| HP unveils new smartphones, PDAs, GPS |
Sep. 06, 2007
 At a Sept. 5 gala event, HP debuted 56 different iPAQ-branded products, including five mobile software programs, twelve mobile services, almost three dozen handheld accessories, and five new handheld devices. Underlining the company's longtime Microsoft relationship, the new handhelds all run Windows Mobile or Windows CE.
But beyond that, there were some surprises. For example, while the market for PDAs has long been thought to be fading, HP apparently reasons there is still room for such devices -- if they have the right features.
HP's five new iPAQ handhelds include a pair of PDAs, a pair of smartphones, and the company's first handheld GPS device: 
(Click for details) |
iPAQ 100 Series Classic Handheld and 200 Series Enterprise Handheld -- The company's two new PDAs (rumored prices around $200 and $400, respectively) include neither cellular radios nor cameras. However, they do incorporate WiFi and Bluetooth, with HP accordingly touting VoIP capabilities. Marvell PXA310 processors clocked at 624 MHz run Windows Mobile 6 Classic readily, backed by 64 MB of RAM and 256 MB of flash. Read our device profile for complete features and specs on these new iPAQ PDAs, here.
 
(Click for details) |
600 Series Business Navigator and 900 Series Business Messenger -- Truer to what might have been expected are two new iPAQ-branded smartphones, unusually named as a "Business Navigator" and a "Business Messenger." Based on Windows Mobile 6 Professional, these both feature quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and tri-band HSDPA cellular radios. With rumored prices around $599 and $499, respectively, they also offer 802.11 b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0 capabilities. For both, HP has chosen the Marvell PXA270 processor, clocked at 520 MHz, and supported with 128 MB of RAM and 256 MB of flash. The 600 series, however, has a standard phone keypad, while the 900 series has a QWERTY keyboard. Cameras are optionally available. Read our device profile for complete features and specs on these new iPAQ smartphones, here.
(Click for details) |
iPAQ 300 Series Travel Companion -- HP's first-ever standalone GPS device is based on a Windows CE 5.0 software platform and features a custom, HP-designed user interface that models cityscapes in 3D. Using the SiRF Titan processor running at 600 MHz, the 300 Series (rumored price around $450) offers phone integration or media playback via Bluetooth. Read our device profile for complete features and specs on this interesting new iPAQ GPS, here.
Once upon a time, the name iPAQ stood for a stripped-down desktop PC, and then for one of the first Windows CE-based Pocket PCs. Since then, HP has applied the moniker to many new products over the years -- but never as many in so short a time as this week.
Availability
The company made no official comment on pricing or availability of any of its five new iPAQ handhelds.
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