| Last year Chinese cell phone manufacturer CECT | | | | This HiTune's large, full keyboard makes this phone |
| became well known for its iPhone clone called the | | | | well received among texters as well. Whether you call |
| P168. Encouraged by this success, the company | | | | this model a pocket PC, a PDA, or a smart phone, it |
| quickly rolled out additions to its line up. In my opinion, | | | | has tons of standard features, including a built in 2.0 |
| many of the newer models look nothing like the iPhone | | | | mega pixel digital camera and web cam, WiFi, |
| and function in an entirely different way. A perfect | | | | Bluetooth, MP3, Java 2.0, and the ability to download |
| example of this is the new CECT T68 (AKA the | | | | and play Nintendo and Windows PPC games. It also |
| HiTune) which seems to be inspired by Blackberry or | | | | has GPS navigation and en e-book reader. I particularly |
| HTC models. I have often been asked when the clone | | | | enjoy downloading e-books to read later while I have |
| manufacturers were going to tackle the windows | | | | down time. I am now actually able to read a huge |
| based productivity smartphones. That time seems to | | | | backlog that was stored on my computer before. |
| be now. | | | | This phone is unlocked and tri band. It will work with |
| The most popular feature of the T68 is windows | | | | most GSM carriers. No software or drivers are |
| mobile 5.0. This means that you can run many popular | | | | needed. You just insert your sim card and the 68 can |
| productivity programs like Word, MSN, Excel, Outlook | | | | read and install any information needed. |
| Express and PowerPoint. You can easily sync | | | | This clone is modern, sleek and streamlined. I think it |
| information with your desktop computer or notebook | | | | looks like a cross between the Blackberry Curve and |
| via ActiveSync. This ease of use makes this model | | | | Pearl models. |
| extremely popular with students and executives who | | | | Currently, the price is about $175, but this will probably |
| want to send, receive, or edit documents away from | | | | come down over time as more become available. I |
| the classroom or office. (Although I can say from | | | | predict it will sell well because it should appeal to a |
| personal experience that the gaming features | | | | wide range of consumers. |
| sometimes make it easy to become distracted.) | | | | |