Siemens SX66 PDA Phone (AT&T)

by Siemens

Product Details

Product Manual [5.94mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 2.4 x 0.9 inches ; 6.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007N3IYK
• Item model number: SX66
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #263,311 in Cell Phones & Accessories (See Top 100 in Cell Phones & Accessories)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Simply put, the Siemens SX66 does it all. A full color display slides down to reveal an integrated QWERTY keypad, while integrated "wi-fi" and Bluetooth keep you on the cutting edge of connectivity. Powered by the Windows Mobile 2003 operating system and with support for corporate email accounts, this device is designed for maximum efficiency, wherever you are. It's the ultimate power tool for mobile professionals.

Design

Click the image to get a closer look at the SX66's features. View the rear of the unit in detail here.

The SX66 follows the standard form factor of the latest Pocket PC devices, with one major addition; as mentioned, a sliding QWERTY keyboard is hidden below the screen. A generous, 240 x 320 full-color touchscreen display dominates the face of the unit. Just below the display is a five-way selection button that allows you to navigate and control the Windows Mobile interface. Meanwhile, shortcut buttons positioned both above and below the screen offer quick access to your Outlook calendar, contacts, messaging, Internet Explorer and more. Alternatively, the device can be directly controlled with an included stylus that slides out of the rear of the SX66's case.

Under the hood, the SX66 sports a 400 Mhz Intel PXA263 CPU with 128 MB of RAM and 64 MB of embedded flash memory storage. The unit's SD IO memory slot supports additional flash-based memory so you can expand available storage. The Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC operating system is completely touchscreen-enabled and features advanced handwriting recognition that is compatible with all of the device's applications. There's a standard stereo 2.5mm headset jack, while USB data and charging is handled by the SX66's docking ports on the bottom of the device.

Calling Features
Many of the SX66's calling features are integrated with the Windows Mobile operating system. For instance, the included Pocket Outlook software features a contacts list that is cleverly integrated with the phone's dialing functions. Meanwhile, the phone's handwriting recognition software can be used to dial numbers and enter contact information. The SX66's built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Polyphonic ringtones are available, as is a vibrating alert. Caller ID and call waiting are also supported. Lastly, the SX66's Bluetooth connectivity makes it easy to sync the unit with a wide range of handsfree, wireless headsets and car kits.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The SX66 is designed as a complete mobile office solution, so Internet and messaging capabilities are robust. The unit comes packed with pocket versions of Outlook, Internet Explorer and MSN Messenger. In addition to keeping track of contacts, Pocket Outlook features integrated calendar and email functions. Microsoft's ActiveSync software keeps the device synced with all of your PC's Outlook information (via USB, IR, wi-fi, or Bluetooth connection). Users who want Internet connectivity on the road with their laptop or PDA can tap the SX66's wireless modem capabilities (Cingular data plan charges apply). An included Cingular Xpress Mail Suite provides real-time access to your corporate and personal email (with optional Cingular Xpress Mail service). Meanwhile, the unit fully supports basic text messaging, as well as multimedia messaging (MMS).

A generous toolset ships with the SX66's Windows Mobile 2003 software. Pocket Outlook includes to-do lists while pocket versions of Word and Excel are included so you can review and edit documents on the go. A calculator, alarm clock and voice memo recorder round out the tools package.

Entertainment
The SX66 delivers the ultimate music experience. You can store MP3 files and easily exchange them with your PC or stream them from the internet. The included Windows Media Player application can also play videos for even more mobile entertainment.

The SX66's wallpapers and screensavers can be customized to suit your tastes. Windows Mobile and Java-based games are also supported.

Vital Statistics
The Siemens SX66 weighs 7.41 ounces and measures 4.92 x 2.83 x .75 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4 hours of digital talk time, and up to 168 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the GSM 800/GSM 900/GSM 1800/GSM 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
SX66 handset, USB Sync Station, li-ion Battery, headset, spare stylus, travel charger, 22-pin DC jack converter, carry case, user manual, quick start guide, companion CD

Product Description

Brilliant and distinctive, defining technological innovation and sophistication… welcome to the SX66 Pocket PC Phone. This wireless PDA offers communication in a refined, innovative design. Sleek curves frame the large, full color display that slides to reveal an integrated QWERTY keypad. Conveniently attached to the phone, this built-in keyboard allows for more efficiency than the stylus and touch screen alone. This mobile device is the perfect tool for an efficient lifestyle.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

102 of 102 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great PocketPC phone, February 20, 2005

By 

E K "ekiss71" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Siemens SX66 PDA Phone (AT&T) (Wireless Phone)

This phone is meant for people who need to work with email and simple office files (Excel and Word) while on the road, but do not want to carry a laptop. It will display photos and short movies with ease.

