45 replies to this topic

[PaulOBrien]

Back in January I unboxed the teeny-tiny BenQ E72 Smartphone. Packing half decent specs...

• Windows Mobile 6 standard
  
• TI OMAP1030 260 MHz CPU
  
• Quad Band 850/900/1800/1900MHz
  
• 2" QVGA screen
  
• 2.0MP Camera
  
• 128MB ROM / 64MB RAM
  
• microSD expansion
  
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
  
• WiFi with optional UMA support
  
• 108mm x 46.3mm x 13.8mm (it's small!)
  
• 88g
  

...the E72 is a pretty smart little device in a world largely devoid of Smartphones. The E72 is particularly interesting as eXpansys are now offering it at a bargain £99.99 [aff], and that's before the £10 MoDaCo voucher discount!

I don't have mine any more, but I do like to have a Smartphone around as a backup device, or when I need a device that is super-small to take to the pub. Anyone else have one of these babies?

P

[Alex (nedge2k)]

hmmm...might be a nice replacement for the missus' strtrk

[WearTheFoxHat]

I'm tempted at that price to get one for "what the hell".

Ordered !  
Looks a nice wee phone.  Might serve to replace my work handset, and at least then I can sync it with lotus notes! :S

[mo_sjo]

I wonder if this would prove a good replacement for my Vox (slightly worse-for-wear now) as I don't use the keyboard on it?

Shame they only do it in red!!

It looks a bit slow in the video Paul - would you say it was comparable to the Vox? I think it has a slightly faster processor than the Vox.

[PaulOBrien]

Screen is a LOT smaller than the Vox, 2" v 2.6"!

P

[mmbecks7]

Have u tried Skype on this? I wonder if it's able to run it smoothly and whether it's got the speaker problem as other windows mobile devices?

[bluesmudge]

Mine arrived this morning!

Few points to note -  

fancy day night background ... not on the one that comes from expansys.  neither is the skype app or skype voucher . .  not that i brought it for either of those things, but i know some of you might be! I guess the ebay item paul brought was a different bundle.

Good little phone -  I wanted to downsize my MDA to something small, with potential of complex function, but not a compromise between PDA and phone. This is my first candy bar smartphone since my C550 approx 2 years ago. The better battery, thin and light design  make this a smartphone you could really live with  .. .  and the wifi is a nice touch.

To think I almost brought a thin nokia!

[WearTheFoxHat]

Mine arrived this morning .... some things are a great spec, others are a bit lacking.

Micros SD card slot ... but only up to 2GB
Wifi - Excellent
Bluetooth - Excellent
2MP Camera - Actually not too bad, id say probably better than that on the TyTN II

However it only has GPRS and EDGE at times ... it doesn't have 3G and certainly doesn't have HSDPA.

I was planning on using it as a pub phone, and putting my T-Mobile sim in there, and letting hosted exchange sync my calendar and contacts on there.  But after using it for a while, I think I might use it as a replacement for my work handset, and let try to get it synchronising with Lotus Notes via USB ... so I've got a copy of fairly recent emails and calendar when Im out and about.

[17-APG]

WearTheFoxHat, on Sep 6 2008, 21:23, said:

Mine arrived this morning .... some things are a great spec, others are a bit lacking.

Micros SD card slot ... but only up to 2GB
Wifi - Excellent
Bluetooth - Excellent
2MP Camera - Actually not too bad, id say probably better than that on the TyTN II

However it only has GPRS and EDGE at times ... it doesn't have 3G and certainly doesn't have HSDPA.

I was planning on using it as a pub phone, and putting my T-Mobile sim in there, and letting hosted exchange sync my calendar and contacts on there.  But after using it for a while, I think I might use it as a replacement for my work handset, and let try to get it synchronising with Lotus Notes via USB ... so I've got a copy of fairly recent emails and calendar when Im out and about.

After unlovking use this file to allow you to use 8gb sdhc cards....

Attached Files

•  SDHC.777.cab   66.05K   90 downloads

[DarkWanderer]

17-APG, on Sep 7 2008, 09:58, said:

After unlovking use this file to allow you to use 8gb sdhc cards....

