Author Archive: Matt

GIGA-BYTE announce Mobile TV and GPS WM Smartphones

As expected, there’s been plenty of news coming from MWC this week and one item that particularly caught my attention was the announcement from GIGA-BYTE whereby they showcased their first 3.5G Windows Mobile smartphones with TV and GPS.

The new handsets are ultra slim HSPDA GPS devices, like the MS800 (left) and the MS820 (right). However, what interested me most was that fact that these new WM devices were based upon a modular platform and that there would be an array of models each with a differnt feature set where all major features including modem (HSDPA, WCDMA, EDGE), TV, GPS/AGPS, and storage become optional. The MS820 features the exclusive motion-sensing G-Sensor and graphic user interface. All GSmart phone models launched in 2008 will feature graphic user interface to offer consumers an easy-to-use environment.

GSmart MS800 & MS820

From the Giga-Byte press release:

GSmart, the leading mobile phone brand owned by the Taiwan-based GIGA-BYTE Communications Inc., is proud to showcase its first 3.5G Windows Mobile PDA phones with brand new mobile TV and GPS series at Mobile World Congress (3GSM) in Spain. GSmart will also be introducing revolutionary modularized platforms and exclusive graphic user interface for the first time.

Taking the spotlight is MS808, the world’s first 3.5G mobile TV phone supporting DVB-T, DVB-H, T-DMB, ISDB-T, and GPS. MS804 is the only 3.5G sliding phone on display and comes with cap-sensor and digit dial keys. Also on show are ultra slim HSPDA GPS devices, MS800 and MS820. MS820 features the exclusive motion-sensing G-Sensor and graphic user interface. All GSmart phone models launched in 2008 will feature graphic user interface to offer consumers an easy-to-use environment.

In addition to the models being showcased, GSmart continues its tradition in bringing new concepts to the industry as it introduces modularized platforms, where all major features including modem (HSDPA, WCDMA, EDGE), TV, GPS/AGPS, and storage become optional. q60 is the first modularized model following by MS800, MS804, MS820, and MS808. Buyers will now have the freedom to choose different feature combinations to target market needs.

As the first model in a new product line, MD800 is the world’s first and only 3-in-1 wireless data card with 3.5G and GPS/AGPS, combining Express card, mini USB, PCMCIA interfaces by switching the adapter.

Dr. Stanley Jenq, Chief Executive Officer of GIGA-BYTE Communications said, “Following the success of the award winning digital TV PDA phone, GSmart t600, we are leading the industry in delivering Mobile TV. With the new 3.5G TV and GPS series, and our modularized production system, we offer smart technologies that will fulfill the everyday needs of mobile users with speed and unprecedented quality.”

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Windows Mobile blog, Giga-Byte, GSmart, HTC P6500, Tracy & Matt]

i-mate Ultimate 8502 and 9502 officially announced

You may recall that about a month ago we mentioned that the i-mate Ultimate 8502 and 9502 could be pre-ordered from our friends at Devicewire. Well yesterday the i-mate Ultimate 8502 and 9502 were “officially announced” at MWC. The press release, along with a couple of new shots of the devices can be found below.

i-mate Ultimate 8502

i-mate Ultimate 9502

i-mate today unveils the latest devices in its Ultimate range, the Ultimate 9502 and the Ultimate 8502 at Mobile Congress World.

The Ultimate 9502 and 8502 are the latest devices from the Ultimate range, a collection of four devices in various forms to suit individual preferences, from classic PDA to a notebook replacement and were designed to provide the latest and best in phone and PDA technology. With a wide variety of features ranging from to HSDPA and HUSDPA connectivity to the 262k colour TFT screen , every component of the device is specified at a very high level.

The Ultimate 9502 represents the flagship of the Ultimate range and delivers an all in one Windows Mobile® device. Powered by 3.5G (HSDPA & HUSDPA), and WiFI and Bluetooth connectivity, the Ultimate 9502’s VGA display is perfect for multimedia viewing, or checking through maps using the its integrated GPS functionality for navigation. There are dedicated shortcut keys all around the 9502, allowing easy and fast access to often used applications.. The 9502 includes integrated support for Direct Video Out capabilities, providing you with the option to connect it to monitors or projectors and watch videos off it or even use Windows Mobile on a larger screen. This feature was especially included in a business sense so users can perform video conferencing or project slideshows and presentations from the phone itself, making it a viable alternative to a notebook.

The Ultimate 8502 delivers a customised out of the box experience in a slim line QWERTY keyboard form factor. With a 2.6 inch touchscreen with 65k colour TFT backlight, it is fully loaded with Microsoft Office Mobile giving users access to popular applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint on the go. This device also comes with built-in GPS navigation functionality offering users satellite navigation. The 8502 can play video clips directly and a variety of music file formats on the inbuilt Windows Media Player 10 Mobile media player.

