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The device comes with Wireless Manager to start all the bundled wireless features as shown on the following images:

The device also comes with WLAN Manager, you access it from settings menu. And you can easily manage Internet and network connections.

I went to Musalla Towers WiFi Computer Zone to try out WiFi Internet connection there. Thanks to Microsoft’s zero configurations making this connection so easy.

You can configure the device's power save mode so you can utilize WiFi for longer connection use. You can select Best Performance when highest WLAN throughput is required or in case the network configurations doesn't support these modes. On the other hand, Best Battery mode reduces the WLAN data throughput.

The following screen shots to show how I got connected after I logged in using a given code, then I accessed a new page to set username and password so whenever I visit this Shopping Mall I just use my personal log-in details. This is a new Shopping Mall and they will offer free connections or at a very reasonable price for a full day Internet access as I was told.

Thanks to Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition you can use a landscape mode to brows Internet pages which made surfing more enjoyably than ever.

I have made and received phone calls during this WiFi internet connection with no interference or any hassle at all. I was talking on the phone and surfing the net in the same time:

I have tried to turn ON and use all wireless features at the same time: Bluetooth, WiFi and GSM

I am impressed with the bundled wireless capabilities in i-Mate PDA2K I can say this device is truly a wireless wonder. Following screenshots to show random web pages and how Arabic text can be viewed on this device in full screen mode:

The Bluetooth implementation on the PDA2K had improved compared to the previous i-Mate. It is the best I have ever seen on a Pocket PC Phone yet. The Bluetooth Manager supports the following functions:

I have used in this test MICRODIA Airoblue Headset G8. Pairing i-Mate PDA2K this headset went so smoothly. Once you pair them together i-Mate PDA2K connects to it whenever it is in range.

The color of this headset matches perfectly i-Mate PDA2K it gives an impression that they both came in the same package.

Update 31-Oct-04: There is a common Bluetooth problem when using this device with a Bluetooth headset. I didn’t experience this problem with my PDA2K combined with this type of BT Headset I am using. But it is worth to mention it though because this is wildly discussed on our forums. I would like to quote the following from Denis – PPCD Editor – he explains it as follows:

In addition to this, you cannot listen to music or output standard audio from i-Mate PDA2K to your Bluetooth Headset so you cannot use Microsoft Voice Command in conjunction with a Bluetooth headset. Currently it only supports phone calls but Carrier Devices may upgrade the Bluetooth Stack to have those features enabled in the future.

Update 11-Nov-04: Carrier Devices made available today part 1 of the highly anticipated Bluetooth patch for i-mate Pocket PC PDA2k in Club i-Mate (available to members only).

This is a two-part patch:

"i-mate is aware of the problems being experienced with the i-mate™ PDA2k Bluetooth. We are delivering a complete fix in two stages. The first patch increases the scan time of the i-mate™ PDA2k when searching for other nearby Bluetooth devices, thus improving other devices detectability. It should be used by customers regularly bonding with other distant devices. If the required devices are not identified after this extended period, pressing the scan again button will repeat the search. The second part of the fix will be released shortly and will improve the signal quality when using audio headsets."

Download the Bluetooth patch HERE.

Update 14-Nov-04: The Bluetooth patch was tested by Denis using Motorola HS820, Motorola HS810, Jabra 250 and ABH-204 and Sony Ericsson HBH-300 Headsets. His observations are as follows: At first, after soft reset, as soon as PDA2k went to sleeping mode, I lost the connection. No way to reconnect (didn't find by the way the 'scan again' button i-mate mentions). I then sof-reseted the device and re-installed the patch - this time not from the memory card as I did before but directly from the PDA. Result: The signal strength in Bluetooth Manager > Status ('right click' on the device icon) shows 'Just right'... but no sound goes to the handset (incoming / outgoing calls) once the device goes to sleep-mode for more than a minute. I made this test with a Motorola HS820 headset which works perfectly with SE Z1010 or i-mate SP3. So I made the same tests with a Motorola HS810 headset. It worked much better, except that it doesn't always pick up incoming calls. So I tried the new Bluetooth patch with two more headsets: a Jabra 250 and a 'no-name' ABH-204. So, how did it go? Well, same as with Motorola HS820: connects well until the device goes to sleep. To be re-connected, you need to turn-off Bluetooth, then turn it on again (no need to do the same on the headset side). Possible if you make an outgoing call. But problematic for incomings calls! Until now, only the Motorola HS810 works fine with the PDA2k. To be 100% sure, I tried with a last headset (Sony Ericsson HBH-300 - great device!). Same as with the others.

