Benefon Track Pro
Benefon's Track Pro bucks the general trend of mobile phones, which has been towards smaller and smaller phones that can quickly be slipped into a pocket. By the standards of those phones, it's a monolith.
The physical build of the Track Pro is relatively sturdy but with few concessions to style; the buttons are large and have a reassuring click to them when pressed. Aside from enterprise users, this phone would suit anyone who has trouble with the tiny keypads on most mobile phones. For a phone with such a large interface, we found the power button a touch annoying to use; it's a very small recessed button on the left side of the phone that must be pressed in for several seconds to switch the Track Pro on. Being recessed, this isn't always easy if you have stubby fingers.
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Unlike the much more consumer-focused Benefon Esc, the Track Pro is an enterprise level product centered around its telematics capabilities. The Track Pro has an integrated GPS module and software designed around using that GPS information for a variety of enterprise-centric functions.
The GPS module itself is fully contained within the phone, with a fold-out antenna providing additional coverage. The GPS unit itself can work independently of the phone, so if your SIM suddenly died, it would still be possible to locate yourself with the GPS side of things. We tested the Track Pro's GPS functionality in the Sydney CBD, and found that while it didn't work at all indoors -- and Benefon don't make that claim -- it's outdoor coverage varied widely. In order to get a clear GPS location, the phone needs to be able to get a strong enough signal from at least three different satellites. GPS signals are extremely weak and can drop out from even simple obstructions, so this isn't as simple as it sounds. One neat security feature of the Track Pro's GPS implementation is that it will give a time since it last had signal if it's been lost. That might sound useless, but that way, if you can recall where you've been since the time you lost signal, you can still give directions to suit your purposes.
The other noteworthy feature of the Track Pro is the large red button on the top of the phone that can be used as an emergency switch in either of two ways. If configured for it, a single press can send an SMS to a preconfigured number -- a good idea for workers in dangerous environments. Alternatively, it can be configured to request a press via subtle vibration once in every set period. Fail to press and the emergency message is sent; a reverse dead man's switch, hopefully of course for a live man.
One thing that the GPS will do is drain the battery. It has an economy mode that polls for GPS co-ordinates less frequently, which can extend battery life considerably. If you don't need it for a period, the GPS unit can be fully switched off. On full power GPS mode, we only got a paltry thirteen hours standby time before the battery died.
With its strict tilt towards enterprise functionality, it's unlikely that you'd stumble on to the Track Pro by accident. Like the similar Benefon Esc, it's only worth considering for the GPS functionality. Unlike the Esc it has a large number of solid potential applications centered around the use of the emergency button and GPS features that make it a reasonable buy.
Benefon Track Pro
Company: Benefon
Price: AU$1,265
Distributor: Australian Business Telephone Company
Purchase: Online
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I have read mainly positive reviews and comments about the V70. I decided to buy one. What was I thinking?
The phone is a disaster, if it were not for its looks, I would never have bought it.
For an expensive phone, the features are shocking!The phone book is hard to use, the key's on the keypad have become almost unuseable (from only 6 months of use), the screen is hard to see and the 2 or three lines of text is just not enough.
The games, well, can you actually call those applications games? And I have found that no ringtone download sites will download to a V70. There are no web pages which show you the notes to put in your phone, for a V70. 30 spaces for your own ringtones wasted!
The V70 is no where near loud enough as it should be. Even on the maximum ring volume setting, I and everyone around me cannot hear it ringing if we are in a medium density area, such as a mall. And the vibrating alert just makes a sound, you can barely feel it vibrating when it is in your pocket.
The last awful feature I have found since I started using the phone 6 months ago, is that that stylish rotator, blocks the antenna. My phone is constantly dropping calls, people I am calling sound robotic, as do I they tell me. All because the rotator sits in front of the antenna!
Better luck with the new V70i Motorola!