HP introduced two, new HP IPAQ handhelds yesterday and the pricing, along with availability, has been found. Expect the both the Voice Messenger launch on November 5th and the Data Messenger on November 22nd, both on Vodafone in the Netherlands for €399 ($532) and €499 ($665), respectively. No word when the U.S. will see a launch just yet though.
The HP Voice Messenger and the Data Messenger are two GSM fleet phones that look fairly staid. The Voice Messenger, show here:
* Small and simple : Dial and type quickly with the simple and useful 20-key keypad. Text and email1,2 easily with intelligent predictive text that “learns” your words and style from messages and emails.
* Smart and practical: Use email, phone, and Internet1,2 with advanced wireless technology in many countries around the world. Where WiFi is available[k1], connect without using data plan minutes. Instant Message with Windows Live.
* Simplify your life: Skip the new phone learning curve with familiar Windows Mobile 6.1 and use Microsoft Outlook Office Mobile to synchronize contacts, appointments and tasks with your PC.
* Find your way: Find your way with integrated GPS3.
* Enjoy the extras: 3.1MP auto focus camera with 5X digital zoom and flash LED. Convenient Micro-SD card slot for storage up to 8GB (card sold separately).
Why anyone would hold an event during the same week as WWDC is beyond me, but I find myself in Berlin, Germany at HP’s Connecting Your World media summit. I just arrived a few hours ago after a 15-hour ordeal that started with a 3-hour delay, a missed connection in Dusseldorf and my bag is missing because the dipshit from LTU (Air Berlin) at JFK gave me the wrong baggage claim ticket and there’s no record of me checking in a bag at JFK. I’m having a great day! I need beer. Lots of beer.
Anyway, I have before me the HP iPAQ 910c. The welcome packet tells me it’s the 914, but the box clearly states that it’s the 910c. I’m confused by the whole situation, but the device is pretty robust and a tad on the chubby side. The 3G Windows Mobile device is packed with Wi-Fi, GPS, stereo Bluetooth, a 3-megapixel AF camera (does video at 176×144), QWERTY keyboard and a 2.46-inch LED backlit touchscreen. It seems like a pretty solid device based on the specs and we’ll see how she goes while I’m here in Berlin. Oh, it ships June 30.
Remember PDAs? HP does. Indeed HP remembers PDAs so ferociously that it’s released a new one called the iPAQ 210.
For $449, you’ll get a 4-inch 640×480 VGA touchscreen plus a bunch of other stuff like a 624MHz Marvell PXA310 processor — Marvell bought Intel’s XScale unit back in June of 2006 so you’re basically getting an XScale processor if you’d like to look at it that way.
There’s also 128MB of SDRAM, 256MB of flash ROM, microphone, full-size (3.5mm) headphone jack, 802.11b/g wireless, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR, Windows Mobile 6 Classic, Windows Mobile Office, and Compact Flash and SDIO slots.
HP iPAQ 210 [HP.com] via CNET Blogs
I’m honestly not sure what to make of the 514. On one hand it’s a WinMo 6 smartphone with WiFi, on the other hand it’s an iPAQ without a touchscreen. Essentially, HP made a phone, not a PDA with phone features. It’s about as big as an old school Nokia candybar and it looks OEM-tastic with a very odd trade dress that I haven’t seen in HP products before.
Looks like HP resurrected its near-dead brand of PDAs. The new iPAQ 510 is a strange, yet slim phone device that runs Windows Mobile 6 and comes with features like Skype, EDGE, Wi-Fi and extended battery life.
Despite packing some decent features, we still have no clue why HP would continue the iPAQ brand. Says Laptop Mag:
The HP iPAQ 510 Voice Messenger is a solid phone for people who like the idea of having Outlook in their pocket but don’t need a QWERTY keyboard. HP does a nice job of not only incorporating the Windows Mobile 6 OS but improving upon it as well. If you have your heart set on a high-performing Voice Commander functionality, though, you might want to wait for round two before spending $300.
They end up giving the iPAQ 510 three out of five stars, not exactly what I’d call earth-shattering. If you really have a lot of cash to spend, then I guess you could drop $300 on it—though I’d try to avoid doing so.
HP iPAQ 510 Voice Messenger [Laptop]
Cingular iPaq [Product page]
Oh boy. HP made a PMP. The iPaq rx4000 has a 2.8-inch screen and uses Windows Mobile 5.0 to play back MP3s and video. It’s also compatible with many VOIP apps so you can use it as a wee phone around the house over WiFi. Finally, you can hook up your phone with Bluetooth.
Best of all? There’s a scroll wheel. Yeah. I know. Another mylo/Nokia 770-alike. Sorry.
HP iPAQ rx4000 Mobile Media Companion Announced [Mobility Site]
Full specs after the jump.
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