Monday saw T-Mobile beat its rivals by bringing the first HSDPA enabled device to market in the form of HTC’s re-badged MDA Vario II. Vodafone’s v1605 variant has been left wanting as it is widely expected that Voda’s offering will not be HSDPA ready until 2007.
Key features of the T-Mobile MDA Vario II:
-Mobile broadband on your phone - HSDPA technology four times faster than 3G
-Web’n’Walk device - Internet on the move
-Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 software
-Quad band capability
-HSDPA/3G, Wi-Fi and GPRS connectivity
-Push email-enabled - Supports Microsoft Direct Push
-Featuring illuminated slide out QWERTY keyboard
As the first handset available in the UK to be fully HSDPA-enabled, (High Speed Download Packet Access), the MDA Vario II will provide users with connection speeds of up to 1.8 megabits per second which is four times faster than previously available. The increased speed of service will provide users with the internet, video calling and email.
Using HSDPA technology, T-Mobile already offers coverage across the UK population, and is an advancement on the existing 3G network offering speeds up to four times faster than 3G. For areas that are not currently covered by HSDPA, the device automatically connects to Wi-Fi and GPRS ensuring that customers are always connected at the fastest possible speed.
The MDA Vario II is Web‘n’Walk-enabled, providing customers with simple, open Internet access. The device is pre-installed with a web browser that ensures that users can view web pages as they could on their PC.
The device is based on the Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system, and comes complete with Microsoft Office, providing customers with key applications such as Microsoft Outlook. Users can view and edit both Word and Excel documents as well as view PowerPoint and PDF files.
The MDA Vario II comes with a range of email options, enabling users to stay in contact whenever they want. The device comes preinstalled with Microsoft Direct Push.
Microsoft Direct Push is available to businesses which run Microsoft Exchange 2003 Service Pack 2. Users are automatically alerted for access to incoming email and there is no need to ask the device to retrieve new emails as they will be delivered directly from the customer’s Exchange Server as and when they arrive. It also includes an email setup wizard that enables users to quickly configure the device to their Gmail, Yahoo, BT, and AOL email accounts.
The device features an enhanced sliding QWERTY keyboard, which which illuminates in low light. It also includes an integrated 2 mega pixel camera with LED flash, VGA camera (for video calling) and Bluetooth connectivity. The MDA Vario II is available in a limited edition red, silver and black casing, exclusive to T-Mobile.
Derek Williamson, Head of Business Marketing, T-Mobile UK says, “By launching the MDA Vario II, T-Mobile is ensuring that our customers are the first to truly experience broadband-speed connectivity on the move via their mobile phone. T-Mobile continues to take the lead in transforming the way people live and work by supporting their need for access to information and communication any time.”