Using a mobile phone as a tethered modem is neither discouraged nor promoted by T-Mobile. Sure, there is a help document on their website to help you do this on their support site, but it's not advertised on their sales or marketing sites. I was able to easily tether the Nokia N80ie to my PowerBook G4 with Bluetooth, though Apple's iSync doesn't support the N80ie. I can't use the PowerBook to sync my PDA functions with Entourage (Microsoft's Mac version of Outlook), but I can still surf the 'Net at EDGE speeds on the Mac with the N80ie. The T-Mobile MDA struck out on both counts: I got tired of having to reconfigure the modem mode almost every time I tried to use it, and iSync is incompatible with Windows Mobile 5, too. Both worked fine for Outlook syncing and as a tethered modem on Windows XP on my ThinkPad with a USB adapter cable. Advantage: N80ie.

Operational concerns. The T-Mobile MDA uses a standard, garden-variety mini-USB cable for both syncing and charging, which also happens to be the standard for the Moto RAZR family and the recent Blackberries. The Nokia uses the 'new', smaller Nokia charging tip and a proprietary 'Pop-Port' USB cable, so you'll need two proprietary cables to charge and sync the N80ie, a distinct disadvantage. Another drawback of Nokia's new smaller power tip is that old accessories like disposable battery-based emergency chargers and car chargers need an adapter (one more thing to remember or lose). Advantage: MDA

Camera. The MDA has a 1.3 Megapixel camera with LED flash, the N80ie has a 3MP camera with LED flash. The MDA's shots are clearer than the phonecam pics I used to take, but not by much. The N80ie's pics are almost as good (about 80 percent of the time) as the Panasonic point-and-shoot camera I carry around, so I don't carry a dedicated digicam all the time anymore. If it weren't for the N80ie's limited flash, lack of zoom, and fixed focus, I could conceivably ditch the digicam altogether -- the Nokia's still camera is that good. Both have video recording capabilities, but I never use them, so that's a tie. Advantage: N80ie

Third party apps. Windows Mobile is widely accepted and supported in the US. Symbian Series 60 is more popular in Asia and Europe. Both are incredibly well represented in the software development area -- just do a search on the 'Net. WM5 is much more prevalent on US-based commerce sites, while Symbian is all over the Internet on foreign sites. I use Zagat to Go and SlingPlayer on the MDA, but Symbian versions of both are apparently on the way. Advantage: Tie

Expansion. Both use miniSD cards up to 2GB. Both can install apps to the expansion card, and both can store camera shots on main memory or miniSD. Advantage: Tie

In the car. While most of my commute is by train, I still drive around town and on the weekends. Both the cars I use regularly (a BMW and an Acura) have built-in Bluetooth handsfree modes, and while the Acura readily paired up and worked with both phones, the N80ie had problems with the BMW. The N80ie would pair using Bluetooth, but then lose contact with the BMW, and it was never usable. It's a shame, because the MDA works with the BMW famously: in addition to the usual hands free talk/dial/answer functions, the BMW automatically grabs the caller ID and contact lists from the phone, displaying a scrolling contact list on the radio's display. The Acura only does talk/dial/answer, but it does it well. I've run into other users on the BMW forums that have the same issue with the N80 (the N80ie's twin), so it looks like the incompatibility is a deal breaker. Advantage: MDA

Counting the categories above, the phones tie, but the deal breakers are the operational concerns and the car use. Both need to be recharged regularly, and both need to hook up to PCs and Macs. Two cables are one too many to lose (N80ie), and the standard mini USB interface (MDA) makes finding a spare charge/sync cable easy. I love having the clear pics on the N80ie, but it doesn't make up for the fact that it doesn't work with one of my in-car hands-free solutions, especially since hands-free talking while driving is mandatory in many areas. Winner: MDA (for now).

Come back tomorrow for the wrapup.

For part one of my journey, click here

For part two of my journey, go here