Mobile technologies are like shoes: fashions come and go, and everyone has to find one that fits. But when it comes to smartphones, the market seems to be stuck in touch mode. Even Nokia, long resistant to the idea, is about to take the plunge. The same goes for Blackberry, which has made a major contribution to the spread of full keyboards, so practical for those who send large numbers of electronic messages. This technology has been around since the early days of personal digital assistants (PDAs). For a long time, it remained anecdotal. But the ever-increasing complexity of these devices and the spectacular intervention of Apple with its iPhone have given it a new lease of life.
However, the touch screen does not have only advantages, especially when it comes to sophisticated use. While it allows giant screens to cover the entire surface of the mobile phone, adding to the comfort of use, it is also restrictive. It is the ease of writing that is put to the test. A touch-sensitive keyboard has to be placed on the screen. The keys have to be visible, not obscure the text, and remain large enough for you to type without making too many mistakes. This is where the iPhone made the difference, with a virtual keyboard that is both compact and intelligent, reducing mistakes to a minimum. The competition drew inspiration from this and came up to speed. But the pinnacle for the e-mail stakhanovist is the physical keyboard. It slides out only when you need it. The combination of the two processes creates devices that are thicker but much more comfortable to use.
In terms of networks, HSDPA technology, often nicknamed 3G+, has become widespread. If you have a suitable package, you can download documents (e-mails with large attachments, web pages, programmes) at a rate reminiscent of the early days of ADSL, when 1 megabit per second seemed like supersonic speed. But technological one-upmanship is no longer the only arena in which brands are battling it out. GPS, for example, is not systematically available, but it is no longer the sign of an inaccessible top-of-the-range product.
A la carte configuration
The key differentiators are the interfaces, their user-friendliness and their customisability. For example, the Windows Mobile software platform, which is somewhat sad and dated, allows a second graphics layer to be added, at the choice of the manufacturer or operator. This brings mobile phones closer to computers. Widgets, weather forecasts, clocks, RSS feeds, etc. are all available on home pages. But these attractive tools consume a lot of bandwidth, which is the basis for billing. What's more, these mobiles are complex to configure, especially if you need to go a long way towards personalisation. As a result, bills for data packages are rising. More than ever, controlling configuration means controlling consumption.
Test bench
HTC Touch HD: Mastery
HTC, the leader in Windows Mobile smartphones, has big ambitions. The iPhone had dented those ambitions, but now it's making up for it. The Touch HD is large, all-screen and comfortable. The virtual keyboard is a success, precise enough to make up for the absence of a physical keyboard, which is in preparation. Windows Mobile's instabilities and a predictive writing mode (T9) that just doesn't get the job done are the main drawbacks. That's not much to regret for a powerful and versatile tool.
Sony Ericsson Xperia X1: Long awaited
The first of Sony Ericsson's new generation, the X1 features a graphics layer that can be customised as required. The screen slides in a curve, facing the eye, while the keyboard remains stable. It's big on paper, but its stretched format makes it less than user-friendly for web browsing. Although it switches automatically from vertical to horizontal, it is narrow. Navigation is via a small touch-sensitive pad. Very well equipped, it is burdened by slow display speeds.
RIM Blackberry Storm: A species apart
RIM's first touch-sensitive mobile phone features a unique screen. The touch of a finger determines a position and you have to press to click. In two steps, use is as imprecise as it is unusual. The screen resolution is low for this price range. Finally converted to 3G+, RIM has neglected web browsing: clicking hypertext links is hell. The ease of use of e-mail accounts makes up for this. Except when you have to write them down...
