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Handling The Call (1/2)
Spb Software House Phone Suite v1.0
INTRODUCTION
As with many of the core applications shipped with Windows Mobile, the Phone application only provides a basic set of functions. The power of Windows Mobile lies in the Application Programming Interface (API) which allows third party developers to innovate. To date the developers have addressed the different short comings of the default Phone application with separate applications for picture dialing, call filtering, ring tone selection, selectable sound profile, etc. In a follow on to its successful Pocket Plus application, which addresses some missing Windows Mobile core features, Spb Software House has just released the Spb Phone Suite version 1.0. Let's see how well it handles the call!
WHAT'S HOT
The Spb Phone Suite version 1.0 includes the following features:
- Calendar event triggered sound profiles
- Call reject with SMS message
- Call filtering
- Photo speed dial
- Photos in call log
SETUP
The Spb Phone Suite version 1.0 can be installed using a Windows based installer (ActiveSync and the Windows Vista Mobile Device Center) or a .cab file directly onto a Windows Mobile device.
The Spb Phone Suite version 1.0 Windows installer running on Vista.
The Spb Phone Suite's Windows Mobile 5.0 installer. the Spb Phone Suite version 1.0 application is a large program requiring 2484Kb of precious storage memory.
PRODUCT FEATURES
The Spb Phone Suite version 1.0 provides direct access to key phone functionality via a Today Screen plug in which is highly customizable.
The Spb Phone Suite Today Screen plug in provides up to 3 rows of configurable display. In the default setup shown above (red box), the top row provides access to the settings and displays the cell phone carrier. The middle row provides icons for direct access to the call log, messaging application, wireless power management, and sound profile management. The number of missed calls and unread messages can also be displayed. The bottom row provides access to the photo speed dial feature.
The Spb Phone Suite options provide a wide array of customizable feature which are well organized.
The Call Filtering feature provides the ability to reject or accept calls based on a user's black or white phone number list.
The sound profile settings provides a list of customizable profiles.
A very useful feature in the profiles are the Time-based (left) and Meeting (right) options. They provide a means of automatically enabling a profile based on a schedule or an appointment item in your calendar.
The Phone Notification settings can be used to continuously notify with sound and/or vibration of a missed call and/or SMS in 1, 5, 15, and 30 minute increments. This feature might get annoying for some, however it is easy to turn off.
The Dialer Extensions options provides for the photos in the call log as well as the ability to reject calls with an SMS reply. The SMS reply text is chosen from a pre-defined list of My Text which can be edited. Note to Windows Mobile development team; since many products use the My Text concept for SMS, it would be nice to have a central My Text repository.
The Photo Speed Dial feature can contain up to 14 contacts. If a contact does have an associated photograph, you can choose an avatar.
The Today Screen plug in appearance is highly customizable. In addition to a choice of large or small icons, you can choose which icons you want displayed. As well as their associated counts.
As a version 1.0 product Spb Phone Suite addresses most of the message notification issues associated with Windows Mobile, as well as adds a nice set of features missing the basic phone application. It works well with other Spb Software House applications like Spb Pocket Plus (reviewed here) and Spb Mobile Shell (reviewed here).
