Hands-on with the T-Mobile Wing

Tue May 22, 2007 12:25AM EDT

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As was widely predicted, the Windows Mobile 6-powered HTC Herald slider will indeed be coming to T-Mobile—in fact, you can snap one up starting today. I had a chance to spend several days with the new Wi-Fi Windows Mobile smartphone—now dubbed the Wing—and while it's certainly crammed with features, it's also hobbled by sluggish performance.  

First, the good stuff. The Wing ($299 with a two-year service agreement) comes packed with an impressive arsenal of smartphone features, including Exchange ActiveSync and Direct Push support for corporate servers, Bluetooth, the mobile versions of Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer, a microSD memory expansion slot (conveniently located on the left spine of the phone), a two-megapixel camera, and a quad-band GSM radio for placing calls on worldwide networks. There's no built-in GPS navigation or 3G (T-Mobile has yet to roll out its own 3G network), but you can get high-speed data over the built-in Wi-Fi receiver—nice for anyone with a wireless home or office network.

The Wing is also one of the first smartphones in the U.S. to ship with Windows Mobile 6, the latest version of Microsoft's mobile OS (the slim T-Mobile Dash just got a Windows Mobile 6 update of its own). That means more editing options in the mobile editions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, tight integration with Windows Live messaging, and—finally—full support for HTML-formatted e-mail messages, which worked like a dream in my tests. Tapping out messages was a piece of cake thanks for the Wing's roomy, slide-out QWERTY keypad.

All well and good—but unfortunately, my review unit of the Wing was slow as molasses. Programs and menus screens often took a few seconds to refresh, and buttons took too long to respond; on some occasions, I kept pressing an on-screen button with the stylus thinking the phone had frozen, only to have menus pop up a few seconds later. Indeed, this is probably the most sluggish smartphone I've tested since the originally shipping version of the Motorola Q, which drove me nuts. The Q was eventually fixed with a software patch, so hopefully one will be forthcoming for the Wing; in the meantime, however, be warned.

Comments on Hands-on with the T-Mobile Wing

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  • 6 Posted by peepinmofo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    Ive never used a phone with a full OS on it. What are the benefits of it?

  • 7 Posted by cadevine642005 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would like to know how much the SKICK3 will cost?It souds also looks great but what's the catch. Is there any hidding charges behind this? I would like to order 1.

  • 8 Posted by brice_angela on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    im tired when u purchased a phone u need 2 sign a 2 year contract that some bull-----

  • 9 Posted by rogerh228 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have had my Wing for about 10 days now. I love this thing. I feel comfortable leaving my laptop at home for the first time. I agree it can be sluggish at times, but it hasn't bothered me too much. I've just learned when to give it a second or two to get past the hic-up. I haven't used the Wi-Fi yet, but on my next trip I'll be sure to snoop out a HotSpot and hook this thing up. Works great with my BMW bluetooth so i can use it hands free in the car. I switched from a 7105 Blackberry and this thing is soo much nicer. I always hated that the lists on that phone were not wrap around... come on! Programming 101 stuff here. I'm not too impressed with the camera, the colors seem way off. Maybe I can play with the settings, haven't tried yet, but if not they are noticeably off. One other gripe is the inability (again I haven't researched this either) to mute the phone but have a list of "exceptions" that cause the phone to ring. I was able to do this easily on my 7105 with profiles, which this phone apparently doesn't have. Overall, I'm happy with the phone. I hated SureType of the blackberry which meant no 8100 Pearl and the 8800 BB felt flimsy and the buttons weren't compatible with my big hands. The full slide out keyboard of this thing is awesome and makes emails, txting, etc. so much easier. I read a review somewhere where someone complained about the weight of the wing. My opinion about that... pffft, stop sitting on the couch all day... it's doesn't feel heavy to me at all.

  • 10 Posted by band_ache on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    Don't waste your time with this, get a T-Mobile Dash instead, which is available now. Even better, wait for the new HTC Cavalier (future Dash replacement) to come out, it's going to blow everything away with a 400mhz processor, 2GB SD, etc. The Sidekicks are too "ghetto". The Dash and Cavalier have "class" with better quality and are more compact.