“2008 sees i-mate(tm) continue to deliver on its iconic devices and sophisticated services,” said Jim Morrison, CEO, i-mate(tm). “The Ultimate range has already won plaudits on its design and strong specifications. The Ultimate 9502 and 8502 will continue to build on i-mate’s, the best of breed combination of innovation, design and technology. Each of our devices is designed with different users in mind giving our customers real choice.”

As part of i-mate(tm)’s service proposition, Mobile World Congress will also mark the launch of i-mate’s(tm) I-Q Services, a portfolio of services that ensure the best wireless experience out of the box. With I-Q, i-mate can immediately customise user devices, fully support devices on a 24/7 basis and fully protect and if necessary, remotely wipe devices that are lost of stolen. little as 48 hours. Mobile Operators can use i-Q to improve their services to the enterprise segment and to accelerate their time-to-market with new mobile devices to address the rapidly expanding mobile workforce. IDC estimates that the worldwide mobile worker population will grow to 878.2 million in 2009 to account for 21.3 percent of the global work force*.

Morrison concludes, “The mobile industry is starting to develop an approach where a customer can select a device based on what they want and need, not because they are restricted by available options. With the latest Ultimate devices powered by Windows Mobile and customised for the enterprise, we believe we are delivering what our customers are asking for.”

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, i-mate, i-mate ULTIMATE 8502, i-mate ULTIMATE 9502]

HP iPAQ 614 pre-order

HP seem to be on a roll at the moment releasing a number of devices over the past few weeks. This Friday Clove Technology will have the first uk stock of the new HP iPAQ 614 so you can pre-order now.

HP iPAQ 614

The iPAQ 614 is a candybar form factor Windows Mobile phone with a phone style keypad. The 614 runs WM6 professional and therefore has a touchscreen and stylus. The 614 also has built in Assisted GPS!

The iPAQ 614 comes in two flavours too – the 614C has a built-in 3 mega-pixel autofocus camera, where as the 614 has no camera.

HP iPAQ 614 Specification:

Your business has to keep running when you are on the go. This iPAQ 614C is a 3G technology mobile phone with GPS navigation and personal organizer, that helps you run your business single handedly.

Need to know how to get somewhere? Let the Assisted GPS (built into the iPAQ 614C) guide you to your business and personal destinations.

Navigate the menus and features of the device with just one hand. Designed for single handed user you can scroll through your email, zoom in and out of maps, and look through your files with the smart touch wheel and three-way thumb wheel.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, iPAQ, HP]

Microsoft reveals MSN Direct

Today at Mobile World Congress 2008, Microsoft Corp. announced the availability of a technology preview for accessing MSN Direct content on Windows Mobile-based devices.
With this technology preview, customers can receive instant access to information such as weather and stock updates; top news stories; and entertainment, sports and business news. The information is presented in a glanceable format, and is easily accessible directly from the home screen of a device. Content is automatically updated so that customers have immediate access to the content that matters most to them.

MSN Direct

“This is the first time MSN Direct content has been made available to mobile phones, and it is a strong next step for the delivery of MSN Direct content where customers have said they need it the most,” said Eric Lang, general manager of the MSN Direct initiative at Microsoft. “We are excited about the opportunities this new application will bring to mobile operators, consumers and the industry.”

After installing the technology preview on the device, customers can select content based on relevancy and preference. For more in-depth information on the topics a person is exploring, MSN Direct provides links that connect users to the relevant areas of the popular MSN Mobile portal. Together, MSN Direct and MSN Mobile provide users with quick and easy options for getting current information while on the go.

“The MSN Direct for mobile technology preview is a clear demonstration
of Microsoft’s commitment to bringing simple and useful information to mobile customers,” said Alexander Gounares, corporate vice president of Microsoft Ads and Commerce. “We are pleased to offer this preview and look forward to feedback.”

The MSN Direct content is supplied by a number of leading partners, including Foreca Ltd. for current weather information, Comstock Resources Inc. for stock prices, and MSNBC for the wide gamut of news offerings

.

Windows Mobile customers interested in downloading the MSN Direct technology preview can use either of the following methods:

– Via mobile browser. From the Web browser on their mobile phone, users go to MSN Direct and follow the instructions on the page to download and install MSN Direct.

– Via PC. Users download MSN Direct to their PC and copy it over to their device using whatever software they normally use (such as ActiveSync). On the device, they click on the MSN Direct file to begin installation.

The MSN Direct application is free to download; MSN Direct requires data connectivity from a wireless carrier, which may charge additional fees. Consumers should check with their wireless provider for its coverage areas and service fees.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, HTC, MSN Direct , Microsoft]

Neonode strike a deal in India

More good news for Neonode fans out there, Neonode have just announced a deal with TMM to supply the N2 in India. Hopefully this could lead to deals being done with mobile operators in other countries!

