Report: HP to market new smartphone to consumers

The HP iPaq 910c Business Messenger is getting a younger sibling, according to reports.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Aiming to push its hardware beyond the corporate world, Hewlett-Packard will release a new version of its iPaq smartphone that will also be marketed to consumers, The Wall Street Journal reports.

We don't have many details yet (iPaq App Store?), but the latest iPaq apparently will sport a touch-screen and keypad and will run on Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, according to sources cited by the WSJ. The phone will likely hit Europe by the end of this year, with a broader release to follow.

Though definitely better known for its laptops and desktop PCs, HP isn't new to smartphones. The company has released several models in the past, including the HP iPaq hw6945 Mobile Messenger and the HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger (the first Windows Mobile 6 smartphone). Both were geared mainly toward businesses, and both garnered their share of favorable reviews from users.

The most recent iPaq, the HP iPaq 910c Business Messenger, launched this summer. CNET reviewed the phone and found it to be a well-stocked, messaging-centric smartphone for mobile professionals, but said it faces stiff competition from the likes of HTC, Samsung, and Motorola.

Fellow PC maker Dell, meanwhile, has been hinting of its own plans to enter the smartphone realm. And up-and-coming PC maker Acer of Taiwan said earlier this year that it has a smartphone on deck for the end of this year or early 2009.

[rcardona2k]

If HPaq wanted to be a big player in handsets they blew it by htiching their wagon to Windows CE/Mobile. With the success of iPhone, now your tardy and crappy imitators (Dell DJ, anyone?) are coming to join the party. Vista on a phone? NO thanks. HP should talk to Google about Android if want another chance.

[blsith]

Um... wonderfully intuitive comment there. Compaq/HP has been in the CE/Mobile realm for almost a decade now. The iPaq has been around that long, yes. And they did say "business", and if you could actually read the article you'd see that they have had a CE/mobile phone for a while now, too. "Tardy and crappy imitators" sounds a bit over the top there, fanboi.

[bonesbautista]

I own an iPaq HW6515, and would have bought a 6945 if HP hadn't taken about 2 years to get out after they announced it. I moved on to BBs/Treos and iPhones for my business and personal use and would get an E71 - at least I can buy one before any new iPaqs hit the street (in 2010?).

My 6515? I still play Solitare on it....

[Alex Alexzander]

iPhone is still too bugy and lacks too many features at this time. Shows a lot of promise but with Apple driving it, I doubt it. I switched "to" Windows Mobile "from" iPhone, and I am glad I did.

Alex

[Edtek]

Ok i reply to the 1st comment, why are you saying that going with Windows over Apple is a bad choice? Apple only has fraction of the market. Andriod is an OS that is on diapers. The major holder of the market segment is Sybian with over 50% of the market share on smartphones followed by RIM's OS. Windows Mobile is third. Apple is just going over Linux powered phones now. Even tho apple has been VERY successfull the iPhone is not for everybody. First off its a very pricey toy and second its a very delicate phone compared to other smartphones.

Im not saying the iPhone is bad it's a very nice product on it's own offering a very "kool" all in one multimedia solution but it's not the dominating force in the market. Your comment not only sounds biassed but sounds like something a fanboy would say.

Google on the other hand i have a lot of reserves. With the experience we had with Google and their eternal betas it's hard to say wether Android will prove to be a success or not.

[Harry D]

An open letter to Nokia and all manufacturers about their cell phone: they stink.

I like HP products, generally. But phones have become so feature-laden that they're just toys anymore. Why do you cater so much to children?

I'm an adult and above other things i need a phone that makes calls reliably. Reception has become a major issue across the board with all phones by all makers, but damn, they have nice cameras and music players (that's sarcasm, btw).

I need a phone with good reception that works as close to anywhere as possible. I don't need a computer in my hand, and I won't use text to communicate - it's a phone, remember? It uses the most efficient means of communication that has evolved over centuries of anthropology: the human voice. Features are nice, but please don't forget that these are PHONES, not typewriters nor iPods.

thanks, trying to be a loyal customer here.