The Ultimate Windows Mobile Business Phone - A Comparison

March 23, 2009

There is little question that Windows Mobile has been primarily geared for the enterprise market.  While many - including me - have faulted Microsoft for forgetting the consumer market (or seeming so at time), few if any can question their ability to take the Windows Mobile platform and develop it into a world class mobile operating system for enterprise users.  The platform simply does everything:  Email, Word editing, Excel editing, PowerPoint viewing, OneNote synchronization, some have printing and PDF applications included (mostly HTC devices)... the list goes on.  Which which phone is really the best when it comes to business needs?  While it could be said that the ultimate decision comes down to individual needs and usage, which would be correct at a level, there are some key indicators as to which device would be best suited for a business user.  That is what I'll be covering today in this overview.  I'll be looking at four current Windows Phones and will be looking at them from 6 key perspectives:  Battery life, Screen (size, clarity), Keyboard (size, ease-of-use), Size, Memory, and included applications.  While these are not exhaustive in nature, they should provide those of you who need a phone for business purposes a good idea of which ones will do the job for you.  At the end of each category I'll provide a rating for each area then a total score - the higher the better.

The five phones that I will be covering cover a wide range of form factors and price ranges so you should be able to find a device that fits your needs in the mix - at least that's the goal.  The four devices include:

* HTC S740 Windows Standard Phone
* HTC Touch Pro Windows Professional Phone
* HTC Advantage X7510 Windows Professional Phone
* MWg Zinc II Windows Professional Phone

HTC S740 Windows Standard Phone

The S740 has been one of the most reviewed and well received Windows Standard Phones in quite some time.

Battery Life
As you would expect with a Windows Standard Phone, the battery life on the S740 is outstanding.  In my testing while reviewing it, battery life easily made it 1.5 days between charges which included Direct Push Mail active all the time and an average of 15, 15-minute phone calls.  Even if you have Bluetooth enabled throughout the day you will get a full day out of it. 
Ranking:  5

Screen
If there is a downside to the compact size of the S740 it is the screen.  The clarity of the screen is fantastic even in bright light situations (thanks to HTC's auto diming technology built into the phone).  The problem really is the size.  Reading lengthy emails on the S740 can be difficult as can Internet browsing.  The 2.5" screen just is too small for intensive viewing.  If you are a business user that does not do a lot of Email on your phone or browsing, you should be fine.  For heavy users, this may be a turn off.
Ranking:  2

Keyboard
The keyboard on the S740 is very similar to the one that you will find on the Touch Pro.  They keys are laid out nicely and have a good tactile feel to them when you press them.  I found typing on the keyboard to be quite comfortable with few mistakes.  Another nice thing I found is that even though the keyboard looks small, I didn't find that I felt "cramped" on it.  I found it to be easy to use for long periods of time. 
Ranking:  4

Size & Weight
Hands down the top device on my list when it comes to size and weight is the S740.  It easily fits into your pocket or in a phone slot in your handbag and you hardly notice it is there. 
Ranking:  5

Memory
The S740 comes with a good amount of RAM and ROM for a Standard phone at 256MB.  This should be more than enough to keep plenty of applications running in the background and for storing applications without having to add a memory card.  If you need more storage you can easily add up to a 32GB MicroSDHC storage card.
Ranking:  4

Included Applications
The S740 comes with the standard complement of Microsoft Office Mobile applications included Word, Excel and PowerPoint as well as OneNote.  Beyond this it included Adobe Reader LE to view PDF files but does not include a printing application or an alternative browser. 
Ranking:  3

Total Score:  23 out of 30
Review
Prices:  $489.99 (Phone Only) or $188.99 (AT&T Unlimited Plan 2-Year Contract 3G) or $96.99 (T-Mobile Unlimited Plan 2-Year Contract No 3G)

HTC Touch Pro (AT&T Fuze) Windows Professional Phone

When HTC released the Diamond and Touch Pro last year, everyone seemed to be enamored with them and it's hard to fault them.  Aesthetically they are simply beautiful with the Touch Pro essentially being a Diamond with a slide out QWERTY keyboard.

Battery
The battery life on the Touch Pro is terrific, making it a full 7-8 hours with Direct Push Mail running continually, Bluetooth and about 15, 15-minute phone calls.  Internet browsing and other data intensive applications will bring that battery life down as will extensive phone call usage.  Extra batteries are readily available for the Touch Pro so if you are a heavy user a second battery may not be a bad idea.
Ranking:  4

Screen
The Touch Pro has a stunning VGA display with 480x640 resolution.  The screen is crisp and easy to read both indoors and outdoors.  Using the phone for email and Internet browsing is comfortable with this display and eye fatigue should not be much of an issue.
Ranking: 5

Size & Weight
The Touch Pro is quite small and comfortable to carry in your pocket or handbag.  It weighs just under 5 ounces with the battery so you should not feel the weight of it while carrying it.
Ranking:  5

Keyboard
The QWERTY keyboard n the Touch Pro is fantastic as well.  The keys have great feedback and feel and are big enough to easily use without having to look at the keyboard itself.  I found that I made very few mistakes with the keyboard on Touch Pro and it felt quite comfortable for long periods of usage.  There are a few variations of the keyboard out there (I used a AT&T Fuze as my review unit) so you will find that some have a dedicated number row and others don't. 
Ranking: 4

