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Switching from Windows Mobile to Symbian

Posted 29.01.2007 by xfyre

I’ve been using my QTek 9100 (HTC Wizard platform) for about a year. What I liked about it was good Windows compatibility, smooth sync with Outlook, a lot of available software, nice QWERTY keyboard. What I didn’t like was lack of system stability, poor performance and, last but not least, really terrible ergonomics.

Finally I got bored messing with stylus every time I need to do something like editing a contact or calendar entry, so I’ve decided to switch to another platform. After about a month of research & discussions I’ve finished with new Nokia E61, Symbian 9.1 (S60 rev.3) platform. It had everything it should have: QWERTY keyboard, WiFi, Bluetooth, and SIP client as a bonus.

Things I liked:

  • phone is OK for single-handed usage (even language switching with Shift-Chr is possible that way, though it’s a little bit tricky)
  • it’s small enough to fit in a pocket, and big enough to type texts without getting a headache and breaking your fingers
  • bright screen, good visibility in daylight
  • there are all necessary applications: organizer, applications to read MS Office documents, web browser that is much better than Pocket IE, perfect mail client (actually I read significant amount of emails from the phone now)
  • internet phone (it requires difficult setup, but after it I’m able to use it as my office extension both at office and at home)
  • good battery life (2-3 days with excessive WLAN/Bluetooth usage)
  • perfect handsfree interoperability

Things I didn’t like:

  • sync with Outlook is far from perfect (categories are not supported at all)
  • IP telephone setup is crazy and cannot be performed by non-professional
  • the phone asks a LOT of stupid questions when defaul call type is SIP and there is no WLAN connection, instead of just trying GSM call
  • built-in roaming between different access points (access point groups) is not that smart (but there is 3rd party application called BirdStep Mobile IP, which performs it a little bit better)

I was able to find all necessary applications (although the range of choice is not that wide comparing to Windows Mobile or Palm). My software mapping list looks like:

To summarize it all - although I had to change my usual mobile application environment to a completely different one, I can say I’m totally satisfied with the choice. I’m really able to work on-the go, the device is very practical and convenient to use.

For those who experience similar problems with Windows Mobile Phone Edition, I can also recommend Windows Mobile for Smartphone - recently some devices with very attracting characteristics were announced, like HTC Excalibur or HTC VOX; I don’t know anything about SIP implementations on WM Smartphones, but definitely there are other cool features, like full-size keyboard and WiFi. It allows Windows Mobile users to keep familiar application environment and get much better ergonomics at the same time; still it’s necessary to buy additional application software because WM Phone Edition and WM Smartphone are not compatible with each other.