Orange SPV review

ORANGE SPV SPECIFICATIONS 120MHz TI OMAP710 processor, 32MB of ROM, 16MB of RAM, SD/MMC memory expansion slot, Microsoft Smartphone OS (J2ME and C++ support), 16-bit colour 176 x 220 pixel (35 x 44mm) TFT screen, tri-band GSM (900/1,800/1,900), GPRS (4+1), IrDA, clip-on 640 x 480 pixel digital camera, stereo headset with call control, USB 1.1 docking cradle, integrated modem, messaging (SMTP/POP3/IMAP4-compliant email, SMS and MMS), Tegic T9 predictive text input, Microsoft Outlook 2000, ActiveSync 3.6, Smartphone configuration Wizard, Pocket Internet Explorer (supports HTML 3.2, WAP 1.2.1, cHTML, XML, JScript, SSL 2 and WTLS Class 2), Pocket Outlook, Windows Media Player, MSN Messenger, hands-free speakerphone, vibrating alert, games, 180 minutes' maximum talk time, 100 hours' maximum standby. Dimensions: 48 x 21 x 116mm (W x D x H). Weight: 130g.

GPRS and beyond

Microsoft and Orange want to assure potential buyers that all features available on the GPRS networks will be made available over the 3G UMTS networks although no-one will tell us when that might be. Any extended capabilities available through 3G may even be made available to Smartphones through over-the-air updates to the OS.

UK sign up for GPRS has been slow, however. In April 2002, although Carphone Warehouse recorded UK sales of 35,000 standard GPRS handsets, only 200 of those customers signed up for GPRS services. With an investment of two years in developing Smartphone, Microsoft hopes to change British buying habits.

You will be able to read the full review in the next issue of PC Pro

Author: Ian Robson