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T-Mobile MDA PRO
Price: £99.99 inc VAT with contract

Features
Performance
Ease of use
Value for money
Overall

Reviewed By: Andy Shaw

This review updated: 27/10/2005
Featured in magazine:
Issue 121
Manufacturer Contacts:
Supplier: T-Mobile
Tel: 01707 315000
Web Address: www.t-mobile.co.uk


We've been able to get the web on the move for some time now, but it's been a far from satisfactory experience. The screens on most mobile phones simply aren't big enough to provide a decent web experience; typing web addresses (and emails for that matter) using a regular number pad is little short of mind-numbing; and the expense of connecting to the mobile network has remained prohibitive and slow. T-Mobile's MDA Pro aims to change all that, combining a PDA, a phone and a camera (still and video) in one.

Features
Yes, this device has it all. Its format is perhaps its most interesting element; it has a large PDA-style rectangular screen but provides the option of either standard portrait and stylus operation, or a handy flip-around keyboard that you can almost touch type on. You can browse the web when you're out and about either on 3G or GPRS, but it also has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, providing alternative and potentially cheaper connection options depending on where you are. The camera takes 1.3 megapixel photos and has a basic flash – fine for quick snaps but you'll still want to use your proper camera for serious photography.

Performance
T-Mobile offers a basic portal page to get you going, which includes a Google search option, but this isn't a walled garden – you can go to any website you want. In its landscape mode the screen is significantly easier to use than a standard phone or PDA model that doesn't offer a rotated option, and the keyboard makes typing easy. The Wi-Fi option means you can turn the mobile phone network off and use the device on your home, office or coffee shop Wi-Fi network instead. All this leads to a bit of a compromise in terms of its size and weight though. The battery should give up to 15 hours of PDA performance, 10 days of standby time or 8 hours of call time.

Ease of use
The device runs Windows Mobile 5.0 and is, as a result, remarkably easy to use. Having both a stylus and a keyboard to play with makes it even easier to control than most, as you've got access to the most suitable option depending on what you're doing. T-Mobile has also made it easy to set up email and get moving on the web. If you can use a computer, you'll be able to use this without any problems.

Value for money
And so we come to the price. T-Mobile has introduced a new pricing service called Web 'n' Walk, which comes in three monthly price plans (£30, £38 or £55 per month). The MDA Pro is only available on the £38 or £55 per month plans, which offer 200 or 400 minutes of free calls respectively, and 40MB of free data transfer per month. The device will cost £150 on the cheaper contract, £100 on the dearer contract or £350 if you just want to buy one without a contract. None of this is cheap, but then you are going to be the proud owner of the poshest phone around. Check Orange and O2 for their own versions of this type of device before committing.

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