The Neonode N2

From the press release:

Neonode, the Swedish mobile communication company that develops touch screen technologies and designs mobile handsets in which the technology also can be used, today announced an agreement with Turnstone Mobile Media LLC (TMM), a portfolio company of Turnstone Capital Management LLC, to distribute its products in India.

Under terms of the exclusive sales agreement, TMM, through its New Delhi-based affiliate, will be sole distributor of the unique Neonode N2 touch-screen mobile phone and related products in India, where cell phone and wireless infrastructure growth is one of the fastest in the world. Neonode has already made a substantial first shipment of its Neonode N2 mobile phones to TMM.

Neonode N2 uses the most advanced touch screen technology, the zForce™ optical touch screen. It doesn’t need any hard pressure or stylus but works quickly and accurately by reacting to sweeping and tapping signals on the screen. The intuitively organized user interface, neno™, delivers quick and easy access to applications and content.

“We are excited to be introducing the new Neonode N2 to India, where demand for the latest innovations in technology, especially mobile communications and entertainment, is among the highest in the world. Based on initial reactions by the largest carriers, distributors, retailers, and consumers throughout India, we anticipate the Neonode N2 will be well-received and are looking forward to announcing its release the first quarter of 2008”, said Marc La Magna, Managing Partner of Turnstone Capital LLC.

Neonode N2 was commercially launched in August 2007 and showcased at the U.S. Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas January 9-12, 2008. Currently Neonode N2 is available throughout markets in Europe and is also sold via the company’s web shop; www.neonodewebshop.com. The company’s innovative products will be marketed in North America, Latin America and China through its recently formed affiliated company, Neonode USA. With signing of this distribution agreement with TMM in India, Neonode makes another strategic business deal, placing the Neonode N2 in yet another significant market. New distributors continue to be added worldwide.

“We are delighted to add such an outstanding organization such as TMM to our growing family of distributors and licensors. This agreement secures our entry into India, the fastest-growing and one of the most exciting mobile markets in the world”, said Mikael Hagman, CEO and President of Neonode Inc.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): Tracy & Matt, Smartphone News, Neonode, N2, TMM]

HTC announce an Enhanced HTC Advantage

More HTC news from MWC, this time it’s the new and improved “Enhanced HTC Advantage” (X7510).

Enhanced HTC Advantage

New applications, keyboard and storage capacity expand user experience

BARCELONA — Feb. 11, 2008 – Today at the 2008 GSMA Mobile World Congress, HTC Corp. (TAIEX: 2498; “HTC”), the world’s leading provider of Microsoft Windows Mobile® smart devices, announced an updated version of the HTC Advantage™ that introduces new software, increased storage and an improved keyboard. The HTC Advantage™ is an ideal companion for the business traveller who needs a powerful and portable device that includes constant connectivity.

Developed from the ground up to be extremely portable, yet powerful, the HTC Advantage™ integrates a broad set of features into a compact and innovative design. Based on a future version of Windows Mobile, the updated HTC Advantage™ includes a customized HTC Home today screen that provides one-touch access to emails, text messages, missed calls, calendar appointments and contacts, as well as current weather conditions and forecasts for hundreds of cities around the world.

The HTC Advantage™ features HTC’s TouchFLO™ software which enhances finger touch scrolling and browsing of Web pages, documents, messages and contact lists. The Advantage™ will also include Opera Mobile 9 and Google Maps for mobile.

In addition to the many software enhancements, the HTC Advantage™ also adds a variety of new and improved hardware features including 16GB of storage, a new improved keyboard with haptic feedback and an updated version of VueFLO™ using a G-sensor that recognises the screen orientation of the device for optimal customer usage.

“Having established broader boundaries for mobile computing with the first HTC Advantage a year ago, we are introducing a wealth of new enhancements focused on improving the overall touch screen and keyboard user experience,” said Peter Chou, president and CEO of HTC. “Our goal with the HTC Advantage is to provide a small connected mobile computing device that will replace notebook PCs on daily commutes or short trips.”

With its innovative built-in video output capability, the HTC Advantage™ empowers its users with freedom to make presentations anywhere. Users can run presentations directly via the projector and TV output. Its 5-inch VGA colour touch screen and innovative, magnetic QWERTY keyboard are ideal not just for editing Microsoft Office documents, but also for enjoying leisure time. Users can watch videos, browse the web, use instant Outlook push e-mail, synchronize their contacts, tasks and calendar, and navigate anywhere with inbuilt GPS and TomTom NAVIGATOR 6.

Offering a complete package of connectivity, the HTC Advantage™ offers a wide variety of Wireless connectivity options such as Tri-band HSPDA, Wi-Fi® and stereo Bluetooth® 2.0 connectivity.

