Do you remember the HP Silver and Oak, codenames for two devices that appeared on a leaked 2008 Vodafone roadmap? They are a bit late but HP finally unveiled them today. HP announced that it is partnering with Vodafone to launch two new smartphones in Europe. The HP iPAQ Voice Messenger is a 3G candybar smartphone with 20-key keypad and the HP iPAQ Data Messenger is a 3G smartphone with a large touchscreen display and slide-out QWERTY keyboard.
“HP is taking mobile computing beyond borders and boundaries to something truly global as a result of our relationship with Vodafone,” said David Wright, vice president and general manager, Personal Systems Group, HP UK&I. “Our new HP iPAQs will enable people to stay connected seamlessly on Vodafone’s high speed networks to the information, content and people that matter most to them.”
The iPAQ Voice Messenger is powered by a 528MHz Qualcomm 7201A processor and Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard. It comes with quad-band (850/900/1800/1900MHz) GSM and tri-band (900/1900/2100MHz) UMTS/HSUPA connectivity, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, a 20-key thumb keyboard and 5-way optical navigation key, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, integrated Assisted GPS, a 3.1MP autofocus camera with LED flash, a microSDHC card slot (up to 8GB), and a 1260mAh battery. It measures 5.0 by 1.36 by 11.4 centimeters and weighs 107 grams.
The iPAQ Data Messenger shares very similar specifications but comes with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, a larger 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen display (with automatic screen orientation), a slide-out QWERTY keyboard instead of the thumb keyboard and a1140mAh battery. It measures 5.7 by 1.74 by 11.4 centimeters and weighs 160 grams.
The HP iPAQ Voice Messenger and Data Messenger will be available in the UK starting in November. Additional European countries will follow a bit later. The HP iPAQ Voice Messenger will sell for about £333 and the iPAQ Data Messenger will sell for £399 (prices include VAT). Vodafone will announce its pricing (likely subsidized with service plans) in November. There is no word on whether North America will see these.