Features
Business users will be drawn the IP-830w's plethora of productivity features, anchored by the Windows Mobile 5.2 operating system. Samsung has added two notable custom applications on top of the standard Windows Mobile Office suite, one of which is quite handy while the other doesn't add too much value.
The install of WinMob on the IP-830w features slight improvements on some other versions I've tried - in particular, the auto-complete feature for appointment subjects and locations could prove quite handy. Outlook-style calendar and contact manager programs will be familiar territory for Windows PC users, and while I personally prefer Symbian OS for smartphones, there's no denying the functionality and PC integration capabilities of WinMob.
Samsung added their MITs (Mobile Intelligent Terminal) application to supplement the standard WinMob Today and Start menus. Honestly, I don't see much of a value-add with MITs over the standard configuration, but some users might prefer MITs. Of more value, though, is the inclusion of Picsel Browser with the standard WinMob application suite. Picsel Browser provides a robust, quick-loading way of viewing Web pages and Word and Excel documents. The stylus-driven interface works very well, and the Browser handled complex Web pages with relative ease. Though document editing is left in the capable hands of the PocketPC versions of Word and Excel (though the cramped keyboard makes extensive editing tricky), read-only document viewing is faster and generally more pleasant with Picsel.
Windows Media Player Mobile 10 handles playback of audio and video files and does so with good results. The handset also supports voice commands and voice recordings, and includes remote control software for use of the phone with computers and home entertainment equipment via the infrared port. Even business folk need some down time, and the IP-830w comes with three games - Bubble Breaker, Checkers, and Solitaire - pre-installed.
The Samsung IP-830w does not have a camera. While that might be a big drawback on a consumer handset, odds are that many power users who work in sensitive corporate environments prefer camera-less phones for use in the office.
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