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| Son Of Stinger Released In US |
by Scott Raulinaitis, Editor - 10/22/2003 - 10:43pm EST
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No, this isn't a dream. The first phone featuring Microsoft's Smartphone OS (the OS formerly known as Stinger) has finally arrived in the US in the form of Motorola's MPx200 available with AT&T. Microsoft first annouced their phone-optimized OS over three years ago, amid much pomp and circumstance. It was to be released "soon" back then. One year passed. No Stinger. Another year passed. Still no stinger. But it's coming really soon this time. Believe us. Then, another year passed. You get the idea.
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| Can you say 3D gaming? Can you say really crappy 3D gaming? |
Well, as we forewarned you last month (check there for all the specs), its day in the sun has finally arrived. Did Microsoft finally find a US carrier that could appreciate the value of its Smartphone OS? Or perhaps they found some compromising photos of Motorola's CEO? We may never know. All that matters is that Motorola's phone, while not terribly "smart" (lacking both a camera and Bluetooth), is available today and isn't half-bad. Leaving the pros and cons of the Smartphone OS out of the discussion for the time being, and focusing strictly on the price and features offered, the bottom line is that you can get a compact flip-phone capable of MP3 playback and Outlook syncing for $150 from Amazon (after rebates and committing to a one-year AT&T contract). Not bad.
I'd stop short of recommending this for more intensive PDA purposes. The lack of a touch-screen or thumbboard, and the reliance on AT&T who doesn't offer an affordable unlimited data plan, would make that sort of use pattern both difficult and expensive. But if you're the type of person who enters most of your PIM data at your desk, and the idea of listening to MP3's interests you, this could be an attractive choice.
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