According to the Windows Team blog, around 90-percent of the titles in the Marketplace should support the older versions of the OS, and the app will support not only free but paid titles too.  Users of the 6.0 and 6.1 smartphones should hop over to http://mp.windowsphone.com/ from their handset in order to download it; alternatively those in the US can use this form to have a direct download link sent to them.

Other specifications for the ambitious render include an 8-megapixel camera, WiFi and GPS, while the processor keeping everything chugging along is tipped as an 806MHz chip of unspecified origin.  According to Sunno, Chinese buyers will be able to pick up the S880 from October 15th.

While a dual-booting handset that can flip between Microsoft’s smartphone OS and Google’s might seem like madness, it does mean you could use the business-friendly Windows Mobile during the work day – after all, it does play exceptionally well with an Exchange server – and then flip over to the more carefree Android during your downtime.  No word on pricing, nor which cellular connectivity the S880 might have, but we don’t expect to see it in Europe or North America anyway.

[via WMPowerUser]

The document also confirms that the AT&T HTC Warhawk – aka the HTC Touch Diamond2 – will seemingly keep its VGA front-facing camera for videocalls and arrive with Windows Mobile 6.5, while the carrier’s Touch Pro2 will only get Windows Mobile 6.1.  Finally the Verizon Samsung Omnia is confirmed as the 8GB model with the 5-megapixel camera and packing Windows Mobile 6.1.

Of course, some of these details could be wrong – it’s unclear whether Sprint collated them from public sources, spec-sheets or somewhere else – and things like Windows Mobile versions could well be changed as release dates get pushed back.  Still, if you’re in the market for a touchscreen smartphone running Microsoft’s OS, and you can’t decide whether you want a hardware QWERTY keyboard or not, there’s plenty of choice just around the corner.

[via WMPowerUser]

Let’s be clear, while Windows Mobile’s UI is not as flashy or fluid as that of the iPhone, it certainly stacks up well against offerings from other vendors. This latest set of UI enhancements, along with hardware innovation from licensees HTC, Sony Ericsson and LG have also helped put a little more polish and chrome on the UI as well.

Just take a look at the HTC Touch Pro 2 if you want to see how far Windows Mobile has come these days. It’s not perfect but the key is that the core of the product works rather well and for synchronization with Exchange, there’s simply no better solution (or more cost effective solution, as pointed out in TCO study after TCO study). But Windows Mobile is more than just the Enterprise. Here are my top five reasons why we’re going to see Microsoft stay in the Windows Mobile game for some time to come.

1. Choice. Microsoft’s partners offer Windows Mobile devices (or Windows Phones as they’re now called) in in a variety of form factors. OEMs offer everything from touchscreen to full QWERTY keyboard as well as a range of devices in between. When it comes to mobile devices, one size does not fit all. In addition, Windows Phones are available from a range of carriers extending consumer choice even further.

2. Microsoft offers the best integration to Exchange via ActiveSync for sync of contacts, calendars and email. While other platforms have licensed the Exchange/ActiveSync protocol, no one else offers the degree of integration and management that Windows Mobile offers.

3. While email support is critical, it’s what’s in the email, often in the guise of attachments, that’s where the real information lies. Windows Mobile’s native support for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and One Note make it seamless to not only read the information but edit as needed as well.

4. Steve Ballmer is well noted for his mantra of developers, developers, developers. With Windows Marketplace for Mobile, which is a core part of 6.5 , Microsoft is emulating Apple with an integrated shopping experience that allows users to quickly find and purchase the latest application they’re looking for. While Microsoft does not have Apple’s 50,000 plus strong applications catalog, there have been more than 20,000 third party applications developed for Windows Mobile that extend the functionality of the platform. Moreover, the platform is completely open so developers need not use the store to deliver their applications if they choose not to.

5. Windows phones are among the few platforms that offer the ability to live in the intersection between business and personal spaces. The core software offers both business integration as well as entertainment and social features to seamlessly move between family and friends to co-workers and colleagues.

Today, it’s not just the IT department handing devices out to users. It’s people making the choice of platform and device to be used with both business and personal information and scenarios. Despite the negative hype, make no mistake, Windows Mobile should be still be on any mobile device purchase shortlist.

It also has a comprehensive sat-nav app from Garmin, which the company is hoping will differentiate the smartphone from rival devices.  Pricing in Taiwin is unknown, but Garmin-ASUS are expected to launch the handset in the Asia-Pacific region over the next few months, as well as Europe in the second half of 2009.  No US launch is expected.

That’s on top of a voice tariff, of course, the cheapest of which is $29.99 per month.  T-Mobile are offering either unlimited smartphone web access alone, for $24.99 per month, or unlimited web with unlimited messaging (SMS, MMS, IM and personal email) for $34.99.

Add that all up, plus the $35 activation fee, and you’re looking at $1,704.51 over the course of two years.  In fact that works out a little cheaper – around $200 – than a 16GB iPhone 3GS on AT&T with the minimum contracts, but even so it’s a hefty price for what will likely see a price tumble once Sprint’s CDMA version hits shelves on October 26th.

We’ve already seen the review, and our excitement only piqued when we started to see images of the TouchPro 2 showing off a 3.5mm headphone jack, but now it seems we may have something to frown about.  T-Mobile is looking to have the TouchPro 2 very soon, and they’re banking on the fact it’s business sense, Windows Mobile platform, and tilting capabilities will attract you to spend quite a bit of money. Based on the image we’re seeing of a T-Mobile price sheet, the TouchPro2 will sell for a hefty $549.99 off-contract, and $349.99 on a new two-year contract.  There isn’t any word on a mail-in rebate at this point, but let’s hope T-Mobile lets one slip through.

And if you don’t want to go for a two-year contract, then go ahead and pick the phone up for $399.99 on a one-year contract.

[via Tmo News]

There’s also Qualcomm’s 528MHz 7600 processor, paired with 256MB of RAM and a 512MB ROM, gpsOne (a combination of GPS and A-GPS) and, while CDMA for use in the US, supports GSM for international use.  Strangely, the Diamond 2 is tipped to arrive with Windows Mobile 6.1, rather than the newer Windows Mobile 6.5.

As for the HTC Mega, that’s an entry-level device with Windows Mobile 6.5, Qualcomm’s 528MHz 7225 processor, 256MB of both ROM and RAM and a 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen.  It has a 3-megapixel fixed-focus camera, gpsOne and GSM/GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA, and will run TouchFlo 2D.  No word on launch dates or which network we can expect to see it on.

Despite the naming similarities with the M5 and a certain uber-saloon from BMW, the Chinese phone is unlikely to whip along quite as fast.  Still, its Marvell PXA310 processor, at 624MHz, is faster than the 528MHz CPUs used in HTC’s most recent Windows Mobile handsets.

There’s also WiFi, GPS, a front-facing 0.3-megapixel camera for video calls, and a panel of entirely touch-sensitive controls rather than hardware buttons.  The M5 measures 105 x 56 x 12.9 mm.  It’s probably quite unlikely that we’ll see DEC bring it to the US, however.

[via WMpoweruser]

There’s also a 3.2-megapixel autofocus camera, GPS, Bluetooth and HTC’s TouchFLO 3D to make Windows Mobile 6.1 more palatable.  There’s no word on whether T-Mobile USA will be offering an upgrade to WM6.5 once then new OS becomes available later in the year; the Touch Pro2 has the correct buttons for it, but the carrier has not commented.

Unfortunately, unlike with its CDMA cousin HTC have not retro-fitted this particular Touch Pro2 with a standard 3.5mm headphone socket.  The T-Mobile HTC Touch Pro2 will be available in the US from August 12th, in the somewhat unappealing “mocha” color.

Press Release:

T-Mobile USA Debuts HTC Touch Pro2 in the U.S.

New Tilting Touchscreen Device Available to T-Mobile Customers in mid-August

Bellevue, Wash. — July 29, 2009 — T-Mobile USA, Inc., and HTC Corp. today announced the upcoming availability of the HTC Touch Pro2™, a powerful, stylish device with an intuitive touch screen and user interface that enables customers to simplify their communication and mobile Internet experience while staying connected, informed and in control of work and life. The device will be available in a mocha finish to T-Mobile customers beginning Aug. 12.

Enabled for T-Mobile’s expanding high-speed 3G network and Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g), the HTC Touch Pro2 offers fast data delivery and an enhanced Web-browsing experience along with popular features such as built-in GPS and location-based services. Featuring a 3.6-inch color WVGA touchscreen that slides back and tilts up to reveal a full-QWERTY keyboard, the screen is perfectly positioned for reading and creating e-mail, browsing the Web, using applications, and playing videos and games. A 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus also provides customers with an easy way to capture and share high-quality images and video as well as view that content on the crisp display.

The HTC Touch Pro2 also offers an efficient way for customers to manage their daily lives, whether at work or play. A single contact view displays the individual conversation history regardless of whether voice, text or e-mail was used. The HTC Touch Pro2 also includes Straight Talk technology, an integrated e-mail, voice and speakerphone experience that provides a simple way to respond to e-mail via a call, allows organizing conference calls from group e-mail, and makes it easy to turn any location into a conference room. Straight Talk delivers a high-fidelity voice and sound experience enhanced by asymmetric speakers and advanced noise suppression with full-duplex acoustics.

