T-Mobile Launches GSM/802.11 Phone In Germany

prostoalex writes "German subscibers of T-Mobile can now get a hybrid PDA phone that supports both GSM and WiFi wireless networks. The new Mobile Digital Assistant (pretty pictures) will connect to cellular and wireless hotspots built by T-Mobile as well as any 802.11a/g Wireless LANs."

Comments

Some More Information

[Zone-MR]

The Mobile Digital Assistantpage lists two products. One is the MDAI, and the second is the MDAII. The pretty pictures link actually only shows the OLD MDAI model, which still had an external antenna. It is NOT the upcoming MDAIII. I've had the XDAII (same thing as the MDAII, but it's called XDA in the UK for three months now. It's a great product (I love being able to use MSN messenger/IRC from practically anywhere, over a GPRS link, and paying next to nothing [since I'm billed for data transfered and IM/IRC isn't bandwidth intensive]). My only gripe is that its size/weight is a bit larger than standard pocket PCs (then again hardly susprising considering the extra features). WI-FI is the only thing that is missing IMHO, so I am looking forward to the next one.

I read some more info and an original press release. It was posted on www.xda-developers.com (great resourse for MDA/XDA owners). Here are some additional links regarding the upcoming MDAIII:

http://www.t-mobile.net/CDA/tmd_mda_iii,20,,news id -3146,en.html?w=1075&h=847
http://www.mtekk.com.a u/browse/page910.html

Wrong links

[Mr_Silver]

The links are all wrong.

The article talks about the MDA III yet the photos show an MDA I and II which have been out for ages and a reasonable amount of time respectivily. The most noticable thing about the MDA III is that it has an integrated sliding keyboard.

Photos of the MDA III can be found here.

I have one in my desk drawer and although I haven't had a proper play with it, it's rather heavy, thick and the back is made of cheap feeling black plastic. The OS is Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition.

However it does come with an impressive line up of software - fonix voice apps, album, clearvue pdf, enroller, clearvue ppt, kse truefax, midlet manager, photo contacts, video mms and xBackup to name a few.

Re:Wrong links

[wfberg]

And I'd have to add to that..

The MDA2/XDA2/iMate2/Qtek2020 (HTC Himalaya) also supports wifi, but only as an SDIO card option. Which means you can't extend the memory storage beyond the present 128MB RAM (with backup battery) and approx 15MB flash.

The apps that come with the MDAs are not necessarily included with the XDA/iMate/Qtek, but you can usually upgrade your own device with any vendor's ROMs, or even customize them, thanks to the people at xda-developers. Special kudos to xda-developer Willem/itsme.

SIP VOIP apps are available for pocketpc, even skype is, and depending on how much you pay for your data traffic (e.g. an unlimited plan) it might already work out cheaper than regular calls.

The most iresome trouble with these handsets is that the OS can be very buggy. I know it might seem like Microsoft-bashing, but they've really stuck to some of the worst features of windows for their embedded windowsCE/pocketpc platform. It has a registry! Which even has a HKEY_USERS key, even though it's empty because it's a single user device (and HKCU is not backed up by syncing). Also, DLL hell exists on the platform. Apps need to be installed and will try to install files in default locations. The package management is woeful, like in it's big brother. And back-ups frequently do not work.

The best thing about it, is the extensibility and the LARGE number of applications and tools available for it. The developer community seems to be bigger than the EPOC community was, or the Palm developer community. This in spite of the fact that the platform lacks easy scripting, and you're basically stuck to either handcrafting c++ or going the VB.NET route. Rather daunting, either way.

Pocket outlook is very nice, too bad activesync will only sync with regular outlook (you get a copy, although it comes with product activation).

Webbrowsing over gprs is a joy, though it is a shame there is no opera for pocketpc, if only to give it a whirl.

Oh, and parent poster.. If you don't have time to play with it.. Send it to me please? ;-)