Rumors Surface of CDMA-Compatible iPAQ (Updated)

In June, references to several unannounced models appeared on HP's web site. Most of these were for models that had already appeared in rumors, but one of them, the iPAQ rw6100, remained a mystery.

Now, iPAQabilities believes it may have solved this mystery. A source revealed to it that the rw6100 will be a rebranded version of LG's SC8000, a cellular-wireless Pocket PC that is compatible with CDMA networks.

HP recently announced its first cellular-wireless model, the h6315, but this is only for GSM/GPRS networks. This leaves Verizon and Sprint customers high and dry.

Since iPAQabilities first broke this story, several pictures of an HP-branded version of the SC8000 have turned up on Korean web sites, including TodaysPPC and Clien.net.

An Overview of the iPAQ rw6100

Update: iPAQabilities has been sent additional information on the rw6100, including a PDF file giving what are supposed to be the specifications.

According to this information, the rw6100 will run the Phone Edition of Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition on a 520 MHz XScale processor. It will have 64 MB of RAM and 128 MB of ROM. All this ROM space will give it room for a 78 MB iPAQ file store.

Its QVGA screen will be just 2.8 inches when measured diagonally, smaller than most handheld users are accustomed to.

Unlike a lot of cellular-wireless handhelds, this model won't force users to dial on an on-screen numberpad. The rw6100's screen will slide up to expose a regular numberpad underneath.

This device won't depend only on CDMA for wireless networking. It will also include built-in Wi-Fi, though it won't have Bluetooth.

It will sport a 1.1 megapixel camera and an SD slot.

The Pocket PC will be 4.5 inches tall, 2.3 inches wide, and 1.05 inches thick (114 by 59 by 27 mm). It will weigh 7.2 ounces (203 g)

It will include a 1440 mAh swappable Lithium Polymer battery, with a 2800 mAh battery available as an option.

None of these rumors say when the iPAQ rw6100 will be introduced, or at what cost. The fact that much of this information is coming from Korea is causing some to wonder if it will be released in the U.S. at all.

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