HTC’s latest TouchFLO 3D interface is deeply integrated into a customized version of Windows Mobile 6.1 to deliver maximum consistency throughout Windows Mobile applications and menus. This makes it easy for customers to view, edit and update Microsoft documents, conveniently access calendars and manage to-do lists. Access to Microsoft Voice Command also simplifies locating contacts in the address book, making phone calls, getting calendar information, playing music and starting programs. The HTC Touch Pro2 is also stereo Bluetooth® capable.

“This summer, many people are balancing summer vacations and time away from the office with the pressures of the workplace,” said Travis Warren, director, product marketing, T-Mobile USA. “We are pleased to announce the HTC Touch Pro2, a uniquely designed device that will help customers manage their day-to-day activities, whether they are in the office or working from an airport, the local playground or the car.”

“The HTC Touch Pro2 offers the most powerful productivity experience available on a mobile phone, while also delivering unparalleled elegance in both its exterior and user interface design,” said Jason Mackenzie, vice president of HTC America. “HTC and T-Mobile have a history of introducing groundbreaking products, and this collaboration continues with the debut of this highly anticipated device to the U.S. market.”
The new HTC Touch Pro2 is expected to be available nationwide in mid-August at T-Mobile retail stores, select authorized dealers and online at http://www.T-Mobile.com.

For information where T-Mobile 3G service is available or to see T-Mobile’s Personal Coverage Check tool, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com/Coverage.

Other aspects of the prize package include a “one of a kind” trophy for you to put on your mantelpiece and plenty of promotion from Microsoft themselves.  The categories include:

• Most downloads of a free application
• Most valuable application (judged by downloads x price)
• Most useful application (judged by a Microsoft panel)
• Most playful application (again, judged by a Microsoft panel)

Entries to the challenge will be accepted until December 31st 2009, and you can find the full details here.  As for how the Marketplace for Mobile submissions process will work generally, there’s a lengthy 28-page PDF here which explains it all; perhaps the most important details are that Microsoft are promising approvals in 10 business days or less, and that the much-discussed $99-for-five-submissions fee is still in place.

[via jkOnTheRun]

Video hands-on after the cut

For a start there’s that 3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED resistive touchscreen, plus either 8 or 16GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot.  The GT-i8000 has a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with dual LED flash and geotagging, face/smile detection, digital image stabilization and 15fps video recording.  Connectivity includes WiFi b/g, Bluetooth with A2DP support, a microUSB port, 3.5mm headphones socket and quadband 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/EDGE data.

Finally there’s an accelerometer, GPS, DivX/Xvid support, an FM radio with RDS, 800MHz CPU and a 1,500mAh battery, all squashed into a phone 118 x 59.6 x 11.9 mm in size.  In fact the only real drawback about the GT-i8000 is that it runs Windows Mobile 6.1, which even Samsung’s TouchWiz 2.0 UI can’t really save.  Still no word from either the Canadian or US carrier as to whether they’ll be offering the Omnia II GT-i8000.

[via Nowhere Else; via BGR]

Release schedules for the nuvifone G60 have been something of a running joke over the past year, with the handset first tipped to arrive in Q2 2008.  It’s a quadband GSM, triband (850/1900/2100) HSDPA 3.6Mbps device, with WiFi b/g, Bluetooth, a 3-megapixel autofocus camera and, of course, GPS.  It runs Garmin’s custom software on top of a Linux core, with a 3.55-inch resistive touchscreen and up to 4hrs talktime.

As for the M20, that runs Windows Mobile 6.1 and has dualband HSPA (900/2100), WiFi b/g, Bluetooth and a 3-megapixel autofocus camera.  Its display is smaller, at 2.8-inches, still resistive, and there’s GPS for geotagging and navigation.  No prices for either device have been released.

The release ties into a preview piece from a Malaysian site [via GPSTracklog] published earlier this week, with more screenshots than you could hope for and, in the short time they had to play, generally positive feedback.  You can check out our hands-on with the two nuvifone models here. 

Press Release:

Garmin-Asus nüvifone™ Available for Purchase in Asia

CAYMAN ISLANDS & TAIPEI, Taiwan–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Garmin-Asus, a co-branded alliance between Garmin® Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN) and ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (TAIEX: 2357), announced that the Garmin-Asus nüvifone G60 will go on sale in Taiwan on July 27, and in Singapore and Malaysia by the end of August. Also in August, the Garmin-Asus nüvifone M20 will go on sale in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.

“We can’t wait for our customers to start using a nüvifone,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s president and COO. “Our lives are all about location. The nüvifone is designed around that premise and that’s what differentiates it from the myriad of other phones on the market.”

“Whether it’s talking and navigating simultaneously, geotagging a photograph or navigating to an address on the web, the nüvifone seamlessly links navigation with other commonly performed activities,” said Benson Lin, Asus Vice President and General Manager of Handheld Business Group.

The Navigation Phone

The Garmin-Asus nüvifone series is a breakthrough product line that integrates navigation and location based services (LBS) like no other phone in the market today. It is ideal for those seeking an all-in-one, LBS-centric touchscreen phone, mobile web-browser and personal navigator. The nüvifone G60 and M20 have touchscreen displays that feature three primary icons – “Call,” “Search” and “View Map.” Customers can easily scroll through the other icons by swiping their finger across the displays, and a built-in accelerometer allows every screen to be viewed in either portrait or landscape orientation.

Navigate Wherever, Whenever

The nüvifone G60 and M20 come with preloaded maps of North America, Eastern and Western Europe, or specific Asia-Pacific regions. Since the maps reside on the nüvifone, customers will receive turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions to millions of destinations without accessing their carrier’s data plan. The nüvifone G60 and M20 utilize a real GPS receiver with hotfix, in addition to A-GPS (assisted GPS), so that customers always have directions at their fingertips, regardless of if they are in their provider’s coverage area.

Just as with Garmin’s acclaimed nüvi® product line, the nüvifone series has millions of preloaded points of interest (POIs) including hotels, restaurants and street addresses. The POIs can be easily accessed for turn-by-turn voice prompted directions. If a turn is missed along the route, the nüvifone G60 and M20 will automatically recalculate a route and get the user back on track. The nüvifone also offers a “Where am I?” feature so that users will know their exact latitude and longitude coordinates, nearest address, intersection, hospital, police station and gas station with one touch of the screen. And to help them find their car in an unfamiliar spot or crowded parking lot, the nüvifone automatically marks the position in which it was last removed from the windshield mount. The nüvifone comes with a unique suction cup mount cradle that fastens to the windshield and will also charge the device while it is being used.

Connect and Communicate

Although navigation is a key component of the nüvifone series, the devices do more than “just navigate.” Both the nüvifone G60 and M20 incorporate top-of-the-line phone capabilities with premium features such as 3.5G data connectivity, SMS text messaging, email, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and more.

The nüvifone G60 and M20 have a full HTML browser that customers can easily zoom in or pan with their finger, and pages may be viewed in either portrait or landscape. Users can surf the web on their phone via Wi-Fi or 3G networks, and the pages are presented similar to a PC browser.

Everything You Need

Customers will also enjoy the benefit of location-based services seamlessly integrated with nüvifone’s intuitive user interface and turn-by-turn navigation. Users can supplement the preloaded POI data with Internet enabled local searches and automatically navigate around traffic congestion while seeing the estimated traffic delay along their route. Other services include weather, gas prices, flight status, local events, movie times, Ciao!™and more (content pricing and availability may vary by country).

The nüvifone G60 and M20 include a built-in camera with auto-focus. The camera automatically geotags images with an exact latitude and longitude reference of where the image was taken. The user may then save the image so they can navigate back to the location or email the geo-tagged image to others. The nüvifone also provides direct access to millions of geo-located landmark and sightseeing photographs available through select picture sharing site, which are searchable and are sorted by the distance from the current location.

Specifications

nüvifone G60 nüvifone M20
2G Connectivity Quad-band GSM / GPRS / Edge 850/900/1800/1900 Tri-band GSM / GPRS / Edge 900/1800/1900
3G Connectivity 850/1900/2100 HSDPA 3.6 Mbps 900/2100 HSPA 7.2 Mbps
Other Connectivity 802.11 b/g WLAN, Bluetooth, HFP, HSP, AVRCP, A2DP mini-USB 2.0 802.11 b/g WLAN, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, HFP, HSP, A2DP, AVRCP, mini USB 2.0
OS Linux (closed platform) Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional (Upgradeable to WM 6.5)
Camera 3MP camera with auto-focus and geo-tagging 3MP camera with auto-focus and geo-tagging
Dimensions 112 x 58.1 x 14.6 mm 95.3 x 52.5 x 12.8 mm
Display 3.55″, 65K, anti-glare resistive touchscreen 2.8″, 65K, TFT with touch lens
Email POP3 / IMAP4 / SMTP Push / Enterprise / POP3 / IMAP4 / SMTP
Internet HTML browser based on Webkit platform OPERA browser, HTML, WAP 1.2.1/2.0
Messaging SMS SMS / MMS / IM
Talk Time Up to 4 hours 3G: Up to 3.5 hours / 2G: Up to 2.8 hours

Price and Availability

The nüvifone G60 will be available in Taiwan on July 27, and in Singapore and Malaysia by the end of August. The nüvifone G60’s distribution strategy for the Asia-Pacific market will differ by country. In Asia, it will be available through carriers and retail channels. The nüvifone G60 is on schedule for delivery in Europe and the United States in the second half of 2009, and additional details about pricing, availability and carriers will be announced in the coming months.

