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HP iPaq Data Messenger

(Credit: HP )

On Tuesday, HP added two new iPaq smartphones to its portfolio. But before you go getting too attached, you should know that for the time being, they'll only be available in Europe. Partnering with Vodafone, the HP iPaq Data Messenger and the HP iPaq Voice Messenger will first be offered in the United Kingdom and then eventually make their way to the rest of Europe.

Will they ever reach the United States and join the HP iPaq 910c Business Messenger? Well, we asked our HP contact, who said she hasn't heard anything about a stateside release but would let us know as soon as she did. (Oh, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that phrase.)

For the curious, both the iPaq Data Messenger and the iPaq Voice Messenger offer a new five-away optical navigation button that provides a "gliding" sensation when scrolling through menus. The devices also have predictive text capabilities so they will learn a user's vocabulary and style when composing messages. Both smartphones run Windows Mobile 6.1 (Professional Edition on the Data Messenger and Standard on the Voice Messenger) and offer integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a 3-megapixel camera.

While the two models share a lot of shared features, they have different focuses--if you couldn't tell by their names. The HP iPaq Voice Messenger is more of a phone-centric device and has a 2.4-inch QVGA non-touch display and 20-button keypad. Meanwhile, power business users might be more attracted to the HP iPaq Data Messenger and its slide-out QWERTY keyboard and touch screen. The Data Messenger will go for around 499 euros ($652), while the Voice Messenger is priced at 399 euros ($521).

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.

In addition to a flurry of new PCs, HP also announced this week that it would, at long last, start shipping the HP iPaq 900 smartphone on June 30. First introduced back in September 2007, the iPaq 900 is a business- and messaging-centric smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard; Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition; a 3-megapixel camera; and integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. The quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) smartphone also has tri-band UMTS/HSDPA support.

Currently, no U.S. carrier has picked up the device, though, according to HP, that may change in the future. (AT&T did pick up the HP iPaq hw6900 series a while back, so if any carrier will do it, we think it'll be AT&T.) For now, the iPaq 900 will be sold unlocked through HP's Web site, though pricing has not been finalized at this point.

[Sources: Phone Scoop, HP]

The folks at HP seem to be riding high these days--passing archrival Dell as the No. 1 PC retailer, dodging some thorny legal issues, and even being one of TV madman Jim Cramer's favorite stock picks. The company is working its new mojo by unleashing a torrent of new products today, some of which were highlighted this evening at a press event in New York.

HP Blackbird

The biggest news was the first product to spring from the HP/Voodoo team-up, the HP Blackbird. This impressive-looking gaming PC sits on a single giant foot and includes pretty much every high-end component imaginable. It's the perfect system for rocking out new DX10 games such as Crysis and BioShock, as long as you've got several thousand spare greenbacks lying around. Check out Rich's full review for all the gory details. Somewhat less interesting was more traditional desktop, the HP Elite m9040n.

HP iPaq 910

Today also marks the return of the iPaq handheld. The new models, including the iPaq 110 and iPaq 210 aim to bring the PDA category back from the dead, having been sent to an early grave by ubiquitous smart phones.

More full-featured are the iPaq 610 and iPaq 910, which have full QWERTY keyboards and Wi-Fi. Bonnie's got full details on those, plus the iPaq 310 Travel Companion, a GPS device with a 4.3-inch, 480x800 touch screen.

HP Compaq 6820s

We also got a glimpse at a couple of aimed at the business set. The HP Compaq 6820s and 6720s are fairly basic biz laptops, with standard Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs (cheapskates can dial down to a Celeron processor, but we wouldn't recommend it). The interesting part is that the 6820s is a 17-inch model--rare for the business laptop scene. In addition, HP's professional and mobile workstation series models--the HP Compaq 2710p, 2510p, and 6910p, and the HP Compaq 8000 series--will offer 64GB solid-state drive options. Check out Michelle's post for details.

Lest you think HP has been hoarding its goods for months to roll everything out in a single day, we've already seen a veritable "hailstorm of printers" as Felisa puts it, unveiled last week.

HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion

(Credit: HP )

Last year, HP introduced its HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion, a sleek gadget that combined the powers of a PDA and a portable navigation system into one solution. It was the first GPS device for the company, and based on user opinions, it was a pretty successful product. Now, HP has decided to embark on its first GPS-only venture with the new HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion. I got a sneak preview a couple of weeks ago, and I must say, I'm pretty impressed. Unlike the rx5900, which used TomTom software, HP created its own interface for the iPaq 310, and it was pretty intuitive to use from the brief time I had with the product. Maps looked nice and sharp on the 4.3-inch, 480x800 pixel resolution touch screen, and I was really digging the 3D building renderings. Everything else is pretty standard; the system comes preloaded with maps of North America and features text-to-speech functionality, integrated Bluetooth for hands-free calling, and an online trip planning site. The HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion will be available in late September and will go for somewhere in the $399 to $499 price range--not too shabby.

