By Paul Trafford
If you were browsing Telecom’s Mobile line up recently you would be right in thinking the company has left a fair chunk of their eggs in the Google Android basket, but with the introduction of the LG Optimus 7Q we see the network beginning to dip its toes into the Windows Phone Arena. This diversification is probably wise given Telecom’s interest in Enterprise and business accounts. The Optimus 7Q definitely presents a compelling alternative to the incumbent overlords of Enterprise.
Hardware
The Optimus 7Q is by no means a cutting-edge handset, in fact it was a Windows Phone launch device back in October last year, which said it’s also by no means sluggish. It looks like Microsoft has learned from Apple and Google. In the hope all users get a quality experience Windows Phone forces a minimum hardware spec. In the Optimus 7’s case this means a 1 GHz Qualcomm Processor, 16 GB of on Board Memory, a WVGA screen and 5 Megapixel Camera.
This phone’s defining feature is a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, which although is probably helpful for former Blackberry and Nokia addicts feels a little overkill for Windows Phone Users. There’s good reason for this, Windows Phone sports easily the best Virtual Keyboard of any of the Mobile OS out there (iPhone and Android included). In fact for my money I found the virtual keyboard on the Optimus easier to use than the slider keyboard itself. That QWERTY keyboard also adds another compromise, a reduction in screen size. Anyone who has used the Windows Phone interface will tell you it’s easily one of the best looking and intuitive phone interfaces out there, but in general you need a bigger screen to take advantage of it s crisp and flashy graphics. At 3.5 Inches everything in the Optimus just feels a little squeezed. That keyboard also adds some hefty weight and width. Optimus 7 weighs in at 176 grams; comparatively the iPhone 4 and Blackberry Bold weigh 137 and 136 Grams respectively.
Windows Phone 7
Staying with the Windows Phone OS. The Optimus 7Q is running the latest version of Windows Phone that incorporates the much-awaited Copy and Paste functions and a number of other fixes like refinements to the WinPhone App Store.
Windows Phone’s social networking functions integrate well with Social Networks like Facebook, but Twitter is conspicuous in its absence. That said if you’re an enterprise customer Microsoft Office, and Full Exchange integration are probably more your bag. It’s also worth noting that Windows Phone’s Zune Music Service, and XBOX Live functions both put it in great stead as an iPhone competitor. It works with both Windows and Mac, but you’re going to want to be a Windows User to get full functionality out of it. The Zune service really leaves stock Android in its dust, and the XBOX service is great for gamers (yes, you can link to your XBOX console gamer tag). It’s also worth noting that Telecom seems pretty proactive in delivering the latest updates to this device, so as Microsoft makes tweaks you should get the updates fairly quickly.
Call Quality, Battery Life and Data
Call Quality on the Optimus 7 is good, we found the audio of those we called a little echoey, but they thought we sounded ‘great’ in comparison to my iPhone 3GS and Desire HD. Battery life as with most Windows Phones is also good. The Optimus 7 manages at least a couple of days on the one charge, even using 3G Data. The one thing to note is Windows Phone doesn’t yet support multitasking on Non-Microsoft apps. This will come in an update later this year, but multitasking is a big battery guzzler on competing Android and iOS devices, so remember to take this into account. Data on XT was very solid, on par with other devices tested on the Network.
Camera
I have to confess to being a little disappointed with the Optimus 7Q camera. Historically LG has very solid cameras in their Phones, but the 7Q left a little to be desired. Everything seems to have a touch of green wash, even after tweaking the settings. Still seem a little too blocky, and the Camera button is bizarrely positioned in a way that means the slider often begins to wiggle when you go to take a shot. The regularly knocked the camera off-frame or out of focus. Once you use the phone for a couple of days you get used to how to hold it, but if you’re recruiting family or friends to take shots for you, best slide the phone right open before handing it over. The 720p video recording is high-res but slow to focus, and again everything looks a little green – on the upside shooting grass has never looked better ;)
All Round
All in all, as a Blackberry, or Windows Mobile replacement this phone is a happy medium with its QWERTY keyboard, but you do sacrifice some of Windows Phone’s best features with this device. If you’re a Zune or Xbox user the Windows Phone Music and Gaming features are great rivals to the iPhone and iTunes, but the Windows Phone App Store is still fairly immature, that said Angry Birds is coming later this month so what else do you need? Unfortunately the camera unlike the iPhone, or some Androids is not a point and shoot replacement, it just isn’t up to par, but given its 5 Megapixel some of this may be addressed in future software updates, just don’t count on it. If you’re looking at this phone its biggest asset will probably be the Windows Phone Operating System. Microsoft’s OS offers a new and compelling take on the slate of individual Apps offered by the iPhone, and the myriad of Apps and Widgets for Android. Unlike the iPhone you get seamless integration with the likes of Social Networking and Mail, right from the home screen, and Microsoft’s strict Hardware and lack of software skinning means you’ll be eligible for the latest software updates in the future, and a consistent user experience should you upgrade devices (after you’ve weaned yourself off that chunky physical keyboard of course ?.
On a 24-Month Contract you could potentially get the phone for free, or more realistically $400. Competitors for your Telecom subsidy include the Motorola Defy, Samsung Galaxy S, and the BlackBerry Bold. For my money, if you’re willing to go Android the Galaxy S presents the most compelling alternative. At $100 more you get a better rear-facing camera, a front-facing camera for video calls. 8 Gigabytes storage (upgradeable to 32 Gb), a 4” inch higher quality screen and it weighs in at a much more palatable 119 grams.
Unlocked the LG Optimus 7Q is a fairly hefty $899