PDA-phones make life easier by combining the mobile organisational features of a personal digital assistant with the connectivity of a mobile phone.

Although it varies from model to model, input is generally through a QWERTY keypad or a touchscreen and stylus combo, either of which allows you to effortlessly write or type messages. Business users are usually attracted to push e-mail capabilities of PDA-phones, where new inbox messages are transferred directly to the mobile device. To set up push e-mail, a Microsoft Exchange or BlackBerry Enterprise Server is usually required, although personal and other third-party solutions are available through network carriers.

The latest PDA-phones hitting the market also support high-speed downloads through an advance in 3G technology called HSDPA (high-speed download packet access). While PDA-phones can't compete with the processing power of a desktop PC, a high-speed connection combined with a zippy processor can keep workers productive when they're on the road -- editing Office documents, catching up on e-mail, taking on-site photos and sending them back to the office, watching a movie, etc. With the growing addition of leisure applications, PDA-phones often double as MP3 players, movie viewers and even remote controls.

  Blackberry Pearl 8120


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The Pearl 8120 sports a 240 x 260 pixel TFT display which is large enough and bright enough for using the applications on the handset. Video playback looks great, however the square display means no true wide-screen and the media player doesn't have a landscape playback option for when you're watching videos.

Features and Bonuses:
1. Thin and super light weight
2. Navigation virtually lag free
3. Wi-Fi / Facebook App

  i-mate Ultimate 8150


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The Ultimate 6150 is one of four new devices from i-mate to be released in close succession and is a keypad-less replica of the Ultimate 8150. Similar to the JasJam the 6150 is a Windows Mobile device but in keeping with the basic rules of handheld technology i-mate have shaved several millimetres off each of the 6150's dimensions, and about AU$150 off the RRP, as compared to the last generation. That being said, at 118mm wide and 60mm long the Ultimate 6150 is still a hefty feeling handset.

Features and Bonuses:
1. Excellent VGA display
2. Fast 520MHz processor
3. XGA TV-Out

  Nokia E90 Communicator


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Previous phones in Nokia's Communicator series have been described as "bricks"; the metallic brown case of the E90 we received added to this impression. At 132mm by 57mm by 20mm and 210 grams, this is a big, solid phone. Don't expect it to slip easily into you pocket, and considering this phone's weight and price, you wouldn't want to drop it.

At first glance the E90 looks like an oversized candy-bar phone, with an outside interface with large, square buttons that are reminiscent of older phones. The external screen is not huge, but at 240 x 320 pixels and with a 16 million colour active matrix display it looks good. In addition, there is an automated screen saver which features both date and time.

Features and Bonuses:
1. Very fast connection
2. Business oriented
3. Lots of memory and RAM

  HTC Touch Dual


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With the Touch Dual, HTC has managed to trim the design down to a pocket-friendly 107mm long, 55mm wide and a 17mm depth. Also, at a total weight of 120 grams including the battery, the Touch Dual feels noticeably lighter than the competition.

On first impressions, the Touch Dual is really quite an attractive, if unassuming, handset. The large 2.6-inch QVGA touchscreen is framed by a muted black rubber body, with the five-way nav button, side trimming and back-facing camera set in stainless steel. Under the slide the keypad lays flush and consists of well spaced plastic keys. A rather short stainless steel stylus lives in the top right hand corner of the Touch Dual -- and for the sake of nitpicking, we'd love to have seen the stylus extend to twice its size; currently it's only slightly longer than a toothpick.

All inputs, be it for charging, data transfers or headphones, go into the micro USB port on the side of the phone. And while this single input is becoming a standard feature on PDAs, this means you'll have to plan ahead for when you want to charge the phone or use your hands-free because you won't be able to do both at once. On the opposite side of the Dual is a Micro SD card slot for expanding the shared 256MB of internal flash memory. All in all it's a compact and streamlined unit.

Features and Bonuses:
1. Slim, well-designed slider
2. HSDPA data speeds
3. Funky TouchFlo interface

  Palm Treo 750


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The Treo 750 shares its chassis with the Palm-powered Treo 680, resulting in a familiar hand-friendly shape along with the ability to share most accessories ranging from cases through to dongles which connect to Palm's slot-like cable port.

There are, however, several small improvements. The Treo 750 sports softer, almost rubberised side panels plus a similar treatment for the barrel of the stylus for a more comfortable grip.

The 680's gunmetal colour scheme is replaced by a more sombre and more professional matte finish in dark midnight blue, while even the metallic-look fascia has a less reflective "look at me" sheen.

While the five-way navigation button and keypad are also lifted straight from the 680, the four Palm application buttons are replaced by dedicated Send and End phone keys plus a Windows button (for accessing the Start menu) and OK. Above these are "soft buttons" to activate on-screen menus.

Features and Bonuses:
1. Enhanced Windows Mobile 5
2. Next G HSDPA 1.8Mbps wireless broadband access
3. Chat-style SMS messaging