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]

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]

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]

Taiwan's OEM reporting pulse -- DigiTimes -- claims that handset makers Asustek, BenQ, Compal and Arima Communications are all "aggressively developing iPhone-like products" for 2008. According to their sources, the devices will run on Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform and target business markets with features such as 3G and GPS. DigiTimes' sources also claim that Nokia will release its Symbian-based "iPhone-like handset" in the first half of 2008. True or not, that's a lot of Apple hate-bait to swallow this early in the morning.

Historically, Palm's had manufacturing relationships with HTC, Foxconn, and Inventec for its Treo line, but it seems they've turned to Asus for the Treo 500 series. How do we know? The FCC tells us so via the device's filing from one ASUSTek Computer Inc. of Taipei, Taiwan. We can understand shying away from HTC -- maintaining a meaningful business relationship with a company that's whipping your butt competitively can be awkward at best -- but we can't help but wonder what led Palm to turn to an entirely fresh ODM relationship this time around. Was it looking to inject some fresh insight for the 500's creation, or did the order simply go to the lowest bidder? Of course, none of this changes the fact that the handset's me-too design and pedestrian feature set arguably leaves it at a competitive disadvantage before it's even released, but at least we can toss a little sliver of that blame Asus' way this time around.

O2's Taiwan and Hong Kong chief has reaffirmed the company's long-standing commitment to rolling out Windows Mobile devices, recently commenting that it'll roll out four new models in the second half of 2007. That's good news for Quanta, Arima, and Gigabyte -- the ODMs taking on those orders -- but O2's partnership with ASUS has been scrapped, allegedly because it adopted Intel's 3G chipsets for its models when Qualcomm's are considered to be snappier. All four new models will rock out with Windows Mobile 6; one will be an entry-level piece with EDGE data while the other three will all burn rubber with downstream speeds of "at least" 3.6Mbps. At least this explains O2's untimely cancellation of the Xda Zinc, we guess.

[Via Pocket PC Thoughts]

Don't be fooled by its impressive spec sheet -- the J502 has nothing but feeble GPRS to keep its data pipeline moving along. That alone is enough to render ASUS' latest slider dead in our eyes, but we'll go through the motions and hit up the otherwise-lovely features anyway: 3 megapixel autofocus cam, 2.4 inch QVGA display, TV out, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (including A2DP), and a rather creative SMS remote control feature that allows the owner to control a variety of functions from afar -- lock, format, call forward, and so on. Of course, if the phone's stolen, we imagine one of the first things on the thief's mind is switching out the SIM, so ya better hurry if you want to wipe it. No word on a release date, but expect the 14.7mm slider in your choice of red and black when it drops.

It's not terribly often that we're here to tell a sob story about a European carrier killing off a hotly-anticipated handset prior to release, but alas, it does seem to happen from time to time. Such is the case here, where O2 first delayed the ASUS-supplied Xda Zinc -- a rather delicious Windows Mobile QWERTY slider, if we do say so ourselves, replete with 3G data -- and now has apparently deep-sixed it entirely, claiming it wasn't up to snuff with its "testing requirements." To be fair, O2's Xda line of Windows Mobile-based devices is deep and wide enough to accommodate nearly any user's needs, Zinc or no, so we're not going to be sending any flowers or cards expressing our condolences. If anything, ASUS might be the one needing consolation here, with the Zinc possibly proving to be a breakout handset for the company in Europe's white-hot smartphone market.

We admit, we were a little perplexed to see that ASUS is not "officially" endorsing this super-svelte and touchably beautiful Aura handset. Alas, the Aura was supposedly a design prototype ordered by ASUS from Hungarian design company Egy Studio. The problem is that ASUS claims the entire Aura handset is, well, a complete fake. If so, why are official-looking images of the device posted on Egy Studio's website? This makes little sense except for ASUS possibly trying to take back information on a leaked prototype that, umm, exists at the website of an alleged design partner of the Taiwanese company. We'd all love to see this killer Aura concept come to life -- but maybe it's just not to be after all.

