Ready to ring, here and now

WHILE we await the iPhone and its competitors to emerge in coming months, there's no shortage of existing smartphones for those who can't wait.

This week, Tech Check takes a look at what's on the market now and how well placed they are to meet the market challenges of the months ahead.

BlackBerry Pearl 8110

WHEN you have a good design, there's no reason to change it, but I do have to confess to being a bit underwhelmed by Blackberry's 8110 version of the Pearl.

It's the notion that there's very little to distinguish it from its predecessor, the 8120.

Indeed, it seems the two are basically the same unit with really only one point of difference - instead of WiFi you get GPS.

In some ways, the 8110 is more functional if you have need mapping or navigation on the go. The 8120's use of WiFi means it must be in range of a WiFi hotspot.

GPS, on the other hand, uses the Vodafone network and that carrier's Compass navigation software, which makes it more convenient for fast data.

SPECIFICATIONS
Features: Media Player, Bluetooth 2.0, 2-megapixel camera, MicroSD/SDHC slots
Price: $699
More at: www.rim.com
Rating: 7/10

i-Mate Ultimate 8502

THE last time Tech Check tested out smartphones, it was the i-Mate 9502, the companion device to this week's model, that won him over.

Indeed, it was hard to give the 9502 back.

I wish I could say the same about the 8502, also marketed here through Telstra.

The specs are similar - it offers the same wide range of connectivity (HSDPA, HSUPA, WiFi and Bluetooth), also runs Windows Mobile 6, and provides Direct Push email.

But I'm a sucker for a decent keyboard. The 9502 got my thumbs-up for its slide-down screen with a full keyboard behind it.

This model makes do with a front face keyboard, with all the space restrictions that implies. The screen, slightly smaller at 2.6in, as against 2.8in, is less of a disappointment, and its touchscreen capability is handy when you don't want to fiddle with the keys. I probably would have been more impressed by the 8502 if I hadn't seen its fuller featured brethren model first.

SPECIFICATIONS
Features: Windows Mobile 6, HSDPA, HSUPA, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, 2-megapixel camera
Price: $999
More at: www.imate.com
Rating: 7/10

HTC Touch Cruise

OK, maybe I'm a bit dense, but I spent about five minutes after picking this gadget up trying to figure out where they'd hidden the keypad. The answer, of course, is there isn't one. Rather, this is touchscreen, so you choose between fingers and stylus.

It's certainly the most handsome of this week's smartphones, and its black rubber and chrome casing gives it a solid feel as well as improving its looks.

It runs Windows Mobile 6 as well as HTC's TouchFlo Interface, and connectivity is well covered: HSDPA, WiFi and Bluetooth are all supported. Navigation software (CoPilot 7) is also supplied, along with gear to mount it in a car, making it very versatile.

By doing away with a keyboard, HTC has kept the unit slim even with a large screen. The control buttons such as phone on and off and hotkeys for wireless and internet access, are embedded on the front panel below the screen and are robust, but I found the scroll wheel a bit too sensitive.

SPECIFICATIONS
Features: Windows Mobile 6, TouchFlo interface, 3-megapixel camera, HSDPA, WiFi and Bluetooth
Price: $899
More at: www.htc.com
Rating: 8/10

CONCLUSION

THE BlackBerry and i-Mate products both represent minor tweaks of existing products, so they can't be considered iPhone killers.

Rest assured, both companies will have iPhone-like devices before too long. In the meantime, the Touch Cruise is best equipped to meet present challenges.