T-Mobile Dash Phone (T-Mobile)

by T-Mobile

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 2.5 x 0.5 inches ; 4.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000NNZT1Y
• Item model number: Dash
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,163 in Cell Phones & Accessories (See Top 100 in Cell Phones & Accessories)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Exclusive to T-Mobile service, the quad-band T-Mobile Dash is everything you need to stay connected. Perfect for business or leisure applications, the Dash is a slim Windows Mobile Smartphone that's comfortable to hold and provides crystal-clear calling. Send, receive, and reply to your personal and business e-mail easily with the built-in full QWERTY keyboard and the convenience of integrated Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile software. You can even browse the Web using the included Wi-Fi connectivity or built-in EDGE data support. Other highlights include Bluetooth 2.0, a microSD memory card slot, a 1.3-megapixel camera, and more.

The Dash is the the perfect mobile office and mobile entertainment device. See it in detail. You can also watch a product demo (requires Flash).

Design
Under the hood, the Dash features 23 MB of built-in flash memory, a memory card slot for more memory, and a speedy 200 MHz OMAP 850 processor. Up front, the large 2.4-inch 320 x 240 QVGA touch-screen supports over 65,000 colors, while the rear of the device houses the 1.3-megapixel camera. The design of the Dash is clean and uncluttered, with most of the buttons easily accessible with one hand. Just to the right side of the display you'll find convenient up/down keys for volume adjustment and handy keys for browser control. There's also a handy HTC JOGGR control pad with variable speed, drag, and hold functions that makes document viewing a pleasure. Meanwhile, call answer and end buttons surround a five-way toggle that allows you to navigate and control the Windows Mobile interface. A full QWERTY keyboard resides underneath the large display. As mentioned earlier, a microSD memory expansion card slot is provided, and USB/Bluetooth connectivity is included for convenient data transfers.

Calling and PDA Features
The Dash's phone and PDA functions are designed to provide an integrated, seamless experience. The included Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone software with Direct Push technology gives you instant access to your e-mails, calendar, and contacts at anytime. That means wherever and whenever, you'll be connected. A single main screen summarizes all the important information you need to make it through the day. Here you'll get message notification, upcoming appointments, dialing functions, tasks, and more all in one spot.

As a phone, the Dash features all the functionality folks expect from an advanced cell phone, including a hands-free speakerphone, polyphonic ringtones, a vibrate mode, and picture and ringer ID. Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile combines e-mail, calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes into a single application that seamlessly integrates with the Dash's phone functions. Meanwhile, headsets, car kits and other wireless peripherals can also be paired with the unit via Bluetooth.

Staying productive on the road is made possible by the Microsoft Office Mobile suite, which includes Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, and PowerPoint Mobile. Meanwhile, the File Explorer application makes it easy to browse the files on your Dash.

Like all T-Mobile phones, the Dash supports voice-mail, caller ID, conference calling, call forwarding, call waiting, call hold, built-in paging, and access to T-Mobile's 411 service.

Messaging and Internet
Using T-Mobile's EDGE-powered Internet service, you can surf the Web with the bundled Internet Explorer application, or use MSN, Yahoo!, or AOL messenger services to stay in contact via instant messaging. Plus, the inclusion of Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) in the Dash allows you to surf the Web or check your e-mail at blazing speeds when you're connected to a Wi-Fi network. With the purchase of T-Mobile Hotspot data service, you can get online at thousands of locations coast-to-coast. Lastly, robust SMS and MMS functionality is built into the Windows Mobile interface, too.

One of the most important tools bundled with the Dash is Microsoft ActiveSync, which allows you to quickly synchronize your device's tasks, calendars, e-mail, and contacts with your desktop. You also get Exchange ActiveSync, an application that lets you synchronize data with an Exchange server. Syncing can be done via USB or wirelessly via Bluetooth.

Imaging and Entertainment
Another great feature of the Dash is that it supports Windows Media playback right out of the box. With Windows Media Player, you can play streaming and downloaded video and audio content in a variety of formats. You can also keep favorite tunes loaded on a memory card and listen to your music wherever you roam.

As mentioned, the Dash can take 1.3-megapixel pictures, and while the camera is great for taking stills, it can also function as a camcorder, allowing you to capture video to the unit's memory. An integrated media application organizes your captured photos and videos. For gamers, the phone supports Java-based and Windows Mobile games.

