Carrier Devices have officially announced the i-mate SP3 - which had been rumoured to be called the i-mate Smartphone3, not that it matters  - for the Middle East, with availability expected in late september.

The device - previously announced by Orange as the SPV c500, and also rebranded as the QTek 8010 - is a rebadged HTC device known as the HTC Typhoon. It's tiny by comparison to the current HTC Voyager model, which is available in Australia as the i-mate Smartphone2 and O2 Xphone.

With a bit of luck we might see this baby here in Australia by the end of the year. O2 have yet to officially confirm their release of their own brand of Typhoon, but it does appear to be on the plans.

Attendees of the Sydney Pocket PC and Smartphone User Group should hopefully have a chance to see this and other upcoming devices at the next meeting; if not, then soon.

The press release follows.

" i-mate SP3 launches in the Middle East

i-mate, industry innovators of end-to-end wireless device solutions and globally head quartered at Dubai Internet City, announces the arrival of i-mate SP3.

With a new slim look and with features that consumers have come to expect from i-mate™ devices, the new stylish i-mate™ SP3 is set to hit the market early September.

'The new i-mate™ SP3 has been created with a compact and sleeker look, but does not hold back on its features,' commented Jim Morrison, Founder and CEO of i-mate™ 'In fact, not only does the i-mate™ SP3 maintain the technological innovation of i-mate™ devices, it also enjoys even more powerful applications, that will continue to evolve the wireless revolution.'

The i-mate™ SP3 operates on the Windows MobileTM Second Edition for Smartphone Software, a complete re-write of the original and includes enhanced Bluetooth support as well as added OBEX Profile support. Also, with tri-band GSM/GPRS, the i-mate™ SP3 is compatible with a full range of applications as standard, including Pocket Outlook, Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer, Games and MSN Messenger.

The i-mate™ SP3 has a built in VGA camera (subject to product build purchased) and supports MMS, so is great for taking and sharing pictures. And with a 64k colour transflective screen, which has been brought closer to the service of the device, together with the new 200MHz processor, the i-mate™ SP3 offers an impressive video playback capability. Together with the new, easy to use joystick allowing increased control of the device and applications, along with its cool blue metallic finish the i-mate™ SP3 is set to hit the Middle East market.

All i-mate™ device users are able to take advantage of club i-mate™, an exclusive club which offers excellent online support as well as ring tones, device themes, music, software and accessorise at special prices. Registration is free and membership also allows you access to club i-mate™ email, a hosted Microsoft email account with a capability of 10MB storage.

The new i-mate™ SP3 will be available from early September at Plug-Ins, Carrefour, Radioshack, Virgin, Jacky's Electronics, Compu me and Global Link Communications. "

Source: AME Info Business News