Mobile technology is going from strength to strength. Erin Jenkins brings you some of the latest mobile technology tools on the market to help you do more business on the move.
Dopod PDA
A new player in the Australian market, Dopod has launched the 838Pro, its flagship PDA phone. This all-rounder not only includes Microsoft Office Mobile for creating documents on the go, you can also listen to your favourite music between meetings. Coming with a scroll wheel and slide-out QWERTY keypad to browse emails and websites, the 838Pro runs on a quad-band GSM network with GPRS, 3G connectivity, and features EDGE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and infrared capabilities.
Features:
• Windows Mobile 5.0 OS
• Up to 5 hours talk time
• 2-megapixel camera with flash
• 400MHz Samsung CPU
• 128MB ROM, 64MB SDRAM
Product: Dopod 838Pro
RRP: $1499*
www.dopodasia.com
Asus P525
And if you like your phones smart, take a look at the Asus P525. Make cheap STD calls from wireless hotspots with the Skype-in and Skype-out feature, and navigate with the traditional phone keypad or by touch screen, stylus or five-way joystick. The two-megapixel camera doubles as a business card recognition device, so you’ll never forget a name again—simply take a photo of a new business card and the device converts all of your new contact’s information into your Outlook address book.
Features:
• Wi-Fi VoIP capability
• 128MB flash memory
• MySecret, to protect private information
Product: Asus P525
RRP: $999*
www.asus.com.au
HP Ipaq 6828 Mobile Messenger
If you think all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, the latest in HP’s 6800 Mobile Messenger series might be the PDA for you. Weighing in at 140grams, the iPAQ rw6828 is a mobile entertainment and business unit featuring an FM receiver, dual stereo speakers and PocketMusic software. And with no keypad, there’s more room for video playback on the 240×320, 18-bit colour screen.
Features:
• Voice recording
• 5.5 hours talk time
• Intel Wireless LAN
Product: HP iPAQ rw6828
RRP: $999*
www.hp.com.au
Sony Ericsson Slimline M600i
While Sony Ericsson’s slimline M600i is only 16mm thick and weighs just over 100 grams, it packs a punch when it comes to connectivity and business options. With Word and Excel editor, and PowerPoint and PDF viewer, read and change documents using the dual-function QWERTY keypad and stylus. It not only has 60MB phone memory and a 64MB Memory Stick Micro, it also operates on the latest version of popular operating system Symbian OS 9.1.
Features:
• Video streaming and MP3 support
• Opera 8 Web browser
• 2.6-inch touch screen LCD
• Firewall and virus protection
Product: Sony Ericsson M600i
RRP: $849*
www.sonyericsson.com.au
BlackBerry 7130g
The BlackBerry has been given an update with the 7130g, merging the keypad and QWERTY keyboard for a sleeker look and feel than previous models. The battery lets you chat away for up to four hours and you can remote access up to 10 supported email accounts. Working in conjunction with the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution it offers improved security features, such as advanced encryption on email and data.
Features:
• Bluetooth hands-free technology
• Intel XScale processor
• LCD screen supports more than 65,000 colours
• Light sensing technology
Product: Blackberry 7130g
RRP: Between $699-$799* (check with your provider)
www.blackberry.com
Nokia N80
Nokia’s N80 combines plenty of fun features with all the business functions you’d expect of a PDA. The N80 allows you to view Office docs, such as jpegs, PowerPoint presentations and Excel spreadsheets, and then attach them to emails. When work time is over, surf the web, download and listen to your favourite music, watch TV, take happy snaps on the three-megapixel camera, and record camcorder quality videos.
Features:
• Digital music player
• 3G coverage
• WLAN speed for email and content downloading
• Stereo FM radio
• SU-8W Nokia wireless keyboard optional (RRP $229.99)
Product: Nokia N80
RRP: $1099*
www.nokia.com.au
* Prices correct as of November 2006
