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The HP iPaq hw6965 is a solid unit, but not a major improvement over its earlier version.

The latest in the current iPaq hw6900 series, hw6965 adds some excitement with the inclusion of push mail. A personal digital assistant (PDA) packed with a GPS receiver and plethora of multimedia and connectivity options make hw6965 a formidable package. However, it bears a remarkable resemblance to HP's previous model "� the iPAQ hw6515. For a device with so many features, slightly wider dimensions of 118 x 71 x 18 mm are permissible (Blackberry's and Motorola's Q are also more or less the same size). The hw6965 weighs a hefty 179 grams, weighing on your pocket or bag.

Use of space However, HP has made good use of all the space. A full QWERTY keyboard sits snugly. The keys, though, have a strange circular shape (that require more efforts per key) and a few might end up struggling while writing long messages or emails on this phone. The hw6965's display is a touch screen and it comes with handwriting recognition software. Disappointing bit, HP has not upgraded the screen's specifications, as it's exactly the same as on the iPAQ hw6515. The unusual factor about this display is the resolution (240x240 pixels). The odd shape essentially means that most applications would require extra vertical scrolling.

No 3G Although you may worry about looking like a dork when holding the hw6965 up to your ear in public, connectivity is one area you will scarcely fret about. The hw6965 is packed full of connectivity options, including Bluetooth, infrared and native 802.11b (Wi-Fi). We connected to a wireless network and were impressed by quick data transfers. Why HP did not pack in 3G support in hw6965 is puzzling, considering that most PDAs are now 3G-enabled.

...but has GPS It's not easy to find a smartphone with integrated GPS. (Nokia has now introduced N95 with GPS capabilities, but it will be launched in India in 2007). A built-in GPS receiver will indicate the street you are taking, the landmarks in the area and for every wrong turn it re-organises itself to give you the right way. Brought to life using the pre-installed TomTom Navigator software, hw6965 had no problem detecting our location and providing directions during our testing in Singapore and Delhi.

The hw6965 runs on Windows Mobile 5 operating system and is not the fastest smartphone in the market, especially multi-tasking. The Intel PXA270 processor has been upgraded from 312MHz to 416mhz, which means the hw6965 is a regular mutation of the iPAQ hw6515. An upgraded processor of 64MB of RAM (increased from the previous 44MB) is good development. You would definitely need a SD card to expand the memory for any personal data storage.

Decent battery Like the O2 Xda Atom, the hw6965 includes the messaging and security feature pack for Windows Mobile 5.0. The hw6965 also includes a 1.3 megapixel digital camera, a voice recorder, built-in speakerphone, microphone, and a 2.5 mm stereo headphone jack. You'll need an adapter if you want to use a standard set of headphones with a 3.5 mm plug. Battery life is up to four hours of talk time and seven days standby time. But constant use of the GPS function drains the battery much quicker, so it would be better to turn it off if when not required.