Siemens' new Pocket PC and mobile phone rolled into one product, the SX45 or MultiMobile as it's called more affectionately, is about to hit store shelves - with Pocket PC 2000.
It's the one device in this world that shows us what our immediate future is going to be like; Siemens SX45 is the MultiMobile where a PDA running the Pocket PC operating system and mobile phone features (GSM 900/1800 MHz, to be more specific) are combined, resulting in what's designated as a communicator. Right now, it's on its way to store shelves, but the big question is whether it will become a big seller.
 | The SX45 looks nice, although it's a bit bulky - but that's just about unavoidable with 1st-gen communicators
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Originally intended to feature GPRS, the SX45 will in its first edition be a GSM-only device as a result of Siemens' difficulties with implementing GPRS properly in the new device. It is expected that GPRS will be implemented in new models coming out in early 2002, but unlike those who have bought the Sagem WA3050 monochrome Pocket PC communicator, SX45 buyers will not be able to just do a software upgrade to get GPRS. Exactly how, or even if, Siemens plans to offer upgrades is as of yet unclear.
There is also some doubt regarding whether the SX45 will be able to compete with the new breed of Pocket PC 2002 based devices coming out, since the SX45 uses the first version of the Pocket PC platform. The two platforms are software compatible, but there is one slight snag; the 150 MHz MIPS processor of the SX45 isn't ARM, and all new Pocket PC 2002 devices are running on ARM.
This means that software has to be compiled specifically for the SX45, and given the fact that the market appeal for such a device when it runs Pocket PC 2000 combined with a possibly high price tag and Europeans not yet being used to such devices, the SX45 might face a rough introduction period. Unfortunately, the device doesn't have its operating system stored in Flash ROM, which renders it un-upgradeable, so there is no way it can be upgraded to Pocket PC 2002 either.
Still, the SX45 contains more than enough functionality for business users for whom the device is clearly aimed at, and with its built-in CompactFlash and MMC expansion slots, it's as versatile as any of the new Pocket PC 2002 devices that are coming to market. Add to that the benefit of integrated wireless connectivity, and you have a very good start.
On an interesting side note; we happen to know that Siemens is currently negotiating whether to produce a Pocket PC 2002-based successor to the SX45, and such a product would undoubtedly be met with great expectation as it is what's the future will be made of.
As for other technical specifications, the SX45 has a 16-bit non-reflective TFT screen, 32 MB of RAM, comes with an USB synchronization cable, supports WAP 1.2 and weighs approximately 295 grams with physical measurements amounting to 134 mm x 82 mm x 26 mm. The expected standby time is up to 150 hours, and the expected talk time is 2 hours.
If you'd like to take a look at an SX45 in action from when Siemens sponsored Munich's annual Oktoberfest, we've made a high-res picture available for you on the next page.
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