BenQ's E72 is an interesting Windows Mobile device. It has unashamedly consumer-friendly looks and packs some consumer-friendly software too. Yet it runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard edition, an operating system more usually found in business oriented smartphones.

This quad-band GSM phone is light at just 90g and has a rather stylish look. Its mostly black fascia is trimmed with red, it has nicely curved edges and the screen has a mirrored finish. If you just glanced at it in passing you'd probably think it was a mid-range, fairly averagely featured handset.

However, checking off the features list, in addition to Windows Mobile we have Wi-Fi which is rare enough in a mid-range handset to cause a raised eyebrow or two. BenQ has also decided to include some handy software in the shape of Mundu. This is a unified Instant Messaging client which works with MSN Messenger, Gtalk, Yahoo, ICQ, AOL and Jabber.

There is more in the way of consumer software to be had, too. A ringtone editor will amuse some, though what you think is a great tone could well annoy others who have to listen to it! A set of tools for travellers gives you access to multiple alarms, a world clock, a to-do list manager, currency conversion and a handy weather forecast checker.

The Today screen has a set of shortcuts to your often used applications, a profiles setting and a shortcut to the Wi-Fi.

The main problem with this phone is its screen. This is very small considering that the E72 is a smartphone. At just 2 inches across diagonal corners its small size makes some of the feats it can accomplish in theory rather less than satisfactory in practice.

One example is Web browsing. With the Wi-Fi on board you can do this freely over your wireless connection, which is a great lure. But it isn't always easy to view Web pages on the small screen.

Battery life is a little on the short side too. You'll probably need to think in the realms of a daily recharge if you want to use this phone's capabilities to the full on a regular basis. And then there is the issue of slow running. We found that at times we had to wait for the phone to respond to key presses. This could become rather irritating in everyday use.

Verdict
The E72 is a superb little handset that offers a decent mix of business and consumer features. Apple fans will baulk at the miniature keyboard and the lack of a touch-sensitive display, but the E72 is far smaller than the iPhone and boasts far better battery life. If you're already an E71 owner, however, the relatively small number of improvements mean you might be best off waiting for the E72's successor, though exactly when that will arrive is anyone's guess.

Company: Nokia

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