The R320s is a new integrated mobile device in the high-end market that mixes core functionality with WAP support, data synchronisation and voice recognition features. Most significantly it offers dual-band support, a feature lacked by its competitors.
First impressions
The first thing you notice about the R320s is that it is very flat. Sporting a lean 15 mm thickness, it barely rises off the desk surface higher than an average sized notepad. Less unobtrusive is the overall unit length, which at 130mm is certainly far too long to fit in a shirt pocket.
Most of this is the aerial, which is a blocky extrusion that actually offsets the centre of the phone's balance. Unfortunately, when using it in one hand, you must pin it down with rather firm pressure to prevent it backflipping out of your hand towards the aerial end. Exacerbating this
effect are the solid, slippery keys which give unsteady feedback and seem to be of poor manufacture quality, feeling unsteady in their sockets. Using your fingernails to press these keys is sadly rather unpleasant.
The R3320s features two forms of voice control. You can use it to accept or reject calls with voice commands when using the hands-free driving kit, or you can dial specific numbers based on voice recognition that compares your speech with a stored database of spoken name samples. The voicememo function allows the R320s to record up to 92 seconds of speech at a coherent sound quality - or 36 seconds with superior clarity. An interesting extension to this feature allows you to use it to record either yourself or the party on the other end during a call. However, there are varied legal conditions regarding the unsolicited recording of private phone calls around the world. The manual wisely notes: "It may not be allowed to record the voices of other parties in conversation. Please check the appropriate regulations before using this function."
Time to ditch your PDA?
A comprehensive calendar function is a staple of the R320s package, especially noteworthy as it can be fully backed up to a PC, along with your contacts list. The R320s comes with enough gear out of the box to synchronise with a PC via an IR connection. If your PC does not have IR then you can purchase a separate serial cable or IR device. The included software, XTNDConnect PC, allows synchronisation with Outlook software on all Window 9x platforms. This allows a massive streamlining of the data entry and information
management chores one typically goes through in maintaining their phone and contacts. The ability to download several months worth of schedule information onto the phone is a terrific augmentation as it gives the user freedom to create a hellishly complicated schedule on their PC, then simply
feed it into the phone, where it will conveniently remind you of appointments while in the field.
More stable but less able
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the R320s is a more stable WAP platform than the Nokia 7110. However, the price you pay in terms of lost ergonomics is difficult to measure. The unwieldy four way arrow keys on the R320s are less than ideal. The absence of any kind of analog scrolling feature, in particular, really grates with seasoned web surfers. You will be inching your way around the wireless web with this phone, garnering immense frustration if you can read at any moderate speed.
Settings must entered manually to connect to Optus Networker - this is in stark contrast to the slick "Settings via SMS" system the Nokia 7110 employs. This means manually wading through the menus and programming in the settings, quite a chore for those not accustomed to endlessly configuring PC connectivity data. Something that requires less configuration is the Business Card Exchange function. This is a nifty feature that allows the IR port on your phone to transmit a virtual business card to another IR device within a distance of one metre. In realistic terms this means another R320s phone, as the likelihood of hand-held PDA devices developing software support quickly enough is slim at best. It is a decent feature that should not be overlooked - but something that will rarely be useful to you unless you meet a plethora of vital new business contacts who use exactly the same phone, have fully embraced the feature, and are vigorously aware of it.
Power tripper?
The power performance of the R320s is impressive. With the Slim battery, it achieves 75 hours standby, and a talk time of 325 minutes. The Ericsson R320s is based on a 3-volt platform which allows highly efficient battery utilisation.
The R320s ships with the classic game Tetris, which will make many phone owners whoop with joy - although it plays rather oddly in a peculiar sideways orientation, as the screen is longest in that direction. Another game included is a solitaire type card game called Klondike.
The bottom line
Overall, the Ericsson R320s offers a raw office suite of features in comparison to its contemporaries, and suffers from several baffling ergonomics issues that will turn off many users the first time they touch it. However, if you rely on enhanced WAP stability, it may be the platform
of choice when considered as an alternative to the Nokia 7110.
Key Features List
Ericsson R320s
Company: Ericsson
Ph: 1300 650 050; Fax: 03 9301 1388
Price: AU$705 (ESP).
Rating: 3 Star
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