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Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 operating system has been around for quite a while now and has been revamped as Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition.
This adds a few features that integrate day-to-day palmtop functions with mobile voice and data communications. The idea is that if you buy a Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition device, you no longer need to carry a separate phone and handheld computer in order to check your email, view the web, send text messages and make voice calls.
Phone Edition devices are designed to accommodate your phone SIM card and there is an application that turns the screen into a touchpad for making calls, as well as providing features such as speed dial and call history.
Microsoft has also tweaked the existing Pocket PC applications in order to make the integration of computer and phone more complete. Pocket Inbox, for example, manages text messages as well as email and you can make a voice call by tapping an entry in the Contacts list.
The first handheld to take advantage of the integration was O2's xda, but now HP has entered the fray. The Jornada 928 WDA may share some key features with the xda but there is still plenty to differentiate it.
There are some similarities in styling to earlier HP Jornadas, with a flip-up lid protecting the screen and the nicely rounded design being the most obvious. There are some new features too. For starters, there are two screens.
The usual colour one is supplemented by a small LCD screen that is visible when the lid is closed. You use this to manage voice calls and access profiles and speed-dial numbers. These make it relatively easy to use the 928 WDA for making simple voice calls.
On the handheld computer side of things, there's 64Mb of memory and a Compact Flash slot for adding more. The entire back casing of the Compact Flash slot lifts away so you can use cards which are thicker than the standard Type I Compact Flash specification.
The Jornada's processor integrates the telephony features into its normal operations, ensuring the management of voice and data communications is smooth. It is pretty nippy too and we didn't notice any problems running applications or accessing data.
The Jornada also supports GPRS so you could use it for data-hungry communications and it's dual band, so it'll work across Europe too. There are also two batteries - one internal and one removable - and between them, they provide up to 12 hours of use. We like the fact the mains adapter can be used with or without the supplied USB docking cradle.
The Jornada 928 WDA is a little on the large side and its extra display and CompactFlash card slot make it considerably bigger than the xda. However, it's still pocket-sized and is smaller than any separate handheld and phone combination we can think of.
DETAILS
Price: £390
Contact: HP 01344 360000
http://thenew.hp.com/country/uk
See also:
A compact palmtop computer and mobile phone combined, the new Treo attempts to offer both portability and functionality. 01 Oct 2002
Powerful, well-designed and reasonably priced: It's difficult not to like the Zaurus. 28 Aug 2002
It's pricey, but the xda is one of the most desirable handheld computers to be had. 13 Aug 2002All Palm PDAs
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