The nüvifone M20 will be available in August in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. The nüvifone M20’s distribution strategy for the Asia-Pacific market will differ by country. In Asia, it will be available through carriers and retail channels. The nüvifone M20 is on schedule for delivery in Europe in the second half of 2009, and additional details about pricing, availability and carriers will be announced in the coming months.

Additional information about the nüvifone product line is available at www.GarminAsus.com.

About Garmin-Asus

Garmin-Asus is a co-branded strategic alliance that enables Garmin Ltd. and ASUSTeK Computer Inc. to combine their complementary resources to develop world class LBS-centric mobile phones.

About Garmin Ltd.

The global leader in satellite navigation, Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries have designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications since 1989 – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin’s virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200.

About ASUS

ASUS is a leading company in the new digital era. With a global staff of more than ten thousand and a world-class R&D design team, the company’s revenue for 2008 was 8.1 billion U.S. dollars. ASUS ranks among BusinessWeek’s “InfoTech 100,” and has been on the listing for 12 consecutive years.

ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Garmin and nüvi are registered trademarks, and nüvifone and Ciao! are trademarks, of Garmin Ltd.

All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Worse, having spoken to Samsung, it seems that the chance of an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5 when the new platform launches later this year is unlikely.  Samsung’s TouchWiz interface has been freshly worked-over to suit the Mondi’s orientation and abilities, but it still lags in places; flipping the 3D cube-style UI sometimes takes a few flicks, and while the homescreen supports widgets there are a very limited number to choose from.

Still, when it grabbed a WiMAX signal Opera Mobile loaded pages quickly, complete with Flash Lite support for animations and streaming video.  Better, says Mies, than the iPhone 3GS, which is high praise indeed.  Coverage is likely to be the deciding factor with the Samsung Mondi; it’ll apparently be $300 subsidized or $400 unsubsidized, though if you’re not catered for with WiMAX then you can probably find a better MID for your money.

The Mondi has a 4.3-inch touchscreen and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, together with WiFi connectivity and GPS for turn-by-turn directions courtesy of Route 66.  Since it’s based on Windows Mobile, it has integrated messaging and Exchange support, together with the usual bevy of productivity and PM apps.

As of August 1st, the Samsung Mondi will go on sale at Clearwire retail outlets and select Best Buy stores in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Portland, OR.  No word on pricing as yet.  Clearwire also reveal that Panasonic will be releasing a WiMAX Toughbook notebook later on in 2009.

Press Release:

Samsung Mobile Launches First WiMAX-Enabled Mobile Internet Device for Commercial Service

Full Broadband Speeds, HTML Web Experience with Touch Screen and Mobile WiMAX/WiFi Access Powered by Samsung Mondi™

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced the commercial availability of the Samsung Mondi™, the most advanced Mobile WiMAX-enabled handheld device in the U.S. The touch screen Mondi, which is Latin for “world,” is designed for use with the Clear™ Mobile WiMAX service from Clearwire in the activated markets of Atlanta, Las Vegas, Portland, OR and future WiMAX markets.

The Samsung Mondi can harness upload and download speeds that double comparable devices running on 3G networks while taking advantage of the widespread connectivity of Mobile WiMAX. The Mondi is also equipped with WiFi, allowing users to keep strong wireless connections while working outside designated Mobile WiMAX markets.

Available in a solid black finish, this device slides open horizontally to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. The Mondi is packed with multimedia features that offer instant access to E-mail, Internet, video content and business applications. The device also supports various services including Fring™, Gypsii™, and Windows Live Messenger. The Mondi is equipped for GPS Navigation through Route 66, providing turn-by-turn directions.

The Mondi’s compact design provides the user with a more mobile form factor and ease-of-use than the typical laptop or netbook. While it is small enough to fit into the user’s hand or pocket, the Mondi packs an impressive Web browser, powered by Opera 9.5, which takes full advantage of the device’s 4.3-inch touch screen.

“The Mondi is a perfect example of the powerful and stylish innovation that Samsung is bringing to the U.S. mobile market,” said Omar Khan, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Product Management for Samsung Mobile. “The Mondi packs productivity tools, entertainment options and content management applications into a compact device that is flexible and intuitive.”

The Mondi is completely customizable, thanks to a set of widgets that can be dragged and dropped anywhere on the display screen for easy viewing and use. The Mondi is also an excellent device for work or for play. WiFi connectivity offers the business user fast and simple connections to Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile and many other vertical business applications outside the Clear service area.

“With the Samsung Mondi, people can take advantage of powerful broadband speeds to access familiar, easy-to-use software like Microsoft Office Mobile on a sleek, new mobile Internet device,” said Stephanie Ferguson, general manager of the Business Experiences Team at Microsoft Corp.

The Mondi is currently available on www.Samsung.com and at select Samsung authorized distributors.

Starting August 1, 2009, the Samsung Mondi will be available at Clearwire retail outlets and select Best Buy stores located in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Portland, OR.

Samsung is the global leader in delivering mobile WiMAX technologies and offers an end-to-end solution including chipsets, infrastructure, mobile devices and consumer electronics, including devices capable of accessing both mobile WiMAX and other wireless technologies. UQ Communications in Japan and Scartel LLC., in Russia are examples of other operators preparing for significant commercial deployment of nation-wide service using Samsung’s Mobile WiMAX total solution.

About Samsung Telecommunications America

Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungmobileusa.com.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2008 consolidated sales of US$96 billion. Employing approximately 164,600 people in 179 offices across 61 countries, the company consists of two business units: Digital Media & Communications and Device Solutions. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

When it first launched, we described the TG01 as a phone of superlatives; that still stands true today.  Most obvious are its display – a full 4.1-inches of resistive WVGA touchscreen – and slender dimensions, measuring just 9.9mm thick.  Less obvious, but with no less appeal, is the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset inside, which at 1GHz well outpaces any rival device.  Into the 129 x 70 x 9.9 mm, 129 gram frame Toshiba also pour an accelerometer, WiFi b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, 2100MHz HSDPA and HSUPA, together with a microSD card slot and A-GPS.

Physical controls are minimal, with the power button (which also serves to lock the handset) halfway down the left-hand side, and the volume controls curiously all the way down underneath it.  we can only assume there wasn’t enough space at the top for their internal mechanics.  On the right-hand side there’s a camera shortcut key and a micro USB port hidden behind a fiddly tab; that tab must be open in order to remove the fragile-feeling plastic back cover.  Inside there’s the reset button, a 1,000mAh Li-Ion battery, SIM slot and microSD card slot.  The latter two require the battery be removed in order to access them, which is a frustration when it comes to the memory card.  Happily Orange provide an 8GB card rather than the usual measly 1GB or 2GB most carriers give out, so you may be able to escape changing it regularly.

In terms of software, Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 6.1 does duty here.  It’s almost a rarity these days to be testing a WinMo device without HTC branding, and so we’ve been eagerly awaiting Toshiba’s own UI efforts.  As with HTC and Samsung, Toshiba have whipped up a more aesthetically pleasing overlay that sits on top of the more mundane OS; in this case, it’s a series of colored vertical bars that can be panned across, three to a screen, each offering various shortcuts.

If you think that sounds like a launcher, you’d be right.  As standard each bar shows three icons, though you can swipe up to show several more spaces to fit in more shortcuts.  Happily, despite carrier Orange’s – who hold exclusivity for the TG01 in the UK – reputation for unavoidable customization of handsets, here even their iconography can be junked in favor of your own shortcuts, whether they be webpage links, specific media files or apps.

Overlaid above the bars is a status box, which can be switched between various information panes.  As standard it offers links to unseen SMS, emails and phone calls, but it can also show the time, a calendar or be blanked altogether.  Unfortunately there’s no way to customize it with your own information, and nor is there any way to squeeze more than the default level of detail into the pane.  Given the scale of the display Toshiba have to work with, that’s a shame.  Down at the bottom of the screen, soft keys work in tandem with touch-sensitive buttons, the call/end on-screen buttons being smaller than we’d like and flanking menu and context-sensitive keys.  Underneath, there’s a home button and a back key, both touch-sensitive but lacking any sort of vibration-style feedback to let you know you’ve tapped them, and a strip which acts as the launch point for the on-screen D-pad.

This D-pad is summoned by pressing on the strip and dragging up across the display, bringing with it not only directional controls but a Start menu shortcut and Ok button.  Translucent, it can be dragged about the screen and used for navigating larger webpages instead of tapping and dragging.

