HP iPAQ Voice Messenger review

HP's Voice Messenger has one notable feather in its cap: it's the first time we've seen a phone with the Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard operating system on board.

It's the updated version of Microsoft's mobile OS for non-touchscreen phonesand, unlike its touchscreen contemporary, boasts a whizzy new front end. The icon-based home screen has been replaced with a more sophisticated look; expanding, contracting and sliding panels make it much easier to see at-a-glance missed and received calls, new email and generally avoid having to dig beneath the surface.

There's also a panel for recent photos, plus one for Media Player, and itmakes for a big improvement over the previous incarnation. Underneath it all is an advanced phone, too. There's fast data in the form of HSDPA, plus assisted GPS. The camera is nothing to write home about: it's a 3.1-megapixel unit and produces underexposed, blurry pictures.

In terms of ergonomics, it impressed. The 20-key Qwerty text-entry pad is reminiscent of the BlackBerry Pearl, and works quite well for short texts or emails, and its slim, compact dimensions mean it's the most pocketable phone here after the HTC Touch Diamond.

But for all the redesigned front end, underneath it's still Windows Mobile Standard of old, and very fiddly and unintuitive to use as a result. It doesn't have the full-blooded Office Mobile, just the Standard issue that allows you to view and edit, but not create files.

And although you can improve on the Pocket Internet Explorer by downloading and installing Opera Mini 4.1, you can't run the all-singing, all-dancing Opera Mobile 9.5, because it's designed for touchscreen phones only. This, coupled with the small 2.4in screen, means browsing the web isn't great.

A low price means that we could have forgiven some of these drawbacks if battery life and build quality had impressed. Alas, they didn't: the Voice Messenger lasted just 58hrs 35mins in our tests - only the T-Mobile G1 was worse - and its shiny, sparkly blue plastic finish makes it look and feel rather cheap.

Author: Jonathan Bray