Even though I am an AT&T wireless customer, I bought this phone a few days ago at a local Cingular store without a contract. The phone came unlocked, which means that I can use it an any GSM network, including ATT&T and T-Mobile.

The phone feels solid and well built. The signal strength seems pretty good, at least as good as my old ATT&T phones. Voice quality is good, even though its a little akward to hold a PocketPC to your ear. The screen gets smudged easily. I bought a Motorola bluetooth headset, so that I can keep the phone in my pocket. On other boards people complained about spotty blue tooth compatibility, but Siemens now has a downloadable firmware upgrade on their web site. I have had no problems with the headset. The sound is loud and clear.

I have unlimited data access through ATT&T for $20/month, so I went online and found the settings needed to change the GPRS settings from Cingular to ATT&T. I can now access the Internet over GPRS, but I cannot yet access my ATT&T Mmode home page. I will keep researching.

This is a great phone for anyone interested in a Pocket PC. It is loaded with GSM/GPRS, Bluetooth, and 802.11b. The only thing missing is FM and Satelite radio :)

It also has plenty of onboard memory, more than other high-end Pocket PCs (like the HP 4705).

Cons:

* Microsoft should upgrade the file explorer so that you can open files from over the LAN. The built in file explorer allows you to browse and copy files from local PCs, but not open them. For example, I want to play my MP3s from my desktop anywhere in the house, without first having to copy. There are 3rd party file explorers that let you do this (I found VM Net Browser online), but they cost money.

* The wireless manager is nice, allowing you to switch between Wifi, GPRS, and bluetooth networking, however it would be nicer if it had the option to auto switch when a preferred network is found.

* Cingular does not offer any extended warranties on PDAs. For $650 this is ridiculous. I love the phone, but I might return it just for this reason. Electronics tend to brake down easily.

* The keyboard looks nice, especially with the blue backlight. However, I find that typing with the stylus and the on-screen keyboard is sometimes faster for me.

* Does not have a built in voice dialer like other phones costing half as much. Kind of defeats the purpose of bluetooth. (Microsoft has a separate voice command software package, but again it cost extra).

* For this price, there should be more bundled software, specially for networking.

* Many websites with client-side Javascript crash Internet explorer (such as ZDNet.com).

* With such a small screen, you have to scroll alot on web pages. There are layout settings where the phone will resize web sites into a single column, but this sometimes makes the web siteunreadable. The phone also, allows you to rotate the screen horizontally, but this is still only 320px, and most web sites are developed for 1024px and higher. You only see 1/3 of the page.

* The phone only has an SD slot. CompactFlash would be nice so that I could use my Samsung 4GB HD.

* There is no built in screen cover, like the Ipaq 4705. Since this is a phone that will be pulled in and out of my pocket alot, I am worried that I will scratch the screen.

Even with all the cons, I really love the phone. I am a programmer and can develop software easily for it. Being a PocketPC, it can be expanded easily, and most of the cons can be worked around (for a price). I would recommend this for anyone who needs the extra functionality of a PDA.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for business use, not that great for consumers, May 10, 2005

By 

Ricardo Carreon Quinones "http://ricardosblog... (Sao Paulo, Brazil) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Siemens SX66 PDA Phone (AT&T) (Wireless Phone)

The Siemens SX66 is a WIndows CE based Smartphone designed for business use. For Consumer purposes it is a bit of an overkill and is not particularly optimized for some entertainment purposes. This review is written mostly with business use in mind (I use it with a Goodlink e-mail client) I also include some consumer comments at the end.

Screen and Input modes.
The SX66 includes a large screen that fits more elements than other smaller screen phones. This is particularly useful to browse through e-mails. It gives you a choice of typing via a qwerty keyboard or through a virtual keyboard and your stylus. It includes many programmable keys that are mapped to many Windows applications, such as Explorer, e-mail, calendaring, tasks and phone answer/hang up.

Other useful tools: for talking you can use it as any phone, use its wired headset (included) or use its speakerphone. You can also use it in combination with a bluetooth wireless earpiece. It also has a built in camera and a voice recorder.

Business Applications
As many other Windows CE handhelds (PDAs or smartphones) you can find many applications both for business as well as for consumer purposes. Coupled with an e-mail business client software (e.g. Goodlink) you can have Blackberry-like functionality as your e-mails, meetings and other corporate e-mail items can be pushed into your handheld via GPRS or WiFi. One nice thing about the SX66 vs. Blackberry is that the SX66 with the included software can open most MS Office attachments (and you can even edit some of them).

