerry Curve from Research In Motion (RIM) expands the BlackBerry family with an easy-to-carry, compact device that retains the qwerty keyboard of larger designs. Although it ships with some consumer features, the Curve is one of the best designs RIM has produced.

Available now from O2 and Vodafone, the Curve has all the essential features of a BlackBerry - an excellent colour screen, qwerty keypad and access to push email - but in a slightly smaller format. However, the device still only supports GPRS networks (with Edge capability, where available), while many rival devices have 3G broadband and Wi-Fi.

On paper, the Curve is not actually much smaller than earlier models, such as the BlackBerry 8700, but in shaving a fraction of an inch off the width, height and depth, RIM has made it noticeably more compact. It is also about 20 percent lighter at 111g, which makes a real difference when carrying it in a pocket.

Despite its size, the keypad of the Curve is well-suited for thumb-typing, although workers used to the larger keypad of earlier devices may find it a little cramped. We found we could key in text at a reasonable speed without making too many mistakes. The Curve now also features a spell check function.

The Curve is equipped with RIM’s miniature trackball design, first seen on the BlackBerry Pearl, instead of a thumbwheel. This enables speedier navigation but we found it tiring to use for long periods. The BlackBerry key alongside it brings up a context-sensitive menu, while another key to the right serves as the cancel/close function.

The Curve, because of its smaller size, is likely to be used as a phone as well as an email client. Previous models were sometimes seen as too bulky so workers would often carry a phone as well as a BlackBerry.

RIM’s phone interface perhaps lacks some finesse when compared with other smartphone platforms. However, the Curve comes with RIM’s voice dialling application and is a quad-band handset capable of roaming to most countries.

The Curve’s more consumer-oriented features include a digital camera and an enhanced media player for audio and video content. The latter is backed by a new Windows desktop application for managing media files on the device. The two-megapixel camera takes reasonable quality shots and users can email or MMS images direct from the application. Both features can be disabled by policy settings from the BlackBerry Server if necessary, according to RIM.

An updated version of the BlackBerry Maps application makes it easier to find directions. However, unlike the larger BlackBerry 8800, the Curve does not feature built-in GPS hardware. This capability can be added through the Curve’s Bluetooth interface, which also supports wireless headsets.

The life of the Curve’s 1100 mAh removable battery pack is 17 days on standby or up to four hours of talk time. A MicroSD card slot behind the battery lets users expand on the 64MB of built-in Flash memory.

Business review: RIM BlackBerry 8800

Daniel Robinson — 2007-03-12T00:00:00.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, Monday 12 March 2007 at 00:00:00

RIM heads in the right direction with built-in satellite navigation as well as push email support

The BlackBerry 8800 is the latest handheld from Research In Motion (RIM), adding satellite navigation capability and a more smartphone-like appearance to the BlackBerry’s traditional strengths as a mobile email device. However, it also replaces the thumbwheel of older models with a miniature trackball that may not be to the taste of all users.

Announced in February and available now from Vodafone and Orange, the 8800 is slimmer than previous models but weighs about the same at 134g. It keeps the keyboard layout introduced with last year’s BlackBerry 8700, but the keys have sculpted caps to ease typing. The screen is also bright and easy to read. The device is a quad-band phone but only has GPRS support, while many rival handsets now have high-speed 3G or Wi-Fi capability.

The major new feature of the BlackBerry 8800 is built-in GPS reception, which enables users to get directions to a destination with the BlackBerry Maps application. This links with other tools so that a location from the handset’s Address Book can be set as the destination, for example.

We found the satellite navigation worked well, but the 8800 can take upwards of five minutes to get a fix on its location. BlackBerry Maps only shows a flat view of the route from above, unlike the 3D views supported by other navigation tools. However, it does support maps of Europe, North America and some locations in South America and Asia.

We were given access to a mail account on a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, and were impressed with the speed of delivery of messages sent to us. Typically, emails arrived just a second or two after we hit send from our corporate mail system.

We found we could key in text at a respectable rate, despite the BlackBerry’s small keys. This model also features a mini trackball, first seen on the Blackberry Pearl. At first, we found this less convenient than the thumbwheel of earlier models, but it does allow greater flexibility and it makes it possible to pan and scroll in the BlackBerry Maps tool.

Another new feature is Voice Dialling, which lets users call a contact by speaking their name into the handset when prompted. On our review unit this was activated by a control on the left side, but this makes it easy to accidentally trigger when picking up the device.

Other applications include the BlackBerry browser, which displays most web pages well enough but often re-formats the page to fit the device’s 320x240 display. The handset also includes RIM’s BlackBerry Messenger IM client.

Battery life is quoted as five hours of talk time and 528 hours (22 days) on standby. Our tests suggest that users will get plenty of use out of the BlackBerry 8800 between charges, depending on how much the GPS function is used. An internal memory card slot next to the removable battery can hold a MicroSD Flash storage card to expand on the handset’s 64MB built-in Flash.