Mio has done well for itself in the mobile navigation world recently. While TomTom may make a lot of noise about its products, Mio stealthily increases its share of the market, to the point where, according to one industry analyst, Canalys, in the early part of this year it was the third most popular seller behind Garmin at the top of the tree and TomTom in second place.

The A501 ought to help Mio out in its quest for a higher spot, as it is a mix of Pocket PC and sat-nav device which aims to offer the best of both worlds. However, dig a little into the specifications and you find that it could have been a better device than it is.

The operating system, for example, is Windows Mobile 5.0 rather than the newer Windows Mobile 6. Then there is the communications aspect. The Mio A501 sports a SIM card slot, but it is quad-band GSM with no 3G capability. Wireless LAN comes off badly too, with Bluetooth but no Wi-Fi.

Still, the Mio A501 comes with the MioMap software and European maps on an SD card as part of the deal so your satellite navigation needs at home and abroad are taken care of.

This is a distinctive-looking Pocket PC with a short, squat hardware design whose front fascia is dominated by the 2.7-inch screen. This is small when compared to the screens of many standalone navigation devices, but an average size for a Pocket PC screen.

There is little room beneath the screen for shortcut buttons, though Mio has found space for Call and End buttons and a couple of others. The navigation device, usually a mini joypad or flat pad in Windows Mobile Pocket PCs, is relegated to the left edge of the casing and takes the form of a mini joystick.

There is a 2-megapixel camera lens on the back of the casing complete with LED flash, and you can use this as a torch which could come in handy.

When used as a sat-nav device the Mio Map software performs well. If you have used other sat-nav devices you may find the structure of menus and options a little odd at first, and we certainly think there are more intuitive systems around, but after a while and with a little practice you should be able to get around the software.

The SiRFStar III GPS antenna is standard for mobile devices, and it is reliable at finding and then maintaining your position. The on-screen maps are easy to read and spoken instructions are loud and clear.

Verdict
There are other ways to get sat-nav on a Pocket PC device, and you could go the ‘mix ‘n' match' route and choose your own third party software. But as an all in one solution, the Mio A501 is a good mid-range choice.

Company: Mio

Contact: 0905 464 0010

Tags: tomtom garmin global navigation satellite system pocket pc windows mobile global positioning system united states google