The 3GSM World Congress held annually in Barcelona concluded last week with a sea of new products, service and software announcements to tantalise mobile enthusiasts and kick 2007 off as another successful year not only for mobiles devices in general but particularly for high-end devices and futuristic technologies.  With so many announcements particularly Windows Mobile related this will be a brief, but informative round-up of the hottest or most interesting pieces of news to emerge from the conference.

Index:

• King's Court - HTC's early 2007 offerings
  

• I-Mate Style - An Ultimate for everyone
  

• Gigabyte - Want to watch TV? Want to have a Mobile? Have Both!
  

• Toshiba - We're back and we're packing heat...
  

• LG - Microsoft & LG giving birth to the iPhone killer?
  

• Samsung:  Comes bearing WiMAX and Windows XP

The King's Court:  
HTC's 2007 starting line-up

Its going to be a fast and furious year for HTC, hot on the heels of their 50% purchase in Dopod, HTC expects sales of their own brand-name devices to soar as it continues to pump out a rumoured 12 new devices for 2007. Our appetites between now and June have been satiated with the unveiling of 4 new Mobile devices.  For most Windows Mobile enthusiasts the only surprise with this line-up was the inclusion of the P3400, but for the benefit of all those who might not follow Windows Mobile devices so avidly here's the details on all of the devices

While we're on the subject of news from HTC it's worth noting some of the other (not quite officially announced yet) devices we can expect to hear from later in the year.  These include the 'Kaiser' which is set to take the form of the HTC Herald and include GPS.  The 'Omni' is thought to be the successor of the universal which is quite possible given the competition being offered up by i-mate's ultimate 7150, and its universal-esq features.  Disappointing news however, with HTC stating (sort of) they will not offer Windows Mobile 6 upgrades for their current models:  see here

I-mate style: 
An ultimate for everyone

2007 can mark the year that i-mate becomes serious competition for the king of the Windows Mobile work, HTC.  i-mate are boldly moving from being a redistributor of HTC built devices to being their own stand-alone distributor.  It is unclear weather i-mate parted ways with HTC in a similar fashion to O2 Asia last year, but what is clear is more competition, more features and some exciting new devices.  The 'Ultimate' range unveiled at the 3GSM showcased not one, not two, but five different devices, yet all with the same high end features.  i-mate have taken a road less travelled among the Windows Mobile world by offering the same rich feature set on the entire ultimate range, over a variety of form factors that should capture the markets share of tastes:

"2007 will see i-mate™ offer a portfolio of new and iconic devices and highly sophisticated services,” said Jim Morrison, CEO, i-mate™. “The Ultimate range, with its great design and strong specifications will appeal to business users who require, as the name implies, the best of breed combination of innovation, design and technology. Each of our devices is designed with different users in mind giving our customers real choice." (I-mate 3GSM Press Release)

According to the i-mate press release all Ultimate devices come with the following specifications:
Microsoft Windows Mobile® 6
Intel Bulverde 520MHz
Quad-Band GSM/EDGE, Tri-Band UMTS/HSDPA
WiFi 802.11b/g/e/i
256MB ROM, 128MB RAM
Micro SD card slot
VGA 262K Colour LCD Touch Screen
Bluetooth® v2.0 + EDR - up t 1.3 Mbps
Mini USB high speed - 480 Mbps
Direct Video Out XGA
Micro SD card slot
2.0 mega pixel camera
FM Stereo Radio
Microsoft® Direct Push email directly from MS Exchange® 2003 SP2

From Top left:  Ultimate 5150, 6150, 7150, 8150, 9150
Photo courtesy of engadget.  Click the model links for larger images

7150 - This seems to be the device drawing most of the attention and not much more detail is known about the model except that it sports an OLED front display and its price point appears to be 700-800 Euros, meaning $1350 AUD.  Click Here for a small Scandinavian review of the device and more importantly plenty of pics.

