Jørgen Sundgot picks up the new Infotouch P600 from Eten - a Pocket PC Phone Edition device which has eluded the attention of most people. The verdict? Poor looks, so-so hardware.
For most people, Microsoft's Pocket PC Phone Edition platform has since its arrival been associated with devices made by Taiwanese manufacurer HTC - be it the O2 XDA, T-Mobile MDA or Siemens SX56, which are minimal variations over a theme hardware-wise. The exception is HP's Jornada 928 WDA, which is only available in two countries; the UK and Singapore - but that model is to be discontinued. Another dark horse is also playing the race though, in the shape of Taiwan-based Eten's InfoTouch P600 - and here's my take on it.
 | The Infotouch P600 makes for an alternative to existing Pocket PC Phone Edition devices - but a bulky one
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Hardware
The P600 comes with a rather sparse selection of accessories; a USB cradle, a handsfree set and a leather case is all that's in the box. To make up for it, Eten have included the most luxurious leather case I've ever seen bundled with a device in dark brown premium quality leather - it's very stylish and makes for a snug fit for the P600, but unfortunately doesn't have any pockets for credit cards or memory cards.
The device itself is equipped with a 206 MHz Intel StrongARM processor, 64 MB RAM, a 3.5" 16-bit reflective TFT and an SD/MMC Card expansion slot - as well as the dual-band 900/1800 MHz and B type GPRS, class 8 wireless capabilities. As a B type GPRS device, the P600 is capable of sending an SMS as well as making or receiving a phone call during a GPRS sessions, which is then suspended until other activities are completed and then automatically resumed.
Moving on to the exterior of the device, we'll begin with the left side where buttons for increasing and decreasing volume both in and out of calls are placed, as well as the voice record activation button common for all Pocket PC 2002 devices. The USB/Serial connector is at the bottom as one would expect, along with the charger jack, while the 2.5mm handsfree set connector is placed low on the right side of the phone. A battery connect/disconnect slider is strangely placed not far from the jack, increasing the likelihood for disconnecting the battery by accident - effectively performing a hard reset of the device.
The stylus silo of the device is placed in the upper right corner, containing a relatively comfortable stylus in metal and plastic, while next to it is the IR port of the device, along with the SD/MMC Card expansion slot and the SIM card slot. Both slots are easy to access, although the plastic cover for the SIM card slot seems as if it could easily be pulled loose if not treated carefully. The antenna of the P600 provides good coverage, but is far from a pretty sight.
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