Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Overall: Good phone; SOLID build; reasonable battery life: 2.5-3 days with an hour's talk time + some PDA-work (and cheap spares), good QWERTY keyboard for SMS/e-mail, syncs well with Outlook (appointments, contacts). Decent documentation.
Phone pros: good/decent signal, good/decent call quality. Good external numeric keypad. Predictable battery life (2.5-3 days, though I talk maybe 1 hour in that time). Got a spare battery off an online auction site for cheap. Can use .wav files as ring tones (MP3 -> .wav via Audacity? I haven't tried). SOLID build.
Phone cons: somewhat large (candy-bar with a big screen!), have to get used to the earpiece position (can't rest the phone on my ear)... And once, though the keypad was locked, the phone (slipped into my pant pocket) called up my friend. Weird. But that hasn't happened again. Ringtones could be louder.
PDA - I can sync my contacts with Outlook and keep track of my appointments, which is all I really want. Have also managed to use Gmail via POP3; the VoqMail application does not support POP3.
(For POP3, you have to enter the server IP address and port completely (pop.gmail.com:995, smtp.gmail.com:465), I had some trouble with that. Internet connection via GPRS also has somewhat of a weird work-around - look up the cingular.com FAQ for setting up the Audiovox SMT5600 SmartPhone, nice screenshots.)
PDA pros: QWERTY flip-out keypad good for notes, contacts, appointments. My fingers are not slim, but not fat either - so I can enter data/SMS at a good pace. SD expansion slot. Windows Mobile 2003 SE actually, FWIW. "Flight" mode - but I still turn it off in the plane!
PDA cons: Has frozen (only!) a couple times in 3 months, can't find a reset pinhole, so took out the battery... (momentary flashback of my last PDA - a Toshiba e310).
Have had the Sierra Voq for over three months now, happy camper. Way better than the Motorola v180 (which it replaced) or the e310. Now, if only I could get a decent non-leather cover for it... Too bad Sierra stopped production, but if they hadn't, I wouldn't be able to own this wonderful phone! One man's poison....
Click Here to see more reviews about:
Sierra Wireless Voq Professional Phone w/ VoqMail Pro (Unlocked)Are you an on-the-go professional who carries around a lot of devices to keep you in touch and on track through your workday? The Voq Professional Phone from Sierra Wireless could offer new-found freedom. The Voq was specifically designed to overcome the challenges of carrying multiple devices unnecessarily. The phone combines the best features of a high-end GSM mobile phone, a handheld personal digital assistant, and an e-mail device into one powerful and pocketable device.
There are actually two versions of the Voq Professional Phone, one bundled with VoqMail Professional Edition and one with VoqMail Personal Edition. If you need compatibility with enterprise e-mail servers (Exchange, Lotus Notes, Novell Groupwise) and VPN services, then choose the product on this page. Users who plan on only using their Voq with POP and IMAP-based personal e-mail services can use the other version, which is bundled with VoqMail Personal Edition. Note that phones with VoqMail Personal Edition can be upgraded to the Professional version at any time via the Sierra Wireless Web site.
Design While the Voq follows the candybar form factor it adds a touch of hand-friendly ergonomics with a slight hourglass shape. The most dramatic feature of the Voq, though, is a unique fold-out number pad that reveals a QWERTY keyboard for text entry. Just below the 176 x 220 pixelss display is a five-way selection joystick that allows you to navigate and control the Windows Mobile interface. Shortcut and selection buttons are also provided here. up/down buttons are provided on the left side of the phone for volume control and supplementary menu control. There's a standard 2.5mm headset jack, while USB data and charging is handled by the i700's docking ports on the bottom of the device. An infrared port is also provided for wireless data synchronization. Memory expansion is provided by a slot for MultiMediaCard (MMC) and Secure Digital (SD) cards. The Voq ships with 48 MB of internal memory, which is expandable via the memory card slot. The device features a 200MHz xScale processor. The device runs on the Windows Mobile for Smartphones 2003 operating system.
Calling Features The Voq's built-in speakerphone with support for conference calling makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Polyphonic ringtones are included, as is a vibrating alert. The Voq also features voice recognition technology that lets you dial a number by speaking the digits to the phone. The included Pocket Outlook software features a contacts list that is cleverly integrated with the phone's dialing functions. Finding numbers and contacts is easy with the Voq's intelligent lookup and search functions.
Messaging, Internet, and Tools The Voq is designed as a complete solution for people who want to bring their office with them. The unit comes packed with pocket versions of Outlook, Internet Explorer and MSN messenger, as well as VoqMail Professional Edition. In addition to keeping track of contacts, Pocket Outlook features integrated calendar and e-mail functions. VoqMail Pro, which is presented as an alternative to Outlook's e-mail functions, optimizes battery and network performance to deliver mail seamlessly and reliably for users with personal accounts (POP, IMAP) and work accounts (Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes, Novell GroupWise). VoqMail Pro also supports VPN access. With VoqMail Pro you can also wirelessly synchronize your calendar and contacts to Microsoft Exchange 2003.
Traditional text messaging is also supported by the phone, as is the multimedia messaging service (MMS) for sending and receiving photos, sounds and graphics via text messages. The Voq's EziTAP predictive text engine supports SMS text prediction and completion using the front numeric keypad for one-handed operation. As mentioned, MSN messenger is also included if wireless instant messaging is more your cup of tea.
Microsoft's ActiveSync software keeps the device synced with all of your PC's Outlook information (via USB or IR connection). Users who want Internet connectivity on the road with their laptop or PDA can tap the Voq's wireless modem capabilities (service provider data charges apply). You can also use the Voq's built-in Internet Explorer browser for GPRS-enabled Web browsing.
A number of additional handy software tools are bundled with the Voq including a voice memo recorder, a to-do list and an alarm clock. A calculator application features advanced and basic modes.
Imaging and Entertainment The Voq isn't just for work. The inclusion of Windows Media Player means that you can use the handset as an MP3 or video player. The amount of music and video you can store is only limited by the unit's memory, and the included stereo headset is designed for music enjoyment. You can also personalize your Voq with customizable backgrounds and screens. If you're into mobile gaming, the Voq has you covered. The phone ships with Mt. Voq, Solitaire, and Jaw Breaker and more Java or Windows Mobile-based games can be added.
Vital Statistics The Voq Professional Phone weighs 5.11 ounces and measures 5.25 x 2.16 x .96 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 6 hours of digital talk time, and up to 100 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the GSM 850/GSM 1800/GSM 1900 frequencies.
What's in the Box Voq handset, battery, AC adapter/charger, mono headset, synchronization cable, companion CD, Voq pocket reference, Voq user guide, warranty card and end user licenses.
Click here for more information about Sierra Wireless Voq Professional Phone w/ VoqMail Pro (Unlocked)
