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One model is a SmartPhone, based on the old 6035 design. The latest effort integrates color and a hip new design. The second is a color PDA running its own OS, that looks cool but doesn't match up well against current releases.

Kyocera Pocket Cosmo

This is the first PDA to operate under the OS created by the Open Content Platform Association [OCPA] of which Kyocera is a founding member. Picture Nokia and Symbian and you get the idea. Anyway, while this device looks fantastic, it's a bit light in the power plant, with a 206MHz processor and the fading-in-popularity CF expansion slot. The device comes with 32MB of on board memory with 40MB of flashable ROM. Release is set for July, but there's been no confirmation of plans to sell in the US.

Kyocera T3 SmartPhone

Kyocera had tremendous success with their SmartPhone 6035 model and I'm a little shocked that they didn't make a new one until now. This is a color device (hard to tell from pictures) that should compete nicely with the Treo 270 and the Samsung units. The small, compact design is superior to the the Treo series. I really like how they made the graffiti area below the fold.

From the side picture, you can clearly see something that looks like an SD slot, a headphone jack and up/down navigation buttons. It's too early to say if there are MP3 capabilities, the headphone jack might only be for phone coversations. The Treo has the headphone jack, but cannot play MP3. The antenna looks like the screw-in variety, just like the Treo. There's llittle known about what else might be in this device, but a few guesses have been thrown around. I'd be shocked to find OS 5 in here, it simply doesn't add a lot of value here. More likely is that Kyocera used the dragonball processor that is familiar ground for Palm PS devices. No word on release or pricing, but my guess is a release before the Summer is over and a price tag of $500.

There's never a dull moment, we'll keep you posted with the latest news and rumors!

Brian