The Dash also sports an airplane mode feature, which allows the user to safely use the non-wireless functions of a phone (such as music, games, or organizer functions) on an airplane during flight.

Vital Statistics
The T-Mobile Dash weighs 4.23 ounces and measures 4.39 x 2.46 x 0.51 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5 hours of digital talk time, and up to 216 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

Product Description

The exclusive T-Mobile Dash! The T-Mobile Dash is a sleek Smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard that brings e-mail and familiar Outlook functionality right to your phone. Using Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile®, T-Mobile Dash delivers important information and e-mail on the go. Now you can have your Outlook calendar and contacts up to date and always with you. Easily check e-mail and access Internet information virtually anywhere with T-Mobile's EDGE network or blazing fast T-Mobile HotSpot wireless broadband. As a bonus, T-Mobile Dash also supports myFaves rate plans, which allow customers to choose their top 5 contacts and make or receive unlimited phone calls for one low price.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Picked this over the iPhone, and I'm Glad, August 6, 2007

By 

Ewan Grantham - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: T-Mobile Dash Phone (T-Mobile) (Wireless Phone)

Let me begin by saying that I have been a long time admirer of Apple, and have the five volumes of "Inside Macintosh" for developers to prove it. In fact, before they moved to OS/X, I used to develop printer drivers for the Mac.

So when the iPhone was announced, I looked at the release date, and when I would be looking for a new phone, and thought the timing was pretty good.

However, after reading the reviews (positive and negative), and doing my research, I picked up a T-mobile Dash instead.

Why?

First off, both phones use the EDGE network. So browsing speed wasn't going to be a difference. However the Dash uses Windows Mobile 6 (with the free update) that has a version of IE that is about as good as Safari. Not to mention that the Dash also supports the Mobile version of Opera. Like the iPhone, the Dash also supports WiFi browsing, and the phone plan (similar costs) includes free use of T-mobile's hotspots - which are much more numerous in my experience than the AT&T ones (Starbucks anyone?)

Then there's the cost. The Dash with a 1 gig MicroSD card is about $25 (Dash is free, the MicroSD card is what's expensive). The iPhone, of course, is several hundred more than that. I could have gotten my whole family Dashes for the price of one four gig iPhone. And of course the microSD card is removable and replaceable (as is the battery).

While the Dash does NOT have a touch screen, it DOES have a physical keyboard. My typing speed is already 30wpm, and I wouldn't be surprised if I get up to 50 or 60 (compared to my desktop speed of 80-90). The Dash has a somewhat smaller display, but it has the longer battery life to go with it.

Then there is the comparison of the voice plans. With T-Mobile you have the "MyFaves" plan that lets you setup five phone numbers on any network for free calls. With the iPhone, your AT&T folks are free, but everyone else starts burning minutes - and fast. For me, having those five numbers means that I'm pretty much covered. Not to mention that T-Mobile is consistently ranked higher for customer satisfaction and coverage compared to AT&T.

Oh, and unlike the iPhone, there's a version of Skype for the Dash, so I can make calls over WiFi to folks who aren't in "MyFaves" at no additional cost beyond the normal Skype out fee. I don't think there will be a Skype for iPhone anytime soon.

Finally, WindowsMobile, for all of it's Microsoft issues, does have a fair library of apps I can install, and support for a number of things that you will have to wait for on the iPhone. And there is an SDK out there for developing your own apps if you don't find what you need.

For me, and considering the above, the T-mobile Dash was the right answer. Something you might want to consider if you're looking for a new smartphone.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mini PDA and Great cell phone, April 3, 2007

By 

Carol "kepela" (Chatsworth, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: T-Mobile Dash Phone (T-Mobile) (Wireless Phone)

I was carrying a PDA and a Razr cell phone. When I got this phone I gave my PDA to my brother and my Razr to my daughter. I love the full contact list with addresses, all the phone numbers and notes that are in my Outlook are now in my Dash and it syncs with Outlook. The calendar is really nice and that too syncs with Outlook. I don't try to use it for browsing the internet, but I do use T-mobiles T-zones to collect all my email from all my various email address types. It took some learning to find the easiest way to get to everything, but it's there if you look. For example, called and received numbers log with one key press of the send button, extremely easy contact look up by just starting to spell the name of what you're looking for and everything else gets eliminated, and my favorite applications stay on the home screen at the top so that they are only a push away.

