Mobile phones have come a long way in the last few years, and it's now feasible to consider going on a business trip leaving your notebook PC behind, trusting in the functionality of your mobile phone or phone-equipped handheld.
That can mean a significant difference in technology travel weight -- under 500g for a mobile and its charger, compared to 2-3kg for a notebook and its associated paraphernalia.
The device you choose depends, as ever, on precisely what you want to do with it. But most business travellers will have a minimum set of requirements, which we suggest will include the following: access to e-mail (preferably "push" e-mail from the company mail server); the ability to open (and preferably edit) business files such as word processor documents, spreadsheets, presentations and PDFs; and a Web browser (preferably with VPN access to the company network).
Increasingly, IT departments (if not always users themselves) will be looking for the ability to manage mobile phones and handhelds in the field so that they can be provisioned with software updates, made secure and if necessary wiped clean should they fall into the wrong hands.
Users, or their IT managers, need to consider whether their usage is primarily voice-centric or data-centric. That will determine the kind of form factor required. Luckily there's a wide choice available, ranging from conventional-looking phones to BlackBerry-like devices with QWERTY keyboards, to hybrids with slide-out keyboards. Search around and you should find something with ergomonics that suit you.
Then there's connectivity, which will primarily depend on the amount of data you need to shift around. If you're a heavy data user, you're looking at 3G/HSDPA with perhaps a side order of Wi-Fi (which will also be required to take advantage of fixed-mobile convergence); if you just want to check e-mail occasionally, GPRS will probably do.
Here are the most popular business phones, as determined by ZDNet Australia readers, over the past month. Have a look through to see if there's one that's best suited to your specific needs.
BlackBerry Curve 8300
The BlackBerry Curve takes both good and bad factors from the Pearl and 8800, making it an enticing phone -- but we're still waiting for the ultimate consumer BlackBerry
Samsung E590
Samsung's teeny tiny E590 packs a whole lot of features into a fuss-free candy bar model.
Nokia N95
If you need an all-in-one communications, navigation and imaging device and don't mind charging it every night, Nokia's N95 raises the bar in the mobile world.
Motorola Q 9h
If you're looking for an attractive 3.5G PDA-phone with push email, Windows Mobile 6 and a QWERTY keyboard, the Motorola Q 9h is worthy of consideration, so long as you don't need a touchscreen or Wi-Fi.
Motorola RAZR2 V9
Far from being another update, the sequel to the V3 is a whole different kind of RAZR, with rounder edges, shiny surfaces and -- somehow -- a thinner silhouette.
HTC Touch
While not a iPhone killer, the HTC Touch represents good value for money. If you can do without 3G support or a high-res camera, then the Touch will offer most features you'd require from a smartphone.
Palm Treo 750
Here's a dollop of irony: the best Windows Mobile smartphone has been created by Palm! A bevy of OS enhancements and access to Telstra's Next G mobile broadband network easily make it the best Windows Mobile device we've ever used.
Dopod D810
The Dopod D810 is packed with a bevy of useful features including 3.5G HSDPA support, quad-band GSM, and Wi-Fi, but suffers from some glaring shortcomings.
Dopod 838 Pro
An extremely well-equipped Pocket PC PDA-phone, Dopod has made sure that the 3G-enabled 838 Pro balances features with power so it doesn't leave you hanging when you need to access applications like Skype. However, due to its size and weight you might need a bag to carry it around.
6%
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How does 4 phone-less PDAs relate to the articles title "10 business phones for road warriors"????