Sierra Wireless Voq

The Voq Professional from Sierra Wireless is the latest in a steady trickle of phones running Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphones.

The operating system, which Microsoft hopes will establish a foothold in the smartphone sector, includes a number of applications designed to help smartphone functionality. It also provides Activesync for data synchronisation with a desktop.

Sierra Wireless has added a few tweaks of its own to help this phone stand out including one notable hardware feature and a superb software tool.

The number pad flips open to reveal a tiny keyboard. When used with both thumbs while cradling the Voq Professional between your hands, it is surprisingly easy to type on.

My Voq is the software innovation. This starts automatically when you reveal the keypad and allows quick searching of Contacts, Notes and Favourites as you type phone number, name, employer and so on. When you've found who you want, tap a soft-key to write an SMS or email, or press the Talk button to make a voice call. With 16MB of onboard memory there's enough space to store all your contacts, but more memory can be added via the Secure Digital (SD) slot.

Oddly there is no Bluetooth, or built-in camera. Battery life is quoted at 100 hours standby and six hours talk. However, our review unit was pre-production so we couldn't fairly test this.

Be warned, though, that this is relatively large and heavy for a phone and the keyboard is nowhere near good enough for anything more than tapping out emails and SMS messages.

Pricing was unavailable at the time of press, but it will need to be aggressive to compete with the Orange SPV.

Contact: Sierra Wireless
www.voq.com

Specifications:

• Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphones
• Intel Xscale PXA 263 200MHz processor
• 16MB of Ram
• 16MB of Rom
• 2.2in screen (175 x 220 pixels)
• 1 SD/MMC (no SDIO)
• Extra ports direct AC
• 145g
• 133 x 53 x 23mm
• USB to PC connection

Price details:
TBA