TechBlog.TheVanguard.Org

For those of you who use Windows Mobile, you’re likely no stranger to battery life issues that sometimes come up, especially if you are a power user, spend a lot of time on the telephone during the day or connect to your Exchange email via ActiveSync for “push” email. A Microsoft employee who runs a blog on the subject has a great write-up to get you started on preserving your battery life and getting through the day on your Blackjack, Treo 750, Motorola Q, etc.

Recent events have changed the field in which the iPhone is going to compete. Since it was introduced earlier this year, Microsoft introduced Windows Mobile 6. Far from innovative, WM6 is merely a .x upgrade to WM5 with a few added features (like HTML e-mail) that should have been around to begin with. TechBlog.TheVanguard.Org noticed something else, too: AT&T seems to be making its EDGE data service network faster. In some ways, EDGE data will always be inferior to 3G (HSDPA) technology at AT&T. EDGE cannot be used while in a GSM phone call. With HSDPA, users can have simultaneous data and voice calls. However, we’ve recently seen EDGE coverage not too far from our offices (we’re in a 3G area, so we have to do some traveling to see EDGE) begin to increase in speed from about 100kbps to 170kbps.

As some of you may recall, one of our biggest complaints about the iPhone was its lack of 3G. It’s clear why Apple decided to go with EDGE data, however. Windows Mobile devices that operate on AT&T’s 3G network suffer from terrible battery life. In a device with a screen as vibrant and large as the iPhone (and with as many capabilities) battery life is likely to become an issue.

We think the increased speeds (with more promised in the future) make EDGE viable for light browsing and heavy e-mail. We’re also a lot more excited about the potential for use by business people who are turned off by Windows Mobile’s battery life problems and lack of compatibility with the Mac.

Here at Techblog.TheVanguard.Org we had the chance to review the Treo 750 from Palm.  The 750 runs Windows Mobile and functions on the Cingular network in the U.S.  It is a GSM world phone, email device, broadband Internet browser and fully-functioning PDA.  Perhaps the biggest draw of the new Treo 750 is its Windows Mobile 5 Operating System.  Windows Mobile 5 allows hundreds of applications to be run on the device while providing enterprise-class push email for customers with Microsoft Exchange.  We tried the Treo 750 on Cingular’s 3G (WCDMA 1900) network. 

Industrial Design
The Treo 750 is a class-leader in terms of design.  Its weight is comparable to most PDA Phones, it easily fits in the palm of your hand (pardon the pun) and its screen is nice.  It’s not as bright as some smartphones, including the Blackjack and the Q.  We were surprised that it isn’t as vivid as the Cingular 8525 PDA Phone, either.  That said, the elimination of the antenna (its predecessor, the Treo 650, had one) makes it much easier to carry.  The keyboard is spacious and crisp.  Keys respond well.  The only design problem we found was its thickness compared to the Blackjack and the Q.  Understandably, the Treo is a fully-functioning PDA and requires more battery and more components.  That said, it’s almost impossible to place in jeans pockets. 

Call Quality
The Treo is unbeatable in terms of call quality.  Palm scored another homerun with the model 750.  The call quality on the Treo was better than the Blackjack, and comparable to many flip-phones.  The speakerphone was nice, though it’s no better than other PDA/Smartphones on the market, though much better than the Cingular 8125.

Email
The Treo has Microsoft Outlook Mobile.  What more needs to be said?  It’s better than every other email platform for smartphones including Blackberry.  It takes a bit of getting used to, especially for Blackberry users.. but, this does not mean it is inferior.  We were especially impressed with ActiveSync, which allows for free push email for Exchange users.  Our contacts, calendar events and tasks were synchorized along with emails.  This makes synching with a PC almost unnecessary (a good thing for Mac users who don’t want to shell out the dough for a copy of The Missing Sync).

Software
This is where the Treo really excels.  Because it has Windows Mobile 5, it includes Microsoft Office programs including Word Mobile, Excel Mobile and PowerPoint Mobile (along with the aforementioned copy of Outlook Mobile).  Palm plans to release an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6 when it is available as well, which provides a neater user interface and HTML email.  The ability to open and edit attachments is a huge improvement over other platforms.  It is also a nice add-on if you’re used to Windows Mobile Smartphone Edition, which does not include the ability to EDIT office documents.  The Samsung Blackjack and Motorola Q both use Windows Mobile Smartphone Edition.

Overall, we were impressed with the Treo but were discouraged by its price tag ($500 with a $100 mail-in rebate).  We think this will prevent it from ending up in the hands of a lot of business users, who rely on budgets and departmental appropriations for their devices.  Since the fastest growing smartphone market is for working professionals, Palm may see more territory go to RIM as a result.

The Treo is an enterprise class PDA and cell phone.  Let’s hope they come down on the price tag a bit, though.

I’ve had several requests for Samsung Blackjack hacks, so here you go.  The Blackjack is a powerful little device but Microsoft didn’t allow for much customization in Windows Mobile 5.

Also, you can point your Blackjack’s browser to TinyTube to get YouTube style videos on your mobile.

Since the announcement of the iPhone at Macworld San Francisco, a lot of people have been asking me why Apple went with Cingular (now known as AT&T) instead of T-Mobile, Verizon or Sprint.  These people are angry.  In a market with very little brand loyalty, a few customers are actually quite loyal to brands like T-Mobile and Verizon.  The answer to this question is two-part: first, why they didn’t go with Verizon or Sprint.  Secondly, why they didn’t go with T-Mobile and finally the benefits to going with AT&T over all the others.

The problem with Verizon and Sprint (besides the fact that they provide less coverage than AT&T in flyover country) is that they operate on CDMA technology.  I happen to believe that in many ways, CDMA is superior to GSM as a technology.  That doesn’t matter, though.  The only country outside of the U.S. that has a decent CDMA network is South Korea.  Even Iraq has a GSM network.  Europe is covered in GSM.  Asia is blanketed with GSM, especially in big cities.  If Apple sold a high-end phone like the iPhone that couldn’t even work outside of the U.S., its biggest potential pool of customers, international travelers, would abandon it as an option and instead stick with Windows Mobile, Palm or Blackberry OS.  I’ve had some nightmarish experiences trying to use Sprint while traveling abroad, despite excellent overall satisfaction and good coverage at home.

T-Mobile is a GSM carrier with excellent customer satisfaction.  However, T-Mobile has virtually no coverage outside of cities.  Between the two GSM operators, AT&T has the most customers.  In fact, AT&T has the most customers of any provider in the U.S.  Not even Verizon has as many customers (VZW is #2).

Finally, AT&T was willing to play ball with Cingular (now AT&T) to develop Visual Voicemail.  In other words, the cell provider made changes to their own network for Apple’s iPhone.  It’s not that VZW or Sprint wouldn’t have done this, but now that they have, it’s a good indication that both Apple and AT&T consider their business relationship a long-term one.  Apple made a sound business decision in deciding to go with AT&T.  The criticisms here (and pronouncements of Apple’s doom as a result) are overreaching and not based on fact.  There is almost zero brand loyalty in the wireless business because customers are often treated so badly.  Apple and AT&T will both see increased revenues from this product.

GSM World, the website of the GSM Association, publishes maps and other information for GSM customers with regards to coverage and roaming contracts.  It’s a pretty cool resource if you are an international traveler but it’s also cool if you’re kind of geeky.  Check it out!  It may come in handy if you travel the world with your new iPhone from Cingular (AT&T).

Which reminds me…. check out this YouTube video from Stephen Colbert’s show regarding his take on the AT&T/BellSouth merger.  Hilarious!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj1Mtv9cD0I[/youtube]