AT&T Wireless and Audiovox recently introduced the PPC 4100, a Pocket PC Phone Edition device based on the first version of the Windows Mobile 2003 software. This is not as full-featured as the new HP iPAQ h6315. But priced at $349.99, it's an incredible value!
The PPC 4100 is a tri-band GSM 850/1800/1900 MHz device with GPRS capabilities, which allows users to enjoy international roaming. As mentioned, the 4100 has the first version of Microsoft's Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC for Phone Edition software built into it. At the time of this review, it was not known whether Audiovox or AT&T Wireless would be offering an upgrade to Second Edition.
The 4100 is powered by the 400 MHz version of the Intel PXA255 processor and has 64 MB of RAM and 64 MB of flash ROM, as well as an SDIO card expansion slot allowing for memory expansion using SD and MMC memory cards, and SDIO accessories.
Audiovox PPC 4100 Pocket PC Phone Edition
Uncluttered appearance
At first glance, the PPC 4100 looks very much like the new iPAQ 6315. However, with a closer inspection, you'll notice that there are fewer buttons on the front of the device (power, call and hang-up). As a power user, I would have preferred the extra application launch buttons, but without them, the 4100 does have a more uncluttered appearance
Also located unobtrusively on the front of the device are the speaker, microphone, LED status lights, and the bright 3.5” 64K color Transflective TFT touch screen. The left side sports a navigation wheel, a volume control rocker button, and a phone lock switch. The stylus is hidden in the antenna nub. The back of the unit holds the removable battery. Remove the battery, and you reveal the SIM card slot. The USB/serial connector is located on the bottom of the device (the input for the AC adaptor is built into the left side of the USB/serial port).
Phone Edition software and decent backup program
As mentioned, the PPC 4100 ships with Microsoft's Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC for Phone Edition software built in and ready to use. The applications include Phone Dialer, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Inbox, Pocket Internet Explorer, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, MSN Messenger, various setup and configuration utilities, and more.
A few additional software programs are found on the device or on the installation CD, including a decent backup program (WiBackup, from Wistron Corporation). This program allows for complete backups as well as PIM or single file/folder backups.
Compact device at a great price
As with all Pocket PC Phone Editions I have tested, the PPC 4100 is a great phone device with excellent voice quality using either the headset or the built-in speaker. It delivers SMS messaging, e-mail, and Web browsing as do other Phone Edition devices.
The 4100 does not have all the bells and whistles found on other recently-introduced Windows Mobile devices. For example, it does not have an integrated camera, or built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Hardware accessories with these features can be added to the device via the SDIO card slot. According to Audiovox, the 4100 does not support Bluetooth, so Bluetooth SD cards will not work. If more than one of these features is important to you, I suggest you spend the extra for the iPAQ h6315. The cost of two SDIO peripheral cards will cost more than the price difference between the 4100 and the h6315.
According to Audiovox and AT&T Wireless, the PPC 4100 is available retail and online for $349 following a $50 instant rebate. It comes bundled with an AC adaptor, a USB sync cradle with an extra charging slot for a second battery, a single ear bud headset, a stereo headset, a stylus, and a great leather case.
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