Model:  Qtek 8500

Manufacturer:  HTC

Provider:  Smart Mobile Gadgets

Reviewed By:  Miguel

Review Date:  07/23/06

    In terms of overall design, Windows-powered Smartphones have always been far less appealing than standard cell phones.  Let's be honest here and say that people truly want a device that is thin, light and easy to carry.  That is why there is no doubt that the Motorola RAZR has been one of the most popular cell phones on the market, partly due to their excellent marketing techniques and availability through most major providers.  HTC, the company behind some of the most popular Windows-powered Smartphones and Pocket PC phones, does indeed take note of what people really do crave and have released what is now one of the most popular Smartphones to hit the market since the release of the Motorola MPX200 a few years back.  The Qtek 8500, also known as the HTC Star Trk, Dopod S300 or I-mate Smartflip, is their newest clam shell WM5 phone sporting a "razr thin" form factor and the latest Windows Mobile 5 Operating System.  Let's take a thorough look at what may very well be the last phone branded under Qtek and show you once again just how powerful these phones really are and what they are indeed capable of over standard cell phones.

Update 08/27/06:  Do to a large number of owners who confirm they do experience the missed call issue with the Qtek model, this article has been updated.  I acquired a new 8500 and performed a ROM update that many have said to solve the issue and have thoroughly tested the phone in many areas.  Is it a hardware issue?  Or does a simple ROM update solve this issue and many more?  Read on to find out.  Throughout this article, look for "Update 08/27/206" for new information that I'm sure most will want to read. 

Packaging & Contents

The Qtek 8500 ships in a fairly large but appealing box that includes a AC Adapter, USB sync cable, User manual, Quick start guide, software discs and earbud-style headphones.  For those wondering, the Qtek 8500, at least the one shipped from Smart Mobile Gadgets, does come with a US Adapter.

The Impressive Design

The Qtek 8500 is one impressive device the minute it is taken out of the box.  It sports an all black shell that is extremely light and almost feels like a dummy display phone.  That's how light it really is.  Needless to say, there is no metal here and it is made entirely out of plastic with a rubberized feel to the bottom front of the phone to keep it from slipping off your hands.  The front features a 1.3MP camera, an impressive 128x128 pixel external display and three "music keys" on the front.  Yes, the 8500 is considered a music phone as well.  The rear is fairly uneventful but I do like the feel of the battery cover.  It has small slip resistant groves that are also featured on most of the front shell as well.

The left side features your volume keys and a convenient button that acts as your voice tag/notes key.  On the right side, you'll find your camera button and the only connector the phone does sport.  It is a gold plated proprietary connector used to sync and charge your device, as well as plug in the headphones provided.  One major drawback here is the fact that it is a proprietary connector and not a standard USB mini plug.  What does this mean?  Well, for one, you have to resort to their cables and even their bundled headphones!  You can't even plug in an aftermarket car charger.  This is really the one thing I disliked most about its design.  Rumor has it that they plan on releasing a model with a standard plug, however, that is just a rumor and if it is released, I don't expect to see it anytime soon.  Keep in mind though that in order to keep the device as thin as possible, they had to resort to this option that I'm sure will disappoint many.  With that said, prepare to spend additional money on accessories that support it.

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The device is super thin and rivals the highly popular Motorola RAZR.  Its overall design is very impressive, especially considering it is not just a standard cell phone.

When you open the phone, you're greeted with a quality 240x320 pixel TFT color display.  The keypad slightly resembles the RAZR in design, but I actually do think it is much better in terms of a design standpoint.  It is highly appealing but not too flashy.  Under low light conditions, it is backlit in a somewhat light green color.  I would have preferred a deep blue, but it does make easy use of the keypad, even under complete darkness.

Update 08/27/06:  After receiving a number of these phones, including the Dopod model, I found something interesting regarding the keypad itself.  The Dopod is the Asian version of the HTC Star Trek.  This phone normally comes with Chinese characters on the keypad.  However, note that there are Dopod S300's out there with slightly different keypads.  The model I received did not have the Chinese characters, but did have some odd symbols under each key.  Also, the very first Qtek 8500 I received also had some unfamiliar symbols on the keypad, but not on all the keys.  This last model I received for testing has only numbers and letters with no symbols under them.  I found this quite interesting and something most should note.  Apparently, there are a number of minor hardware differences between all three vendors.

Additional Storage Options

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The Qtek 8500 is one of the first Smartphones released to sport the next gen Micro SD storage cards were first saw at CES earlier this year.  While standard cards are now readily available, the high performance cards from Sandisk aren't.  I was able to get a hold of a 1GB Ultra II Micro SD card from the UK for testing.  Now, if you thought a Mini SD card was small, wait till you see a Micro card in person.  They are unbelievably small.  Just take a look at this pic I took for comparison.

The Micro SD card is located behind the SIM card.  While most consider this a drawback, I honesty don't think it is a real issue.  Grab a 1GB card and it is highly unlikely you'll find the need to open up the battery cover and remove it unless you need to format the card for any particular reason.

Update 08/27/06:  Another interesting thing to note, is that if you are on Cingular "Blue", and load an AT&T SIM card, it will display the provider as AT&T Wireless only with the Qtek ROM.  Both the Dopod and the I-mate will display the provider as Cingular.

Specifications

Next: The WM5 OS