Techworthy has just published a head-to-head comparison of the Samsung SCH-i600 and the Motorola MPx200. These are the first two Windows Mobile phones to become available in the United States. Techworthy likes the MPx200 slightly more than the SCH-i600, but the purchase price advantage that the MPx200 has right now has a large impact on their preference.

For those of you who don't follow the Smartphone market closely, one of the big differences between the two units is that the Samsung runs on the Verizon network, with its higher overall quality and faster wireless data rates, while the Motorola runs on AT&T Wireless' new GSM network that they refer to as the "Next Generation Network". If you prefer Verizon, you will definitely want to check out the Samsung SCH-i600. [ via Gizmodo ]

Another interesting feature of Techworthy's January issue is their evaluation of the Windows Mobile firmware that is present in both of these phones. Techworthy makes the statement that "Windows Mobile offers a few unique advantages over the competition, such as being able to play music in the background while you have another app open, which Palm OS phones can't do." I'm not sure this is the case of Palm OS 5, the OS for the Handspring Treo 600, although it's definitely true of Palm OS 3.5 which is the OS on the Handspring Treo 180 to 300. If Techworthy has this wrong, it would undermine the credibility of its evaluation, to some extent.