Using this phone for business apps (e-mail, calendar, etc) this phone is a great tool. Its large screen and its keyboard options allow for great e-mail reading and for composing short e-mails and SMS messages. For large e-mails, honestly, your notebook is a much better tool.

Battery Usage / Power Options
Battery duration is good but not great for regular phone use, it will typically last one day. If you use it heavily for e-mail or for PDA apps (e.g. taking notes) its battery life greatly diminishes to less than one day. There are many packages in the market so you can charge it in the middle of the day via USB, USB cradle, car charger or regular power adapters. The good news in any of them is that it charges really quickly, so can be back to full charge in about 1 hr.

Networking options
The networking options are many and very useful. It can operate on quad-band GSM (operates in most countries), it can hook to GPRS, WiFi and Bluetooth nets. It also has infrared connectivity to connect to other portable devices. GPRS is available in most GSM cellular networks, and it will give you pretty much ubiquitous access but slow speeds (it is good for e-mail clients, as they typically push text into the handhelds), for faster access use WiFi and connect in the same networks you connect on your notebook.

Consumer usage
- Not as good performing video. I have tried a couple of times to play home videos (e.g. 30 sec shots taken with my digital camera) and it has basically stalled and taken long to recover.
- Not as good performing games, its video performance makes it unpractical.
- Built in camera lacks the quality and resolution and is below some lower cost phones.

PROS
- Large screen, larger than most phones in the market.
- Variety of input modes.
- Variety of tools.
- Very good software included out of the box.
- Pre-programmed buttons allow quick access to most useful functions.
- Variety of Wireless networks to connect.
- Good-sized memory included, can be increased greatly using an SD-Card.

CONS
- Battery life is limited. Needs midday recharging if you use PDA or e-mail heavily trough the day.
- Included camera has very limited resolution, pictures come out with a lot of noise and its colors are not that great.
- Lack of EDGE networks support.
- A bit heavy and large format, you need to use its carrying case.
- Video playing is very poor. Don't even bother trying.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great PDA - Phone sound issues, June 4, 2005

By 

C. Humphreys "Business Road Warrior" (SF Bay Area, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Siemens SX66 PDA Phone (AT&T) (Wireless Phone)

I recently migrated to this phone from a Treo 600 that had a mountain biking accident :-)

The SX66 (HTC is the ODM, "Blue Angel" is the model) is better than the Treo 600 in the following respects:
* More stable - No hung phones/frozen unit in 3 weeks of operation
* Better sound quality for other party - had lots of complaints regarding Treo 600
* WiFi - can't say enough about how handy this is
* Synchronization with Outlook actually works better than Palm Desktop/Hotsync.
* I can sync remotely with ActiveSync - this is also very handy
* Screen quality is better (roughly on par with Treo 650). No backlighting/sunlight visibility problems, either
* Speakerphone is louder and clearer than Treo. I actually use speakerphone mode a lot just to hear other party in noisy environments.
* Keyboard is more intuitive - keys are better placed. Also a slight negative - keyboard must be slid out for use and back when not in use (it's clunky to leave it out).
* Mic imparts less road noise in a car. When using my Treo in a car the other party complained bitterly and often hung up. No such problem with the SX66.


Negatives
* Sound volume is just too low - very hard to hear anyone in a car unless in speakerphone mode
* I haven't tried Bluetooth yet due to all the complaints I've read about. However, my phone did have the latest Bluetooth stack from Siemens (v1.1 Bluetooth), and I'll keep track of interfering signals such as 2.5GHz phones and 802.11b/g.
* Selecting phone number to call out is "clicky" - takes extra steps compared to Treo unless you leave the keyboard in the "deployed" position. The Microsoft Voice Dialing software ($39 or so) eliminates this hassle, but only works with wired headsets or direct speaking. Still, a big improvement over the extra clicking.
* GPRS and WiFi don't always come up in the order I would like, and switching between them is a little bit clicky (lots of steps). You can configure the phone to get around this, but that takes a fair bit of Windows Mobile expertise or RTFM.

Conclusion:
If sound quality/volume were better, this would be an outstanding phone. 4-band lets me use it anywhere (I'll unlock this before trips to Asia), and I have all my contacts, all the time, and can sync from anywhere. If I can get Bluetooth to work properly with good volume control, I'll revise my rating to 5/5.