Although Research In Motion (RIM) has partnered with other companies to allow access to its over-the-air Web-based email delivery services, the SK65 from Siemens is the only third-party smartphone to have the full Blackberry software and support for RIM's Blackberry Enterprise Services built in.
The advantage is that enterprises can push data to the SK65, providing better mobile access to calendar and email resources plus automatic synchronisation with office systems.
Our first look at the SK65 was in the controlled environment of the product's launch, and we were not able to check the data sharing and synchronisation facilities first-hand. However, we did give the handset an initial once-over for features and usability.
The device is small and light, measuring 47mm wide by 120mm deep by 22mm high and weighing 144g. Not too bad for a feature-packed smartphone that includes a relatively spacious QWERTY keyboard.
Think of a handset as being made up of two 'wedges', one sitting above the other, hinged at the central point. Swivel the two wedges around the hinge, and they part, locking again when they're at right angles to each other. The rearmost wedge reveals the 'QWERT' side of a keyboard to the left and 'YUIOP' side to the right. In the centre sits the numberpad from the front wedge.
Two-thumbed typing is possible -- indeed, we found this to be a more ergonomic experience than on Handspring's Treo 600. We doubt your average executive will be writing lengthy reports on his or her SK65, but composing the odd email using what Siemens calls its 'cross-to-type' system is distinctly possible.
There is no camera -- apparently to discourage use of the phone for personal activities and to attract enterprises wary of industrial espionage. However, most of the other expected specifications are present and correct.
The SK65 is a tri-band GSM/GPRS phone. There is 30MB of user memory but no storage card support. The display delivers 16-bit colour, Bluetooth is integrated, and email support covers SMTP, IMAP4 and POP3. You get calendar, to-do and notes applications built in, along with Java and support for MIDI ringtones (the latter two features sit oddly with the camera's absence -- clearly this is not an entirely pin-striped, buttoned-down device).
Battery life is expected to run to around 300 minutes' talk time, and up to 250 hours on standby.
One omission interests us: the lack of Wi-Fi. If the SK65 is to become an all-purpose communication device, as Siemens suggest will be necessary for future handsets, shouldn't the SK65 cater for Voice over IP (VoIP)? But without Wi-Fi it can't join local wireless networks -- an omission that might become an issue before long. However, Siemens plans a range of high-end smart phones, so maybe Wi-Fi will show up soon.
The SK65 will come in three variants: a top-of-the-range version supporting Blackberry Enterprise Services; a 'prosumer' Web client-based version; and a standard ISP email variant with no RIM services on board.
Siemens would not give pricing for any of the three SK65 variants but expects the phone to become available in November in Europe, Middle East and Latin America with other regions to follow shortly afterwards (a local release date could not be given at time of publishing). Handsets are expected to be sold through network operators and retail, as well as direct to enterprises.
Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!
siemens sk65
09/06/2008, 08:28 PM
rating
8/10
Great mobile with fast and efficient functions. Stylish and attractive design. Battery timing is also good. I like this mobile.
Pros: User-friendly interface.
Very easy to use.
Intuitive menu design.
Cons: Nothing.
Report offensive comment
Tee
09/06/2008, 12:02 PM
rating
7/10
Im using this phone for more than one year and it's still good. Anyway it looks so cool and it's very convenience for typing. But you have to take care of the screen carefully, otherwise it easily to get scratched.
Pros: convienient typing, strong phone that it doesnt mater if u drop it, good sync and GPRS modem software, excellent keyboard, sturdy design.
Cons: poor function ( dont have camera, low memory, terrible speaker, selective file -- only accepts WAV,3GP,AMR,MID.. so u cant listen 2 MP3... ), poor battery but u can fix it by changing the illumination.
Report offensive comment
Mike F.B.
26/02/2008, 05:06 PM
rating
9/10
Excellent phone at an amazingly cheap price!
Pros: Good sync and GPRS modem software, excellent keyboard, sturdy design.
Cons: Low memory but that doesn't really bother me - it is a phone not a PDA, a camera, or an MP3 player! Just a good phone that does what it should!
Report offensive comment
wterrell
26/07/2007, 05:17 PM
rating
2/10
I am so happy to get my new phone. the presenst phone i have now is terrible. Unfortunately, i didn't read consumer reports of the phone before i bought. Do yourself a favor, do not buy this phone.
Pros: Durable, convienient typing, great for email.
Cons: Bad battery life, poor resolution, crippled internet ( no service works for the phones internet, but it does get LIMITED blackberry internet), bulky, freezing, no avilable upgrades ( siemens mobile no longer exist)
Report offensive comment
Loz
02/07/2007, 06:33 PM
rating
7/10
Im scared this Phone doesn't have a camera it looks like it does, but people are saying it doesn't, my friend bought me this phone over seas and i havn't got it back yet, what am i suppose to expect, camera or not? HELP!
Cons: No camera:S
Report offensive comment
Greg
12/05/2007, 02:42 AM
rating
2/10
This phone is a very awesome looking phone but im very dissapointed by it. I got my hands on it only havin to pay a tottal of $100 for it barley used. It constantly stops working so i have to take the batter out and reset it. The battery alone is horrible it doesnt last long i can charge it for 12 hours and only get an hours total use out of it.
Report offensive comment
edda
01/01/2007, 11:22 PM
rating
2/10
really disapointed, from day one the speaker didn't work...
Pros: looks pretty cool
Cons: speaker didn't work, very chunky
Report offensive comment
Lisa
14/10/2006, 02:56 AM
rating
8/10
Pretty nice phone still getting familiar
Just bought the phone. Still trying to figure it out. Buetoothed some songs and can't seem to apply them as ringtunes. Anyone know how to apply as ringtunes???
Report offensive comment
prab
25/08/2006, 11:44 AM
rating
9/10
how do i set pics sent on bluetooth onto my wallpaper?
Report offensive comment
jedge
01/04/2006, 03:42 PM
bad display, doesnt sync with my mac
the contacts sync, but the calendar, notes, and tasks do not. the display doesnt really offer as clear a picture as some of the online screen shots would suggest. blackberry features on the phone are a bit different from a RIM blackberry device and take getting used to. decent phone, overall i would give it a 6.5 out of 10.
Report offensive comment