| Windows GPS phone is carrier-independent |
Jan. 07, 2009
 Pharos Science announced a Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone featuring GPS that works even when there's no connection to a cellular carrier. The Traveler 137 is an unlocked device featuring an 800 x 480 touchscreen display, dual cameras, WiFi, Bluetooth, and an FM receiver, says Pharos.
(Click here for a larger view of the Pharos Traveler 137)
Pharos charges that most GPS-equipped phones lose their ability to operate as navigation devices when they don't have a cellular connection. The Traveler 137, in contrast, is said to provide full GPS functionality whether or not a carrier is available. Unfortunately, however, using GPS without a carrier still entails paying Pharos for service -- priced at approximately $2 per day, $5 per week, $7 per month, or $50 per year. All of which raises the following question in our minds: If PNDs (personal navigation devices) can offer free, network-independent GPS, why don't phones?
Aside from this, the Traveler 137 comes unlocked and "designed to work on any GSM network," with quad-band (850/900/1800/1900MHz) GSM and tri-band (850/1900/2100MHz) EDGE/GPRS. According to Pharos, the phone is compatible with both HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access) and HSUPA (high speed uplink packet access) networks, with download speeds of 7.2MBps and 2Mbps, respectively. Other wireless capabilities include WiFi, Bluetooth, and an FM radio, the company adds.
Similar to the recently released Traveler 117 and Traveler 127, the new Traveler 137 includes Pharos's "Smart Navigator" software, billed as the first "hybrid" navigation system created specifically for Windows Mobile devices. Here, "hybrid" seems to mean that the software provides services such as real-time traffic information along with basic mapping capabilities. The software also supports OTA (over the air) delivery of map and POI (points-of-interest) data.
Pharos's Smart Navigator software on the Traveler 137
(Click to enlarge)
Claimed unique features for the Smart Navigator software include:- Smart Finder -- locates business or attraction locations, addresses, and phone numbers dynamically from a database of 12 million POIs
- Smart Traffic -- provides traffic incident and speed data, plus video feeds from State Departments of Transportation, highway patrol agencies, and other sources
- Maps On Demand -- lets users download "dynamically cut" detail maps of their current location, or corridor maps based on a route to their destination
- Follow Me -- lets groups or families view one another's GPS-derived locations on Windows Mobile devices, or via any web browser
Smart Navigator software also provides voice prompts, turn-by-turn navigation, and other features associated with dedicated GPS devices, but not necessarily with smartphone software, the company says.
Finally, the Traveler 137 comes with the SPB Mobile Shell user interface -- pictured on screen at the top of our story -- plus Microsoft's Live Search for Windows Mobile software. The latter provides free information about traffic, gas prices, movie times, and weather, says Pharos.
Hardware details
The device uses Qualcomm's MSM7201A processor, clocked at 528MHz, with 256MB of RAM, 512MB of flash, and microSD expansion slots. It also includes a 3.5-inch display with 800 x 480 resolution, a three megapixel main camera, and a secondary VGA-resolution camera for videoconferencing, says Pharos.
Features and specifications listed by Pharos for the Traveler 137 include:- Processor -- Qualcomm MSM7201A clocked at 528MHz
- Memory -- 256MB of RAM and 512MB of flash storage
- Display -- 3.5-inch touchscreen with 800 x 480 resolution
- Keys -- Five-way controller, two dedicated calling keys, and keys for Windows menus
- Wireless:
- WAN -- Quad-band (850/900/1800/1900MHz) GSM and tri-band (850/1900/2100MHz) EDGE/GPRS
- WLAN -- 802.11b/g
- PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
- GPS
- FM receiver
- Other I/O:
- Expansion:
- microSD slot
- SIM card slot
- Battery -- 1380 mAh lithium-ion battery (life not specified)
- Dimensions -- 4.6 x 2.4 x 0.51 inches (116.8 x 60.9 x 12.95mm)
- Weight -- 4.9 ounces (138g)
According to Pharos, the Traveler 137 will be available during the first quarter of 2009 for approximately $600.
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