It has EVERYTHING that any cell phone has and works as well or better and easier. The speaker phone is great, clear and plenty loud enough; bluetooth syncs with my GPS without a hitch and one touch (or speed) dialing is great, you can even have two digit spead dialing by holding the second digit until it begins to dial. I can store hundreds of phone numbers in number locations I choose (like my brother's home is 5, cell is 15 and wifes cell is 25), then use the number of the location to make a call instead of looking up numbers.

All in all, I find that I have service across the country without much trouble and I drive rather than fly. If you have T-mobile cell service, their t-zones for email and many other internet based services is only $5 and T-Zones w/WiFi service is only $20 (monthly), can't beat that. The full keyboard makes text messaging and keeping notes MUCH easier and more fun. It's not a full PDA, but it does everything I did with my PDA, and with the updated firmware you can edit your word and excel documents.

It's way more than a phone, really small and thin, easy to carry, easy to lock and unlock the keyboard. It takes nice pictures for emergencies if I don't have a camera and it uses a mini SD card, which I have installed and use to store pictures and videos.

Personally, I can't think of a negative thing about it. It's not a laptop computer, but I think it's the best cell phone on the market. My cousin has the blackberry and he's jealous of me and my Dash.

63 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great Hardware - Poor Buggy Software - Poor Coverage, March 22, 2007

By 

James Colgan (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: T-Mobile Dash Phone (T-Mobile) (Wireless Phone)

In summary, Microsoft's software and T-Mobile's service have ruined a brilliant design (although with a couple of flaws) from HTC.

There are many pros and cons about this device and the service that it is shackled to. I will break it down to Hardware, Software and Cell Phone Service Provider.

Hardware Pro's:
A lot has been written about this aspect of the device, so I'll keep this to a minimum - The best form factor I've ever seen. This device provides you the power of a Blackberry without the bulky hardware so I can put it in my pocket comfortably and not have to look like a geek with the belt holster.
- A key selling point for me was the combined Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and quad-band connectivity that enabled me to connect a wireless headset, cruise web pages and have access to email when in the US or Europe.

- The phone quality is excellent.

- The keyboard layout is excellent and easy to use for medium sized emails.

- The battery life is great when Wi-Fi is not enabled and adequate when it is. (I've rarely struggled with a dying battery.) Stand-by power management appears to be excellent.

- Charging of the device is very quick.

- The display, while a little small, is crystal clear and surprisingly easy to use given its size.

- The camera is pretty good and it's been really great emailing photo's to people as I'm traveling around.

[After all of the cons that you'll read below you'll wonder why I ever bought the device and why I still use it. Well here it is:
1. T-Mobile locked me into a 2 year contract on a very expensive device.
2. It has great hardware that I can use in the US and Europe, I'm just hoping that Microsoft will finally get it right. ]

Hardware Con's

- The touch sensitive volume button is the most ill-conceived feature I've ever seen. Even after playing around with various settings it is still hard to quickly set the volume at the desired level. Even worse, when using the phone your ear or finger can inadvertently hit the control and randomly change the volume.

- The TI OMAP 850 at 201MHz is not beefy enough for the software that is loaded onto the device. However, the blame could well be laid at Microsoft's door for writing inefficient code and having poor scheduling software between tasks and applications. Either way, performance is very slow for some basic functions (see below) and I'm afraid some of the blame needs to be laid at the choice of processor.

Software Pro's
- Not many that really come to mind.

Software Con's
(I hope you're sitting comfortably)

- When a call is on call waiting the phone fails to give an option to the user to select which call to take and which call to put on hold or drop/ignore. On the occasions this problem has occurred with me the call that is dropped/kept appears random with a preference to switch to the incoming call no matter what is depressed. The other call is dropped and not put on hold.

- When a call is incoming and the keyboard is locked, if the user depresses the green phone key the call is dropped. This is extremely counter intuitive. If the user presses anything other than the "answer" key the call is dropped and sometimes the call has been dropped even when I have depressed the "answer" key.

- The contacts database is extremely rudimentary with a very limited number of views and filters that can be used. Even worse, upon selection, the contacts database takes between 5 and 8 seconds to open. Now, I have what some would call a large database of contacts, but considering that the Palm OS version responded immediately with a far more sophisticated use model this excuse does not wash. It's simply a poorly architected database.

- The user interface for entering a new contact is rudimentary (as are all dialog windows on this device.)

