Skype Logo
Buy Skype Credit · Help ·
  • Download
  • Use Skype
  • Business
  • Shop
  • Account
Tony Saigh

Sat nav, mobile email, and Skype all in one package?

By My status Tony Saigh on November 21, 2006 in Mobile Devices.

Yes, we want it all and it seems that we’re getting it all in even smaller packages. This year saw more and more Windows Mobile phones with GPS and this is a theme that seems set to continue next year.

So I thought I’d give a little round up of a few

GPS Pocket PC phones
, all of which work great with Skype and also give our large community of Pocket PC Skype users to add their thoughts.

I’ve chosen three models, all of which I’ve been lucky enough to use:

GPSlineup2.JPG

From left to right:

The Glofiish X500 from E-TEN (£439.95)

The HP iPAQ hw6915 (£399.95); and

The Asus P535 (£TBD)

Prices are for handsets only (taken from Expansys) and if bundled with a mobile contract, handset cost can be much more afforable (under £100).

The iPAQ is wider than the other two models and only has a rather dated 1.3MP camera but it does have ad advantage of a QWERTY keyboard (great for using Skype chat, especially if you have an unlimited data plan) as well as EDGE support and comes TomTom software (one free city map only).

The Glofiish device is thinner than the P535 and both have a 2MP camera, GPRS radio. The Glofiish is one of the first devices to support Skype calls through the receiver, which gives a better experience (you don’t need to use a headset for Skype calls or listen through the loudspeaker), so it does come recommended if you plan to use it a lot for Skype.

You may want to look at this comparison of the E-TEN and ASUS devices by Crave on CNET.

So is GPS useful on a Windows Mobile phone? Well aside from the obviously giving you in car satellite navigation, here's a time where I found it particularly useful. I was on a flight to San Francisco and was looking at the Virgin Atlantic city guide video. I then noted down some interesting restaurants and shops I might visit when I got there. I then realised I had my iPAQ 6900 device, so went into the navigation app and was able to locate and save these places as favorites. Once in San Francisco ans when I did have a couple of hours to spare, I had no problem in getting around the city and finding places and was even able to find nearest WiFi hotspots to make free Skype calls.

So it seems we can have it all, after all. We're looking at other ways of taking advantage of in built GPS for Skype, so if you have any ideas do let us know.

Bookmark and Share

View blog reactions

Comments

Please let me know if i can use skype mobile on Nokia E50 or on Motorola motorizer?

bharath6115 | Friday, May 18

How do I get the skype software for the Glofiish 500 that allows voice calls. This model is the same as the Pharos GPS Phone 600?

asotojob | Wednesday, Jul 11

How do I get the skype software for the Glofiish 500 that allows voice calls. This model is the same as the Pharos GPS Phone 600?

asotojob | Wednesday, Jul 11

Comment on this post

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)

Please read our comment guidelines before posting your comment.

Skype Blogs
  • Share Skype Blog
  • Heartbeat
  • Developer Zone
  • Business
  • Skype Gear
  • Security
  • Garage
  • Mac
  • Linux
  • Eesti keeles
  • 日本語
  • Česky
  • Deutsch
  • Français
  • Italiano
  • Brasil
  • United Kingdom
  • Polski
  • United States
  • 한국어

Recent posts

  • The Skype Mobile blog is now retired, see you on Skype Gear
  • 5 million downloads and a Pocket PC public chat
  • Sat nav, mobile email, and Skype all in one package?
  • Skype for Pocket PC 2.1 Beta
  • CTIA Wireless 2006
  • 3 launches datacard with UK's best 3G coverage offering Skype
  • Live from CeBIT
  • Skype Goes Mobile: unlimited communications, Anywhere, Anytime

Archives

  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • August 2006
  • March 2006
  • February 2006

Subscribe to this blog
What? Tell me more…

using RSS Subscribe
via Bloglines Subscribe in Bloglines
using Newsgator Subscribe in NewsGator Online
with MyYahoo
with Google Add to Google
with MyAOL Add to My AOL
About us · Partners · Jobs · Prices · Security
Privacy policy · Legal · © 2009 Skype Limited