WiFone? HTC Wizard Kicks Much Ass

So believe it or not I've worked in mobile for almost 4 years and have never really sat down with a Windows Mobile device. Crazy? Not really. Heres why. I work for a mobile media company which provides content (ringtones, graphics, games, applications, services) to most of the carriers in North America. As one of the larger carrier partners, we tended to get most of the devices pre-released. The vast majority of these have been yoru standard Nokias, Motorolas, Sony-Ericsson, Samsung, LG, etc. While some of these manufacturers make Windows Mobile devices, I didn't ever tend to see them. I'm sure they were floating around our offices somewhere and we are probably supporting them at some level but they were almost a novelty. I never really knew anyone that used one nor heard that we were producing any content for them. It seemed clear that the device manufacturers were hyper-cautious about allowing Microsoft to date their daughter. Control the OS and... well you know what happens.


Anyway, my friend Tam points me to this Dopod 838 that he wants. After looking at it, I realize that I have that on my desk (only its branded as the HTC Wizard for Cingular and is pre-release). I had grabbed it a few days earlier to test an app from a possible partner company. So I start messing around with it and after a few hours my conclusion is: Holy shit, this is what I want mobile browsing to be. I will save you a long review of all the features and cut to the chase (There are several reviews you can go read).

Its got Quadband GPRS/EDGE and WiFi and a descent browser. Its the trifecta I've been looking for.

Again not being very tuned into to the smartphone genre, I didnt know if WiFi was common. A cursory glance at Cingualrs current offering suggests it's not and I really wonder if the release version of the 8125 will have that delicious WiFi disabled? WiFi on a device is very liberating. With Wifi I'm internet free, not browsing a few daisies in the Carriers garden. But seeing WiFi on a mobile phone is really quite strange. Why on earth would a carrier support a device with WiFi when they are trying to sell their EVDO and HSDPA rollouts? 3G ain't free, whereas open WiFi spots are abound. But it isn't just bypassing the carriers data services that seems strange, voice can be circumvented too as I realized when Tam asks, "Have you tried the SIP client?".