Replacing the standard silkscreen area found on most Palm OS devices with a RIM-like keyboard is interesting, but it breaks the traditional Palm OS user interface paradigm with questionable benefits. As a Palm OS device, the Treo comes with the (rather antiquated) Palm Desktop PIM (Personal Information Management), including Address Book, Date Book, Memo Pad, and To Do List. However, you could alternately synchronize with Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes (using Lotus EasySync) at the desktop.

In terms of Internet access and applications, this device has it all with the Handspring Blazer browser, Treo Mail, and built-in SMS. However, it doesn't come with a bundled Instant Messaging client application or office application suite. As a Palm OS device, the Treo relies on third party applications like Pumatech's Intellisync (at http://www.pumatech.com/is_desktop_main.html), DataViz Documents To Go (at http://www.dataviz.com/products/documentstogo/index.html), and IBM Lotus EasySync Pro (at http://www.lotus.com/products/easysyncpro.nsf), to work with Microsoft desktop products.

The Siemens SX56
The Siemens SX56, pictured in Figure B, has more power and capacity than any other device, but most of it is used for the Pocket PC 2002 operating system and the Microsoft Pocket Office suite.

FIGURE B

The Siemens SX56 uses the Pocket PC 2002 operating system. Click picture for a larger image.

Easy integration with Microsoft desktop applications, including Microsoft Outlook, is a benefit for most companies. It takes a little bit more effort to synchronize the SX56 with Lotus Notes on the desktop since the software that comes with the product doesn't anticipate non-Microsoft configurations. The device itself is a PDA, a mobile phone, and an MP3 player (what every business user needs).

Overall, the SX56 is the best-integrated device in terms of tradeoffs between PDA and phone functionality. The design is straightforward and practical, and it pays off in ease of use. As an email tool, however, the Pocket Outlook application leaves a lot to be desired. It can be difficult to configure for anything but the simplest configurations, so deploying this in a business setting will take some planning. Using the default POP3 (Post Office Protocol v3) email protocol is not secure unless it's used over a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

Just get the job done
For those who don't care about having the latest and greatest devices, there are two old standbys: the RIM 957 and the Palm i705. These are both two-way pagers under the covers, so they lack SMS support and don't provide a true online experience. However, they can send and receive email reliably anywhere in North America, and the batteries can last for weeks unlike devices with bright color displays that measure battery life in hours, not days, of continuous use. When you strip away the bells and whistles (and the MP3 players) these are workhorse devices that get the job done and that are a good companion for your mobile phone. Unlike the high-speed GSM/GPRS devices, if you're outside the range of your mobile operator's network your email will probably still work.