Memory
The Touch Pro sports 512MB of ROM and 192MB of RAM, which should provide plenty of storage for most users and plenty of power to keep multiple applications open at once.  You can add up to a 32GB MicroSDHC card as well for additional storage should it be needed.
Ranking:  5

Included Applications
The Touch Pro includes the standard Office Mobile applications that are expected to be in Windows Mobile 6.1 devices:  Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.  Additionally, the Touch Pro includes the latest beta of the Opera Mobile Browser, Adobe Acrobat LE PDF Reader, a Zip File utility, JETCET Printing, Sprite Backup (HTC Fuze for AT&T), TouchFLO 3D and World Card business card capturing application.  The Touch Pro is geared for the business user and the complement of applications makes that apparent.
Ranking:  5

Total Score:  28 out of 30
Review
Price:  $574.99 (Phone Only) or $259.99 (AT&T Unlimited 2 Year Contract)

HTC Advantage X7510 Windows Professional Phone

It is no secret that I am a very big fan of the HTC Advantage X7510.  But is it the ultimate business phone? 

Battery
The battery life on the Advantage is good but not outstanding.  Generally you can make it a business day but the battery will be gasping for life by the end of the day.  This assumes that Direct Push Mail is enabled and that you have an average of 15 calls throughout the day of 15 minutes plus Bluetooth enabled.  The Advantage has a 2200MAh but the massive VGA display does draw quite a bit of power.
Ranking:  3

Screen
The Advantage's 5" VGA display is simply stunning.  It is large enough to comfortably view for hours at a time while working on email or Internet browsing.  The display is crisp and bright and is reasonably readable outdoors.
Ranking:  5

Size & Weight
HTC aimed the Advantage squarely at the heavy enterprise user and the size reflects that target.  The 5" VGA screen dominates the top portion of the device while the detachable QWERTY keyboard is designed to completely cover the device.  Add that to a device that is about 9 ounces in weight and you get a device just slightly smaller than a paperback novel.
Ranking:  3

Keyboard
The Advantage has a detachable QWERTY keyboard with hepatic feedback when you type on it.  The keys are large and easy to type with, especially as the device sits on a desk.  If you hold the device and thumb type it will feel a bit large but it is doable.  Finally it has a dedicated number row which can be an advantage for documents and emails.
Ranking:  5

Memory
The Advantage sports a 256MB ROM and 128MB of RAM along with an unbelievable 16GB of Flash Storage.  The Advantage can be an all-in-one device if you desire it to be that for you.  Music and video storage is not going to be an issue on this device.
Ranking:  5

Included Applications
The Advantage includes the standard Office Mobile applications that are expected to be in Windows Mobile 6.1 devices:  Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.  Additionally, the Advantage includes the latest beta of the Opera Mobile Browser, Adobe Acrobat LE PDF Reader, a Zip File utility, JETCET Printing, and World Card business card capturing application.  The Advantage is geared for the business class device and the applications show it.
Ranking:  5

Total Score:  26 out of 30
Review
Price:  $985.99 (Device Only)

MWg Zinc II Windows Professional Phone

The MWg Zinc II has been out for about a year and is one of the lower cost business class devices available today.  It supports HSDPA for high speed downloads and is an elegant, slim device.  While it does meet the levels of the HTC Touch Pro or Advantage, if you are on a budget, this could be the device for you.

Battery
The battery life on the Zinc II is good and most users should get a full day out of it with Direct Push Mail and Bluetooth enabled.  The device does seem to take a bit of a battery hit if you have HSDPA enabled but should still make it a day for most users.
Ranking:  3

Screen
The screen on the Zinc II is good, especially in low light situations.  It is crisp and clear but it is QVGA which does not give you some of the crispness of the newer VGA devices.  The screen is 3.5" in size so email viewing and Internet browsing is comfortable and usable.
Ranking:  3

Size & Weight
A big advantage the Zinc II has is its small size and weight factor.  The device is slim and with the all glass front looks fantastic.  In fact, the device is so thin that at first glance you wouldn't realize it has a slide out QWERTY keyboard.
Ranking:  5

Keyboard
The most frustrating part of the Zinc II is the keyboard.  It is smooth and the keys are different sizes, making learning the keyboard a bit challenging.  This keyboard also begs for hepatic feedback as well but doesn't have it. 
Ranking:  2

Memory
Another disappointment in the Zinc II is the 128MB ROM and only 64MB of RAM.  This can make having multiple applications open bog down the device. 
Ranking:  2

Included Applications
The Zinc II includes the standard Office Mobile applications and Adobe Acrobat LE but does not include any other applications that are business centric.
Ranking:  2

Total Score:  17 out of 30
Review
Price:  $299.99 (Phone Only) or FREE (AT&T Unlimited 2 Year Contract)

So which phone is best for business use?  Take a look at the chart to give you a visual key:

The top two devices are the HTC Touch Pro (AT&T Fuze) and HTC Advantage X7510.  These two are also the most expensive.  If you are a heavy phone user and data user, these are the devices to go with hands down.  If you are however a light email or phone user, the HTC S740 for MWg Zinc II will be better suited for you.  Ultimately however no matter which of these you go with, your business needs should be met at some level by all of them.