HTC S740

Touch screen phones might well be here to stay, but mobiles that use keypads are still enormously popular.  The S740, aimed at business users and with a 'small' 2.4'' screen, is just one example. Its full slide-out alphabetic keyboard is an undeniable strength--one that hasn't yet been pushed out by the ubiquity of onscreen virtual keyboards.  

Running the standard version of Windows Mobile 6.1, the S740 comes with support for 3G and WiFi networks, a 3.2 Megapixel camera, GPS and an FM radio tuner.  Is that enough to make it a worthwhile smartphone for the busy professional?

A little slicker, but still bulky

Manufacturers have finally realised that even 'business' phones need to look good.  The S740--which replaces the outdated and bulky S730--is a perfect example of this.


As always, it's a question of taste, but we think that the time spent on the redesign was worth it, even if the S740 is still rather thick.


Narrower and longer than its predecessor, the S740 borrows its bevelled shell from other models in HTC's Touch family like the Diamond and the Pro.  It's a very attractive finish, but the problem with this exotic look comes when you put the phone down on a flat surface.  With the keyboard slid out, the S740 isn't stable, but then again, most mobile users will be using it to write e-mails on the go with the smartphone in their hands, rather than putting it down on a table.  


The rest of the phone seems solid and robust, but the strangely-placed access to the slot for the SIM and MicroSD cards means we're not convinced that it will hold out during extended use.

Convincing Keyboard

Let's have a look at the keypads: still the easiest way of entering text and numbers and the phone's primary interface, they should be practical and perfectly designed.  The first of the two is the traditional numeric keypad, and is found under the screen.  It's used for dialling numbers and adding contacts.

For typing messages, though, you're better off sliding out the full alphabetic keyboard.  As you do, the screen automatically flips to landscape mode and displays a menu that gives access to different messaging services (SMS, MMS, e-mail, etc.)


Arranged over four rows, the individual keys are very close together and covered in a very smooth plastic, two facts that worried us straight away.  When we tried it out though, we found the error rate to be almost zero once we got used to the location of the keys.  Our only small complaint is the length of the space bar, which was too short for our liking.


We preferred the keyboard on the Nokia E75, whose keys are a little smaller but divided more clearly, which makes it easier to type for people with larger thumbs.

Windows Mobile

By choosing Windows Mobile, HTC includes the mobile versions of Microsoft's Office suite, and compatibility with a wide range of useful formats.  The OS, however, has a series of drawbacks, some of which are more frustrating than others.  To start with, we'd like to see the back of the old-fashioned, clunky interface which is painfully confusing.


Hopefully some day soon somebody will come along with a magic wand and clear up the current convoluted mess.  Making Windows Mobile lighter and simpler should be an urgent priority for Microsoft as its competitors are quickly gaining ground.  

Despite its defects, Windows Mobile is far from being a lightweight OS, and it has slowed down plenty of phones we've tested.  The CPU in the S740 is powerful enough to just about banish all traces of unresponsiveness.  Just about, though, as you'll still need plenty of patience with certain applications.

Multimedia Options: Good in a pinch

We'll end the test by looking at the fun aspects of this smartphone.  The camera will just about do if you don't have any other options, and the photos are fairly typical of a cameraphone.   But without a flash and a slow shutter speed, you'll need to be in the right conditions (a well-lit room and a relatively stable subject) to ensure you get a good photo.

Recording and playing video is not really worth it on a screen this size.  The audio player might suit people who occasionally want to listen to a playlist on their phone, but the sound is dry and lacking in details.  Because the headphone jack is proprietary, you'll need to use a HTC's handsfree kit which isn't exactly a quality piece of equipment.  The same port is used for recharging the phone, so you can't listen to music while you're charging it.


We're not even sure it's worth mentioning how frustrating trying to browse the web on such a tiny screen can be ...

Although the S740 includes a GPS chip, no map software is provided, so you'll have to turn to Google Maps.

The S740 proved it can stay the course as we didn't need to recharge at all during two days of use, which is good for business users.