Siemens SK65 review

While RIM's BlackBerry push-email service has dramatically improved the experience of email on the move, the company has never excelled when it comes to handset design. Step up Siemens, then, with a BlackBerry-enabled handset that couldn't be more different from the latest RIM models. While RIM's 'prosumer' 7100v uses a doubled-up SureType key design to gain a qwerty layout, Siemens creates a Cross-to-Type (or x2Type) keypad that swivels out from the behind the screen.

The swivelling hinge of the SK65's keyboard feels sturdy, but we were initially disappointed by the typing experience. Siemens opts for a vertical orientation for the keys, making the layout feel a little cramped. Although the centre of each key is slightly raised to help you hit it more accurately, we still found mistakes came all too easily. Overall, we prefer SureType, but after some practice we were able to work up a reasonable speed on the SK65.

Where Siemens certainly wins is the uniqueness of the design. The black casing is businesslike but classic, making it an attractive and well-built handset. Although there's no denying the SK65 is a large phone - note the 22mm thickness - its narrow design makes it appear less cumbersome than the 7100 models.

A number of smartphones have incorporated BlackBerry email services, but the SK65 is the first handset to have access to the full suite of BlackBerry applications. A clever 'business solution finder' on the Siemens website will direct you to the right package for your needs, from the basic version that just alerts you to emails arriving in your online email accounts to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server version. This is the heavyweight option, which also allows you to remotely synchronise with Lotus Notes or Microsoft Exchange behind your company's firewall.

Most people working in isolation of an IT department will opt for the version with a BlackBerry Web Client, which grabs email from up to ten of your IMAP/POP3 email accounts and then pushes them to the SK65.

Of course, you can also synchronise with your PC locally. There's a USB cable in the box, but Bluetooth means you can keep appointments, contacts and to-do lists up-to-date; we found this worked well. You can also browse the Web over GPRS, but the 132 x 176 resolution screen is very limiting.

The screen itself is also a little disappointing. It sounds good on paper, with 65,000 colours on offer, but we found the icons were pixellated and drab. Fortunately, the user interface is straightforward to navigate and the BlackBerry service simple to access. It can take its time to initiate, however, and in the worst cases we were waiting up to a minute to get into the application.

There's a lot to enjoy about this stylish handset. Being able to access the full range of BlackBerry features sets it apart from other smartphones in its field, and makes it an appealing prospect for corporate users.

Author: KATIE LEE