It's great to have an Internet browser and e-mail application on your Pocket PC. But if you can't connect to the Internet, or it costs you an arm and a leg to do so, it's not a very practical solution. Fortunately, a number of broadband wireless solutions are coming online, including the Sprint Nationwide PCS Network and the new Sprint/Toshiba 2032 Pocket PC with a built-in mobile phone. Best of all, Sprint offers the most competitive pricing plans I've seen for wireless data users (see below for details).
Physically, the Toshiba 2032 is the same device as the Audiovox Thera and the Verizon Wireless-branded Pocket PC Phone. The Toshiba 2032 Phone Edition device comes with a built-in CDMA mobile phone supplied by Sierra Wireless. The Toshiba 2032 has one SD card expansion slot, and a phone launch button and a disconnect button below the calendar launch button on the front left of the device (see photo). In addition, there is a switch on the left side-panel that turns off the mobile phone to conserve the battery. The device reset button is on the back of the unit.
Functional and easy to use
The Toshiba 2032 comes with the Pocket PC 2002 operating system and productivity applications built-in. A description of that software is found on page 47 of this issue. The only additional software on the device is the Sierra Wireless Modem software that lets you access the voice and data functions of the mobile phone. It is important to note that, unlike the T-Mobile device I reviewed in the January 2003 issue, the Toshiba 2032 does not use Microsoft's Pocket PC Phone Edition software. I love how well the Phone Edition software integrates phone and Pocket PC functions, and I must admit I missed some of that tight integration in the Toshiba 2032. However, the device is still extremely easy to use and the integration is still very functional.
I found the Toshiba 2032's 32 MB of internal RAM insufficient for my needs. I'm a physician and need to install some rather large medical programs, which by design must be installed in the internal RAM. Not only do I quickly run out of internal memory, I have to partition the 32 MB for as much storage as possible, which decreases system RAM and slows down performance. For that reason, I had PocketPCTechs.com upgrade the Sprint 2032 to 64 MB of RAM, which made the Toshiba 2032 much more effective for my needs. (See PocketPCTech.com review on page 46.) A fully charged battery would last a full 8 hour a day. My typical usage includes approximately one hour of Web browsing, 1-2 hours of talking, with the remaining time for standby. During a conversation, the LCD screen does turn off after one minute to conserve the battery. The screen can be reactivated by tapping on the screen.
To 3G and beyond!
Through the Sprint Nationwide PCS Network, mobile professionals now have access to high-speed wireless connectivity that enables Web browsing, e-mail, and mobile e-commerce functions at peak speeds of up to 144 Kbps, with average speeds between 50 and 70 Kbps. When used with its included hands-free set or 2-way speakerphone (a feature I use exclusively on both this and the T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone), the Toshiba 2032 also serves as a functional mobile phone. Unfortunately, you cannot talk on the phone and browse the Web concurrently on the Toshiba 2032, as you can with a true Phone Edition device like the T-Mobile. Dialing is carried out through the phone keypad (Screen 1). You can also dial out automatically by tapping on a name in Contacts (Screen 2). A speed-dial function is also available, but somewhat difficult to use.
Screen 1: Dialing on the Toshiba 2032 is accomplished using the phone keypad application.
Screen 2: The phone functionality is integrated into Contacts. Tap on a contact and select "Dial Contact" to have the phone automatically dial the number.
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