update PDA-phones make life easier by combining the mobile organisational features of a personal digital assistant with the connectivity of a mobile phone.
Although it varies from model to model, input is generally through a QWERTY keypad or a touchscreen and stylus combo, either of which allows you to effortlessly write or type messages. Business users are usually attracted to push e-mail capabilities of PDA-phones, where new inbox messages are transferred directly to the mobile device. To set up push e-mail, a Microsoft Exchange or BlackBerry Enterprise Server is usually required, although personal and other third-party solutions are available through network carriers.
The latest PDA-phones hitting the market also support high-speed downloads through an advance in 3G technology called HSDPA (high-speed download packet access). While PDA-phones can't compete with the processing power of a desktop PC, a high-speed connection combined with a zippy processor can keep workers productive when they're on the road -- editing Office documents, catching up on e-mail, taking on-site photos and sending them back to the office, watching a movie, etc. With the growing addition of leisure applications, PDA-phones often double as MP3 players, movie viewers and even remote controls.
For more information on mobile e-mail, see our guides on choosing the right BlackBerry for you and setting up push e-mail on a Windows Mobile 5.0 device. Below we've picked five of the best PDA-phones, as rated by CNET.com.au editors and readers, to make your purchasing decision easier.
BlackBerry Pearl 8120
A sexy, full-featured smartphone that sorely needs faster Web access.
i-mate Ultimate 6150
The Ultimate 6150 goes like grease lightning but be warned: you'll need deep pockets to own one, and not just to pay the price tag.
Nokia E90 Communicator
Nokia's E90 smartphone is the latest in the Communicator series, featuring HSDPA support, inbuilt GPS and Wi-Fi.
HTC Touch Dual
HTC's Touch Dual is an excellent PDA smartphone that makes up for absent features with its pocket-friendly profile.
Palm Treo 750 
A bevy of OS enhancements and access to Telstra's Next G mobile broadband network easily make the Treo 750 the best Windows Mobile device we've ever used.
truthsayer
15/02/2005 09:23 PM
When are you guys at CNet going to catch up? The Toshiba e830 combines all the best features of the 5 offerings you have suggested here in the "Best PDA/Phone" article, PLUS it's so damn sexy. Get with the program, CNet. Or at the very least, be a bit less biased. Please.
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sunitha
24/05/2007 02:17 PM
good
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luminave7
26/07/2007 08:57 AM
i have the blackjack...i hate it. horrible phone reception, bland features, boring.
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confusebytruthsayer
14/08/2007 01:50 AM
errrrrr.....I thought Toshiba e830 is a pocket pc? Even with phone device, won't be as good as PDA phone?
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scott42
28/08/2007 08:13 PM
Just got a o2 XDA Atom Life - very good overall. I would recommend it for someone lik eme who needs power to crunch through lots of outlook/word/excel tasks. Big processor 624MHz. Wanted the touch, but 200MHz is slower than my old clunky XDAIIs.
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Marco
02/10/2007 04:44 PM
good
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emad mohamed gorafi
21/10/2007 10:29 PM
is't have application program can play it
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Mobileman
19/11/2007 10:52 PM
General consensus is the Blackjack is junk - no 3.6MBPS connectivity and no WME 6.0. Mot Q9 is the way to go...also where is the 8310 BlackBerry from Vodafone with free Satnav? The Treo 750 is superceded by the supercharged Treo 500v - a notable omission?? True, there is some cathing up to do!!
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N/A
11/01/2008 03:20 AM
Where is the HTC Touch on the list? it's far slimmer and sleeker than any of those, and doesn't require a 3ft pocket to keep it in.
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TREVOR
15/02/2008 03:01 PM
GO TO A SHOP CHAMP
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Rod
20/02/2008 06:41 PM
Where is HTC Tytn II? The most complete smartphone on the market
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flash38
03/03/2008 09:47 PM
htc touch cruise, just entered the market. check out the functions.
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max_wedge
13/03/2008 01:26 PM
It's getting harder to define a smartphone all the time. The JAVA platform, particularly on SE "non-smart" phones, is quite advanced and offers multi-tasking of applications, file system access, web access and most of the things a normal smartphone offers.
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hjj
28/03/2008 06:02 AM
the htc cruise touch or htc touch seem to outperform most of the above phones. we they available at the time of this review.
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mickc
17/05/2008 04:07 AM
What choice is there for a Windows Mobile device with built in GPS to run my SatNav software?
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