Either we're dreaming a lovely dream, or phone manufacturers are finally starting to embrace the concept of tri-band UMTS; for the sake of speed-loving Americans everywhere, we're hoping it's the latter. The "Aries" from ASUS will come bearing all the sweet, sweet fruits of Windows Mobile 6 Standard (that's like Smartphone, for you WM5-toting gals and gents) combined with UMTS on the 850, 1900, and 2100MHz bands for global coverage. Other features include a true scroll wheel (none of that Excalibur-style touch strip action here), 2 megapixel camera, front facing secondary cam for video calls, 520MHz XScale processor, and -- in the event you couldn't deduce it from the pictures -- a QWERTY keypad. We're told the Aries clocks in just a hair wider and thicker than the Excalibur, and if we're going to get global 3G in exchange, well, we're just fine with that. If in-the-flesh shots of phones aren't your thing, peep a decidedly more conceptual view of the Aries after the break!

If only ASUS made that GPS-packin' P535 with a 3G radio... well, by George, they do! (Sorta.) The P735 takes the P535's winning formula (for folks that consider a keyboardless design a "winning formula," anyway) but trades GPS for some glorious UMTS data in a 19mm-thick package. Other features include 256MB of onboard Flash, 2 megapixel primary and VGA front-facing cams, 802.11b / g, Bluetooth 2.0, and miniSD expansion. Conspicously missing from the spec sheet, though, are Crossbow and any form of 3G usable this side of the pond. Maybe next time you'll think of us, ASUS.

[Via NaviGadget, thanks Dimitris]

If we were to play a game of word association and you said "Windows Mobile," we'd be likely to blurt out "HTC" in response. That appears to be just the kind of attitude ASUS is looking to adjust -- at least in Europe, anyway. After the VDA IV popped up via the FCC a few days back, its O2-branded sibling followed hot on its heels, bringing all that same 3G Windows Mobile Smartphone joy in a candybar form factor. Stand-out features include 128MB of Flash with 64MB of RAM (a lot of modern Pocket PCs get by with those kinds of numbers), a legit 3.5mm audio jack, front-facing cam for video calling, and of course, those UMTS data speeds. Hey ASUS, any chance you folks would mind investing in some 1700MHz radios?

[Via CoolSmartPhone]

If imitation is truly the sincerest form of flattery, HTC must be turning beet red right about now. The Mars II from ASUS follows the HTC Wizard / Hermes formula down to the letter, featuring that fabulous side-opening QWERTY keypad we'd now be lost without, an Intel Xscale PXA270 core making haste at 520MHz, 128MB of ROM, 64MB of RAM, UMTS, 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0, 2-megapixel shooter, and a 2.8-inch QVGA display (why no love for the VGA?). As you may recall, we were able to correctly call all the specs out last month with the exception of the name and the ODM, which we'd heard would be HTC -- and given the Hermes-esque dimensions and feature list, who could blame us? Look for the Mars II to grace O2's networks before too long as the "Xda Zinc," but thanks to the old-skool tri-band GSM radio sans 850 support, we're going to be putting our import plans on hold.

[Via phoneArena]

We know durn well that an FCC nod means absolutely nothing for a handset's chances of stateside release, but doesn't this seem like a no-brainer for ASUS? The quad-band P525 fills a niche that no other manufacturer has in the States, offering the versatility advantage of Pocket PC Phone Edition with the usability advantage of a traditional keypad. Granted, the device lacks EDGE or any form of 3G, but built-in WiFi makes the situation (arguably) bearable. Ah well, wishful thinking; we're sure we'll this thing'll ultimately be destined for import shops at prices that leave only ASUS fanboys' mouths salivating.

After adding a slider and flip to its stable of autofocus camera phones, ASUS is turning its attention to the candybar form factor, showing the V80 last week. Other than the autofocus 2-megapixel shooter with macro, there's not much to write home about -- though the FM recorder is kinda nifty. Other features include a QR code reader, Bluetooth 1.2, 220 x 176 display, and EDGEless Class 10 GPRS. ASUS is making a big deal about the V80's 16mm thickness, but we're not entirely sure why, considering that Samsung's 9.9mm D830 alleges autofocus capability just the same. No word on availability or pricing, but thanks to quadband GSM, we might just keep an eye out for this sucker stateside.