Will this cab work on other phones too?  I'm thinking in particular my Qtek 8500?

[PaulOBrien]

Er, it's only a 2G handset...

P

[WearTheFoxHat]

Paul (MVP), on Sep 7 2008, 12:56, said:

Er, it's only a 2G handset...

P

You know me ... blindly go out and purchase stuff !

I think it's a great handset tho.  Although I've managed to crash it quite a few times now!  I've made it my works handset now, and just have to get it syncing with my Lotus Notes (urrrrgh!) !

[Mautana]

Press more in start menu?

[rekall]

Anyone know if we can get hold of the homescreen which looks very cool?

[17-APG]

Paul (MVP), on Sep 4 2008, 16:58, said:

Back in January I unboxed the teeny-tiny BenQ E72 Smartphone. Packing half decent specs...

• Windows Mobile 6 standard
  
• TI OMAP1030 260 MHz CPU
  
• Quad Band 850/900/1800/1900MHz
  
• 2" QVGA screen
  
• 2.0MP Camera
  
• 128MB ROM / 64MB RAM
  
• microSD expansion
  
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
  
• WiFi with optional UMA support
  
• 108mm x 46.3mm x 13.8mm (it's small!)
  
• 88g

...the E72 is a pretty smart little device in a world largely devoid of Smartphones. The E72 is particularly interesting as eXpansys are now offering it at a bargain £99.99 [aff], and that's before the £10 MoDaCo voucher discount!

I don't have mine any more, but I do like to have a Smartphone around as a backup device, or when I need a device that is super-small to take to the pub. Anyone else have one of these babies?

P

PAul, Got one last week and it is really a great phone.In fact, I would rather have it than my HTC S730. It may not have the same quality of finish but ut us very decent and the unit works well.

Should we have a dedicated listing now for BenQ? Seems a good number of people are buying these now....

Arthur.

[17-APG]

mmbecks7, on Sep 6 2008, 02:31, said:

Have u tried Skype on this? I wonder if it's able to run it smoothly and whether it's got the speaker problem as other windows mobile devices?

Skype works prefectly on it through the wi fi connection that I used. Skype is not already on the device so will have to be downloaded from their site. It still outputs to the rear speaker though; is the same on my HTC S730. Seems like thats the way the way in which the Skype software works.

[17-APG]

mo_sjo, on Sep 5 2008, 14:10, said:

I wonder if this would prove a good replacement for my Vox (slightly worse-for-wear now) as I don't use the keyboard on it?

Shame they only do it in red!!

It looks a bit slow in the video Paul - would you say it was comparable to the Vox? I think it has a slightly faster processor than the Vox.

I have definitely replaced my HTC S730 with the E72; the former now going up for sale on ebay!!!!

[WearTheFoxHat]

I think it's a great phone.  I've got it setup as my works phone but have my calendar, tasks and contacts syncing from my personal hosted exchange.  That means I can keep all my contacts in one place ... and if I dont want to carry two phones, I can forward works calls to personal handset and still see whose calling me!

Now if there was a simple way to copy/sync the works calendar from Lotus Notes too. :S

[mo_sjo]

17-APG, on Sep 10 2008, 09:52, said:

I have definitely replaced my HTC S730 with the E72; the former now going up for sale on ebay!!!!

What's the performance like compared to the 730? I'm judging that the 730 is quicker than the 710 (Vox) which I am looking to replace!

[leon100]

Hi to all - my first post on this forum.

I've been a WinMobile user for a number of years. I currently have an HTC Tytn II but was looking for a small WinMobile smartphone for leisure use. The Benq E72 seemed to fit the bill and I ordered one today from Expansys.

In repsonse to my question whether the E72 was locked to any particular network, the guy I spoke to at Expansys said that it could be used on any UK network. This implied to me that the E72 is not locked to any network. However better to get an opinion from actual users than a salesperson.

One question is whether the E72s currently being sold by Expansys are actually locked to any networks or not and whether I can use my (Maltese) sim. Also, what type of locking (network and/or applications installations) may the E72 have?

In any case I have downloaded E72_Unlock.cab and Unlock[1].Disable.cab, but what type of locking do these remove?

Thanks in anticipation for the replies.