We're not sure if its recent spate of handset announcements had anything to do with it or not, but it looks like Google has now asked ASUS to join the Open Handset Alliance, an invitation that we're assuming ASUS expected to accept (or else we probably wouldn't be hearing about it). Apparently, Google is interested in working with ASUS due to its "brand recognition worldwide," although neither party seems to be making any sort of official comments just yet. Knowing ASUS, however, we're sure it'll find some way to work its Eee brand into the picture before all is said and done. Eee Phone, anyone?

[Via VentureBeat, thanks Michael Y]

It looks like ASUS has more in store when it comes to touchscreen phones than that P552w we saw the other day. According to pictures leaked to the Mobile01 forums, the company is planning an Omnia-esque device that will feature a large (WQVGA or WVGA) touchscreen, a 5-megapixel camera, a trackball for non-touch navigation, and the predictable 3G radios / WiFi. Not much is known about the device at this point, though speculation is running rampant on the forum as to CPU specs and on-board memory. It's likely this will be at least competitive in comparison to recent Window Mobile devices we've seen of this variety, though nothing's certain till we get word from ASUS... which we're waiting patiently for, fellas.

[Via wmpoweruser]

On Friday, ASUS announced its latest entry into the highly competitive and exciting world of tweaked Windows Mobile phones, with the introduction of the P552w. The full-touchscreen device boasts a speedy 624MHz CPU, a 240 x 320 QVGA display, HSDPA / UMTS radios, 802.11b/g WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth 2.0 (with A2DP), 256MB of flash memory, 128MB of DDR, plus support for microSD / SDHC cards. What's really of note, however, is the inclusion of a skinned UI utilizing a technology called "Gester," which is controlled via slides of the finger, pinching, and flicks (think HTC's TouchFlo). The company is tacking on a few pieces of proprietary software as well, such as "EziPhoto" and "EziMusic," and claims that the device has "seamless Google integration." Clearly ASUS has backed away from that 3D interface we saw at Mobile World Congress this year, though we suspect the new UI -- dubbed "Glide" -- bears more than a passing resemblance to it. No word yet on release dates or prices, but you'll know when we do.

[Via Electronista]

CNET Asia has apparently received word that not only will ASUS' Lamborghini-branded ZX1 smartphone be canceled (as we mentioned earlier this month), but the company will also be putting the brakes on its forthcoming P560 and M536 phones as well. In a statement issued presumably to CNET, the company claims that the project has been postponed due to the "technical immaturity of a key component from one of our suppliers," though they seem to have left the door open for a reboot. We know one thing for sure -- it's clear that the P560 and M536 weren't those "more important devices" the company made reference to previously. They probably need the resources for another 25 versions of the Eee PC.

[Thanks, chauco]

What could possibly constitute a "zesty" smartphone? We're not sure, but if O2's latest Xda device intends to live up to its name, we're going to find out. An ASUS-sourced handset bearing the "GM5 / Crystal / Xda Zest" name just garnered approval from the Global Certification Forum, and as we all know, anything starting with "Xda" is pretty much a lock to see duty on O2 as a Windows Mobile smartphone. Nothing is known about the thing at this point beyond what the GCF tells us, which ain't much: triband GSM, 2100MHz WCDMA with video calling, and -- you'll never believe it -- it supports "browsing." Hot dog!

[Via the::unwired]

Word on the street (and by "street" we mean mysterious corners of the internet) is that Garmin's upcoming Nuvifone will actually be manufactured by the ubiquitous and varied ASUS. According to "industry sources" -- that rare breed never seen yet often heard -- the two companies have been working on the device for the past two years, with the computer-maker lending a hand in the RF technology department amongst other things. The sources further claim that the Nuvifone will be the first in a series handsets, with plans to roll out new models through 2010... the year we make contact. More on this breathtaking bit of news as we get it, faithful readers.

