One of the DSTL1's biggest shortcomings is its lack of 3G support--it can run only on 2G or 2.5G EDGE networks. I tested the phone with SIM cards from T-Mobile and AT&T inside. The voice calls I made on those EDGE networks were clear and uninterrupted by latency or drops. When I surfed the Net, the phone behaved torpidly and ran at very . (My , in contrast, loads pages pretty briskly with the help of Sprint's 3G Network).

The DSTL1 does benefit from Google's Android OS straightforward and intuitive interface. As I moved from task to task, the OS's basic tools appeared roughly where I expected them to be.

Like other Android phones, the DSTL1 gives you three homescreens for installing your own set of shortcuts, widgets, folders, and wallpapers. A bar appears at the top of the center panel. To move between the three homescreens, you swipe your fingers from side-to-side.

Similarly, you bring up your application launch menu by swiping a tab up from the bottom of the screen. Preloaded on the phone are some 20 apps, shortcuts, games, widgets, and other tools--from the phone's settings to contacts to the FM radio. To install a shortcut to any of these "apps" on your front screen, simply press and hold the icon.

General Mobile didn't attempt to build a layer of additional software on top of Android, as the manufacturers of some did with varying degrees of success.