T-Mobile MDA Vario II

The previous incarnation of the T-Mobile MDA Vario was unstable and unreliable. So why would we be getting all hot under the collar about the release of the MDA Vario II, the T-Mobile branded version of the HTC TyTN? The answer is simple: speed, form and function. This handset has all three in spades.

Fast

Let's get the performance issue out of the way before addressing form and function, because the MDA Vario II is the first handset to support the new T-Mobile HSDPA (High Speed Download Packet Access) service.

While not delivering the claimed quadruple 3G performance of 1.8 megabits per second data transfer rate across the HSDPA network during our testing, speeds were none too shabby at around 1.2 megabits per second. At least it does offer what can be called realistic broadband speeds, albeit at the lower end of the definition scale, on a mobile phone handset.

This brings us nicely to the first problem that having broadband bandwidth on a mobile handset presents: proper broadband restrictions. Although the T-Mobile 'Web n Walk' plan promises 'unlimited' access with no additional charges to pay, this is not quite as transparent a promise as we would like. A look into the terms and conditions reveals that modem access for computers, internet based video/audio streaming services, peer to peer file sharing, internet based video download and internet based telephony are all banned. While you won't pay any extra if your use of the service spikes as a result of using such services, you can expect your speed to be throttled right down or even find yourself disconnected.

Perhaps the biggest problem with HSDPA is the fact that it isn't yet available everywhere. You do get a quad-band GSM handset supporting GPRS and 3G to fall back on though.

Form

The MDA Vario II is smaller in every dimension except thickness than the MDA Pro, measuring just 112mm x 58mm x 22mm, and weighing in at 180g including battery, it is a whole 100g lighter as well. Indeed, this is something of a TARDIS device: much bigger on the inside than the external dimensions would suggest, which becomes apparent when you slide the top and bottom sections apart to reveal the full QWERTY keyboard. There is no number row, as you might imagine something has to be sacrificed when downsizing like this, but the key mapping is excellent and we didn't find it to be a problem in usage.

It is a thumb typing experience only it has a tendency to topple over when laid flat and pecked at with fingers; but for email, texting, web surfing and even writing short documents there is little that can beat it considering the size of the device. Equally as impressive is the 2.8" transflective TFT with its native 240 x 320 pixel resolution, being both bright indoors and not suffering as much from sunlight reflectivity outdoors as some devices we've tested, although it could still be better. As, for that matter, could the supplied stylus which at just 83mm fully extended, smooth to the touch and weighing just 4g is not the easiest of input devices to use.

The Samsung SC32442A processor is capable of powering the device along at a respectable 400MHz, and it certainly shows with applications delivering a decent turn of speed. This is somewhat undermined, however, by the 64Mb of SDRAM and 128Mb ROM. In the real world this converts into 52Mb of available storage before you start adding your own applications, which means you will definitely need to supplement the on-board storage with a flash card. The device supports the MicroSD format.