HP triumphantly returns to AT&T with iPAQ K3 "Obsidian"




Support for the Symbian Foundation's upcoming open platform has officially reached a rolling boil with the addition of 14 members to its already-impressive roster, bringing the grand total to 78 companies spanning the range from device manufacturers to carriers, developers, banks, and beyond. Definitely falling into that "and beyond" category would be MySpace, which pledged its support presumably to get its tentacles deep inside the Symbian codebase -- a wise move considering the obvious trend toward mobile social networking. Also notable are the additions of HP, Qualcomm, GPS chipset maker SiRF, and SanDisk. About the only thing left for the group to do now is deliver on its platform promises by pumping out some phones through its partners -- and can you just imagine an S60-based HP phone?
We have a sneaking suspicion most Vodafone faithful have been focusing on other matters, but those who've kept HP's iPAQ Voice Messenger in the front of their mind can finally celebrate. Yep, the Windows Mobile-based smartphone -- which is about as "all-business" as they come, might we add -- is finally available for order at Vodafone UK. It can be claimed right now for anywhere between free and £85.11 ($126) depending on plan.
Details on this one are about as light as can be at the moment, but The Wall Street Journal has it that HP is aiming to expand its iPAQ smartphone line into the consumer market with a new model that it'll market to both average consumers and corporate users alike. According to "people briefed on the plan," the phone will have both a touchscreen and a keypad and, naturally, it'll run Windows Mobile 6.1 -- oh, and it'll be able to "send and receive emails, and access the Internet." While there's no indication of a price just yet, word is the device will be available in Europe first within the next two months, with a worldwide release to follow sometime thereafter.
After you delay a not-exactly-groundbreaking product like the iPAQ 900 for the umpteenth time, there should really be no surprise to find a lukewarm reaction when it actually ships. Nevertheless, loyalists out there that refuse to give up on HP's Windows Mobile 6.1-powered Business Communicator will likely love the lengthy hands-on demonstration at GottaBeMobile. There's nothing there that'll floor you or anything, but if you really needed to see someone handle this thing for 14 minutes before making your purchasing decision, head on past the break and mash that sideways triangle.





