The Nokia E63 looks very much like the company's highly-acclaimed E71, with fewer features and a more affordable price.  Like its more expensive predecessor, it fits in a good set of smartphone talents in a good-looking, compact frame.  Is the experience just as positive, however?

Armed with a very good QWERTY panel, the E63 offers excellent typing experience, with raised surfaces, soft keys and very good travel.  Physical dimensions are thicker than the E71, allowing it to handle much better in one hand.

In terms of the phone's actual use, it delivers a near-similar quality to the E71, less a few features.  Specifically, it ditches the GPS, infrared and 3.5G.  Web browsing still remains tolerable and, with Wi-Fi also available, it's not likely to be that much of an issue, unless you specifically need ultra-high speed access on the road.

As a phone, it offers clear-sounding voice calls, with no noticeable distortion.  The loudspeaker is also quite good.  It fits in all the basic phone features, along with a complete messaging suite, including emails and IM.  Email setup is particularly straightforward and offers Exchange support, along with POP3 and IMAP.

One thing we like better than the E71 is the addition of a 3.5mm audio jack, which makes the E63 much more usable for media playback.  It can handle a decent range of media files, along with an onboard FM  tuner and support for podcasts, YouTube videos and internet radio.

The onboard 2 megapixel camera is decidedly average. Even with an integrated flash, it doesn't capture darker areas very well.  It's usable, however, like most low-end camera phones around.  Other features include Bluetooth, microSD expansion and USB mass storage.

Overall, we love the Nokia E63 for the E71-like experience it delivers, all while sporting a very affordable price.  It's a compelling smartphone choice and should be very attractive for both professionals and casual users alike.

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The latest in the electronic company's attempt to make its mark in the smartphone landscape, the Acer M900, is a huge phone. Justifying the additional size, however, is a large display panel, coupled with a side-sliding full QWERTY keypad and a host of high-end features.

Intended to rival similar QWERTY-toting business touchscreen phones like the HTC Touch Pro 2, the M900 fits in all the modern conveniences you can ask for in a handset. Well, all except a pocketable size, as it measures a large 119 x 62 x 17.1mm and weighs 188 grams.

Display is a huge 3.8-inch touchscreen panel, with 800 x 480 resolution and very good quality. Text and images all look bright and crisp when viewed in it. Controls are decent and even adds in an uncommon fingerprint sensor, which can double as an optical directional pad. The keyboard offers good spacing, although it feels a bit shallow. Keying in punctuation requires you to "shift" via the Fn key first, which is hardly the most impressive design we've seen.

We've talked about Acer's Shell UI before and it's here too - working as good as ever, with its office-like design. Connectivity is tops on the unit, which includes high-speed 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. Other features include a very snappy camera (suprisingly good quality), an FM radio, a task manager application and custom onscreen keyboard (which works way better than the WinMo default).

Voice calls are good, though, it could use some improvement. Video calls, on the other hand, were generally unsatisfying because of pasty video processing.

On the specs sheet, the Acer M900 packs every modern convenience users will expect from a high-end phone. In reality, though, there is no reason to buy this over similarly-priced high-end units, such as the iPhone and those from HTC. If you can get a good deal on it, however, as was being planned originally for its US release (free on contract), it may prove a compelling choice for the hardware quality alone.

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Motorola has had a busy year churning out messaging phones left and right.  Among their most attractive releases for the category is the Motorola Rival A455 (released in the US under Verizon), a semi-touchscreen phone with a side-sliding QWERTY keypad and a helpin of attractive features.

Like any self-respecting messaging phone, it comes with a bevy of capabilities on that end.  Users get a variety of email options, including webmail, Mobile Email and corporate mail (yes, I know the irony of corporate email for someone with a purple phone).  The last two applications do require extra fees, though - one-time payment of $5 for Mobile Email and a monthly $9.99 subscription for the corporate variant.

