T-Mobile MDA Vario II

When you’re used to enjoying fast internet access at home, browsing the web on your mobile phone can seem like returning to the dark days of dial-up. T-Mobile has addressed this need for speed with the MDA Vario II, the first handset to offer mobile broadband across the UK using HSDPA (High Speed Download Packet Access) technology. Described as ‘3G on steroids’, this provides users with connection speeds of up to 1.8 megabits per second, four times quicker than previously available.

Features
Besides super-fast web surfing, the MDA Vario II is crammed with functions that make it more like a mini-laptop than a phone. Running Windows Mobile 5.0, it includes mobile versions of Office programs such as Word, Excel and Outlook, along with Microsoft Direct Push, which automatically downloads emails as they arrive. A full Qwerty keyboard makes working on the move simple and handily switches the screen from portrait to landscape view when you slide it out. Other notable features include a two-megapixel camera with a sports mode (for capturing moving objects) and flash, a VGA camera for video calls, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Performance
The speedy connection of the Vario II means web pages load instantly in its Internet Explorer browser, even those containing large images. Searching, shopping, downloading and other online activities are all made easier by T-Mobile’s Web ’n’ Walk service, which offers instant access to popular sites and displays them as on a desktop PC. Battery life is reasonable for a device of this kind, offering four to five hours of talk time per charge or up to 10 days in standby mode, though heavy web browsing sessions will reduce this. The still camera is excellent quality, and the ability to review images on a high-resolution 2.8in screen proves extremely useful.

Ease of use
Despite its many features, the Vario II is wonderfully straightforward to operate. A scroll wheel and stylus help you navigate and select on-screen options quickly, while the finger-friendly keyboard lets you input data in a flash. There are dedicated buttons for launching the main applications such as the web browser, camera and phone functions, and you can also check your connectivity options. Our only (minor) grumble is that as there’s no hold switch, these buttons could be activated by accident while the handset is in your pocket.

Value for money
T-Mobile is offering a broad selection of price plans for the Vario II, starting from Flext75, which gets you the phone free, but has a £70 monthly charge. The most you’ll pay for the handset is £299, unless you opt to splash out on the £470 SIM-free version offered by manufacturers HTC under the name TyTN. The nice thing is that, as HSDPA is tightly integrated with Web ’n’ Walk, you’re not paying any extra for internet access that’s up to 40 times faster than standard GPRS.