Sprint's EV-DO "Vision Network" provides a high speed data connection that allows for near-Broadband speed Web surfing and data services so long as you're within a network coverage area. Web surfing and Email on the Q was very speedy, though I did hit the occasional dead spot in Sprint's EV-DO coverage in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Q does not have an internal WiFi antenna, so Internet connectivity is limited to EV-DO cellular data. With a strong signal, EV-DO speeds can get quite fast and so the lack of WiFi isn't a problem. However, if you hit a dead spot where you live, work, or travel, the Q becomes useless as an Internet device. As such, business users dependent on Email and Web services should think twice before buying a WiFi-less phone like the Q.
Internet Explorer handles Web Browsing duties, and as mentioned I found it to be a mixed bag on the Q. Some websites rendered almost perfectly, if in a mildly annoying single-column format that required heavy scrolling. Others hardly rendered at all, or failed entirely when they encountered JavaScripts. Nokia's Web browser is the standard by which I judge all mobile browsers, IE on the Q pales in comparison (as it also does when compared to Opera). That being said, it's still far more useful than the WAP browsers found on most non-smartphones.
As mentioned, smartphone aficionados will cry foul at Q's lack of WiFi connectivity. It's true - 802.11 connectivity is fast becoming a "must-have" for smartphone buyers, and many new models pack a WiFi antenna. Sprint's EV-DO network provides excellent data transfer speeds, but if you travel out of range you're stuck without an 802.11 option.
Being a Windows Mobile device, the Q relies on ActiveSync for syncing of organizer, contact, and email data with Windows PCs. Syncing is supported over Bluetooth 1.2 and USB connections. Bluetooth also supports mono and stereo audio devices and file transfer, and laptop tethering is available via both wired and wireless connections.
I tested the Q with a few Bluetooth headsets and it worked fine, pairing easily with both mono and stereo devices. A 2.5mm stereo headset jack also allows the use of wired headsets, and a 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter will open the Q up for use with standard stereo headphones.
The Q also has a miniSD card slot which supports removable memory cards. No memory card is included in the retail packaging, but the handset does have roughly 60MB of internal memory available for storage.
Next: Conclusion »
4.3
