The Hindu News Update Service and Sify have reported that the Windows Mobile 2003 based i-mate Pocket PC Phone and i-mate Smartphone 2 devices have been launched in India. To quote from Sify:
"The products, under the brand name of i-mate, will be launched by Carrier Devices, a company founded by a group of professionals with BT Wireless and BT Celinet, in a marketing tie-up with a subsidiary of the Australia-based Mercantile Pacific.
The two companies today announced the launch of i-mate Windows Mobile Pocket PC and Smartphone2, targeting to sell 25,000 to 35,000 sets this
calendar year.
While the pocket PC handset is priced at Rs 38,995, smartphone will be available at Rs 25,000. The products, under the brand name of i-mate, would be launched in February in Delhi and Punjab, following which it would be made available in other metros and subsequently across the country, Carrier Devices Regional Manager Steffan De Rosairo told mediapersons."
Sify also reports that the i-mate Smartphone 2 being launched simultaneously in India and the Middle East:
"While the pocket PC was launched in other countries in October last, smartphone2 is being launched in India and the Middle East simultaneously for the first time."
Sify also provide some further detail about the company - e-charge (Technology) Private Ltd - who will be distributing the device in India.
"eCharge, the subsidiary of Mercantile Pacific, is an exclusive dealer for the products and has 10 sub-dealers in north India. It would increase its sub-dealers as the products are launched in other cities, e-Charge CEO Karan Narula said ... e-Charge is a total solutions provider, offering electronic delivery systems for the prepaid product industry through electronic pin-pad terminals ... eCharge distributes Carrier's products through a network of more than 6,000 retailers in Australia."
We already reported today about the Carrier Devices launch of the i-mate Smartphone 2 in Australia. Thus it looks like we're in the midst of a major release of the phone. At the time of writing, the Carrier Devices website was unavailable.
Sources:
Hindu News Update Service ,
Sify