The HTC Hero / T-Mobile G2 Touch Android smartphone review

T-Mobile G2 Touch:
Physical Aspects:
The HTC Hero is a rather striking handset, currently available in either white or graphite color schemes in the UK, with a characteristic ‘kink’ in its body, giving it a distinctive chin at the bottom. In the UK, the color you get depends on the network you choose. Orange UK are exclusively offering the graphite version, whereas T-Mobile UK are offering the white/silver version that we have, but are calling it the ‘G2 Touch’.

Being the white version, our handset has the matte white finish that is coated with Teflon to help keep it clean. However, ours had pink marks on it straight out of the box, and ones at the HTC release event were tarnished as well, so it clearly doesn’t make the phone dirt-proof, just dirt resistant. The graphite version doesn’t have this coating, but due to the back and bottom area being black, it doesn’t actually need it. One curious side-effect of the finish on our white device is that the phone feels as if it’s made of a ceramic material.

The Hero is, by today’s touchscreen handset standards, a pretty average-sized phone, and measures in at 112mm x 56.2mm x 14.35mm (4.41in x 2.21in x 0.57in). It appears slimmer than it actually is, due to heavily sloped edges that also make it feel nicer in the hand. It’s not exactly a lightweight, at 135g (4.76oz), but it feels quite robust. The first thing you’ll notice about the HTC Hero, aside from the chin, is its 3.2″ capacitive touchscreen display that has a HVGA resolution (320 x 480 pixels). Bright sunlight legibility is pretty average with this display. Above the display is the earpiece grille, which has an ambient light sensor on one side and a notification LED on the other.

The are only six hardware buttons on the device, not including the clickable trackball or the volume rocker. The call send, home, menu, and call end buttons are all lined-up below the display on the silver fascia of the phone. The search key and back key are both contained within one larger button that resides on the chin of the phone, next to the trackball. The trackball itself is located dead centre in the chin and has the ability to illuminate for notifications, usually unleashing a barrage of flashes for a new message or incoming call.

The rear of the Hero features the lens for the device’s 5 megapixel autofocus camera, although it’s still missing any sort of flash, which is a shame. The rear is otherwise pretty spartan, with only a couple of holes for the loudspeaker and the lanyard fixing. At the bottom of the handset is HTC’s ExtUSB/mini-USB port for charging and data, plus a microphone pinhole. Atop the device is just the 3.5mm headphone port and a small slit for removing the rear cover with a fingernail. The rear cover will need to be removed for access to the microSDHC slot that is hidden beneath. The left side of the phone features a large volume rocker that is pretty much flush with the side of the phone, and the right side is completely bare.

Maximizer Mobile CRM Now Available for HTC Google G1 Smartphone

Maximizer Software Inc. (TSX: MAX), a leading provider of simple, accessible customer relationship management (CRM) solutions, again widened its applicability across smartphone platforms today by announcing that its mobile CRM solution is now available for the HTC Google G1 smartphone. The touch-screen Google G1, which debuted in late Q3 2008 with T-Mobile, is powered by Google’s Android, the first ever open source mobile device platform and operating system. Maximizer Mobile CRM supports the largest number of smartphones in the industry, including BlackBerry?, Windows Mobile?, Palm and iPhone(TM), as well as Nokia and many other handsets powered by the Symbian operating system.

By accessing Maximizer Mobile CRM through a wireless web browser, sales and service professionals who use the HTC Google G1 may now view and update critical customer, sales and service information in real-time, directly from the smartphone to the corporate CRM system. Maximizer’s wireless application enables on-the-go management of customers, leads, sales opportunities, service cases and document repositories.

“Maximizer’s support of the Google G1 smartphone highlights our commitment to making our mobile CRM solutions compatible with all the latest smartphones in this diverse and growing market,” said William Anderson, executive vice president of technology, Maximizer Software. “This gives our existing and potential customers more choices, as small to medium-sized businesses rapidly move towards mobilizing their organizations. Google’s Android platform is an exciting addition to the mobile market and we take pride in being the first CRM solution to support it.”

Availability & Pricing

In addition to its availability for the Google G1 smartphone, Maximizer Mobile CRM is available for BlackBerry?, Windows Mobile?, iPhone(TM), Palm, and Symbian-supported smartphones. Please call 1-800-804-6299 or visit http://www.maximizer.com/mobileCRM for further information and demos.

About Maximizer Software

Maximizer Software is a leading provider of simple, accessible, customer relationship management (CRM) solutions, providing the best value for small and medium-sized businesses. As a pioneer in the CRM industry for more than 20 years, Maximizer offers sales, marketing, and customer service staff and managers access to customer information through mobile devices, online, or the desktop. Maximizer’s solutions enable organizations to accelerate business growth by streamlining sales, marketing and customer service processes, while exceeding client expectations. Maximizer Software has sold over one million licenses to more than 120,000 customers, ranging in size from entrepreneurs to multi-national organizations, including: Siemens, Societe Generale, HSBC, TD Securities, Lockheed Martin, Brian Tracy International, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Oxford University Press, and Cathay Pacific. Maximizer Software is a global business with offices and over 400 business partners throughout the Americas, Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit: www.maximizer.com.

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements reflecting Maximizer Software Inc.’s current expectations. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, changes in market and competition, technological and competitive developments, and potential downturns in economic conditions generally. Additional information on these and other potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results are detailed in documents filed from time to time with the provincial securities commissions in Canada. All trademarks or registered trademarks stated herein are properties of their respective owners.