3GSM 2007: HP announce new iPAQ smartphone
HP have shown off their new iPAQ 500 series Voice Messenger smartphone at 3GSM.
The phone features VoIP, “push” email, voice-to-text recognition, and the Windows Mobile 6.0 operating system. It also has a 1.3 megapixel camera, wi-fi, Bluetooth, USB, and microSD slot. Disappointingly, it doesn’t appear to be 3G.
Many of its functions can be controlled by voice commands, and presumably this is a reasoning for losing the QWERTY keyboard. Some will love being able to work via voice, others will probably hate it.
This definitely seems to be aimed at the business user, and doesn’t sound as if it has many ‘fun’ features. It’s not the most excitingly-styled phone either, but if it does its intended job well, that’s fine.
It’s due in the Spring in the US for arund $300-$400, but no news on international availability yet.