Motorola Rival A455 comes with instant messenger support (AIM, Yahoo and Windows Live built-in), MMS and a very convenient SMS interface.  All of those, of course, on top of a side-sliding QWERTY keypad, with good spacing and elevation, albeit being a little stiff to the touch.  It includes dedicated one-touch buttons for instant messaging, SMS creation and emoticons.

Physically, Motorola Rival A455 handset offers a decidedly industrial look, which could allow the non-purple version (I think it comes in silver) to be suitable for more professional users.  Sporting 3.8 x 2.0 x .71 inch dimensions, it is a rather compact phone, with a nice heft when held in the hand.  The slide mechanism is very sturdy and shouldn't offer any problems at all.

While the Rival's 2.2-inch display (176 x 220 resolution) can act as a touchscreen, the feature only works as a phone dialer so you don't have to pull out the QWERTY panel in order to punch a number in.  It also looks like it's packing an accelerometer, allowing it to change orientation as soon as you turn the phone sideways.  As you can surmise from the numbers, display quality isn't the best, but it should suffice for most of the text-based features the phone is aimed at.

Other specs that should be of interest include a GPS (with VZ Navigator), USB storage support, voice dialing, stereo Bluetooth, a rather nominal 2.0 megapixel camera (with 320 x 240 video) and average media playback capability.  It supports EV-DO, which allows it to take advantage of the carrier's numerous broadband services as well as considerably fast web browsing.  Streaming videos aren't a good idea, though.

Call quality is topnotch, with voices sounding very natural, with nary a static nor interference on either end.  Overall, this is a good messaging handset and a potentially decent one too for those looking to find a business phone without much need for "smart" features.  It's a handset that's focused largely on the basics (SMS, email, voice calls) with a string of talents available as an aside.

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Designed for business professionals (especially those intending to travel a lot), the HTC Snap is the manufacturer's answer to all the full-QWERTY candybar handsets that Blackberry has made a living off of and that Nokia implemented so well on the E71. With this global phone, HTC finally has a "professional" unit that doesn't come with the uncomfortable bulk of the side-sliding Touch Pro series.

Before the Snap, HTC hasn't created a candybar QWERTY since 2007, choosing to focus its business on touch panel devices instead. The lack of familiarity shows a bit with a device that feels a bit flimsy and looks considerably less attractive than competing phones in the market.

Display is a 2.4-inch QVGA LCD, with 65,000 colors. Call us spoiled but the screen doesn't offer all that great image quality plus it doesn't perform well under bright lighting. Depending on how pricing goes in your country (it's still unpriced in the US as the T-Mobile Dash), the display could be acceptable. Keyboard is soft and responsive, although it's next to impossible to tell the keys apart from touch alone. Typing is actually pretty good, provided you glance at the keypad every now and then. The trackball pointer works beautifully.

The phone itself runs very fast, with no signs of delay regardless of which features I use or which apps I run. I love the Inner Circle function, which is pretty much the handset's major selling point, allowing you to keep up with only the important emails. Sucks that this feature is rumored to have been removed from the US version of the phone from T-Mobile.

Internet access is pretty good, provided you replace the default IE browser (sorry, Microsoft). There's little customization done to standard Windows Mobile features here, so old-dog WinMo users can expect the same straightforward operation. The 2.0 megapixel camera takes average images and videos - nothing fancy added at all. It uses HTC's Audio Manager for media playback, offering good media performance (as good as you can expect from a 2.4-inch screen anyway).

Phone calls are pristine - really, really clear on both ends of the line. Voice probably sounds as realistic as you can get with no hint of sharpness whatsoever.

Overall, it's a decent phone with all the basics and no frills. If T-Mobile prices this (as the Dash) anywhere near the E71 or Samsung Jack, there's no question you should give it the shrug. Should it come in at around $50 on two-year contract, though (likely), it just might be a good buy, especially with those near-perfect voice calls.

