:: LAPTOP Magazine • Sprint PCS Vision Smart Device PPC-6700 ::

:: LAPTOP Magazine • Sprint PCS Vision Smart Device PPC-6700 ::Sprint PCS Vision Smart Device PPC-6700
The EV-DO and Wi-Fi-enabled PPC-6700 is powerful and versatile enough to be the only device you take on the road.
Price: $599 ($449 with instant rebate)

by Mark Spoonauer
Date Posted: 01/05/2006

As the first truly formidable competitor to the Treo, the Sprint PCS Vision Smart Device PPC-6700 beats Palm’s device to the punch when it comes to speed, wireless connectivity, and keyboard input. This 416-MHz Pocket PC slider leverages the advantages of Microsoft’s new Windows 5.0 operating system, including soft keys for easier one-handed navigation and PowerPoint Mobile for viewing presentations. It grabs e-mail and downloads Web pages in a hurry thanks to the inclusion of both EV-DO and Wi-Fi connectivity. It’s not the lightest PDA/phone combo, but the PPC-6700 certainly makes the most of its size.

Unlike traditional smart phones, the 6.1-ounce, one-inch thick PPC-6700 takes a bold step forward by incorporating a keyboard that slides out from the left side of the device. This action automatically switches the orientation of the 240 x 320-pixel screen from portrait to landscape, but in most instances there was at least a one to two second delay. Because the keyboard layout is larger than what you’ll find on a Treo or BlackBerry, you’ll be entering everything from e-mail to changes to Word documents quickly and with few errors; no lengthy practice sessions required.

Up front, a useful joystick controls scrolling through documents and selecting items or links. The common dedicated Talk and End buttons make an appearance as well. The most welcome design touch is the pair of soft buttons that you’ll find both on the front of the device and to the left and right of the keyboard. These buttons’ functions change depending on the application and enable you to do more without having to take the stylus out of its holster within the antenna. For example, pressing the Menu button within Outlook Mobile pulls up several options, including Reply, Forward, and Save to Contacts.

The rest of the design is fairly straightforward, with a MiniSD memory card slot on top, a sliding volume control flanked by Launch keys for the voice recorder and Internet Explorer Mobile on the left, and a Launch key/Shutter button for the 1.3-megapixel camera on the right side. That camera isn’t just for show. You can easily attach pictures to outgoing e-mails or to contact entries so you can immediately identify incoming callers.

As a Web surfing and e-mail device, the PPC-6700 shines because of its compatibility with Sprint’s EV-DO network. With speeds in the 400 to 700 Kbps range, we loaded most Web pages within 10 to 15 seconds, and you’ll have no problems downloading attachments to your device using either Pocket Outlook or Sprint’s Business Connection service. Sprint has initiated its EV-DO rollout in more than 75 markets with about 30 business districts fully covered, which will increase to 56 by December. Meanwhile, Verizon Wireless has 171 markets fully covered.

Sprint beats Verizon with its monthly data plan: it’s only $15 per month for unlimited data on this device, compared to $49 per month for Verizon’s smart phones. Alas, you can’t use the PPC-6700 as a wireless modem for your notebook using its Bluetooth connection, but Sprint and Microsoft promise a software upgrade to enable dial-up networking capability in the coming weeks. If you decide to use this device as a modem, Sprint will recommend that you step up to a more expensive data plan.

If you find yourself in an area without EV-DO, you can either rely on Sprint’s slower, but tolerable 1xRTT network (50 to 70 Kbps) or turn on the PPC-6700’s Wi-Fi radio using the handy Wireless Manager utility. The connection proved even faster than EV-DO in our tests, loading most Web sites in about six seconds. However, at times we couldn’t connect at all over Wi-Fi, even though the device could see the network.

With 64MB of RAM and 128MB of what Microsoft calls persistent system memory at your disposal, PPC-6700 owners won’t have to worry about their data disappearing should their battery die. With about 4.7 hours of usage time, you can use this for a good chunk of your day before reaching for the USB charger. Adding a MiniSD card will give you more room for your MP3s, pictures, and other files, but keep in mind that at the moment you’re limited to 1GB of capacity, compared to 2GB for fuller size SD card slots.

As a phone, the PPC-6700 performed decently in our tests in Manhattan, San Francisco, and New Jersey, delivering mostly clear audio quality. If you’re in an office or conference room, we definitely recommend engaging the speakerphone, as it was at times difficult to hear the other caller unless we had the handset positioned the right way on our ear.

In addition to Microsoft’s own programs, the PPC-6700 comes with a free trial of Action Info, an application that gives you instant access to news, weather, and other info form such brands as AP News, AccuWeather, Restaurant Row, eBay, and Amazon. If you’re into listening to audio books, check out the pre-loaded AudiblePlayer. You can get $100 cash back when you sign up for a 12-month subscription (www.audible.com).

Our biggest gripe with this PDA/phone combo is its display. Yes, it looks great indoors, but we could barely make out the numbers on the Phone screen outside on a sunny day. You’ll either have to hold the PPC-6700 at the right angle to see the onscreen dialpad or slide open the keyboard and use the numeric keys.

The Treo 650 remains number one when it comes to ease of use and sheer value, but the PPC-6700 will reward you for the $50 premium with faster Web connections and the most comfortable smart phone keyboard yet. It’s easily the best Windows Mobile Pocket PC phone on the market.

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