Talking's only start of 3G world

By PAUL BRISLEN

Telecom and Vodafone are in the throes of launching their third generation cellphone networks and finally the new gear the companies hope will lure in new customers is arriving.

Both 3G networks offer significantly faster connection speeds than the existing cellphone networks, and that has led to a change in emphasis for the phones themselves.

Instead of voice phones with additional bits around the edges, both Telecom and Vodafone are offering fully-functioning data phones with voice. The emphasis is deliberate, as super-fast networks are not necessary for voice calls only.

The two companies have quite different phones. Telecom's is a business traveller's phone, and Vodafone is focusing on the video call market.

Telecom is first off the blocks - because it is simply extending the capability of its existing 027 network, it has been able to launch T3G before Vodafone gets off the ground.

The Harrier is possibly the first really cool phone Telecom has had.

It is equipped with Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system which means you get a handheld PC as well as a phone.

Users can easily synchronise contacts, email and application data with their desktop or laptop computers.

The full colour screen is huge, so battery life could be a problem. But the manual says four hours of talk time and 168 hours of standby, which is quite nice.


As with most handheld PCs, this one has a touch screen and stylus, but those uncomfortable writing on the screen can can use a keyboard which slides out of the bottom of the phone.

The keys are tiny, but for text message typists it could be easier than learning to scribble on the screen.

The phone also has a memory card slot to expand on the 128 MB of internal memory and to carry those MP3 music files. And the Harrier has a two-ear headset so you can listen to music while pretending to take calls in meetings.

On top of that, it has a camera with video capabilities, although the camera is still a sub-megapixel size so it's not going to give you great digital photographs.

They're fine for display on the unit, but limited in their use beyond that. But it does have a flash, which should make for better photos at the pub.

Vodafone's new network goes live next year with a different emphasis.

Initially, Vodafone is promoting its video phones for two-way video calls.

Vodafone will launch with 11 handsets and three different PC cards

The Sharp 902 is clearly the leader of the pack with its 2.0 megapixel camera.

It also has an optical zoom - unlike the digital zoom that most cameras use - which makes it a highly usable camera phone.

The phone flips open and the top half also swivels so you can use the display as you would on a camera, which makes it easier to take better photos.

The phone has a 32MB memory which can be extended by a memory card, and can play MP3 music files.

But the fun starts when you make a video call. You'll need to find someone with a similar phone, but then you're away.

The image can be a little jerky and it might take a while before you stop feeling silly doing it in public but that's OK.

Like still-photo-capable phones it will take a while before video phones reach critical mass so you don't even have to think about whether the person you're calling can receive a video phone image but Vodafone has huge hopes.

Vodafone Sharp 902

* Price: Expected to be around $1300, depending on plan.

* Pros: 2 megapixel camera, optical zoom, swivel mount for ease of use, Bluetooth, infrared and USB connectivity, expandable memory.

* Cons: Only 32 MB memory on board, network won't start until next year.

* Rating: 8/10

Telecom Harrier

* Price: Up to $999, depending on plan.

* Pros: PocketPC, good looking, MP3 player, 128 MB expandable memory, Bluetooth, infrared and USB connectivity, 500 kbps - 2 mbps network speed.

* Cons: Larger format phone that does everything may not be for everyone; keyboard a little small; doesn't ship with memory card included.

* Rating: 8/10