Barely a day goes by without T-Mobile releasing a new handset. The latest to cross our tech-encrusted desk is the MDA Compact II. Though it has some new features, it has inherited the body of its predecessor (the MDA Compact), like some kind of cellular hermit crab.
That's no bad thing. The original was a stylish device that combined the features of a handheld organiser and a mobile phone without any steroidal increase in mass. In fact, it was smaller than your average PDA and just as usable -- provided you didn't have hands like shovels.
According to T-Mobile, the Compact II is aimed at "social butterflies" who want to "keep their finger on the pulse". It uses the same 1.3-megapixel camera as the original, but now comes with 128MB of memory (up from 64MB), so you can store even more photos and videos.
The Compact II also uses Windows Mobile 5.0, instead of the original's Windows Mobile 2003. This offers persistent storage so when the battery dies your data remains safe. Windows Mobile 5.0 also features an upgraded version of Word, which now supports tables, lists and embedded images, as well as Excel, which now supports charts.
The handset lacks Wi-Fi and 3G support, but we think we'll forgive it since it's available in pink. Yes, there's a grey version, but if you want to make a statement while fingering the pulse of your fellow social butterflies, the pink version is where it's at. The MDA Compact II is available now and won't cost you more than £139.99. -RR
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