Handheld Devices for the Mobile Workforce

For employees who are often out of the office or away from their desk, on-the-go access to corporate applications and e-mail is essential. There are dozens of PDAs, smartphones and handheld devices on the market. Which products hold the most appeal for busy workers who need to keep chugging along even when they're not in the office? 

Hardwyre recommends the following five Windows Mobile devices with Exchange ActiveSync compatibility to let you get work done when and where you need to. (By the way, the iPhone is pretty but it isn't on our list). These devices are available through the AT&T network, but various configurations of each are also offered by Alltel, Verizon and T-Mobile.

We'd like to point out that each product below comes equipped with ActiveSync. ActiveSync is a Microsoft synchronization program that allows a mobile device to be synchronised with either a desktop PC, or a server running Microsoft Exchange Server. This means that your corporate desktop e-mail and calendar data will automatically sync with the handheld device — and there's no extra software to buy.

AT&T Tilt™ (touch screen)

The AT&T Tilt™ is a 3G UMTS/HSDPA Windows Mobile device with a large touch screen and a spacious keyboard. The AT&T Tilt™ is the most comprehensive wireless device on the market today. This device keeps you connected with email, text and instant messaging, Internet access, personal organizer, video, satellite radio, and more all at broadband speeds. Wi-Fi, GPS navigation and Push-to-Talk round out the robust features on the newest device from AT&T making the Tilt your ultimate mobile companion.

Features & Benefits:

  • 2.8" tilting color touch screen and sliding QWERTY keyboard - input information quickly and easily
  • Windows Mobile® 6 Professional - access your office apps (Word, Excel, & PowerPoint) from anywhere
  • Tri-band UMTS/HSDPA; Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE - connect and work at broadband speeds
  • Integrated Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) support - gain increased coverage and speed with Wi-Fi hotspots
  • Integrated GPS - Find your next destination with voice guided directions, and 3D color maps
  • AT&T Mobile Music, Video, TV and games - take a break with the latest entertainment
  • 3 mega-pixel camera with autofocus and 10x digital zoom - capture life's moments with exceptional detail
  • Enhanced memory and micro SD expansion slot - store even more emails, documents, and music
  • Push to Talk - enjoy instant voice communication
  • Bluetooth™ v2.0 - increase productivity with hands-free communications

 Palm® Treo 750

3G Broadband Speeds—Palm Ease of Use

The combination of Windows Mobile features with Palm's enhanced usability makes it a great phone for business or personal use. Talk and download data at the same time. Browse the web and download data at broadband speeds.

Features & Benefits:

  • Tri-band UMTS*— Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE for global use
  • Microsoft® Windows Mobile 5.0 with
    Direct Push technology
  • 128MB ROM | 64MB SDRAM | 60MB user available
  • Samsung 300MHz Processor
  • Integrated QWERTY keyboard
  • 240x240 64K Color LCD Touch Screen
  • Bluetooth® v1.2 and Infrared connectivity
  • Mini SD card slot for greater storage and expansion
  • Take your favorite music and videos with you using Windows Media Player 10 Mobile
  • Pocket MSN, access Hotmail, MSN Messenger and more
  • Mobile Instant Messaging - Yahoo!® Messenger, AOL® Instant Messenger, & Windows Live ™ Messenger (available via MEdia Net download)
  • Optional 1.3 mega-pixel camera with 2x digital zoom and video capture

MOTO Q™

Beauty, power and intelligence unite with the MOTO Q™ — an elegant, high-performance Windows Mobile® 6 smart device that merges business with pleasure.

Keep moving and boost your productivity with the MOTO Q™ . The new MOTO Q™ is a 3G, Microsoft Windows Mobile 6, integrated GPS, world-capable smart device. It offers high-speed communications, productivity and multimedia services to meet the needs of mobile professionals.

With a full QWERTY keyboard and electro-luminescent keys, the versatile, feature-rich MOTO Q™  combines powerful business productivity with applications like Windows Mobile 6 with multimedia entertainment in one sleek device. There is no compromise with the MOTO Q™ . It's packed with robust tools including stereo Bluetooth® wireless technology, 2.0 megapixel camera, high-speed Internet connections and optional microSD™ card supporting up to 32GB. Enjoy the capability to view and edit Microsoft Office® documents from over 135 countries in the world.

Features & Benefits:

  • Windows Mobile 6 optimized for Microsoft Exchange 2003 and 2007 — Develop a personalized, integrated work flow with enhanced information access and security features
  • Integrated GPS — Access location-based services like TeleNav GPS Navigator™ for maps and directions while on-the-go
  • 3G Services — Experience rich multimedia that informs, delights and helps you to express yourself and personalize your life
  • Thin QWERTY device with a full, ergonomic keyboard — Achieve true portability without sacrificing functionality
  • Large, high-resolution display (320 x 240 pixels) — Expand your view with vibrant color and text that is easy to read

Samsung BlackJacktm

AT&T exclusive Samsung BlackJack — the thin, new Windows Mobile 5.0 PDA in the U.S. Quickly access your corporate and personal email and view attachments in real-time.

Features & Benefits:

  • Support for Mobile versions of Microsoft Office programs
  • Use voice in 185 countries worldwide and data in 105 countries with Quad band GSM and dual band HSDPA
  • 64 MB SDRAM/128 MB flash ROM
  • Large 2.2" 65K TFT QVGA color display
  • 1.3 mega pixel camera and video recorder
  • Rich internet browsing with Internet Explorer
  • Bluetooth® 2.0 connectivity
  • Stay up to date with instant access to contacts, calendar, tasks and notes
  • Enjoy streaming live video with AT&T Video and the latest tunes with AT&T Music

 

AT&T 8525

The AT&T 8525 is a feature-rich Windows Mobile Pocket PC providing access to your personal or corporate email, Internet, and your critical personal or business applications—all at broadband speeds. And with simultaneous voice and data functionality, you won't miss a call when surfing the web or responding to email.

Features & Benefits:

  • Tri-band UMTS/HSDPA; Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE for global use
  • Microsoft® Windows Mobile™ 5.0 with Messaging and Security Feature Pack
  • Mobile Instant Messaging - Yahoo!® Messenger, AOL® Instant Messenger, & Windows Live ™ Messenger (available via MEdia Net download)
  • 128MB ROM / 64MB SDRAM
  • Samsung 400MHz Processor
  • Sliding QWERTY keyboard
  • 2.8" QVGA 320x240 64K Color LCD Touch Screen
  • Push to Talk capable*
  • Bluetooth v2.0
  • Integrated WiFi (802.11b/g)
  • Micro SD expansion slot for greater storage and expansion
  • Take advantage of Windows Media Player 10 Mobile to take your favorite music and videos with you.
  • Log in to Pocket MSN – Hotmail, MSN Messenger and more!
  • Optional 2.0 mega-pixel camera with built-in flash and video capability