Single-hand control? It depends...

This is the first time I use a communicator with the 5.0 version of Windows Mobile. I was most curious about the single-hand control, which was said to had been significantly improved. Unfortunately, I got disappointed. If closed and based on the original settings, Qtek 9100 is practically unmanageable without a stylus.

Nevertheless, a minor modification was enough so that things got in a perfect order: I changed the functions that were assigned to the keys above the display. I set the left one to open the Start menu and the right one to confirm settings or close the application. This change was enough to make the single-hand control option in Qtek comparable to the one of Palm Treo. What a pity that Qtek 9100 does not permit customization for the software keys below the display too. If it did, I would not have had to grope above the display every time I wanted to use the Start menu or the OK/Close function. Stylus is not necessary, unless you need to write something.

Data communication: Wi-Fi!

Qtek 9100 does not support 3G networks, in spite of the fact that the HTC manufacturer has already implemented this technology. Data communication in mobile networks is supported by GPRS and EDGE - both of Class 10, but once a connection is established, Qtek 9100 does not show which one of the two options is being used. The setup is very simple. You need to only enter the address of the access point.

Qtek 9100 is delivered together with two CDs. The second one contains one program only: Spb GPRS Monitor. Windows Mobile OS does not offer this function by default. The latter monitors transferred data as well as connection expenses. Once it ha been installed the button that closes the GPRS/EDGE connection disappears. Press and hold the red button instead.

The Wi-Fi support seems to be much more interesting. According to manufacturer's official specifications it features IEEE 802.11b/g compatibility standards. According to rating and opinions from all over the world, however, there is only one communicator that supports the fastest "g" and this is i-mate. All other models work at the slower "b" standard.

Establishing a connection through home access point was effortless, indeed. I had to only enter the WEP key and I appeared online almost immediately. What surprised me, though, was the low sensitivity level of the receiver (according to the indicator of the built-in program). In spite of the fact that I was staying no further than two meters from the transmitter, where the notebook was indicating a full signal, the communicator was displaying a signal between 1/3 and ½ of its full capacity.