With no silo for the stylus (and the one Toshiba providing being cheap and perfunctory at best), the company’s UI is thankfully finger-friendly.  It’s tough to describe it as attractive, though; the shortcut buttons are unnecessarily small, and the zoom-effect when tapped causes them to pixelate unpleasantly.  Pane navigation, too, is jerky, though it’s also quick.  The biggest drawback, however, is the depth of the UI, or rather the lack of it.  Where you can use a modern HTC Windows Mobile smartphone for day to day tasks without encountering the Microsoft OS, the same simply cannot be said for the TG01.  Every commonly-used app – whether messaging, contacts, calendar or phone calling – are standard WinMo fare.

That obviously loses the TG01 points on the aesthetic scale, but it also conspires to waste the span of its display.  Dialogs, menus and layouts that Microsoft designed for touchscreens half the size are left swimming on the Toshiba’s 4.1-inch panel, but more criminally the times when you’d really like something to be larger – a menu option, say, or an OK button – they’re still slightly undersized for a fingertip.  Yes, you can navigate sans stylus, but there’s always a pause before you tap as you line-up.

Happily Toshiba have loaded their own QWERTY keyboard onto the TG01, and that makes better use of the space.  Separate screens for a phone-keypad style layout, traditional QWERTY and numbers/symbols (the latter with seven pages of different characters) are on offer, together with auto-completion.  Some of the niceties we’re used to from other touchscreen keyboards aren’t offered, however; there’s no pop-up to show which letter your finger is pressing, and nor is there a comprehensive auto-correction to smooth over common mis-types.  The auto-completion is relatively comprehensive in its offerings, but they’re presented in an undersized list, again at odds with the screen space to play with.  Most criminally, though, is the placing of the space bar in the horizontal QWERTY layout, pushed all the way to the left of the ‘Z’ key and the same size as the letters.  When HTC can make a workable on-screen keyboard on the comparatively compact 2.8-inch Touch Diamond2, we’d expect at least the same from Toshiba.

Still, horizontal support in every app is something we’ve been asking HTC for repeatedly, and the TG01 brings it first time around.  Even the homescreen UI caters for it, re-orienting so that the bars can be readily paged through with the right-hand thumb.  Despite the 1GHz processor, though, there’s a curious amount of lag involved in screen rotation, with almost three seconds before the display catches up to how you’re holding the smartphone.  Similarly, waking the TG01 from standby is also a bizarrely punctuated affair, with the side-button requiring a lengthy press and then several seconds of screen blackness before the phone comes to life.

If we’re honest, we’d say it’s difficult to tell that this is a Snapdragon handset at all.  Once underway, apps generally move swiftly – the File Explorer is particularly swift to navigate between folders, something previous WinMo handsets have proved more sluggish at – but it’s not the overwhelming rush of immediacy we perhaps hoped for.  Third party software might coax more obvious performance improvements out of the TG01, and we were impressed by the trial of Orange Maps preloaded (its panning swiftness, at least, though we prefer Google Maps’ interface).

One area where you’d expect the TG01 to shine is media playback, both for its horsepower and the size of its display.  As well as the standard Windows Media Player you’ll find on every WinMo device, there’s a second app called Video Player and a third called Coreplayer.  All three do pretty much the same thing, offering a variety of codec support, but we wish Toshiba had picked just one app and given it a TG01-considerate skin.  Video playback is either in a tiny box in the middle of the screen, surrounded by control buttons swimming in unused bezel, or you switch to full-screen and are a couple of taps away from controlling playback. Again, the common refrain is “build your apps to suit your screen”, especially when you’ve inches to spare as on the TG01.

Still, in full-screen mode there’s enough space to really get into a video, even if the TG01′s ambient light sensor seems determined to cut out as much backlighting as possible.  That only serves to emphasize how glossy the display is, and the struggles in best positioning the phone will make you long for a kick-stand on the back.  Media files can be loaded either via microSD card or by plugging the TG01 into your computer; it shows up as an external drive, and you can drag & drop content across.  Alternatively Coreplayer has a YouTube viewer, though this pales in comparison to the well-designed and usable HTC version.

We’d recommend a set of Bluetooth headphones for use with the TG01, unless you’re a very careful user indeed.  Since there’s no standard 3.5mm headphone socket, you’re forced to use the Toshiba adapter or the supplied headset which both plug into the micro USB port on the side.  The adapter does, at least, have a microphone and control button, together with a socket for your favorite headphones, but both it and the Toshiba headset seem precarious and destined to snap, protruding as they do from the side of the phone.  What’s a wide device to start with gets even wider: almost 10cm across with the adapter plugged in.  Happily audio quality is decent, though the supplied headset is as uninspiring as such included accessories usually are.

Just as anticipated as media playback is Snapdragon’s impact on mobile gaming, and Toshiba and Orange load a demo of Need For Speed Undercover and Monopoly onto the TG01 to whet your appetite.  Compared to the usual Windows Mobile stalwarts of Bubble Breaker and Solitaire, that’s got to be a bonus; however a few minutes of play left us distinctly unimpressed.  Need For Speed Undercover seems to have been ported over from a non-touchscreen device with a much smaller display, as dialogs are tiny and require scrolling through rather than tapping to select.  Actual car control is done via on-screen buttons, which seems odd considering the TG01 has an accelerometer.  We had visions of holding the smartphone horizontally, iPod touch style, and tilting to steer, but NFS:Undercover is locked into portrait orientation.  It’s an uninspiring inclusion, and leaves the floor open for a third-party to hopefully deliver more impressive TG01 mobile gaming.

As we’ve already said, the TG01′s camera is a 3.2-megapixel unit with autofocus but no flash.  It will shoot both JPEG still images or 3GP or MP4 format video in a choice of QVGA or VGA resolutions, and there’s a dedicated camera button on the right-hand side of the phone.  Flipping the TG01 either to the left or the right will rotate the camera display accordingly, and there are on-screen buttons to lock focus (center-spot only, no selective tap-to-focus here) and switch between resolutions.  Tapping to start recording or snap a frame triggers a surprisingly loud musical jangle or camera shutter noise, which we couldn’t readily turn off.

Image quality is fair, though you’ll need decent light to get the best results.  Without a flash or LED light, indoor shots can be dark and lacking in detail, and night images are bordering on unusable.  Video quality is good, particularly in VGA resolution, though there’s no digital zoom (only in QVGA mode); we’d prefer recording to start as soon as you tap the camera icon, though, rather than take a few seconds.  Once you’ve finished, the TG01 gives the option to play the clip or send it via email or MMS (though not Bluetooth, and there’s no YouTube upload option).

We had high hopes for the TG01′s performance as a web browsing device, and were disappointed to see that Toshiba failed to offer anything other than the basic Internet Explorer Mobile 6.  Having been spoilt with Opera Mobile on HTC devices, we didn’t hold our breath with for IEM6; however, with a few tweaks (primarily to ensure you see desktop webpages, rather than their mobile versions) it’s actually pretty usable.  Rendering is quick and, once you’ve trained yourself to tap firmly on the resistive touchscreen, dragging around pages is impressively smooth.  There’s also Flash support, so YouTube video loads in-page and plays with no issues, though some sites did warn us that the version of Flash offered was insufficient for their content.

Try to get more in depth with webpages, however, and the cracks begin to show.  Zooming is handled by the touch-strip at the bottom of the phone, and is jerky and counter-intuitive, while tapping a block of text will only zoom in to a certain, not-quite-enough point and fails to re-format it as you’d find on Mobile Safari on the iPhone.  The touchscreen is not as finger-forgiving as we’d like, either, which can make selecting links frustrating, and there’s no tabbed browsing as you’d get in rival apps.

As a phone, the TG01 puts in a decent performance, with reasonable sound quality for both parties and a clear, well-spaced dialer app.  WinMo6.1′s ready integration with Exchange  means the contacts app can be speedily filled; alternatively, Google Sync brings any contacts (and appointments) in from their service.  One minor frustration is trying to get to a number pad mid-call, such as when navigating automated menus; this requires a couple of taps, rather than being an upfront option.

As for battery life, runtimes were never going to be superlative when you consider the size constraints involved.  Standby times were reasonable, but the combined impact of the large display, processor and wireless connectivity meant we needed to recharge the TG01 nightly.  Turning off push email made a significant difference, as did throttling back the CPU, though we considered that to be contrary to the nature of the handset.

Just when you think, though, that Toshiba rushed the TG01 out with the barest possible tweaks, they surprise you with an unexpected feature.  Included in the box is a micro USB to USB port adapter, meaning the smartphone supports USB Host: plug in a thumb-drive and its contents show up in File Explorer; add a USB keyboard or mouse, and you’ve turned your TG01 into a MID of sorts.  In our experience the functionality works as long as the device you’re connecting doesn’t require specific drivers or software.

So equipped, the Toshiba TG01 gets something of a new lease of life.  We already know that Snapdragon is enough for basic netbook functionality – Qualcomm and their hardware partners have already been showing off reference designs – and with the right software the TG01 could make for an interesting mobile work or blogging platform.  It won’t replace a laptop, certainly, but for keeping up with email and even basic document editing in Office Mobile (which includes Word, OneNote, Excel and PowerPoint mobile clients) the addition of a keyboard and mouse bypass the frustrations of the on-screen ‘board.  Again, it’s Windows Mobile 6.1 that proves the biggest sticking point, and with no Windows Marketplace for Mobile yet (it will arrive on WM6.1 by the end of the year, we’re told, but by then Orange will have made Windows Mobile 6.5 available for TG01 owners) it requires users to go out and find the productivity apps that would make this a viable MID-style platform.

