| HP GPS phone accepts voice commands |
Jun. 11, 2008
 HP is readying a Windows Mobile 6.1 phone with built-in GPS functionality and a voice-operated control interface. The "iPAQ 900 Series Business Messenger" has a QWERTY keyboard and optional three megapixel camera, and can download data at up to 7.2Mbps via HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access).
(Click here for a larger view of HP's iPAQ 900 Series Business Messenger)
 HP first announced the 900-series phone at a September 2007 gala event where it launched some 57 iPAQ-branded products. After that, however, no further sign of it appeared, leading some to conclude that the device had been shelved. Not so, says HP, which adds that it has upgraded the 900 to Windows Mobile 6.1 since previously announcing its specifications. Its case has also been restyled (the old design is depicted at right).
As before, the device combines a 2.5-inch, 320 x 240 touchscreen display with a QWERTY keyboard. It uses Marvell's PXA270 processor -- clocked, alas, at 416MHz instead of the 520MHz originally planned -- with 128MB of RAM and 256MB of flash storage. A microSD slot caters to any additional storage needs.
HP touts the phone's "integrated, multi-mode" GPS functionality, and it has included both Google Maps and an "iPAQ GPS QK Position" utility that is claimed to enhance GPS performance. Real-time directions can be added via an optional map kit, says HP.
Two other included software add-ons are HP Voice Reply and Cyberon Voice Commander. Incoming email sent via a Microsoft Exchange server to the phone's Outlook inbox can be read to the user via speech synthesis. Meanwhile, Voice Commander is said to recognize and perform 20 voice commands, including "Read e-mail," "Compose Audio e-mail," and "Read My Calendar," without requiring any prior training.
The 900 includes quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE telephony and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA, the latter offering downloads claimed to peak at 7.2Mbps. It also has 802.11b/g wireless networking, and Bluetooth 2.0.
Finally, the 900 offers an optional three megapixel camera with autofocus. The camera records still images in resolutions from 320 240 up to 2048 x 1536, and video in QCIF (176 x 144) and QVGA (320 x 240) formats, according to the company. Catering to companies that frown on camera use, HP says the 900 may also be ordered camera-free.
Features and specifications listed by HP for the iPAQ 900 Series Business Messenger include:- Processor -- Marvell PXA270 clocked at 416MHz
- Memory -- 128MB of RAM and 256MB of flash
- Display -- 2.5-inch touchscreen display with 320 x 240 resolution
- Keys -- QWERTY keyboard with scroll wheel, five-way navigation, and two soft keys
- Wireless:
- WAN -- Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE telephony and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA (bands not specified)
- LAN -- 802.11b/g
- PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
- Other I/O:
- USB 2.0 combo connector for sync, charge, and headset
- Expansion -- microSD slot
- Battery -- 1940mAh lithium-polymer, life not specified
- Dimensions -- 4.5 x 2.5 x 0.6 inches
- Weight -- 5.4 ounces
The iPAQ 900 Series Business Messenger will ship in the U.S. Jun 30 for approximately $500, according to HP. It will also be available in other markets, though details were not specified.
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