Microsoft Smartphones Arrive--At Last
 

Microsoft Smartphones Arrive--At Last

Cell phones running the new OS are now available, but customers in the U.S. may have to wait just a little longer.

Microsoft's long-awaited Windows-Powered Smartphone 2002 operating system was launched Tuesday--but not in the U.S. The new OS, previously known by the code-name Stinger, is available in a cell phone being distributed overseas by European carrier Orange SA. AT&T Wireless will be the first U.S. carrier to offer the OS in a cell phone expected to be released by mid 2003, Microsoft says.

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,106193,00.asp

Looks cool. Can't wait for the Kyocera 7135 too.

Decisions, decisions...

Orange cracks open mobile market with Windows-powered smartphone

Orange has launched the first credible Windows-powered smartphone and fired the first shot in what could become a bloody techno-tussle.

http://www.vnunet.com/News/1136250

Sneak a Peek at Microsoft's Next Smartphone

FCC site reveals the technical details of upcoming handset

The FCC published details of the telephone on its Web site Wednesday after the handset received clearance from the FCC to be used in the U.S.

Regulatory approval from the FCC is required for all cellular telephones before they can be used in the U.S. and this is usually one of the final stages a product goes through before commercial launch.

The Chi Mei smart phone, which has the development code name "Beethoven," uses a clamshell design and runs the Windows Powered Smartphone operating system, according to the documents.

The same operating system is used in Mitac International's Mio 8380 and High Tech Computer's Qtek 7070. Samsung Electronics has also shown a prototype handset running the software.

Handset Features
Images included with the documents show that the design of the Chi Mei handset is similar to the majority of clamshell phones, with a large color LCD on the top half of the device and a keypad with navigation buttons on the bottom half. The outside features a sub-display which can tell the time or identify incoming calls.

The phone has a USB connector for linking to a computer, an infrared port, and an MMC memory card slot, the documents show. One increasingly common function not included with the phone is a digital camera.

The phone is a tri-band GSM model compatible with GSM 900, 1800, and 1900 networks and GPRS packet data transmission, according to the documents...

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,111839,00.asp



[This message has been edited by doc (edited 07-31-2003).]

I wouldn't have one myself. Don't get me wrong, they're actually quite good (as is a lot of Microsoft stuff these days) but like anything Microsoft, the act of buying in risks being locked into everything else Microsoft (try synchonising one of these phones with anything that doesn't look, walk and talk like an MS Windoze PC).

Plus, winning devices for me have either a keyboard or a touchscreen.

I got to play with one of the 2003 pre-releases, and they are sexy.

I own a T-Mobile PocketPc, which is made by Siemens.

It has a touch screen, which is great except for when using the phone function, in which case it sucks.

And this is the problem with all of these: the good phone is a crappy PDA, and vice-versa. It may very well be that true integration can never be achieved. Although I am already looking ahead to the next leap. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by notsosmart (edited 07-31-2003).]

Not that I would know, but it looks to be pretty good to me - of course, at a good price too! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

-Mark

Actually, the T-mobile pocketPC isn't made by Siemens, it's made by HTC of Taiwan, Siemens is just one of many companies that bought them and stuck their name on it. HTC will be producing most of the Windows Smartphones too.

Be sure you get a colour screen though. Otherwise the blue screen of death just wouldn't be the same. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...rum/tongue.gif

FewMiles..

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Yes they will be, thanks! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Phone to combine Intel, Microsoft design

The first mobile phone jointly designed by Microsoft and Intel is set to hit the market this fall.

Mitac, a Taiwan-based computer maker expanding into handheld devices, is showing off new model 8380 on its Mio site. Mio is Mitac's brand name.

It is touted as the first mobile phone to use a chipset from Intel, the world's largest chipmaker. It will also use Microsoft's Smartphone 2002 operating system.

http://news.com.com/2100-1037_3-5062536.html?tag=lh

More appropriate for Travel Tech forum, please follow it there.

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Sean
aka: skofarrell
Moderator, OMNI & American Express

Still no bluetooth support in MS Smartphone 2003... Have to wait till the next version from MS to start seeing this support even in the hardware.