T-Mobile Launches Microsoft Windows Powered Pocket PC Phone Edition
By Amy | Reporter
Date: 05/27/2003

T-Mobile USA, one of the nation's providers of wireless voice and data services, announced the immediate availability of the T-Mobile branded Windows Powered Pocket PC Phone Edition for T-Mobile and VoiceStream customers exclusively.

Consistent with T-Mobile's GET MORE service offering, the highly anticipated voice-enabled PDA gives customers a true, full color Internet experience on a mobile device, fully integrated with pocket versions of their favorite Microsoft software applications, the company emphasized.





The T-Mobile brand debuted with the launch of service in California and Nevada in July 2002 and will transition the VoiceStream Wireless name to T-Mobile over the next few months, offering service in 45 of the top 50 U.S. markets.

The combination of Microsoft's Pocket PC Phone Edition software and T-Mobile's all digital wireless network enables customers to wirelessly access the Internet, secure corporate networks, e-mail, calendar and contacts from more than 8,000 cities across North America at speeds that meet or exceed standard dial-up wired connections.

The highly anticipated device, priced at US$549.99 with a $50.00 rebate with activation of qualified voice and data plans, is a fully integrated PDA and dual mode wireless phone. Customers can stay in touch and online with pocket versions of their favorite Microsoft software applications including Internet Explorer, Outlook, MSN Messenger, Windows Media Player, Word and Excel.

The dual band phone functionality means customers can use their T-Mobile Pocket PC device and same phone number when traveling in more than 90 countries, with voice rates as low as 99 cents a minute through T-Mobile's WorldClass service.

The T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition is packed with features and functionality, making it an ideal productivity tool for anyone who owns a Windows desktop:

- Wireless phone: Use it as a wireless phone that you can hold to your ear or use with the included hands-free headset.
- Internet access: Browse the Internet or your corporate intranet via Virtual Private Network (VPN) wherever you happen to be with a standards based HTML browser.
- Synch Your Outlook E-Mail: Sync your Outlook e-mail with your desktop PC, using the included Pocket PC cradle.
- Wireless e-mail: Remotely access Internet and POP3 e-mail and attachments.
- Microsoft platform and applications: Stay in touch and online with the extensible Windows platform and pocket versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, Outlook and MSN Messenger to provide a PC in your hand. Use Microsoft Reader and Windows Media Player to read books and play MP3s.
- Organizer: Use the Pocket Outlook to access your contacts, calendar, task list and files.
- Connected: Make voice and data calls and sync using the included Pocket PC cradle over a USB connection to your Windows desktop. Beam v-cards and appointments to your friends using the IrDA port.
- Expandable: Expand your capabilities by getting additional memory with the standard Secure Digital (SD/MMC) slot in a totally integrated Windows device.

Starting today, the Pocket PC Phone Edition is available at more than 200 select T-Mobile and VoiceStream Wireless stores nationwide. Additionally, the T-Mobile Pocket PC PE is available through the company's direct enterprise sales force, as well as authorized T-Mobile and VoiceStream Wireless dealers.



Specifications
• OS provided Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition
• Installed RAM 32 MB
• ROM installed (max) 32 MB Flash
• Input device type Touch-screen
• Software included : Pocket PC Phone Edition, Pocket Outlook, Pocket Internet Explorer, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Microsoft Reader, Microsoft Transcriber
• Radio band GSM 900/1900 MHz
• Talk time Up to 4 hr
• Standby time Up to 100 hr
• Data services WWW, SMS, WAP
• Modem max. data rate: 56 kbps

PROS
• Solid call quality
• Nice, color screen
• Secure Digital card slot
• GPRS

CONS
• Expensive
• Wireless Web surfing is still slow