Hi,

I'm going to buy a SmartPhone (Cell phone and PDA combined) that can run Skype. I've heard that there are many phones that runs Skype if "you are lucky".

So I want to ask you what SmartPhone to get where there are good chances that Skype will run? I quite like QTEK 8310 and 9100, but don't know if I should get one of those...


Thanks in advance!

Hi,

Here are the current main options:

Firstly bear in mind that both of these devices have TI OMAP 200 mhz processors - which are not officially supported by Skype - and run too slow for skype to function nicely.

Qtek 8310 - Runs WM5 Smartphone edition (which has no stylus control) You can only run the very early beta of Skype for Smartphone which supports IM only - not voice. Some clever people have managed to hack Pocket PC version onto this device - and then also run a programme that emulates a stylus - but what a lot of hassle.

Qtek 9100 - Has stylus control so will run Skype for Pocket PC. You could try installing the '312 mhz' version of Skype for Pocket PC - but there are very mixed reviews of performance on this device. At least this one (with its keyboard) is good for IM - so you would have a nice way of Skype IMing on the move.

If you want enough real power to run Skype for Pocket PC at the moment you need to consider:
a) The ETEN M600 - which has a Samsung 400mhz processor - all reports show excellent Skype performance on this phone. Note there is no keyboard.

b) The Qtek 9000 - this mini-laptop / tablet device has a nice Psion-style keyboard, a bigger screen, stylus control and WM5. It should have no problem running Skype. However, it is very expensive and too big for most people to use as a phone.

The sad fact is that there is no perfect device for Skype on the move yet. Coming later this year (noone knows when yet) is the Netgear/Skype wifi phone - that will run skype in any wifi hotspot without a computer. However, if you're like me, you really want an all-in-one device - this doesn't solve that problem and is just another brick to add to your ipod, digital camera, gsm, pda, psp collection.

Thanks a lot for your very informative post dudleyc!

Because of the slow processors, Qtek 8310 and 9100 are excluded. And the Qtek 9000 seems to big.

So I think I will go for the ETEN M600, which seems very good, and not too big. Are there other SmartPhones I should consider that are as good or maybe even better (but not much bigger)? Or is ETEN M600 the best one for me? (The only thing I miss with the ETEN M600 is the keyboard. But that is not as important as the CPU speed etc.)


Joakim

Hi Joakim

[quote]So I think I will go for the ETEN M600, which seems very good, and not too big. Are there other SmartPhones I should consider that are as good or maybe even better (but not much bigger)? Or is ETEN M600 the best one for me? (The only thing I miss with the ETEN M600 is the keyboard. But that is not as important as the CPU speed etc.) [/quote]

I think that is the only one available at the moment that really does Skype voice properly, is small enough - and has Windows Mobile 5. There is an HP Ipaq wifi smartphone (with small keyboard) - that I think has a 312 mhz processor with wifi and gsm. However, it is more expensive than the E-ten and only runs Windows Mobile 2003 - with no upgrade possibilities. There are many rumours about a forthcoming HP Ipaq with WM5 / Wifi / GSM and upgraded processor - but who knows when it will be available.

The E-ten m600 looks like a good product. What I don't like is the fact that there are no retailers here in Belgium - and you have to buy it mail order - and then what guarantee is there? It's a similar story across Europe - you just can't find them in shops.

There is also the O2 Atom - which looks very much like the Qtek S100/S110 - but is made by a different manufacturer. It has a 400mhz processor, wifi and even FM radio - but no keyboard. It is also only available in Asia - or by special import which makes it verrrrryyy expensive.

That is about it. It seems the only real contender in the MS Smartphone sector is the HTC/Qtek/I-Mate - it is just so annoying that most of their products are based on the TI OMAP - which doesn't do Skype very well.

Qtek 9000 has the same problem like qtek 9100 so do not get 9000 and 9100 i haw bof

I received my ETEN M600 a couple of days ago, and I am very happy with it. It runs Skype (and other applications) just perfectly.

Do you know how I can get danish letters (å, æ and ø) on the keyboard?