The Boy Genius appears to have gotten his hands on the 2008 Vodafone device roadmap and has shared it with all. Here is a quick overview of what we could see in 2008.
A new device in the BlackBerry 8000 series. Coming in May 2008, it will be powered by a 624MHz processor built on the new Tavor chipset, quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA connectivity, a “half VGA” 480×320 screen, integrated GPS, Wi-Fi, a 2MP camera, integrated QWERTY keyboard and a 1500mAh battery.
RIM will also offer up the BlackBerry 8110 (Pearl 2) starting this month. It features quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity, a 240×260 display, RIM SureType keyboard, 64MB of user memory, integrated GPS, Bluetooth, 2MP camera, and a microSD expansion slot.
The Nokia Liam is expected to replace the E61i with quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA (bands not specified), a 3.2MP camera and a front-facing one for video calls, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 2.36-inch 320×320 display, QWERTY keyboard and integrated GPS. The launch date is set for the second quarter of 2008.
The Nokia Dora slider will succeed the E65. It improves on its predecessor by adding GPS and a 3.2MP camera. It also comes with quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA (3G bands not specified) connectivity, a 2.4-inch 320×320 display, Bluetooth and a microSD expansion slot. It will sell for £280, starting sometime in Q2 2008.
The Palm Drucker will replace the Treo 750v sometime around July 2008. It will be powered by the upcoming Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and come with quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA connectivity, a 320×320 touchscreen, display, QWERTY keyboard, 2MP camera, integrated GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 and a 1500mAh battery. Pricing is expected around £270.
Palm will also offer the Palm Wanda as the Treo 500v successor. Running Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard, it will come with tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA (3G bands not specified) connectivity, QWERTY keyboard, GPS, and a 2MP camera.
HP will offer the HP Silver, a Windows Mobile 6 Standard device also expected in July. It will pack HSUPA connectivity, a QVGA display, a RIM SureType keyboard, integrated GPS and WiFi. Pricing is expected around £250.
HP will also offer the HP Oak (pictured here). Also sporting HSUPA connectivity, it will come with Windows Mobile 6 Professional, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, traditional number pad on the front, integrated GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The release date is set for September 2008 at a price of £260.
The ODM v16xx series is described as a low cost QWERTY candy-bar form factor device. Powered by Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, it comes 2.5G tri-band connectivity, QWERTY keyboard, QVGA touchscreen display, integrated GPS and a 1.3MP camera. It will be released in September 2008 for £120.
It is once again time to start saving our pretty pennies!