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.
INTRODUCTION
The Spb Phone Suite version 1.0 includes the following features:
WHAT’S HOT
- Calendar event triggered sound profiles
- Call reject with SMS message
- Call filtering
- Photo speed dial
- Photos in call log
The Spb Phone Suite version 1.0 can be installed using a Windows based installer (ActiveSync and the
SETUP
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.
The Spb Phone Suite version 1.0 provides direct access to key phone functionality via a Today Screen plug in which is highly customizable.
PRODUCT FEATURES
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).
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Spb provides excellent support via their web site. Since I was using a pre-release version I did not have access to a manual, although the application is very intuitive. The application requires 2484Kb of storage memory and runs on Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC Phone Edition and Windows Mobile 6 Professional. I had no issues running the pre-release version of Spb Phone Suite. My major concern is with application size. My wishes fall into two categories. The first is an overall wish for Spb Software House products. I run and love Spb Shell, however installing Spb Phone Suite with Spb Mobile Shell in storage memory is almost impossible on my T-Mobile MDA without a major reorganization. Spb Shell has a "lite" version Spb Phone Suite and Spb Weather, it would be nice from a storage management perspective to be able to selectively remove and replace the lite versions with the full version during installation. The second category are feature I would like to see added to Spb Phone Suite. This program costs $19.95 but is available with a $5 discount until 24 May 2007. Click here for a trial or to buy In the long list of Spb Software House innovative applications which help us towards realizing the full potential of Windows Mobile, Spb Phone Suite is a great addition. It provide a great dashboard of messaging information with the ability to automatically control sound profiles. It offers a great list of options to customize the Today Screen plug in look and operation. If you want mobile messaging status at a glance, would like the ability to automatically accept or reject incoming calls, and often forget to set your phone to vibrate during meetings, then this is the application for you. I would, however like to see better and more complete integration with Spb Mobile Shell in the next version.
HELP SUPPORT
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
BUGS AND WISHES
PURCHASING
.
PROS
Great one-handed usability
Very flexible configuration options
Automatic sound profile selection
CONS
No automatic SMS reply
Large memory footprint
No tight integration with Spb Mobile Shell
Value
Ease
of Use
Features
Overall
OVERALL IMPRESSION
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