The Mobile That Can Organise Your Day
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday June 8, 1999
Nokia 9110 Communicator
TO improve its first Communicator, a device uniting cellular phone with PDA, Nokia created a smaller, lighter unit with a larger, brighter screen plus tiny expandable memory card.
Matt Rothschild, Nokia's mobile phone national accounts manager, said: "The Nokia 9110 Communicator represents an integrated device for all an individual's or company's communications needs. It combines the features of a PDA or organiser with the communications capabilities of a mobile phone. This includes being able to communicate in traditional ways using voice either with the handset or via the speakerphone function, or using the contacts database to manage numbers."
Priced about $2,000 without contract, it incorporates scheduling, contact manager, Web browser and e-mail functions allowing remote e-mailing plus short message service. It supports graphical and textual Web browsing albeit on a greyscale screen. To improve running applications such as a Web browser the unit includes a 4Mb RAM card.
These tasks previously requiring a notebook computer run smoothly and wirelessly, but the slow 9.6Kbps connection speed is a major drawback. The built-in microphone and speaker permit recording sound bites, plus offer hands-free telephony. However holding a personal phone conversation requires flipping the unit over as the earpiece is located on the base. Entering codes for banking or retrieving voice messages becomes an exercise in gesticulation.
The full QWERTY PDA keyboard suits demanding mobile use such as editing documents and spreadsheets, but is cramped. The positive key travel further restricts speedy typing.
The PDA screen is adequate for most indoor or outdoor use with contrast control and backlight for dim lighting, important as the unit will be used in a wide variety of situations.
Nokia claims six hours' talk-time and 200 hours' standby time, but heavy use of phone and PDA throughout the day significantly reduces battery charge. For heavy use without extended periods of charging, keep a second battery fully charged.
Although Windows-compatible, it is not a Windows CE unit, but powered by GEOS 3.0, from Geoworks. The 9110 synchronises with Microsoft Schedule+ 7.x, Microsoft Outlook 97/98 and Lotus Organiser 97 via infrared or serial cable.
A future bonus for the unit is its wireless imaging, allowing digital camera images to be sent to the unit using infrared. However, very few digital cameras use the IrTrm-P infrared protocol yet.
Operating on the GSM 900 network, the telephone functions throughout most of Australia, SE Asia and Europe, but not on the GSM 1900 network in the US. The organiser features will work anywhere.
An optional handsfree headset is useful for travelling or privacy and the multi-voltage charger requires only the appropriate AC adapter. The world clock and calculator with currency conversions are handy extras. THE BOTTOM LINE: If this device will replace your notebook, take as much care and attention in choosing one as you would a notebook. The right choice will accomplish a lot, otherwise you inherit another paperweight. PRICE: Depends on contract. WEB: www.nokia.com/ products/phones/9110/
© 1999 Sydney Morning Herald