There's really no tale to complete, but it is fun to imagine a story in there somewhere.  AT&T recently announced the launch of the Samsung Jack, the company's latest follow-up to the previous Blackjack and Blackjack II, both well-received business handsets from years past.

AT&T claims that the Blackjack line has been the number one selling Windows Mobile series in the history of the OS.  As such, they're expecting the trilogy's latest "installment" to continue the success.

Sporting classic and elegant looks reminiscent of Blackberry's handiwork, the masculine-looking phone comes with a complete set of business and messaging features designed for professionals on the go.  Like its predecessors, the Jack packs a full QWERTY keypad for comfortable typing, along with a set of modern smartphone conveniences.

Specs include a 3.2 megapixel camera module (with video capture support), aGPS, 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth +EDR.  It features full email functionality, including support for multiple personal accounts and corporate email (MS Exchange Server with Direct Push).  Running on Windows Mobile 6.1, it comes with Office Mobile and will be fully compatible with the impending 6.5 upgrade.

The phone comes with multimedia support via a microSDHC slot (up to 16GB) and comes fitted with AT&T's suite of streaming content.  Interested parties can get the Samsung Jack beginning May 19th for $99 (under a two-year contract subsidy), after a $100 rebate.

Photo Credit: Engadget Mobile

The Blackberry Bold was RIM's first attempt at an all-in-one phone and it accomplishes the goal, all while capably retaining the brand's main strengths - classy looks, sound business features and top-of-the-line messaging.  For business users who enjoy a little multimedia action every now and then, the Bold can make a convincing case.

Blackberry's key feature has always been email and the Bold performs accordingly.  Keyboard is a joy to type in, despite being narrower than many side-sliding units.   Users can setup (if you can call the incredibly simple process of using email here a setup) up to 10 email addresses using the BlackBerry Internet Service.  SMS and MMS are similarly great, along with support for all major IM services.

Display, at 2.6 inches and 480x320 resolution, is good, despite the mediocre-sound 65,000 colors.  It's completely visible in almost every lighting condition and displays very good image quality.  Longtime Blackberry users will find themselves right at home with the Bold's interface, which uses the 4.6 OS and works without any lag whatsoever.

Camera shutter is fast.  However, picture quality leaves much to be desired.  Overall, the camera is an added feature - nothing to write home about.  The central media player, as with other OS 4.6 phones, gets the job done.  Music playback is great, with surprising sound quality.  Even when played through the onboard stereo speakers, tunes come out crisp and pleasant.  For movies, the Bold capably plays DivX and Xvid formats without hitch (as long as it doesn't exceeed 640 pixels).  Color, likewise is surprisingly vivid.

Browser offers good web experience, although the feature set pales in comparison with more popular high-end smartphones.  Page rendering is fast, most likely because they are processed first on Blackberry's end before delivery to the handset.  HMTL formatting isn't perfect, though, and allows for some bad overlaps with complicated pages.

With 1GB of internal memory, a microSDHC slot (up to 16GB) and a growing number of downloadable apps, the Blackberry Bold is a hard phone to ignore.  It looks all business (and performs likewise) yet packs enough perks to make it an entertainment handset as well.

Photo Credit: GSM Arena

There's stiff competition, at the moment, in the area of messaging phones and the LG Xenon is right smack in the middle of it.  Despite a few problems with the handset, it's actually one of the better text-and-IM phones you're going to find today.

Form is pretty sleek, with smooth lines all over and a touch of chrome around the border.  It's closest in specs to the LG Vu, despite sporting a smaller yet thicker physique.  It comes in at 4.16 x 2.11 x 0.62 inches and 3.81 ounces, definitely portable enough to carry in your front pocket.

Screen is a 2.8-inch touch-enabled LCD (240 x 400 resolution), with customizable home screen widgets.  Display is pretty good, with images coming in very crisp and colorful.  Onscreen comforts include dedicated pages for favorite contacts and apps and a drop-down menu of various shortcuts that's constantly available.  Touchscreen is very responsive, though there's a definite learning curve involved before you get the hang of it.

