Siemens SX66 Pocket PC Now Available from Cingular

Cingular Wireless has just begun offering a version of the XDA III, a cellular-wireless Pocket PC that garnered a lot of attention when it was released in Europe over the summer.

While the XDA III is the generic name for the various versions of this model, Cingular is calling its version the Siemens SX66.

With its built-in keyboard and multiple forms of wireless networking, this device is a direct competitor to HP's iPAQ h6315. However, the SX66 has a faster processor, more RAM, and a bit more stylish design.

More about the SX66

The SX66 uses a traditional tablet design, plus it sports a small QWERTY keyboard that is exposed when the 3.5-inch, QVGA screen slides up.

It runs the Phone Edition of Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition on a 400 MHz Intel XScale PXA263 processor. It includes 128 MB of RAM, plus it has an SD slot for additional storage. This slot offers SDIO support.

The SX66 has support for 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS networks, meaning it can be used in the U.S., Europe, and almost every other country.

In addition to being able to access Cingular's cellular-wireless network, the SX66 includes both Wi-Fi (802.11b) and Bluetooth, giving it maximum flexibility for wireless networking.

With the keyboard hidden, this handheld is 4.9 inches tall, 2.8 inches wide, and 0.75 inches thick (12.5 cm by 7.0 cm by 1.9 cm). It weighs 7.4 ounces (210 g).

It is taller than its chief competitor, the iPAQ h6315, but thinner. Both devices are roughly the same thickness.

According to Cingular, the SX66 is good for 4 hours of talk time or 7 days on standby.

The Siemens SX66 is is available now on the Cingular web site. The price is $550 with a 2 year contract, which is higher than the price T-Mobile charges for the h6315.

Thanks to Sylvangale and Max Miller for the tips

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