Ironically, then, it’s not some speedy third-party who have stolen Toshiba’s thunder, but the company themselves.  In their rush to get the TG01 to market, they’ve lumbered it with an aging platform and a UI with all the allure of a poorly fitting suit.  Snapdragon and the biggest display on a Windows Mobile phone on the market should be irresistible draws, but the take-away impression of the TG01 is of a device half-hearted in its delivery and frustrating in its execution.  You can’t really ask for a better head-start than a 4.1-inch touchscreen when it comes to finger-friendliness, but pokey, inconsistent iconography leave you scraping at the TG01 with a fingernail.

Windows Mobile 6.5 could solve many of the Toshiba TG01′s woes, and we’re pleased to hear that Orange will be delivering upgrades to the new OS once it’s available.  We’re just not sure we could live with the TG01 experience as it stands until then.

The Toshiba TG01 is available in the UK on Orange now, priced from free on new qualifying plans.

Unboxing and UI overview video:

Contrary to initial reports that the Marketplace would run solely on Windows Mobile 6.5 devices and above, Microsoft have also confirmed that the download store will be available on WM6.0 and 6.1 by the end of 2009.  Given the number of devices in circulation running WM6.1 alone, and uncertainties about which smartphones will be eligible for 6.5 upgrades, that certainly makes sense for widening Microsoft’s user base.

Microsoft have also revealed a “dedicated Business Center” which will focus on distributing and marketing enterprise-style applications.  There will also be an application development contest kicking off from July 27th, though full details are yet to be revealed.

Unboxing video after the cut

The big question is, though: do all of these things push the TG01 past what’s potentially its biggest hurdle, the Windows Mobile 6.1 OS?  Toshiba are clear that the TG01 will be readily compatible with WM6.5, but as things stand it’s lumbered with an OS that, visually at least, pales when faced with the smartphone competition.

It’s too early to say exactly whether they manage it or not, but there’s obviously been a lot of work put into making the TG01 distinctive.  In the hand it’s a slick, impressive piece of kit, surprisingly slim and lightweight, and the touchscreen – while resistive – certainly isn’t as bad as some we’ve played with.  For now, enjoy the unboxing video below; we’ll have the full review very soon. 

Toshiba TG01 unboxing video & UI overview:

In the box there’s the Pro2 itself, a spare stylus, wired stereo handsfree kit, a case with magnetic closure (though no belt clip or loop), a USB to ExtUSB cable and an AC power adapter. Our full unboxing video is further down the page; you can find our first-impressions with the Pro2 here. In terms of connectivity there’s 900/2100MHz HSPA/WCDMA and quadband 850/900/1800/1900MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE, together with WiFi b/g and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR with A2DP support.

HTC’s hardware keyboards have won no small number of fans over the past few years, and we were relieved to find that the Pro2 certainly delivers on that count. The screen section clicks out with a firm, solid slide, revealing a well-spaced QWERTY layout. As well as a dedicated number row there are shortcuts for messaging, SMS, internet and the wireless connection manager. Key travel is good – for a portable keyboard – with a quiet though tactile click leaving no confusion as to whether a button has been pressed. The whole ‘board is backlit, and despite the metal trim on the screen bezel the weight balance in your hands is excellent.

In a welcome comeback from earlier devices, the Pro2′s display also tilts once it is fully-opened, up to around 45-degrees from the horizontal. There’s a little wobble in the friction-fit hinges, though the display itself stays put no matter how long it’s extended. Here, though, the weight balance of the Pro2 is not quite ideal, with the smartphone having a tendency to rock back slightly as the curved back-plate and heavy screen section make themselves known.

The other controls pale in comparison to the keyboard, with the main row of four under the screen – call, Windows, back and end-call – small and with hard to read legends. As with the Diamond2, sandwiched between display and keys is a touch-sensitive zoom bar, used in the Pro2′s browser and image viewer. It allowed for a less-jerky zoom than we found the Diamond2 capable of, though we’d still like to see it implemented in more apps. Why can’t we slide through tabs in TouchFLO 3D with the zoom bar, enlarge text in the messaging app or fast-forward through media playback?

As for the screen, at 3.6-inches that gains a welcome 0.4-inches over the Diamond2 (though is still 0.2-inches less than the Touch HD) with the same WVGA 800 x 480 resolution. Colors are bright and well-saturated, and the active backlighting – which adjusts brightness in accordance to ambient conditions – seems to have more scope for change than on previous HTC phones we’ve used. The Pro2 uses a resistive touchscreen, which will obviously have its detractors among the capacitive-camp. In this case it requires a firm touch or tap, harder than on the Diamond2, and lacks some of the glass-like stiffness of the Touch HD. One side-effect of this is that you’ll have to support the back of the phone while tapping the folded-upright screen, otherwise it rocks backward. Still, it proved accurate and usable, as well as reluctant to accidentally respond when held to the face during calls.

Call quality often gets dumped to the bottom of a smartphone review, with other, glossier features getting the attention. In the case of the Touch Pro2, however, it deserves equal billing: this is an excellent device for voice calls. The earpiece is full-bodied and clear, while the microphone does an excellent job; callers had no problem hearing us. HTC have also included their latest speakerphone technology, “Straight Talk”, activated by flipping the phone face-down. Do that, and the Pro2′s speakers and dual microphone array click into action, using noise-cancellation technology to maximize sound quality. Cellphone speakerphones often turn out better suited to acting as a music loudspeaker than for hands-free calls, but the Pro2 does an admirable job keeping things clear and very loud. Meanwhile software tweaks make adding participants into conference calls is far quicker than on rival handsets, while taking part in third-party calls (admittedly not something we do that often) has its own dedicated scheduler with time and PIN reminders together with an on-screen “call” button. The oversized volume controls are easily accessible, and there’s a handy microphone-mute button just below the camera.

As for that camera, it comes in at 3.2-megapixels with autofocus but no flash. Like earlier HTC cameras, you can selectively focus by tapping a point on the preview screen; shots are taken relatively quickly, and there are a range of settings – white balance, exposure, etc – that can be tweaked, together with basic effects such as sepia and negative. Image quality didn’t impress as much as with other recent HTC handsets, looking a little more grainy than we’ve come to expect, while video shows the usual cameraphone proclivity to blurring and smearing when shooting fast-moving subjects. Unlike other platforms, Windows Mobile lacks any sort of quick-upload feature for either stills or video footage, something we wish HTC had carried over from their Android devices as part of TouchFLO 3D.

What you do get with TouchFLO 3D is a far more integrated Windows Mobile experience than on any other Microsoft-based device – bar the Diamond2 – to date. Contacts are linked into recent calls, messages and emails, while the calendar gets promoted to its own homescreen tab. There’s still the occasional Windows Mobile 6.1 dialog – adding a new calendar entry, for instance, or if you want to load anything but the most basic contact details to the address book – but this latest iteration of TouchFLO 3D is the best yet at hiding the ugly underlying platform. In fact, it’s not even Windows Mobile 6.5 that presents the most challenge to TouchFLO 3D: it’s HTC’s own Sense UI as seen on the recently-announced HTC Hero Android smartphone. HTC have already admitted that Sense as on the Hero is the culmination of three years of TouchFLO development, and we’re hopeful that this new platform returns the favor and hands back some of the gloss to upcoming Windows Mobile devices.

Internet access on the Pro2 is courtesy of Opera Mobile, and as ever it’s a slick method of browsing. The same push-page system as on the Diamond2 – where you can have the smartphone cache recent versions of a webpage on a preset schedule, for speedy access even without a connection – is present, while the Google search box is on the internet tab in TouchFLO 3D thus cutting out an extra tap. Considering its proficiency, some of the standard settings for Opera are confusing; we’d suggest increasing the number of simultaneous tabs from the default three, together with changing the “minimum overview zoom” figure under “Adaptive Zoom” to 70 to 100-percent. The latter will allow you to select links without having to zoom in first, something eminently possible with the Pro2′s expansive display.

The Pro2 also has GPS, which works as you’d expect from previous smartphones. Google Maps with Latitude support, satellite views and directions is pre-installed, while the QuickGPS app is used to speed up satellite acquisition times. We found the phone a little slower than others to fix its position, and the tougher touchscreen made smooth map panning a little trickier, but the hardware keyboard made tapping in addresses far quicker than trying to do so on-screen (especially when trying to walk at the same time).

Media functionality isn’t the focus of the Pro2, but that doesn’t mean it’s incapable. As well as the usual Windows Mobile media player there’s HTC’s own audio and video playback, together with a decent range of supported formats. AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, QCP, MP3, WMA, WAV, MIDI and M4A audio is accommodated, as is WMV, ASF, MP4, 3GP, 3G2, M4V and AVI video. The Pro2 actually makes for a neat desktop video player, with the tilting screen ideal for hands-free viewing; it’s also compatible with HTC’s TV Out cable, meaning you can pump out footage (or, if you want to stick it on expenses, PowerPoint presentations) to a TV or projector. Sadly there’s no such cable included in the box, while another odd omission is the FM radio you find on the Diamond2. HTC have been accused of failing to software-enable an otherwise present FM radio module on previous handsets, so we’re not sure whether this is a technical limitation or a case of jaded product positioning.