HP iPaq 910 Business Manager

(Credit: HP)

In addition to several other mobile product announcements today, HP showed off two new smart phones, and they're not for the faint of heart.

First, there's the HP iPaq 610 Business Navigator, a quad-band mobile with support for HSDPA and assisted GPS with integrated Google Maps. The Windows Mobile 6 (Professional Edition) device is also equipped with Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g with WPA2 security), 256MB Flash ROM/128MB SDRAM, and a 3-megapixel camera. Like the previous HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger, the iPaq 610 has more of a voice-centric focus and includes the same advanced voice command system found in the 510, but it does tout a bigger 2.8-inch screen (versus 2 inches diagonally), and it's a touch screen to boot. Another design enhancement is the new Smart Touch wheel found in middle of the alphanumeric keypad that lets you scroll through the various menus items. The iPaq 600 series is slated to ship in late September for about $600 for an unlocked version.

HP iPaq 610 Business Navigator

(Credit: HP)

Now, for the messaging fanatics, there's the HP iPaq 910 Business Manager. As the successor to the HP iPaq hw6900 series, the iPaq 910 has a full QWERTY keyboard, push e-mail capabilities, and a 2.46-inch touch screen. Many of the smart phone's other features are the same as the iPaq 610's, including HSDPA support, assisted GPS, Bluetooth 2.0., Wi-Fi, and a 3-megapixel camera. While expected availability is late November or early December, HP did not release pricing information. There were no carrier announcements at this time, either.

HP iPaq 110 Classic Handheld

(Credit: HP)

Ha! And people thought the PDA was dead. Today, HP introduced two new models to its iPaq line of handhelds: the HP iPaq 110 Classic Handheld and HP iPaq 210 Enterprise Handheld. Now, in this day and age of smart phones, will this type of classic PDA fly? I say yes. There are still plenty of people who want one device for organizing their contacts and appointments while keeping their cell phone separate. And heck, since Dell exited the handheld market in April and there hasn't been a new PDA from Palm in years, HP fills that void. Both devices are expected to start shipping in late October, while pricing has not been finalized at this time.

So if the name didn't give it away, the iPaq 110 is more for the everyday user--the student, the do-it-all supermom, the mobile professional. There's no revolutionary technology in here, but that's not to say, it's a snoozer. The PDA runs the latest Windows Mobile 6 Professional Edition and comes with integrated Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi. It's nice and trim at 4.5 inches tall by 7.1 inches wide by 0.5 inch deep and 3.6 ounces and features a 3.5-inch, 240x320 pixel touch screen. Underneath, the iPaq 110 is powered by a 624MHz Marvell PXA310 processor and 256MB Flash ROM and 64MB SDRAM.

HP iPaq 210 Enterprise Handheld

(Credit: HP)

Meanwhile, the HP iPaq 210 will appeal to only a certain portion of the audience, namely vertical markets such as the medical profession. This business-centric handheld comes with advanced tools, such as HP's Enterprise Mobility Agent, a certificate enroller, and VoIP support. It's also equipped with a 24-pin connector and a mini USB port for terminal attachments such as bar code readers. Other highlights of this Windows Mobile 6 PDA include Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi (802.11b/g with WPA2 security), a 4-inch, 262,000-color, VGA touch screen, 256MB of Flash ROM, 64MB of SDRAM, a voice recorder, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Six months after its official unveiling at 3GSM World Congress, the HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger is finally shipping here in the States. The voice-centric Windows Mobile 6 smart phone features some advanced voice-command functions that let you perform a number of tasks, such as making calls, opening applications, and composing and sending e-mails, just by the sound of your voice. The iPaq 510 is available unlocked through HP, with prices starting at $319.99.

HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger

(Credit: CNET Networks)

As most of us are counting sheep and dreaming of faraway places this Sunday night, things are abuzz in Barcelona, Spain, where the 3GSM World Congress has officially kicked off. This was the day Microsoft was supposed to officially take the wraps off Windows Mobile 6. But oopsies--someone beat them to the punch. Still, there's plenty of exciting news coming out of Ciudad Condal, such as, oh I don't know...one of the first Windows Mobile 6 devices?!

Today, HP unveiled the HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger, an ultracompact smart phone that focuses more on voice features and fills a void in the company's mobile-device lineup, falling somewhere between its workhorse Pocket PC phones and standalone PDAs. It offers advanced voice command capabilities, both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (no 3G support, though--boo hiss), a 1.3-megapixel camera, and of course, all the goodies that come along with Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition. We had the opportunity to check out the device for a couple of days, and we're generally impressed by its features and performance, but a little lukewarm on the design. You can check out our full review here, and we're still putting the phone through its paces, so stay tuned for updates.

HP has not made any carrier announcements yet, but it's a GSM phone, so it'll be either Cingular or T-Mobile. Plus, the company will sell unlocked versions from its Web site sometime this spring, with prices starting at $299.