New “i-mates” have unlocked GSM phones, built-in cameras, and integrated Bluetooth capability
The UK-based company Carrier Devices recently began marketing two Windows Mobile 2003-based phone devices. Both of it’s new “i-mate” handhelds incorporate an unlocked tri-band GSM/GPRS phone and included a built-in digital camera as well as Bluetooth capability.
The i-mate Windows Mobile 2003 Phone Edition
The i-mate Pocket PC Phone Edition is the most recent design released by the Taiwan manufacturer HTC. Physically, it’s virtually identical to the XDA II released by the European O2.
The Phone Edition has Intel’s latest mobile computing processor, the 400 MHz Intel PXA263. I-mate offers two versions of this device: one with 64 MB SDRAM and 32 MB flash ROM, and another with an ample 128 MB SDRAM and 64 MB flash ROM. A portion of the flash ROM on both devices is available to the end user for secure file storage.
Other hardware features are described in the spec sheet at the end of this article. However, noteworthy among them are the built-in digital camera and Bluetooth wireless capability. The color VGA camera is similar in quality to the cameras found in other phones—no where near the quality of a dedicated digital camera, but sufficient for displaying images and short video on a small screen.
Both i-mate devices have integrated cameras and the Album application, which lets you display images in thumbnail or full-screen view.
More important is the Bluetooth capability. This not only lets you use wireless handsets, you can also communicate with Bluetooth-enabled laptop PCs and use it as a wireless modem to browse the Web and check e-mail from the laptop. Integrated Bluetooth also lets your device work with the new breed of Bluetooth-enabled GPS receivers, offering you turn-by-turn driving instructions and accurate information about your current location.
The device comes with Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 2003 Phone Edition software built in and ready to use. This software includes the latest version of the Pocket PC operating system, the Phone Dialer application, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Inbox, Pocket Internet Explorer, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Notes, File Explorer, Windows Media Player 9.0, Bluetooth Manager, and a variety of other programs. A full list of this software is on the Pocket PC magazine Web site (http://www.SmartphoneMag.com/bg/MS_Software.asp), and a full description is on Microsoft’s Web site (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/products/pocketpc/about/2003/default.mspx).
In addition to the standard Microsoft applications, the i-mate Phone Edition has a number of other programs:
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