But wait, there's more!  Yes it seems besides a design to suit everyone, finally VGA screens all around and a clamshell design with a touch screen, the ultimate range will be the first to take advantage of Microsoft Window's Vista SlideShow functionality [As well as being a remote extension for i-mates also annouced X-Stream Digital HDTV Media Hub].  Slideshow is a component of Windows Vista that allows gadgets like, reading email, accessing media, being a media centre remote, time, date, appointments etc to be run on devices and displays externally from the computer itself, its shinning example are the dual screen laptops.  With all Ultimate devices the user will be able to take advantage of the SideShow features anytime and easily all over WiFi (and other connectivity options).  So if accessing your information remotely and conveniently quicker isn't what your after, at the least you also have a fully compatible media remote control.  Source
 

Gigabyte: 
Want to watch TV? Want to have a Mobile? Have Both!

Asian markets particularly Japan and Korea responded well to Mobile Devices combining next generation media capabilities; namely digital TV & radio Tuners.  Hoping to emulate that success in a wider market, Gigabyte unveiled what will be the first of such Windows Mobile [Windows Mobile 6] devices with inbuilt digital TV tuners.

Gigabyte T600 WM6 Professional Intel XScale 520Mhz CPU 256MB ROM 96MB RAM DVB-H / DVB-T / T-DMB / DAB (Digital TV and radio) 2.6" VGA with TV out (use to watch TV on any screen) Triband GSM Built-in antenna 802.11g WiFi 2.1MP Camera 110.5mm (L) 55.5mm (W) 18.5mm (T)

Gigabyte Q60   WM6 Professional Intel XScale 520Mhz CPU Triband GSM / Singleband 3G/HSDPA 2.1MP Camera (and forward facing VGA video calling camera) "Optional" GPS and TV applications Built-in antenna Qwerty keyboard

These devices are slated for release, firstly in Taiwan early Q2, followed by a European (and hopefully Australian) launch in the Q2-Q3 time frame.  Its disappointing that the T600 doesn't include 3G/HSDPA support, but with a VGA screen in a nice tight form factor and of course digital tv and radio anytime anywhere, we can let it slide this time around.  Of course if form factor isn't a big thing for you and the idea of a quick and tactile thumb-board is more appealing then mosey on over and check out the Q60.  Not only do you get your 3G and TV but you can have you can find your cake and eat it too with the inbuilt GPS unit.  No word on pricing at the moment.
Click here for more pictures of the T600, and click here for more on the Q60.  Thanks to Modaco.com for the pictures.

 

---

Toshiba:
We're Back and we're packing heat...

Once upon a time Toshiba waded into the Pocket PC and even mobile phone arena's only to slowly pull out and vanish from our Mobile Device radars.  We'll it seems they've been busy, they're back and ready to give HTC and the rest a real run for their money.  How, what, where exactly is this device separated this from its Hermes, and Zinc brothers? Well for starters it's running Windows Mobile 6; it has a fingerprint reader on the back of the device, not only for security but for scrolling and use as a D-Pad; USB-on-the-go to read and write off USB thumb drives; Finally, and most likely the most important difference for potential customers, not just a VGA screen, but a WVGA screen with resolutions up to 480 x 800 in portrait and 800 x 480 in landscape. 

Previously Windows Mobile itself prevented such resolutions, but that's all gone in Windows Mobile 6.  Windows Mobile 6 provides better scaling and obviously much better resolutions then we have previously been afforded, so gone are the days of hacking the Windows Mobile VGA display system to make the most out of your VGA display, now the operating system will make full use of that display.  This is perfect timing, or perhaps merely what the manufactures have been waiting for, as this year we are already seeing VGA displays coming on devices of all shapes and sizes - something that's been demanded in the Windows Mobile world for a long long time.

