The aesthetic difference is that the 750v’s exterior is a soft-touch paint with plastic accents on the sides and back, whereas the 700wx is entirely plastic. This makes the 750v very pleasant to hold in the hand and also provides some grip on slippery surfaces like tables. The most significant visual difference to the 700wx as well as its predecessor Treo 650 is the lack of antenna in its design.

The antenna being internal, while allowing for great looks of the device it impacts on the reception strength. At times, the original Treo 650 would have had four bars of reception in certain Auckland locations, while the new Treo 750v only two bars in the same spots. This resulted in calls being disconnected in a number of locations including Mt Eden, along the Northern Motorway and around Albany. Businesses are encouraged to test the device for reception before committing to purchase.

Other not so notable differences include the position of the infrared and SD card ports, from top of the device to the right hand side, as well as the difference in the SD format. The 750v supports miniSD card, as opposed to the full size card. This means if you have the wireless SD card it will not be usable on the 750v and you would have to source out the miniSD card to add wireless connectivity to the 750v.

The Trio 750v is a quad-band GSM device (850/900/1800/1900) with support for the UMTS band which allows for data speeds of up to 384kbps over the Vodafone network. Being a GSM device, it is possible to roam anywhere in the world where the GSM network is available. Adapters are included for the AC charger for UK, Europe and the United States, making the 750v truly an international device. This means that wherever you are in the world you can plug in and charge the device as soon as you land, keeping you connected.

While it is a 3G capable device, it is worth mentioning that the 750v only uses 3G for data transfer and it does not support video calling. Quoted standby time for the 750v is up to eight days and talk time is up to 5.5 hours.

Weight is another point of difference between the devices. While the 700wx weighs 180 grams, the 750v stands at 154 grams. This difference is definitely noticeable, so it could be something worth considering for people who carry their device in a front shirt pocket.

The 750v also supports threaded text message display, rather than traditional single message display. Threaded display presents messages with any person as a conversation, in a ‘threaded’ style, as opposed to single message in the inbox. This is useful in keeping up with the conversation without having to switch back and forth between Inbox and Sent Items folders.

The impressive new functionality of the Today screen such as photo speed dialling and direct dialling by typing people’s names while still at the Today screen are standard on both devices.

For more information
Vodafone
www.vodafone.co.nz

For more information about Mobility visit the Mobile Business Research Pavilion.

March 2007