The Pro2 isn’t without flaws, and one of the most frustrating is the lack of a 3.5mm headset socket. HTC still maintain that this is reserved for their consumer range of devices, but in our experience business customers are just as likely to want to plug in a wired hands-free kit of their choice (or enjoy a few MP3s on the commute into work) as anybody else. The omission is compounded by the fact that HTC don’t bundle the ExtUSB-to-3.5mm-jack adapter with the Pro2, a miserly touch considering this is effectively their Windows Mobile flagship. The included headset is reasonable, but only in terms of what you might typically find bundled in with a smartphone.

Perhaps the missing socket is a casualty of space shortages, but the upshot to that isn’t a compact handset. At 116 x 59.2 x 17.25 mm (4.57 x 2.33 x 0.68 inches) and 187.5g (6.61oz) this is a hefty chunk of smartphone; you can carry it in a front trouser pocket, certainly, but you’ll definitely know it’s there. HTC have attempted to save some weight with a plastic back cover, but it ends up being the cheapest-feeling aspect of the Pro2 and frustratingly can’t be easily removed without first whipping out the stylus. At least the microSD card slot is accessible without then needing to remove the battery.

That battery needs to share some of the weight blame, being a considerable 1,500mAh Li-Ion pack. HTC quote up to 510 minutes GSM talktime (390 WCDMA) or up to 500hrs GSM standby (750 WCDMA) and the Pro2 can certainly stand up to some heavy use. Left to its own devices it happily sat for a full week in standby, chewing through less than half its charge, while over the course of two days of heavy internet and messaging (over 3G and WiFi) with occasional short calls it still had power to spare at the end. If you’re regularly let down by the runtime on your iPhone, Palm Pre or T-Mobile G1, it’s safe to say the Touch Pro2 will prove a revelation.

Target market for the Pro2, then, is clear. Windows Mobile’s excellent integration with enterprise-friendly Exchange servers, together with the phone’s strong voice call support, lag-free Qualcomm MSM7200A 528MHz processor and capacious 512MB ROM (with 288MB RAM) add up to a resolute business device that should also satisfy the heavy-duty message addict. The QWERTY keyboard on the Pro2 is among the best we’ve tested on a mobile device, and if you do as much email sending on your smartphone as you read messages then you’ll likely find your productivity gets a welcome kick.

The payoff to all that functionality is the heft of the device and the overly-sensible Windows Mobile operating system. TouchFLO 3D does its best job to date of hiding the aging platform, but we’re very much looking forward to seeing WM6.5 make its appearance. Similarly, while resistive touchscreen technology may have come on in leaps and bounds from its spongy heydays, we’d still love to see some of HTC’s capacitive magic from their Android range cross over to their Windows Mobile line-up.

Lengthy battery life, broad functionality and a surfeit of input methods win the day, however, for the HTC Touch Pro2. Handsome, though perhaps lacking the instant style-appeal of Apple or Palm’s latest devices, it’s a solid business buy and a strong contender for anybody prioritizing text-entry when mobile.

Hands-on video demo after the cut

First, the positives, and there are two stand-out features which make the TG01 shine.  The most instantly noticeable is the display, a massive 4.1-inch 800 x 480 resistive touchscreen that, while the same WVGA resolution as the Touch HD, still dwarfs it.  The second feature, and one that takes a little longer with the TG01 to appreciate, is its processor; this is the first smartphone to launch with Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon chipset, making the Toshiba the fastest Windows Mobile phone around.

While we had a relatively short period with the TG01, our first impressions of the Toshiba UI are reasonable.  It lacks the depth and cross-OS consistency of TouchFLO 3D, being more of a launcher than a true reskinning of Windows Mobile, but it’s attractive and responsive to the touch.  We’re not quite sure how much flexibility in user-customization there is, but Orange themselves have made their mark, adding in shortcuts to various portals and the like. 

Toshiba or Orange’s decision to leave the standard browser as Mobile Internet Explorer (MIE), though, is one of the most frustrating.  Unlike Opera Mobile on recent HTC handsets, MIE falls well short of the browsing experience we’re used to on smartphones; page rendering defaults to mobile versions of sites, and fails to use all the screen real-estate the TG01 has to offer.  Thankfully panning around the page was quick and rendering almost instantaneous, likely a benefit of the speedy CPU.

Some of the more unusual gesture-features on the TG01 seemed a little temperamental; as you can see in our video below, the “shake” gesture failed to work on the unit we were looking at, and it took a few tries before the tilt-pan reacted.  Screen rotation also proved more sluggish than we expected, though we ought to point out that on a second device we played with it seemed quicker.

Obviously the demo models tonight had been well used, and so we’ll suspend judgment until our TG01 review unit comes in.  While a brief video demo made impressive use of the screen, we never felt any particular speed boost in the pre-loaded applications.  We still have high hopes for the combination of Snapdragon plus that expansive display, and we’re looking forward to loading up some of the more feature-intensive applications and seeing how the TG01 copes.  If you’re impatient and can’t wait for our review, though, and you’re in the UK, you can pick up the Toshiba TG01 exclusively on Orange, from free, starting July 10th.  More details here.

Video demo from Orange after the cut

The Toshiba TG01 is the first phone to launch using Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon processor, and it pairs it with a huge 4.1-inch QVGA touchscreen running an Orange-customized version of Toshiba’s own UI.  Underneath there’s Windows Mobile 6.1 together with WiFi b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 and GPS.

In the box will be an 8GB microSD card, and Orange are saying that the TG01 will be upgradeable to Windows Mobile 6.5 once it’s released; no word on whether that will be a free upgrade or something you’ll have to work out with Toshiba.  SlashGear will be attending Toshiba’s event later on today, so will have all the details together with hands-on feedback.

Press Release:

Orange brings the portable cinematic experience to mobile users in the UK with the exclusive launch of the Toshiba TG01

• Orange to range the Toshiba TG01 exclusively across its own retail channels in the UK
• The TG01 will be available for free on selected pay monthly price plans from 10th July
• The TG01 is the first handset in the UK to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 1GHz processor

Orange today announced it will be exclusively ranging the Toshiba TG01 in the UK across all its own retail channels in time for the weekend. Offering the widest high-definition touch-screen available on a mobile, the TG01 provides users with a cinematic viewing experience on a handheld device and is testament to Orange UK’s focus on ranging innovative multimedia handsets so consumers can make the most from the latest shifts in modern technology. It follows the announcement earlier in the week that Orange will also be launching the world’s first Touchscreen Watch phone in the UK.

A powerful and feature-rich mobile entertainment device, the TG01 offers uses the largest widescreen handset yet and comes with an exclusive pre-loaded film trailer for the forthcoming summer blockbuster “GI Joe”. What’s more, the 4.1” W-VGA screen is the perfect size for watching TV, videos and looking at pictures in high quality.

The TG01 also bridges the gap between notebook and mobile by featuring the latest in chipset technology and is the first handset to be sold in the UK which has a 1GHz processing power, offering fast mobile internet connectivity for a richer multimedia experience. This also enables users to make the most out of their phone, whether it be for watching video, updating social network pages or just browsing the web – just like they do on their PC.

The handset is the first from Toshiba to be part of Orange’s successful Signature Series and comes with quick links so users can easily get to grips with the handset’s great functionality. Shortcuts to the best of Orange TV & Video (which recommends great video content such as Sky 24/7 Football), Orange Maps (Orange’s own sat nav service which utilises the TG01’s inbuilt AGPS), and Orange World (Orange’s own mobile internet portal), come integrated on the device’s user interface.

Francois Mathieu, Director of Devices, Orange UK “We’re really pleased to have teamed up with Toshiba to bring the TG01 exclusively to the UK. We believe the TG01 is a prime example of manufacturer innovation, and is a device that is at the very top of its game which will allow users to make the most from their mobile experience.”

“The TG01 is quite simply the next step in cutting edge mobile technology that will enable us to deliver mobile content for Orange customers at unprecedented levels of speed and quality. We are delighted to be partnering with Orange to launch the exciting new TG01 handset into the UK Market,” said Bernard Labaume, VP Business Development & Trade Marketing, Toshiba Information Systems (UK) Ltd, Mobile Communications Division.

The TG01 will be free to customers who take out a £39.15 per month, 24 month price plan. The package includes 1200 any network call minutes, unlimited texts, Orange Maps as well as inclusive anytime internet browsing, and is exclusive to Orange in the UK.

The device is already available from Orange in France, and will also be shortly available from Orange in Switzerland, Romania and Poland.
For further information on the TG01’s UK availability, please visit Orange Shops or www.orange.co.uk/shop

[via CoolSmartPhone]

Video demo after the cut

Samsung have obviously got Windows Mobile field-leader HTC in their sights, packing the Omnia II with a 5-megapixel camera and the usual WiFi and GPS.  Both UMTS/HSPA – supporting HSUPA 5.76Mbps and HSDPA 7.2Mbps – and CDMA/EVDO Rev.A versions will be on offer; Verizon are tipped to be launching the latter sometime this month.

