This article is from Brighthand :

Oooh!  I gotta get one of those.

 The hardware looks excellent, but I wasn't that impressed by the Pharos GPS software.

Dave Parker MVP:

 The hardware looks excellent, but I wasn't that impressed by the Pharos GPS software.

I probably have too romantic a view of Pharos, since it was my first Pocket PC GPS software- I bought one of their early CF GPS cards for my Dell Axim X5 back in 2002 or 2003 which included their 3.0 software and it served me well for years.  It had some nice touches geared toward ease-of-use in a driving environment, like single finger gesturing- swiping the screen diagonally in one direction zoomed out, the other zoomed in- (four years pre-iPhone pinching and spreading!)

As they've "improved" the software over the years, it's actually gotten worse!  It's less intuitive now, and fairly sluggish, even on fast devices, but their customer support was always responsive and good, and they've tried some interesting ideas over the years- like subscription-based POI and traffic information, so you could have maps preloaded on the device, but up-to-date POI/traffic data via cellular data, using very little data for those on limited data plans.

The way I see it, US-based customers (the primary target for this device) will likely have unlimited plans, and can use server-based solutions like Windows Live Search or Google Maps for Mobile as a primary nav solution, and can use the Pharos software as an "emergency backup" when out of cellular range. 

Are there better device-installed mapping solutions than Pharos?  Sure- but the Pharos software is essentially "free" with the device (the $600 price tag seems consistant with other unlocked, unbranded, devices of that caliber, so it's not like customers are paying any significant premium for the included Pharos software.)

The inclusion of both T-Mobile and AT&T-compatible 3G makes this a potential candidate as my next device, but my current AT&T Tilt still doesn't have enough "mileage" on it to abandon just yet!  I'll hang tight and see if a WM6.5 update is forthcoming for the device.  Pharos-branded devices don't have a great track record in the OS update department.  I don't think any of their WinMo phone/GPS devices have ever seen an upgrade, and the long delay between the announcement and release of this device doesn't exactly bode well for that scenario either.  However, to paraphase a crude saying, I wouldn't kick this device out of bed if if I found it there... 

Matt Miller has now posted his review of the Pharos Traveler 137, and on the whole he seems to like it quite a bit. He notes that the default interface is Spb Mobile Shell 3, which he praises. He also calls out the T-Mobile 3G compatibility, which is a first for a Windows Mobile device here in the US. An excerpt:

"I had very few expectations regarding the device because I only saw it in photos on the Internet. I was impressed by the size of the display and the feel in my hand when I first took it out. It feels much like a Samsung OMNIA or Instinct with a longer body and reasonable width. The display is also completely flush with the entire front of the device so it blends in nicely to the glossy front. The Pharos Traveler 137 has a 3.5 inch 480×800 pixels resolution display and has dimensions very similar to the iPhone. The entire back casing has the soft touch material on it and feels great in your hand."

Check out Matt's full review, which also comes with video and a photo gallery.

 Could it be? A worthy opponet to those omnia phones? 

Thanks for the feedback on the Pharos 137. I was trying to decide between it and the a couple of the HTC options. I'm in line to get one and try on our new Buzzirk Mobile powered by Zer01 network. Think I'm going to test the Pharos 137 first though. I've been told we will be able to use the live video conferencing part of the phone on our carrier network. I'll keep you all updated

Welcome to The Connection, Liz - it will be interesting to hear your experience with live video conferencing.

Liz Acar:

Thanks for the feedback on the Pharos 137. I was trying to decide between it and the a couple of the HTC options. I'm in line to get one and try on our new Buzzirk Mobile powered by Zer01 network. Think I'm going to test the Pharos 137 first though. I've been told we will be able to use the live video conferencing part of the phone on our carrier network. I'll keep you all updated

Liz, do you have any confirmation whose network you'll be using yet?  (Or even when the service will actually launch?)  The coverage maps on the Zer01 website seem to indicate you're using AT&T, but an interview I read with the CIO of Pervasip, the VoIP company providing the voice backbone for Zer01, hinted it might be T-Mobile, (but that actually makes very little sense because the Pharos is the only phone Buzzirk offers with T-Mo's 3G frequency- the rest of the line use AT&T's frequency and would run at very slow data rates on T-Mobile's network.)

Todd, great questions. We're slowing getting more Info and details. No concrete information on the networks - I've heard similar to what you have heard. I will keep you up to date as I learn more. "Public launch" looking like mid to late August. Several of us should be testing the network within the next week, possibly the next day or two. We want to try the Pharos 137 and a couple of HTC models to see how they are operating on the network.

Liz Acar:

Todd, great questions. We're slowing getting more Info and details. No concrete information on the networks - I've heard similar to what you have heard. I will keep you up to date as I learn more. "Public launch" looking like mid to late August. Several of us should be testing the network within the next week, possibly the next day or two. We want to try the Pharos 137 and a couple of HTC models to see how they are operating on the network.

Actually those aren't really "great questions" as much as they are "obvious questions" I'd want answered before becoming a rep of any new wireless company.  No offense, but what were you guys told about this product and service when you signed up?   All I know about it is that it's GSM, uses VoIP for voice calls (ugh!  I've tried virtually every VoIP software package available on the Windows Mobile platform, and none of them offer consistant voice quality to replace traditional cellular calls) and offers unlimited service for $80/month.  It's a cliche to say this, but my first impulse is to tell you "don't quit your day job..."  

 The problem I've always had with VOIP on a Mobile is that the GSM data (GPRS & EDGE) is not fast enough to maintain decent call quality and UMTS data (3G & HSDPA etc) coverage isn't consistent enough for voice.

Hey Todd, agree with you about people not quitting the day job! I still have way more questions than answers at this point. I'm still very skeptical that it will be able to deliver what it says it does, however, a couple of my wireless and tech buddies and I are intrigued enough to try the service. Expectations are low about it at this point. I'm with Dave about mobile VOIP. Kind of hoping they actually have something figured out that's actually working well. Guess we'll have a better idea in the next few weeks. Until then, still skeptical, but interested in seeing what unfolds. 

Liz Acar:

I've been told we will be able to use the live video conferencing part of the phone on our carrier network. I'll keep you all updated

Now! This is interesting news!! What Carrier? AT&T or T-Mo? My guess would be AT&T...

yrless:

Liz Acar:

I've been told we will be able to use the live video conferencing part of the phone on our carrier network. I'll keep you all updated

Now! This is interesting news!! What Carrier? AT&T or T-Mo? My guess would be AT&T...