For full messaging convenience, it comes with a QWERTY keyboard that slides out from the side, automatically changing orientation from portrait to landscape when you pull it out.  On-board accelerometer doesn't support all applications, by the way, though it does work for those where it really matters.  Keys are among the best we've ever used, with great spacing and very tactile responsiveness.   It comes with a number of dedicated keys, as well, that you can use as shortcuts to various functions, such as text messaging and email.

Web browsing is where the Xenon falters, with complex pages taking as much as two minutes to load on AT&T's 3G network.  There's also no support for POP and IMAP.  Other specs you can find on the device work pretty much as expected, including the 2 megapixel camera (with flash), GPS, IM and media playback.

Despite the slower web browsing experience, the LG Xenon is a great messaging phone.  Calls come in clear, with only a little echo noticeable when you crank up the speakerphone.  For AT&T's asking price of $99 with a two year contract, it sounds like a great buy.

Photo Credit: Geek Cellulars

The Sidekick has long been an outdated handset with no 3G support.  That hasn't stopped its many users from accessing the web, though.  According to T-Mobile's numbers, three out of four Sidekick owners regularly use their phones to surf social networking sites, at least once a week.

Keeping that frequent use for the unit in mind, T-Mobile has finally released the new Sidekick LX.   As expected, it comes with 3G connectivity, along with one-click access to Facebook, Myspace and Twitter.  Onboard browser can handle flash content automatically, including YouTube and Myspace Videos.  There's full support for email (MS Exchange), instant messaging (AOL, Windows Live and Yahoo) and a phone-wide Quick Find search capability.

Physically, the Sidekick LX is noticeably thinner and comes in either a carbon or orchid finish.  Styled like the original with a swiveling flip screen and horizontal QWERTY keyboard in the middle, the phone looks really good (decidedly plastic finish, notwithstanding).   Display is a generous 3.2-inch Sharp LCD with 854 x 480 resolution (T-Mobile claims its the largest display on any handset they've ever released).

Other specs include GPS with Live Search, 3.2 megapixel camera with video recording functions and Bluetooth with A2DP.  There's no built-in storage but the phone comes with a 1GB microSD card.  It goes on sale May 13th for $199 with a two-year contract.  If you must get this, opt for the carbon model - the orchid one doesn't look all that flattering.

Photo Credit: Engadget

HTC had more up its sleeve, of course, than a new Android phone over at MWC.  Just as interesting is HTC's new flagship QWERTY handset, the Touch Pro2.

As expected, the new mobile phone is hefty on the specs with a 3.6 inch resistive touchscreen (WVGA resolution), 3.2 megapixel camera with touch-sensitive zoom controls, a slide-out QWERTY keypad, GPS, accelerometer, FM radio, dual speakers, dual microphones, microSDHC slot and the usual host of connectivity options.  A nice touch was added to the sliding input mechanism, allowing it to tilt up for better typing posture at any angle within its range, apart from featuring larger keys with a very good tactile response.

Key update for the Pro2 is HTC's newest iteration of the TouchFLO 3D, which features pretty remarkable improvements over the old implementation.  The software on top of Windows Mobile has also been reworked, featuring better integration between one function to the next.

The dual speakers and dual mics were introduced to facilitate better audio and speakerphone functions.  Combined with a proprietary sound processor from HTC, audio quality is touted to be the best you can find in a smartphone at this time.  The idea does seem sound although it would have been doubly more compelling if testing the feature was already available (sadly, the units in MWC were pre-production versions).  If it does work as advertised, though, this could be a serious selling point for the device - imagine being able to make clear calls hands-free without needing to wear a silly Bluetooth contraption.

With one of the best QWERTY implementations in the market and the (supposedly) top-notch speakerphone functions, the HTC Touch Pro2 should prove to be a remarkable business phone when it does hit stores sometime in the second half of 2009.

Photo Credit: HTC