Microsoft came by with a leather dopp kit of goodies today, and Mike Kobrin and I made eyes like saucers at all the Windows Mobile gadgets. I finally got to compare the T-Mobile SDA and Cingular 2125 smartphones in the same hand, getting a feel for their pros and cons: the 2125 is prettier and smaller, but the SDA has Wi-Fi. (I'm in the middle of reviewing the SDA right now; it's launching on February 13th.) I'm a big fan of Microsoft Smartphone, because I don't want to have to carry a big PDA-like thing around just to listen to music, watch videos, and most importantly surf the Web when I'm in need. (Yes, I know about Symbian. But Smartphone is glossier, at least until the Nokia N-series and E-series come out.)

The Web surfing thing is so big for me, I'm rather disappointed that Opera for Smartphone doesn't support Windows Mobile 5.

Oh, and guys? I know you want to run Skype on these things. Skype probably won't run well on the SDA, 2125, or MDA -- the slow 195 Mhz processors will just create a world of trouble with Skype, which is designed for 300 Mhz+ processors. Sure, try it if you like garble and audio dropouts (I will.)

Ever been shopping at the mall, dancing at the club, or eating dinner at a restaurant when suddenly you hear a cool song, but don't know what it's called? Rocket Mobile, developer and marketer of mobile phone software applications, has come up with the solution: Song IDentity. Song IDentity is among one of the many applications available through MetroPCS Communications. This is how it works:

Hold the phone up to the music source for 10 seconds. Once the sample is recorded, it's sent to a server for recognition. The results are sent back to your phone, including artist and song title. It also e-mails you with links to more information about the band and places to buy the CD or buy an MP3.

Other applications developed by Rocket Mobile are National Geographic Wallpapers (photos from the National Geographic Society's Image Collections), and the soon to be released iNDie Music (music selections from worldwide independent labels) and MobileMix! (a ringtone composer).

Song IDentity is available on Verizon Wireless, Alltel, Midwest Wireless, nTelos, and Western Wireless. For more information, read Wireless Week's report.

I got a press release yesterday from Sprint with some odd results from a recent wireless-users survey.

Most notably, 60% of Sprint users have turned on their phone's backlight to look for something in the dark. If you often find yourself in the dark, you might want to take off your RAZRWire sunglasses, or get a phone like the Nokia 5140 (at left) with a built-in LED flashlight.

(PS - Nothing can make the RAZRWires look cool. You can put them away now.)

Other facts: you can make survey results look like anything, if you have the right options. Sprint says 27% of people want their phone to include a printer/scanner/fax, which only makes sense if you look at the odd other options given: thermometer, credit card, keychain and mirror. By the way, a lot of phones already have mirrors (next to the camera), and the Nokia 7280/7380's entire face turns into a mirror when the phone is off.

About a third of those surveyed also play games on their phones in the bathroom, which may reveal a tragic epidemic of constipation among Sprint users. I personally just hope nobody goes this far. (Carol, am I fired now?)