The updated HTC Advantage™ will be available in March in select countries across Europe.

HTC Advantage (X7510) Specification:

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, HTC, HTC X7510, HTC Advantage]

HTC announce the P3470 budget GPS Smartphone

Looking for a badget GPS-enabled Windows Mobile device? Then the new HTC device, just announced at MWC could be just what you need!

HTC P3470

HTC P3470 brings an affordable GPS, Feature-rich Touchscreen phone to the masses

Using TomTom Navigator 6, the HTC P3470 delivers detailed maps and direct to contact navigation

BARCELONA — February 11, 2008 — HTC Corp. (TAIEX: 2498; “HTC”), the world’s leading provider of Microsoft Windows Mobile® smart devices, today announced the European launch of the HTC P3470, the latest member of the HTC product portfolio. Combining a lightweight design, large screen, sat-nav software and strong battery life, the P3470 sets a new standard in affordable smartphone, GPS-based devices.

At just 108mm tall, the HTC P3470 offers unbeatable value as one of the most compact devices in HTC’s portfolio, featuring a broad range of functionality that today’s consumers desire. The HTC P3470™ enables an easy to use and simple interface for accessing web pages, documents, messages, contact lists and more.

Smart, simple and easy to use, TomTom Navigator 6 is the best sat-nav solution for your PDA or mobile phone. The intuitive interface, crystal clear instructions and easy call handling make it the ideal navigation partner for the P3470. The touch interface and large 2.8in screen ensure the AGPS-enabled sat-nav is easy to use, and the HTC P3470 is truly mobile thanks to the long battery life. The HTC P3470 also includes a 1GB Micro SD card for mapping and other data storage.

“The HTC P3470 integrates GPS-location into an innovative and high-powered phone that brings location-based experiences to customers looking for power and affordability,” said Florian Seiche, Vice President, HTC Europe. “We are very pleased to announce this addition to the product portfolio, continuing our commitment to provide an option for every user.”

Availability

The HTC P3470™ will be available to customers across Europe later this month.

The first pan-European operator partner to take the HTC version of the device will be Orange which will launch the P3470 in the UK, France, Spain and the Netherlands. Price: 449 euros

HTC P3470 specification:

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, HTC, HTC P3470, GPS]

Sony Ericsson join the Windows Mobile party

Mobile World Congress kicks off today and already news is flooding out all over the place!

Sony Ericsson have just announced that they are entering the Windows Mobile market with their new XPERIA mobile devices, starting out with the X1.

The X1 is a very cool looking and well spec’ed device, take a look at the press release from Sony Ericsson below.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1

Today marked the launch of XPERIA™ and a new era in mobile communications with the announcement of the XPERIA™ X1, a stand-out, arc slider phone from Sony Ericsson designed to address the growing need for a premium, converged mobile experience.

The XPERIATM X1 combines a 3-inch clear wide VGA display and a full QWERTY keyboard within a quality metal-finish body. With Windows Mobile® inside, the XPERIA™ X1 lets you choose from a dynamic range of activities at anytime and anywhere; from enjoying your favourite entertainment content to working efficiently on-the-move. Access a world of experiences simply by touching the XPERIA™ panel on the screen.

“XPERIA™ represents the first brand that is truly borne from within Sony Ericsson. It represents our vision for a premium, energised communication experience,” said Dee Dutta, Head of Marketing, Sony Ericsson. “This launch, and the announcement of the X1, further strengthens the overall Sony Ericsson brand and places us at the forefront of mobile convergence.”

“Our vision for the XPERIA™ X1 is to deliver a seamless blend of mobile Web communication and multimedia entertainment within a distinctive design,” said Rikko Sakaguchi, Head of Portfolio and Propositions, Sony Ericsson. “XPERIA™ is our promise to think foremost of user experience and to deliver the premium experience – anytime, anywhere, anything, with anyone.”

Sony Ericsson XPERIATM X1 – energised communication, the premium experience.

Multiple navigation – the choice is yours XPERIA™ X1 lets you interact with your phone in different ways. Touch, full QWERTY keyboard, 4-way key and optical joystick navigation. Switch seamlessly between operation modes.

Arc slider design – makes it stand out. The arc design gives a distinct and unique feel. Slide the screen upwards to reveal the wide pitch QWERTY keyboard. Ample distance between keys makes writing fast and easy.

Ultimate mobile experience – performance on the move. With Windows Mobile®, the highest data transfer rate (HSDPA/HSUPA) and WiFi™ support, you can enjoy your favourite entertainment and work efficiently on the move. Mobile access to everything that is important to you. aGPS gives you the freedom to explore the world. XPERIA™ X1 is a premium mobile experience.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, XPERIA, Sony Ericsson]