FIRST LOOK: i-mate Jama 201, cheapie smartphone has a few tricks

Daniel Long | May 27, 2008 6:28 PM
imate | http://www.imate.com
First Look
RRP: $489 (time of review)
Overall Rating: 
User Rating:  No user ratings.
Wants Windows Mobile without all the bells and whistles? This cheapie is under $500
The i-mate Jama 201 makes life easier by actually making the keys larger with space between each raised key to help with typing.

The Jama 201: not iPhone slim, but very slim nonetheless.
The Jama 201: not iPhone slim, but very slim nonetheless.

It's certainly an improvement on the i-mate Ultimate 8502 which has every feature under the sun, including fast 3G download speeds for email and Web, but lacks a reasonably sized keyboard.

The Jama 201 keyboard, more finger-friendly than the Ultimate 8502 (well, by incredibly tiny smartphone standards)
The Jama 201 keyboard, more finger-friendly than the Ultimate 8502 (well, by incredibly tiny smartphone standards)

The 201 is both lighter and more compact than the i-mate 8502 and features a wider screen for native horizontal pictures without having to twist the phone around like the 8502.

On the left, the i-mate Ultimate 8502, on the right, the i-mate Jama 201
On the left, the i-mate Ultimate 8502, on the right, the i-mate Jama 201

It's also much skinnier than the rather clunky 8502, as you can see from the picture. There's no 3G, no WiFi, but you do get a 2Megapixel camera, Bluetooth and Windows Mobile for $489.

Keep an eye out for the full review. Got a comment about this phone? Have your say below.