Three ways to get smart

ITWeb takes a closer look at the three i-Mate Smart Phones currently available.

i-Mate JAM
Price: R 5 665.80

The i-Mate JAM is the first Pocket PC Phone Edition device that allows users to replace their phone with a PDA/phone combo device that can fit in their pocket. This combo includes tri-band GSM/GPRS wireless.

The JAM is built around the Intel Bulverde processor running at 416MHz. The device is powered by Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, and provides 64MB of RAM and 64MB of ROM. Also included are Bluetooth and an SDIO slot, which allows for extra memory and WiFi expansion cards.

The up/down control is not exactly the best way of navigating, so most people might prefer to use the buttons for navigation instead. The device does, however, have a mini USB port for syncing and also comes with a headset port.

The JAM requires the user to be a bit too precise when using the stylus, which could get rather difficult when in a hurry. The on-screen number pad is not bad and one could use a finger and tap a number to dial.

The size of this device is a huge selling point. Until now PDA and PDA/phone combos have been quite big. The size and design of the device make it easy to hold and the weight of the phone is on par with other cellphones.

The fact that it only has a 1.3 megapixel camera with a very small lens limits the quality of the picture.

Battery consumption and power usage was not a major problem while using the JAM. One can comfortably use the device for about two days without needing to recharge. The JAM uses a standard mini USB connection for both power and syncing, which is convenient.

Essentially, the JAM is small and powerful, with a full resolution touch-screen with all the power of Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition. The device is packed with functionality and is powerful enough to make its mark in the industry. WiFi is available as an extra feature but needs to be purchased separately.

This phone is a definite must-have for those who use their PDAs as a way of life; now with added style, functionality and a phone.

The SP3 is a small cellphone that carries the Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition for Smart Phone. Apart from size and functionality, the SP3 is one of the first smart phone devices to include Bluetooth. The VGA camera makes you feel good, knowing you can take good quality pictures, should you not have your camera handy, and a battery life that seems to go on and on.

The SP3 is powered by a 200MHz TI OMAP processor, with 64MB of ROM and 32MB of RAM. For connectivity, both IrDA and Bluetooth are included. The battery is powerful and runs for two to three days on a normal work cycle.

The SP3 connects to a GSM/GPRS. Apart from that, as a phone its functionality is pretty much standard to Windows Mobile for Smart Phone.

A number of utilities are included in the SP3, including a file manager, free space checker and task manager. There are also some snazzy setup programs to help to quickly and easily configure the device. However, when trying to choose an item, it would move down as opposed to making a selection.

MiniSD functionality was built into the SP3, which limits the device to using external WiFi cards. Another big headache is the location of the miniSD slot, which is under the battery. This means you need to turn the phone off each time you take out the card, which can get rather cumbersome even if you only need to do this once a day.

The price is steep, but if you can afford this phone, you should get it. It makes life really simple and is a pleasure to use.

Price: R 7 923.00

The Pda2k oozes style and power. It is jammed with all the latest technology and software to make this phone a dream to own. Size may be a problem for most people as it`s not the cutest device on the market. It does, however, have the feel of a PDA with the added functionality of a phone.

It features a stylish new slide-out keyboard. The i-Mate Pda2k is based on the Intel XScale PXA263 processor running at 400MHz and Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition for Pocket PC Phone Edition. It has 128MB of RAM and 64MB of ROM. For expansion, an SDIO slot is included.

When it comes to wireless, this device has it all. WiFi (802.11b), Bluetooth and GSM/GPRS wireless are all embedded in the device. The screen is 16-bit colour with a maximum resolution of 240x320 (no VGA support).

All the embedded types of wireless make this device a popular choice. Bluetooth is quick and easy to enable with the included Wireless Manager software. The embedded WiFi is 802.11b and can also be enabled from the Wireless Manager.

GSM/GPRS, while often slower than other options (specifically compared to WiFi), is always ready and a cheaper option. One of the perks of having both WiFi and GSM/GPRS is that the device can hop across different networks. If WiFi is present, the device can roam quietly from the data to WiFi networks.

I believe any PDA user would be more than satisfied with the screen on this device. While it does not support VGA resolution, it is more than adequate for most users, and is vibrant enough to keep you looking at it.

The battery life is rather poor, and did not last more than one day while utilising calling and network-related features. So keep a spare charger.

The camera is not its major selling point and is only good enough to take unimportant pictures.

This bad boy is for the corporate executive or inquisitive techie. All sorts of technology and uses surround this device. If you`re not going to utilise all this device has to offer, then it`s simply not worth the money.