I must confess to not installing the PTT update as of this writing. It requires all data to be wiped from the device when the ROM is flashed, and I'm not ready to do that yet. I just got it set up the way I like, and I'll be having to do it soon enough as it is. In any event, PTT is a much-looked-for feature.

Windows Mobile... what more can I say? Windows Mobile is such a drastic improvement over Pocket PC 2003 that there is no comparison. And if you're still in the Dark Ages of the Palm OS, do yourself a favor and check out Windows Mobile. Multi-tasking says it all.

But wait... didn't Windows Mobile 6 just come out? Doesn't that make the 8525 outdated?

Not at all. In order to ensure continued device longevity, Cingular will be offering a WM6 update for the 8525, keeping it current and up-to-date for some time to come. A future article will cover the new OS and its improvements.

ActiveSync is much easier to set up now than it used to be. It's actually as simple as Plug-N-Play. Likewise, Pocket Outlook setup is essentially self-detecting. Much easier than on the XV6700.

The updated 2MP camera is a nice improvement over the previous 1.3MP version on the 8125. It's unlikely anyone will be the next Ansel Adams with one of these cameras, but the nice thing is that you always have a camera handy. They can be especially useful at accident scenes, and on those occasions when you wish you had a camera.

I have to count the slide-out QWERTY keyboard as a plus. Personally, I don't really use it that much. As a matter of fact, not at all. But I know people that can type on the slide-out almost as fast as on a full-size keyboard.

I have tried the keyboard, and for the most part did well with it. But I think my thumb must be a bit too fat, because I kept hitting the Period instead of the Space. Truthfully, I prefer to use natural handwriting as my input method of choice. In any event, having a full keyboard available that doesn't take up half of the device's real estate is a definite advantage.

For wireless capabilities, the 8525 has you completely covered. With Wi-Fi hotspots becoming more and more popular, the built-in Wi-Fi card will keep you connected.

Although Bluetooth has been around for a number of years it's only recently become more mainstream. The mobile phone market has really given it a boost in the form of Bluetooth headsets. My previous experience with BT showed it to be rather slow and a bit of a power hog, but as I don't actually have a BT headset at this moment, I wasn't actually able to test that feature.

Just remember, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will drain the battery of a Pocket PC phone much faster than a regular mobile phone because it has to run the computer in addition to the wireless feature.

Another plus to the 8525 is the ability to tether it to your laptop via USB and use it as a wireless modem. Many service providers don't allow this. Verizon doesn't, but Cingular doesn't mind at all. After all, we're paying for the airtime and data usage anyway. As a matter of fact, there's an included utility to set your phone up as a wireless modem.