Both HP and Socket Mobile are targeting the enterprise user with their new Windows Mobile devices. How do they compare and which one's best for you?
HP iPAQ 210 and the Socket Mobile SoMo 650-M
The HP iPAQ 210 and the Socket Mobile SoMo 650-M are Windows Mobile 6 touch screen devices marketed to the enterprise user. Neither of these has integrated phone capability.
As you can see from their photos, they are similar looking devices. They also share similar specifications, which include 128 MB of RAM and 256 MB of flash ROM, and 624 MHz processors. The iPAQ has a 4-inch color VGA touch screen and the SoMo 650 has a 3.5-inch color QVGA touch screen, but aside from that, the differences between the two devices are relatively minor. How then do you select the device that truly fits your needs?
Targeting the mobile enterprise
The differences between these two devices begin to show when you look outside the basic specs. But even then, they are subtle and choosing one over the other can be a tough decision. It basically comes down to which side of the "gray market" you find yourself in. This gray market encompasses skilled technicians and managers whose duties combine functions of both the blue and white collar workforces. Since this is the target market for both devices, and since they are similar devices, to choose between them it's necessary to examine a few key indicators. Note also that if you are deploying a number of these devices, you have to consider how well they will be accepted by your targeted users. In this, visual appeal and "status" may play as much of a part as durability and reliability.
Setting the stage
Since both devices have all the necessary Microsoft Office Mobile applications built into them, both provide a solid out-of-the-box deployment platform for supporting access to corporate spreadsheets and documents for the connected, mobile managers who are occasionally expected to take up blue collar duties. The biggest differentiating factor here is going to be how dependant your users will be on screen real estate and legibility. If the target audience is very document-oriented, or deals with large amounts of data on screen, the iPAQ is going to provide a much better viewing experience overall because of its larger VGA display.
Another extremely important (and perhaps definitive) issue is going to be the cost involved in integrating peripherals and software on the devices after the base hardware has been decided upon. There are a variety of peripherals available from third parties, and these would have to be tested on both devices. However, Socket Communications offers a wide variety of peripherals that are designed to seamlessly integrate with the 650's hardware and built-in software. The 650 has the edge over the iPAQ in this area.
As far as third-party or custom software is concerned, both devices run the Windows Mobile 6.0 software. Both should be equally compatible with existing software, and neither has a significant advantage over the other in terms of the development of custom software.
The iPAQ 210: An executive workhorse with style
If you are in the market for a workhorse machine with pure executive appeal, the iPAQ 210 is probably the best choice. With a full 4-inch VGA screen, glossy black and matte silver finish, and smooth rounded edges, this device has a lot of style and will not embarrass you in the boardroom. The iPAQ is also ideally positioned to take advantage of existing business infrastructure and extend to a business-centric mobile platform. With its wireless capabilities and options for third-party add-ons, this platform is a solid foundation that makes a good choice for deployment to business and field sales professionals.
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