Anoops S Nair, from Carrier Devices, answered the Email I sent i-mate yesterday. Here is the answer I got: "Thank you for your query. There are some known issues for the compatibility between the Bluetooth connectivity and the i-mate PDA2K, our technical engineers are working towards fixing this issue. We have a patch available for the i-mate™ PDA2k that improves Bluetooth performance.

http://www.clubimate.com/index.asp?PageAction=PDA2K

We are delivering a complete fix in two stages. The first patch increases the scan time of the i-mate™ PDA2k when searching for other nearby Bluetooth devices, thus improving other devices detect ability. It should be used by customers regularly bonding with other distant devices. If the required devices are not identified after this extended period, pressing the scan again button will repeat the search. The fix is a cab file and the download page includes instructions on how to apply the cab file.

The second part of the fix will be released shortly and will improve the signal quality when using audio headsets. It should be available in two weeks time.

Moreover I will pass on the issue faced by you to our technical team so that they fix the issues at the earliest."

It looks to me like a standard answer, with a link to the existing patch! The only interesting information we've got is that the 2nd patch will be available in two weeks! In any case, it doesn't sound like the issues I described here will be addressed.

Let's wait and see!

Update June 16, 2005: This Bluetooth problem is solved with the PDA2K ROM update version 1.40.00 WWE, you will find further discussion here

I have connected i-Mate and i-Mate PDA2K together to exchange business cards and transfer some files.

I tried ActiveSync via Bluetooth, established an internet dialup connection and exchanged some files, all worked successfully. For guidelines on how to setup an ActiveSync Bluetooth connection click here

In addition, you can pair your device with your cell phone to send files and also ringtones. Just like the old i-Mate, you can also use i-Mate PDA2K as a modem to connect a laptop to GPRS via i-Mate PDA2K.

Having phone features integrated into Windows Mobile made operating both the Pocket PC and the Phone lots of fun. Just like in the older i-Mate, after a hard-reset i-Mate PDA2K prompts for localizing settings, you can select one of the service providers listed, such as Etisalat. The device will start customizing GSM, GPRS, MMS, SMS, ISP settings automatically according to the selected service provider, and then it will install Arabic features and programs. It is worth to mention though that this devices in not locked to any network in the Gulf region or Middle East but it comes with localized settings. These settings can be downloaded from Club i-Mate or manually configured.

Making a phone call can be done from the dialer, contacts, speed dial, call history, SIM manager and from the keyboard. You can answer a call by pressing the answer hardware button, or can be rejected by the reject (end) hardware button, a busy tone will be sent out. When another incoming call is received the device will notify you, if you accept you can setup conference call, you can choose to swap backwards and forwards between two callers by pressing swap on the dialer as shown below:

I appreciate the added features in any Phone Edition device which is the ability to take notes during a call, and after you finish it can be saved as an attachment to the call. Also, the phone keypad can be locked this is a helpful feature to prevent accidental key press. I was listening to MP3 and multitasking with no problems at all, there were no missing frames the sound quality was really good, except that while you are listening to a song or watching video with Windows Media Player 9 if you received a call during that i-mate will pause WMP, and when you are finished with the phone call, it will not activate until you go to WMP and select play in order to prevent the loud speaker from harming your hearing. The signal quality of this phone as good as the previous i-Mate Pocket PC Phone.

The device has a speaker phone mode which is an inherent feature in a Phone Edition Device. It can be enabled by holding down the receive button until the speaker comes on, to turn it off you can hold the same button again. The voice quality is also good, there where no noise or echoes it was clear. In addition, you can interchange your SIM card information between i-Mate PDA2K and another device, using SIM manager you can transfer contacts from SIM to contacts and visa versa.

You can add photos to any contact, when the phone rings the photo will be displayed next to the caller number as shown below:

i-Mate PDA2K Review - Page 4

Next on page 5 I will talk about the camera and show some sample images and video. I will also discuss the additional software bundled with this device and at the end a final conclusion.