- One of the most annoying aspects of this device is the alarm clock. The user interface looks like it was written in 10 minutes and was clearly not verified for correctness. The digital watch I had in 1982 had the same degree of sophistication but with a more intuitive use model and was more thoroughly debugged. First of all, the user only gets to select a time and if the alarm is on or off. From the interface you would assume you could only set a single alarm....if only it were that obvious. The best way to explain this buggy piece of software is with an example: I set the alarm for 6am; the next day the alarm goes off at 6am. That day I set the alarm for 7am - the following day the alarm goes off at 6am and 7am. The next day I set the alarm for 7:30am and you guessed it, the alarm now goes off three times. The best that I've been able to deduce (of course, this type of behavior is not documented in the user manual that comes with the device) is that the user has to actively select "off" for the current setting before setting "on" for the new time. But there is no indication of what alarms are set, so after a while or a particularly busy week you can loose track of what's set and what isn't....the only way to clear all of the alarms that have been set is a hard re-boot.

- The calculator is a joke. If this took an engineer 10 minutes to write they should be fired. A calculator watch in the '80's had more sophisticated features. The user interface is so bad it's hard to describe it in words.

- Microsoft truly does not understand how a user would like to use the device and instead insists on using the same usage model that they've inflicted upon us since Windows 95. Most features or function have to be navigated through the Start menu button. Applications are nested and features are hidden behind several annoying menu selections. Some features are simply hard to find, but should it really take so many menu selections to find common tools or applications?

- The use of alarms or reminders is ambiguous - to put the device in "Silent" mode, but leave alarms on because you want to sleep and only want your alarm to wake you up, for example, does not work. Calendar reminders will be active as they are assigned the alarm property instead of their own or the notification property. The only way around this is to cancel reminders for all day events....otherwise you get an alarm at midnight.

- So, on my Nokia phone a thousand years ago, when I went to Europe my phone would have a simple selection for the new frequency I needed once landed. The phone would then automatically connect to the provider available. It wasn't completely automatic, but the user interaction was simple and intuitive. Not with the Dash. First of all T-Mobile doesn't help by keeping a radio button on your online account that you have to select to enable international roaming. The feature is free so why not add a selection anyway? All you know when you get to your destination is that your phone won't connect to the local network no matter what you do. Now, assuming that you worked this out, you are now faced with the challenge of actually connecting to the local provider's network. On my Blackberry this was automatic, but of course with Microsoft there are selections to make, searches to activate and various other contortions that need to be gone through before you connect to the provider of choice. Assuming that you get connected at all.

- ActiveSync: This is the most annoying piece of software in that it just does not work. Worse still, when it does not work it gives a cryptic error message stating that an error has occurred and some data will be lost next time you perform synchronization. It does not provide you with a fix, a hint or a path so that you don't lose data. It does not even tell you the data that was lost. So, I'm using a Microsoft Mobile OS with Microsoft XP and Microsoft Outlook and they can't get that right? (OK, it maybe serves me right for signing up to so much Microsoft, but come on.) This was another primary purchasing driver for me. I am very busy and want to have my schedule up to date between my PC and PDA - all the time. It's the only way to keep organized. I thought that with the same provider of all the software I'd be OK. Also, as this feature has been around for over a decade from Palm and perfected by Blackberry....how hard can it be?

There are probably annoying nits that I have with the software, but those are the major ones. And they are major.

Considering this is Windows Mobile 5.0 what on earth were they doing for 1.0, 2.0, etc.?

Service Provider Pro

- T-Mobile is useful to me for traveling in Europe. They have much better coverage over there than in the US (where I'm actually paying).

- Their package is competitive.

Service Provider Con:

- Coverage is not good enough. I'm in San Francisco and I have dead spots in my house.

- Their back-end connectivity with your email providers is terribly buggy. At random times you will get cryptic messages saying that you must have something wrong with your connection and emails can't be accessed. But you know there's nothing wrong with your connection because you've been on the browser. Also, there was a whole day that emails were not accessible. Because of the many issues that I'd had with email set up and maintaining a connection I went through various debug routines wondering what had failed. When I finally called technical support they told me that their service was down - no apology, no notification, no nothing. Certainly no minutes to make up for the inconvenience. (So, why didn't I call technical support earlier? read below...)

- Their technical support structure is terrible. I... Read more ›