We’ll have to wait for our own hands-on experience, but going by the images in the gallery below the Omnia II’s display manages to make even the iPhone 3G’s screen look dowdy.  Whether that’s enough to tempt people to Windows Mobile remains to be seen, however.

Unclear at the moment is whether Orange are the exclusive carrier for the TG01, or whether it will be offered on multiple networks.  O2 have clinched exclusivity in Germany, where the handset is also about to launch.

As we already know, the TG01 has a 4.1-inch WVGA touchscreen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz chipset, 3.15-megapixel camera and GPS.  Connectivity includes HSPA, WiFi b/g and Bluetooth, and there’s Toshiba’s own UI over the top of Windows Mobile 6.1.

[via CoolSmartPhone]

Despite all that, it measures just 9.9mm thick, something of a record for Windows Mobile devices.  Toshiba have created their own UI to sit on top of WM6.1, but the TG01 will also be compatible with Windows Mobile 6.5 when that’s released.

You can find our hands-on gallery here, together with our video demo of the TG01 here.  Toshiba promised availability over the Summer, which certainly fits in with both this event, so we’re also hoping to hear just how expensive the TG01 will end up being.  Join us on Thursday July 9th for all the news; the show kicks off at 6.15pm London time (1.15pm New York; 10.15am San Francisco).

Toshiba TG01 video demo:

Unboxing video and hands-on demo after the cut

There’s also praise for the dualband UMTS/HSPA, though the absence of a flash for the 2-megapixel camera is noted.  Still, that’s not enough to counter Vincent’s favorable first-impressions, aided no doubt by Windows Mobile 6.1 running fast on the smartphone.

T-Mobile are yet to confirm pricing for the Dash 3G.  For the full gallery and all the first-impressions, check out PhoneMag’s post; the complete review is promised soon.

The latter means that, with an accessory cable, users will be able to plug peripherals like a keyboard and/or mouse into their TG01, converting it into a netbook-style laptop.  Since the TG01 has a vast (for a smartphone) 4.1-inch 800 x 480 display and 1GHz NVIDIA Snapdragon chipset, that’s not such a laughable prospect for mobile workers.

As for Nimbuzz, that brings both IM and social networking sites together onto the smartphone, with a homescreen icon for easy access.  It’s probably not as slick – or integrated – as HTC have managed with their latest UI developments (TouchFLO 3D Manila 2.5 and HTC Sense), but Windows Mobile needs all the help it can get.

The most obvious improvement is that HTC have buried Windows Mobile even further underneath their home-grown UI.  Looking at the video demo below, you have to really go looking for the underlying OS; general, day-to-day use won’t really unearth it. 

There are also new shortcuts on the homepage, the introduction of Footprints – HTC’s geotagging system – and a freshly swollen settings dialog that covers even more options.  Interestingly, TouchFLO 3D v2.5 is said to only work on WVGA devices like the HTC Touch HD, Touch Diamond2 and Touch Pro2; no word on when we can expect to see it released, nor if it will be offered as an upgrade to existing smartphone users.

[via SlashPhone]

To enable that there’s a pre-fitted GSM SIM card, and in a pleasant change for Verizon devices the Ozone offers WiFi b/g too.  Visual Voicemail is an option – for $2.99 per month – and the Ozone supports Exchange and webmail email, preloaded IM clients for AIM, Windows and Yahoo! Messengers, and a one-touch messaging shortcut key.

It’s also surprisingly affordable.  Verizon are asking $49.99 (after a wretched $70 mail-in rebate) assuming you’re willing to sign up to a two-year agreement, while VZ Navigator is the usual $9.99 per month add-on.  The Verizon HTC Ozone will be available from June 29th online, and in stores from July 13th.

Press Release:

HTC Ozone Brings Verizon Wireless’ Smartphone Lineup To New Heights

BASKING RIDGE, NJ, and BELLEVUE, WA — Verizon Wireless and HTC today introduce the Verizon Wireless HTC Ozone™. This easy-to-use smartphone combines a simple design with a host of connectivity options that include the nation’s largest wireless 3G network, global roaming and Wi-Fi, making it a smart option and, at $49.99*, a great value for first-time smartphone users or savvy business professionals.

Available color: Black

Key features:

Ergonomically-designed QWERTY keyboard for fast and easy typing
Flexible connectivity options with Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, global roaming capabilities and support for Wi-Fi
1500 mAh battery delivers extended operating time
Includes international charging adapters to stay powered up while abroad
Lifestyle features:

VZ Navigator(SM) – get audible turn-by-turn directions to more than 15 million points of interest and share the directions with others
Visual Voice Mail – view, delete, reply, listen to and forward voice mail messages without having to listen to prior messages or voice instructions
Mobile IM – connect with friends on AOL® Instant Messenger, Windows® Messenger and Yahoo!® Messenger
Mobile Email – access to popular e-mail services such as Yahoo!®, Hotmail®, AOL® and Windows® Live Seamless Microsoft® Exchange synchronization with Microsoft® Office Mobile for maximum productivity
Access to most frequently used features with a simplified “sliding panel” user interface
One-touch messaging key for quick connection to friends and family
* Price and availability:

The HTC Ozone will be $49.99 after a $70 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
VZ Navigator is available for $9.99 monthly access, and Visual Voice Mail is available for $2.99 monthly access.
Customers can purchase the HTC Ozone beginning June 29 online at www.verizonwireless.com, by calling 1-800-2 JOIN IN, or through business sales channels. It will be in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores on July 13. For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Still, there’s basic battery support and basic touchscreen compatibility, although that can occasionally freeze or prove temperamental.  All of the Omnia’s 128MB of RAM is recognized, though the same can’t be said for all its buttons.  Currently periodic crashes have to be fixed with a restart.

Still, Android boots, loads the kernel and shows the ticking clock, and you can dual-boot your handset between Windows Mobile and the Google OS.  All current Omnias are supported, including the i908 and i910.

[via Patrick Soon; via Android Community]

Samsung made the Omnia II official earlier this month, surprising with the fact that the device publicly announced was not the GSM HSPA handset expected but a CDMA device.  Verizon’s latest smartphone will offer EVDO Rev.A; there’s no talk of it being a “worldphone” with both CDMA and GSM support for roaming.

Also unknown is a specific release date in July, and what sort of pricing the Omnia II might command.  The phone has a 3.7-inch WVGA display, 5-megapixel camera, WiFi and A-GPS.

Verizon will supply the Ozone with a pre-fitted SIM, and in some regions users will be able to choose between local networks.  Other specs include a 2-megapixel autofocus camera with video recording, WiFi b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP wireless stereo support.  There’s also a microSD card slot, 256MB ROM and 128MB RAM, GPS – that can use, but isn’t limited to, Verizon VZ Navigator – voice command and visual voicemail support.

The whole thing measures 4.5 x 2.5 x 0.5 inches and weighs 3.7oz with its 1,500mAh battery; talktime is rated at 290 minutes, or 324hrs standby.  According to the leaked information, the Verizon Wireless HTC Ozone will go on sale online on June 29th, followed by in-store on July 13th, priced at $119.99 with a two-year agreement.  Alternatively it’s $189.99 with a one-year contract or $429.99 contract-free.

There’s also Bluetooth and WiFi b/g, together with GPS and support for T-Mobile USA’s MyFaves service.  Around the back there’s a 2-megapixel camera that supports video recording, and assuming T-Mobile have requested no changes, inside 256MB ROM and 192MB RAM plus a microSDHC card slot. 

The standard battery is a 1,500mAh pack, which HTC have previously rated for up to 8.5hrs GSM talktime (5hrs WCDMA) or up to 15.8 days GSM standby (20 days WCDMA).  No word on pricing, but the T-Mobile Dash 3G will arrive sometime in July.

Press Release:

T-Mobile USA To Offer New 3G-Enabled Smartphone

T-Mobile Dash 3G Helps Customers Stay Connected to Work and Life

Bellevue, Wash. – June 17, 2009 – T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced the upcoming availability of its newest 3G-enabled smartphone, the T-Mobile® Dash 3GTM, offering a balance of personal and professional connections in a sleek design with faster data delivery and Web browsing via T-Mobile’s high-speed 3G network and Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g).

The T-Mobile Dash 3G, designed by HTC and powered by Microsoft’s Windows Mobile® 6.1, is available in a glossy-black finish with red accents, features a full-QWERTY keyboard, easy-to-use trackball and vibrant display. This latest version of the T-Mobile Dash delivers easy ways to stay connected and organized with voice calling, messaging, support for personal and business e-mail, GPS for location-based services, and synchronization with Microsoft Outlook®. Whether staying organized while traveling or simply staying connected with friends and family, the T-Mobile Dash 3G provides access to the life tools customers need in a small, sleek package.

“As millions of families prepare to hit the road this summer, T-Mobile is offering our first 3G-enabled Windows Mobile smartphone to help customers stay connected, organized and traveling in the right direction,” said Travis Warren, director, product marketing, T-Mobile USA. “We’re excited to offer the power and style of the T-Mobile Dash 3G with high-speed Internet access thanks to T-Mobile’s rapidly expanding 3G network.”