[Via Unwired View]

Tough time to try to hype a new skin for Windows Mobile, we'd say, what with juggernauts HTC and Sony Ericsson both trying to knock balls out of the park with TouchFLO 3D and the XPERIA's shell, respectively; that's not stopping ASUS from giving it a go, though. The Taiwanese manufacturer has chosen Computex as the stage to officially take the wraps off its "Glide" UI concept, the first shot of which we saw in the leaked shots of the P560 a few weeks back. Features of the shell include ASUS Today, a home screen replacement; Anytime Launcher, a straight-up app launcher; EziPhoto for photo management and EziMusic for a glorified media player. Nothing too groundbreaking here, but hey, can't blame 'em for trying to keep up with the Joneses.

Buried underneath the hoopla surrounding the announcement of ASUS' Lamborghini-branded ZX1 at CeBIT, the more mellow P560 was also announced, featuring pretty much every spec the average WinMo buyer could want these days in a package that speaks far, far less about the car you're driving (or wish you were driving, anyway). HSDPA, WiFi, 3.2 megapixel autofocus cam, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, GPS, microSDHC slot, 256MB of ROM, 128MB of RAM, and Microsoft's freshest build of Windows Mobile Professional -- 6.1, that is -- all have managed to find their way into the P560's unassuming shell. Not bad, though the €500 (about $772) price tag could scare a few folks away when it launches next month.

[Via Navigadget]

It's not going to satisfy your unending hankering for 3G, but ASUS' P320 does have at least one thing going for it: it's mighty small. The so-called "Galaxi Mini" first broke cover back at CeBIT, offering GPS, WiFi, and a 2 megapixel camera in one of the smallest Windows Mobile 6 Professional packages to hit the market. Add that to the fact that it's looking a heck of a lot better in black than the sickly mauve the ASUS gals and dudes were showing off a couple months back, and we might just be sold. No word on a release date or whether it'll be officially offered stateside, but with that FCC certification under its belt, at least owners will be able to rest easy knowing that they're emitting only the finest, government-approved electromagnetic radiation available.

Seriously, ASUS, what in the heck were you thinking? If you're going to imbue your P750 with a feature as hotly desired (particularly in the Windows Mobile world) as VGA resolution, what could possibly possess you to not merely gloss it over, but to artificially downgrade your high-end beauty to plain old QVGA? Blasphemy, we say -- and thankfully, some of the folks responsible for first noticing ASUS' indiscretion have come out and fixed it. Members Sorg and GreateVK from asusmobile.ru have crafted a rough fix, and say that a final version should be available to everyone within a week. If that's not an awesome (and unexpected) present to P750 users around the world, we don't know what is.

[Via MoDaCo]

Here's one you may not have heard before: a manufacturer decides to stick a VGA touchscreen in some handset model not because it wants VGA resolution, but just because it got a killer deal on them. That's the rumor being floated on a handful of sites and forums about ASUS' monster P750 Windows Mobile 6 Professional device, with some sharp-eyed contributors noticing that each logical pixel on their devices' screens are actually comprised of -- count 'em -- four physical pixels. Indeed, a quick glance of the spec sheet for the alleged part number used reveals a "VGA/QVGA dual viewing mode," so the story seems to check out, and folks are apparently already hard at work enabling full 640 x 480 resolution on their beloved devices. Good luck, everyone!

Alongside decidedly flashier announcements, ASUS has also chosen CeBIT to debut its diminutive, modestly-specced P320, a Windows Mobile 6 Professional piece sans 3G that we first spied last month. It's not going to turn any heads, but hey, that's what the ZX1's all about; the P320 is really here to get down in the trenches, get dirty, and get some work done, all while making sure it doesn't dwarf the hand it's in. We'd prefer, oh, any other color besides flesh tone, but thanks to a positively miniature 99 x 55 x 13.35mm outline, 2 megapixel camera, and WiFi, we might just be willing to overlook it. What's more, there's no mention of GPS on the spec sheet, but we're going to venture a guess the necessary circuitry is on board thanks to a side button conveniently labeled -- you guessed it -- "GPS." Check more pictures after the break, or just hold out for a release whenever ASUS gets around to it. Your call.