  • 12 Posted by musiqdavid on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    I just recieved my TMobile wing a couple days ago.... WOW!!!! I love it!!! I previously owned the MDA for year, and upgraded to the wing. The Wireless connection is great, the size is wonderful!!! The smallest full-service data device I've seen yet!!! I loved my MDA, but I am truly in love with this Wing... Two thumbs up!!!

  • 13 Posted by keshia_805 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    I just bought the MDA in March. If I would have known about the Wing I may have waited.

  • 14 Posted by knw18_2003 on Thu May 31, 2007 3:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm a Diva...who's seeking a "Diva phone". This phone is calling my name...how do I go about purchasing this phone? I WANT TO PURCHASE THIS PHONE TODAY! A KISS FROM A TRUE DIVA, Ms. Diva

  • 15 Posted by jenniferkle28 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    i hate it when people complain about contracts if you don't want 2yr then dot sign a 2 yr contract. if you want the wing for 350 its with a one year contract. 2 yrs is to make the price of the phone go down 50 dollars. i've had the wing for about a week now its awesome. i don't use it for much but I'd though it'd be a lot better than the SK3 and i am glad i didn't get the SK since the package add on will be another $20 nonnegotiable add to your bill. with the wing you only need the TZONEs or the HOTSPOT which is $5 to run the internet anytime without charge. its awesome. slow but it's worth it. dont forget the touch screen!! which is so cool!! can sks and dashes do that? I THINK NOT!!! =)

  • 16 Posted by bynnilove on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    Speaking of the MDA, what other differences are there between the Wing and the MDA? Other than the MyFaves & Windows Mobile 6.

  • 17 Posted by k_green5 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have the tmobile MDA WITH myfaves! All in who u know! I won't be paying $300 for something that moves slower than what i already own. What kind of upgrade is that?

  • 18 Posted by scottyhb on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Deborahmuncie- since you obviously have internet access, did you not think checking out the t-mobile website might be a great start to research prices for the "skick3 moblie?" Prices depend on the length of your contract, the style of sidekick (i.e. special editions), and any promotions they may have. I would suggest you try some research before you post any more questions, but it did make me laugh.

  • 19 Posted by soyla_chula on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    can you all not read?! It is slow - what is the amp about having a great phone w/ great windows and doosies and compartments and programs if you cant access them w/ speed? i mean i can work my own computer for all that - whats used to not picking up better broadband - or internet access - i mean sheesh - sprints access is faster!

  • 20 Posted by l_williams07 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    please do NOT spend your money on the sidekick three. i have purchased all of the sidekicks and none of them are worth the money. Of course, this usually could be a malfunctioned phone... ive had 5 of them. i have not dropped it, got water on it.. nothing. also, 4 people in my family have either a 2 or three.. they all have problems... i would highly recommend looking at other providers.. not T Mobile and Not a sidekick.

  • 21 Posted by mateo209 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have a sk3 and i like it a lot. i've had the sk2 also which was also cool. i don't really use the mp3 tho. i haven't had any problems with my sk3 like l_williams07 was saying. i've droppt mine a crap load of times and it's still working fine. just the other day i dropt it and i thot for sure it was broken. the screen froze and then went all messed up. i went to change my SIM card to my sk2, but decided to put it back in the sk3 to see if it would be ok and everything was fine, and i really dropt it without anything breaking it's fall. i was ready to get the sk.id. i'm always using yahoo messenger to talk to my friends and family and its not slow at all.

  • 22 Posted by be_good28 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    bought t-mobile wing from www.ushopwireless.com/AF-CELLAME and got a great price and if you are looking to replace it with sidedkick 3 it is a greate upgrade.

  • 23 Posted by chinwoo_cello_babadada on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    I really want a sidekick but then i want a wing. which one is better? -i have a tmobile razr

  • 24 Posted by josh_u22 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    okay i am thinking getting this phone or the shadow now i know there both windows mobile 6 phones and i know they both have a 200 mhz processor. which is why they are both slow . i did search the net for the htc cavalier and i don't think it's coming to the u.s.a. so which phone do you think is better the wing or the shadow?

  • 25 Posted by isacandme4vr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    I own both mda and wing. I hav 25 mb of free RAM! instructions are on "MoDaCo" website. it'll explain how too. 2 diff ways to free up ur ram. one is really risky the other is risk free. if u can't find the instructions email me at isacandme4vr@yahoo.com good luck. don't mess up or it'll cost u. its deffinitely worth it.

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