“HTC is designing products like the T-Mobile Dash 3G to appeal to the ever-growing number of customers who are using the empowering features of smartphones to benefit their busy lives,” said Jason Mackenzie, vice president, HTC America. “HTC is pleased to continue its long history of working closely with T-Mobile as we today introduce the next generation of the popular T-Mobile Dash.”

According to new research by Yankee Group, 41 percent of consumers are likely to choose a smartphone as their next mobile device.* As consumer demand for feature-rich phones increases, T-Mobile is responding with an expanding lineup of 3G-capable smartphones including the new T-Mobile Dash 3G.

T-Mobile continues to expand its high-speed 3G network in 2009 to cover approximately 200 million people across the United States by the end of the year. At the end of 2008, T-Mobile USA’s 3G network was available to more than 100 million people in more than 130 U.S. cities.

The new T-Mobile Dash 3G is anticipated to be available nationwide in July at T-Mobile retail stores, select authorized dealers, and online at http://www.T-Mobile.com.

For information where T-Mobile 3G service is available or to see T-Mobile’s Personal Coverage Check tool, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com/Coverage.

*Source: Yankee Group, Yankee Group Anywhere Consumer: 2009 U.S. Survey, June 2009

Otherwise there’s quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE, stereo speakers and a 1,300mAh battery.  Up front there’s a VGA-quality camera for video calls, and the whole thing measures 116.3 x 61.5 x 12 mm.

No word on when we could see the LG GW550, nor for how much, and nor indeed where – LG are keeping such details to themselves.  However given the OS we’d presume it’ll be launching sometime soon, over the summer, before Microsoft release Windows Mobile 6.5.

[via Boy Genius Report]

Such a move would leave Garmin-ASUS offering just two platforms, Windows Mobile on the nuvifone M20, and Android on their undisclosed open-OS smartphones.  The pair have previously blamed the nuvifone G60′s delay on the complexities of new hardware and custom software, something which they’re obviously hoping to bypass in a switch from their own OS to Android.

Earlier rumors suggested that the first Android device would arrive in Q1 2010; however that schedule has apparently been moved up so that the handset would launch by the end of 2009.  No further details regarding the device have been released.

[via Android Community]

The phone is believed to run Windows Mobile 6.1, with an upgrade for Windows Mobile 6.5 when Microsoft release the new OS, and have Samsung’s own GUI overlay with switchable “Pro” and “Media” modes.  There’s also Bluetooth, A-GPS, 1GB of onboard storage and a microSDHC slot content with up to 32GB cards.

Still unclear is availability and pricing, beyond a launch in the second half of 2009.  Some rumors have suggested that the Omnia Pro B7610 could drop as early as August, however.

[via Akihabara]

While the Omnia Pro will run Windows Mobile 6.1 (with an upgrade to 6.5 once that’s released, unless Samsung postpone their launch until the new OS is available) it will also have different UIs to pick from: one “Pro” and one “Media” which presumably offers a more PMP-styled interface.  There’ll also be a dedicated button to switch between them.

Other specifications include GPS, DLNA support, a TV-out connection, Bluetooth and FM radio, plus a microSDHC card slot (up to 32GB supported) and 1GB of onboard storage.  The battery is tipped as a 1,500mAh pack, while the CPU is an unspecified 800MHz chip.  DivX, WMV and H.264 acceleration is supported.  There’s talk that the Samsung Omnia Pro will land in August 2009.

[via Unwired View]

There’s also WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS, an FM radio with RDS and a microSDHC slot content with cards up to 32GB.  Samsung have also apparently squeezed in an accelerometer and 1GB ROM, together with a standard mini-USB 2.0 port (a welcome change from their previous proprietary connector) despite the B7610′s overall dimensions of 112 x 58 x 16 mm.

At launch, which is expected to be roughly July on Orange Business and SFR Business Team in France, the Louvre will run Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro with Samsung’s own graphical overlay.  However it will be upgradeable to Windows Mobile 6.5 once that OS is released.  Pricing is tipped to be between €250 and €500 ($352-704).

[via OLED-Info]

Connectivity is tipped to include 3G UMTS, WiFi, Bluetooth and miniUSB, while there’s also GPS and a microSD card slot.  The UI is prompting discussion: some are saying that it’s unchanged over previous iterations of Samsung’s Windows Mobile TouchWiz overlay, while a video demo said to be of the Omnia II shows a new, cubic arrangement.

Video UI demo after the cut

Other hardware specs include an unspecified Qualcomm processor and 150MB of internal memory.  There’s also some confusion over the display specifications, as at least one source tips the AMOLED panel to support up to 16.7m colors while at present Windows Mobile will only support 65,000 colors.

Nonetheless, this looks to be an interesting follow-up to the original Windows Mobile Omnia i900.  There’s talk of it being announced at a Samsung event on June 15th.

[via SlashPhone]

Video unboxing after the cut

First impressions of the HTC Touch Pro2 are good; it’s a solid, weighty phone (the full specifications say 178.5g) and not exactly small at 116 x 59.2 x 16.65mm, but it feels well made and sturdy.  The metal screen bezel is a nice design element, though we’re glad to see the rear panel is matte rather than the fingerprint-grabbing gloss of the Diamond2.

Software is the usual Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro – with a 6.5 upgrade catered for with the requisite buttons – together with HTC’s TouchFLO 3D UI.  That’s had a neat upgrade to deal with the Pro2′s horizontal orientation when the keyboard is out, and of course includes the People-Centric tweaks we appreciated on the Diamond2.  The keyboard itself is tactile and has an impressive amount of button-travel considering the size; we’ll be battering away at it some more before giving our final opinion.  Until then, enjoy the unboxing video and short demo below!

As well as all that cellular connectivity there’s WiFi and Bluetooth, plus a 3.1-megapixel camera (and front-facing 0.3-megapixel camera for video calls), FM radio and GPS.  The display is a 3.5-inch WVGA 800 x 480 panel, and while the OS is Windows Mobile 6.1 at present, Pharos say the Traveler 137 is fully compatible with WM6.5 once that becomes available.

Under the hood there’s a 528MHz Qualcomm MSM7201A processor and a battery good for up to 4hrs talktime or 200hrs standby.  It’s available now, from Pharos themselves as well as Amazon, Dell, Expansys and Newegg, with an MRSP of $599.95; buy it from Pharos with a two-year T-Mobile USA contract and they’ll knock $250 off the sticker price.

Press Release:

Pharos Delivers First Windows Phone to Provide 3G Speeds on Both Major GSM Networks

Available for the first time today, the Pharos Traveler 137 offers unrivaled 3G connectivity and best-in-class navigation on a sleek new phone

TORRANCE, Calif. –(Business Wire)– Jun 04, 2009 Pharos Science & Applications, Inc., a leading provider of location-based information and services, today announced the immediate availability of the Traveler 137, a striking Windows phone that is the first to give users access to 3G data speeds on both the T-Mobile and AT&T Wireless networks. The Traveler 137 features hybrid navigation software, giving it the unique ability to provide voice-prompted navigation even without a connection to a carrier’s network. The Traveler 137 is sold unlocked, enabling users to use local GSM SIM cards worldwide and avoid international roaming charges. The Traveler 137 is available today from Amazon.com, Dell.com, eXpansys.com, and Newegg.com for the suggested retail price of $599.95. Users can obtain a $250 discount on the phone if signing up for a new T-Mobile two-year contract through Pharos.

“When it comes to phones, we believe consumers deserve the full spectrum of choice,” said Stephanie Ferguson, general manager, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Corporation. “The Traveler 137 is a great example of a Windows phone that gives consumers the choice of 3G networks, the choice of personalization and the choice to use a single, powerful phone for both work and life.”

“The Traveler 137’s ultra-sensitive aGPS gives users the ability to navigate quickly; its high speed 3G capability brings a world of information to users’ fingertips; its touch-and-sweep interface on a crisp WVGA screen makes using the powerful Windows phone fun and easy,” said James Oyang, PhD, President, Pharos.

Traveler 137 Specifications

Operating System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, updateable to Windows Mobile® 6.5
Processor: Qualcomm MSM 7201A 528MHz
Memory: 256MB DDR SDRAM, 512MB Flash ROM
Phone: unlocked GSM quad band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, EDGE / GPRS, Tri-band 3G, 1700/1900/2100 MHz, UMTS 384Kb/s, HSDPA 7.2Mb/s, HSUPA 2Mb/s
Talk time: up to 7 hours on GSM, 5 hours on 3G and 200 hours standby
Display: 3.5″ TFT LCD with touch panel, 480 x 800 Wide-VGA with 65K colors
Wireless: GPS aGPS compatible, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth™ v2.1 + EDR , FM tuner
Camera: 3 megapixel for picture or video, 0.3 megapixel on the front for video conference
Expansion: USB 2.0, micro SD slot support SDHC, stereo audio jack
Battery: 1380 mAh Li-Ion, rechargeable/replaceable
Size: 4.60in (L) x 2.40in (W) x 0.51in (H)
Weight: 4.9 ounces
About Pharos

Pharos Science & Applications, Inc. is a leading provider of GPS navigation solutions and location-based services for mobile devices. The company is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and a member of ITS America and CTIA. Pharos products are sold through a network of leading national retail locations and online stores. For more information, visit www.pharosgps.com.