I evaluated and ultimately began using the T-Mobile Dash Smartphone a couple of months ago. I have been hesitant to write it up since I have learned that Windows would be releasing a new version of Windows Mobile and T-Mobile would be offering installation.
I will go into a further review of the Dash in a later post, but I can give you a quick description. The Dash is actually built by HTC for T-Mobile and is exclusively distributed by T-Mobile. It has an extremely small keyboard which is actually easy to manipulate once you use it for a short time. It is a good form factor for a PDA/phone, but not quite small enough to hold to one’s head. I know some that use it this way, but I find it much more comfortable to use a headset.
The download of the upgrade from T-Mobile got off to a false start. When I first attempted to download at 9:30 in the morning, the only download was for the MDA model. A quick call to T-Mobile indicated that the Dash download would be ready about Noon EDT. The download was available at 1:00. It was a 55 Megabyte size file which downloaded in a few minutes.
The initial installation takes about 10 minutes, but then the Dash takes many more minutes to sort itself out. It is disconcerting when it spends 5 to 10 minutes locked on the boot screen. One two occasions I was wondering if I would be making a trip to the local T-Mobile store. All ended well including that it automatically reinstalled my Garmin XT navigation software. Other software needed to be reinstalled.
The next problem was that the ActiveSync software on the desktop computer needed to be upgraded. ActiveSync version 4.5 is required. It was a quick trip to Microsoft downloads and an install. My Garmin Mobile 10 navigation software automatically reloaded. A note taking application had to be manually reloaded.
The first thing that I miss is that the bluetooth headset operates completely differently. The button on the ear piece no longer initiates or ends calls. Voice tags also appear to have disappeared.
A new feature is a female voice that announces phone calls by contact or phone number as well as incoming email subjects and senders.
I will post more as I use it more. I was originally going to create some screenshots, but decided against since they are all over the web anyways.