NeoPoint 1000 Phone (Sprint)

• Protective flip-cover
• Large display for text messaging and Wireless Web
• Voice command and voice dialing
• 1,000-name phone book
• Single mode, works only in digital service areas; includes lithium-ion battery, charger, wrist strap, data cable, and software

The single-band 1,900 MHz CDMA NeoPoint 1000 weighs in at 6.6 ounces with battery, which is a bit more than average. It has a flip cover that protects the keyboard but leaves the large 1.5-inch-wide-by-2-inch-high display and five navigation buttons exposed. The attractive case measures 5.5 by 2.1 by 1.0 inches (plus a 0.75-inch collapsed antenna). The phone's weight and dimensions may give you a moment's pause: carrying it clearly involves something of a commitment. Fortunately, carrying this phone also means that you may be able to avoid carrying a separate pager and PDA. The phone feels lighter than it looks, and its components fit well and make a sturdy impression.

You scroll through icon menus using a four-position joystick-like key. The other keys are marked M (menu) and B (back), and there are two smart keys that select onscreen prompts, when applicable. The on-off button is on the top of the phone, with volume toggle on the left side. When you flip open the cover, a standard keypad including talk, end, and CLR keys is exposed. You can choose from 10 different ringer tones and melodies, and they can be assigned independently to incoming calls, messages, roaming, voice mail, alarms, and e-mail.

The phone's 1,000-name phone book lets you add up to five numbers, an e-mail address, mailing address, and personal notes for each entry. Fortunately, you can synchronize the NeoPoint 1000 with a PC to transfer contact info, notes, and appointments. The cables and software are included.

The NeoPoint 1000 ably handles all of the Sprint PCS service features including caller ID, call waiting, voice mail notification, e-mail, one-way SMS text messaging, and the wireless Web. The phone also maintains a history of the last 30 calls, including incoming, outgoing, missed, and data calls.

The backlit display makes it much easier to read content than smaller phone displays that show only three or four lines at once. This feature puts the NeoPoint 1000 in the front ranks of the current crop of Internet phones.

The voice command feature, which lets you train the phone to dial phone numbers from the phone book or issue commands, is easy to learn. While voice command is technically a feature of the Sprint PCS network, it is well integrated into the phone's interface. Just point to the menu item or phone number you'd like to voice- activate, tap a couple of keys, and follow the prompts to speak the command twice. To activate a command, you simply press the volume key and wait for a voice prompt. We had no trouble programming it to respond appropriately to "browse the Web," or "call my office."

The NeoPoint 1000 has a phone lock setting and a restricted mode that enables dialing 911 and four programmed numbers only. There is also a feature to erase all personal information held in the phone.

The NeoPoint 1000's lithium-ion battery is rated for a maximum 150 minutes digital talk time and 40 hours digital standby time. In our testing, it ran longer on the talk time test (186 minutes) but died after 32 hours in standby mode.

The NeoPoint 1000 is a relatively large phone you may have to charge often, but in return you'll find a rich load of communications features, including one of the best displays available for wireless Internet access.

--Testing and evaluation by Brown Consulting Associates, edited by Thom Arno

Pros:

• Excellent display, menus, and navigation controls
• Rich functionality for storing contact info
• Attractive, attention-getting case

Cons:

• Larger and a little heavier than most phones
• No headset jack or vibration mode
• Short battery standby time
• Single mode, only works in digital service areas

How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, as analog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phone on, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and, when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately and continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established a carrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone every few hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out. Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because the phone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, again assuming consistent carrier signal strength.