HP iPAQ 910 Business Messenger Preview

The iPAQ 910 Business Messenger is HP's new breed of smartphone with a list of features that is sure to impress.

I was offered the opportunity to sit down with this device at HP's "Connecting Your World" event in Berlin. This Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone comes loaded with a touchscreen interface, QWERTY keyboard, GPS, 3G and EDGE, as well as a list of extras to keep HP at the top of the handheld game.

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The iPAQ 910 Business Messenger offers loads of connectivity: tri-band UMTS/high-speed HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, plus Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile makes it easy to handle multiple email accounts and HP Voice Reply allows for hands-free and eyes-free emailing. The HP Voice Command works exceptionally well and gives you the freedom to perform common phone activities (like dialing, emailing, or GPS using only your voice.

HP is emphasizing the business application for the iPAQ 910 by stressing the compatibility with a wide range of enterprise applications and line-of-business applications such as Oracle and SAP.

I particularly liked the combination of the touchscreen interface and QWERTY keyboard. There are times when you just want to "point and click" on the screen, and there are times that you just want a keyboard for typing text. The iPAQ makes it easy.

The flip side of the iPAQ houses a 3-megapixel camera that performs a little more like a budget digital camera rather than a crumby cellphone camera. You can also record low-resolution video with sound. Even better, the HP Photosmart Mobile application lets you edit images directly on the iPAQ and upload them to Snapfish.

GPS is finding its way into almost every smartphone and this new iPAQ is no exception. The multi-mode GPS and Google Maps makes it easy to find your location, and optional HP iPAQ Trip Guide offers turn-by-turn directions making your dedicated GPS obsolete.

At the time of this writing I've only a few hours to play with the iPAQ, and most of that time I was working and attending meetings. We hope to have more details soon. HP representatives say that the 910 is scheduled for release on June 30.

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Specifications

Wireless:

• Integrated quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and tri-band HSDPA
• Integrated Wi-Fi -- 802.11b/g with WPA2 security
• Integrated Bluetooth v2.0 with EDR
• Integrated GPS navigation

Operating system:

• Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
• Microsoft Office Mobile, Office Outlook Mobile, Internet Explorer Mobile

Processor:

• Marvell PXA270 Processor 416 MHz

Display:

• 2.46-inch transmissive TFT 65,000 color 320 x 240 pixel touch panel display with LED backlight

Memory:

• 128 MB SDRAM main memory for running applications 256MB flash ROM

Dimensions (h x w x d):

• 4.5 in x 2.5 in x 0.7 in 
• 114 mm x 64 mm x 15 mm

Weight with battery:

• 154 g

Power:

• 1940 mAh Lithium-Ion rechargeable, user-changeable battery

Interface:

• USB 2.0 client for sync/data/charge, Micro SD card slot

Audio:

• Integrated microphone, receiver, speaker and 2.5mm stereo headphone jack

Camera:

• 3 megapixels, autofocus, 4x digital zoom, codec supports JPEG; image resolutions supported range from 88 x 72 pixels to 2048 x 1536 pixels
• Video resolution: 176 x 144

Hardware buttons:

• Alphanumeric keyboard, scroll wheel, five-way navigation, two soft keys, volume control, send/end buttons, reset, voice command

HP Exclusive Applications:

• HP iPAQ Data Connect, HP Voice Reply, HP Voice Command, Bluetooth Manager, HP Photosmart Mobile, HP Help and Support, HP QuickStart Tour, HP Enterprise Mobility Agent

In the box:

• HP iPAQ 910 Business Manager, standard battery, AC adapter, USB synchronization cable, wired stereo headphones, Getting Started Guide, HP iPAQ Companion CD

Warranty:

• 1-year part and labor in most regions; 90 days technical support for software in most regions. Additional offers may vary by region.