The negative aspects being pointed out about this device appear to be its weight; the device weighs in at 198g, 22g more then its Hermes brother.  Considering the improved feature set 22g extra seems like a good deal.  The other issue being contested with the G900 is its processor.  Reports on this have been vague at best, but the MSMobiles review picture points to the G900 running on a 'ARM920T PXA27X' the Samsung SGH-i320 runs the same processor core.  No documentation from Samsung seems to reveal the processing speed but when tested on TCMP MSMobiles found it running at 420Mhz.  A similar outcome is likely for the G900 because whilst processor speed is not everything (as OMAP processors prove) it seems unlikely Toshiba would release a device with such a high resolutions and 3.5G data access and limit itself to a CPU reportedly maxed at 300mhz. 

Toshiba G900      
            
Sources:  MobileBurn, Modaco, The Unwired
For More Pictures see:  MSMobiles or The Unwired

The Toshiba G500 was announced as their new Windows Mobile 5 Smart-phone.  This device hasn't received wide spread attention not only owing to the exciting demonstrations of the G900 but also for the fact that the G500 sports nothing new.  In essence it is a 2.3" QVGA, 3.5G, Windows Mobile 5 smart-phone.  The only real thing to separates this device from the heard appears to be the inclusion of the fingerprint reader; to enable better security and allow you to scroll your Windows Mobile device.  The G500 is expected to roll-out in Europe in the coming weeks.  For a brief review of the device click here or see Toshiba's official site here

Toshiba G500
  
Photo Courtesy of Toshiba and The Unwired
 

LG:
Microsoft and LG giving birth to the iPhone killer?

Details of LG entering the Windows Mobile world emerged shortly after their unveiling of the LG KE850, a similar based, near-full-touch-screen interface akin to the Apple iphone.  Hot on the heels of that was the adding of LG to the Microsoft Windows Mobile Licensee List and the confirmation from LG that they are working on two Windows Mobile based devices:

"LG says it's working on at least two new smartphones, including devices that would use its touch-screen technology rather than buttons. The first handsets will hit the market in the second half of this year. It's a new market for the Korean company. Woo-young Kwak, LG's vice-president and head of mobile communications research and development, says the "collaboration with Microsoft will enhance LG's stance in the growing smartphone market." Source

Whilst devices with larger full touch interfaces won't sport anything new for veteran Windows Mobile users, such devices, particularly due to the iPhone hype have captured the imagination of younger demographics and of course potential customers.  Windows Mobile users have gone about their business for years on the touch-screen but it seems like the wider audience is only waking up to their potential, and as such Microsoft would do well to be working with LG to beat Apple to the market with such a Windows Mobile 6 device.  This mentality gives credence to the buzz surround LG and microsoft at the moment, and although no official announcement was made at 3GSM it appears some pictures still surfaced:

The LG Windows Mobile 6 Device?

Left and Right Photo's courtesy of Myiphone.  Centre rendering from Engadget

Further details on this device are unknown for this point beyond it running Windows Mobile 6, however with sharp, sleek and a minimalist look like this, its good news for Windows Mobile enthusiasts. 

Samsung:
Comes bearing WiMAX and Windows XP

It's almost unfair to show thid devices given the improbability of Australia seeing them, nonetheless, its nice to see where the future of convergent devices might be heading, or more specifically to see a 4G device:

The P9000 is an UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC)-like convergence device, capable of providing voice and multimedia data communications through Mobile WiMAX technology. Hailed by early reviewers as the “ultimate convergence machine”, it combines Windows XP, a large 30GB hard disk, 256MB RAM, a 1GHz CPU, WiMAX, CDMA EV-DO, and a 1.3 megapixel camera into a compact 143 x 94 x 29.7 mm size with a 5” display while weighing only 583g. The P9000 comes with a full QWERTY keyboard for quick and painless typing and surfing, while the MP3 player, VOD, and camera functions provide easy access to a myriad of multimedia entertainment. In all, the P9000 will offer users a perfect device that marries work and play.  Source

Samsung P9000 4G convergent device:

Photo Courtesy of Engadget and AVING

All pictures, information, copyrights and trademarks are the respective property of said parties, organisations, people and websites.