Brighthand — More Evidence iPAQ hw6500 Coming to Cingular (Updated)

Brighthand — More Evidence iPAQ hw6500 Coming to Cingular (Updated):More Evidence iPAQ hw6500 Coming to Cingular (Updated)
By Ed Hardy | Editor-in-Chief
Apr 26, 2005

Although it has been widely assumed that HP's upcoming cellular-wireless Pocket PC will be offered by Cingular, there's been no evidence of that.

However, while it's hardly conclusive, a Microsoft MVP has essentially promised that the iPAQ hw6500 will be offered by Cingular.
A Little Background Info

HP iPAQ hw6500Everyone has been assuming that this model will be offered by Cingular because HP is heavily touting its support for EDGE high-speed wireless networks.

Cingular is the only U.S. company with a significant EDGE wireless network.
New Info

Recently, Joe Schurman, a Microsoft MVP, posted on his web site a PowerPoint presentation discussing the iPAQ hw6500.

In this, he specifically says that this handheld will be offered by Cingular.

As a Microsoft MVP specializing in the Windows Mobile operating system, Schurman is in the position to have inside information on this device.

This doesn't mean that Cingular will be the only carrier to offer this handheld. It uses GSM/GPRS wireless networks, so it can function as a voice and data device on most of the wireless service providers' networks worldwide. However, the data transfer speed won't be as high as it is with Cingular.

Update: Joe Schurman has released the following statement:

"I received information on HP partnering with Cingular for the hw6500 from another website before I put this presentation together and spoke in conversation to a fellow HP rep. At this time, HP has not made an announcement as to who the carrier is and therefore, I have removed the last bullet under the Cingular slide due to a request that I received today. I am among those who are anxious to see when this device will be released and who will provide service for it."

Overview of the iPAQ hw6500

The iPAQ hw6500 will run the Phone Edition of Windows Mobile 2003 SE on a 312 MHz Intel XScale processor.

It will have 64 MB of RAM, of which 46 MB is user accessible. This handheld will include an 8 MB File Store.

This will be the first Pocket PC from any company with a square (240 by 240 pixel) screen. This will be 2.2 inches on each side.

Below the screen will be a backlit QWERTY keyboard.

The hw6500 will have a pair of memory card slots, one for SD/SDIO cards and a second for miniSD cards.

It will include a built-in GPS receiver and TomTom Navigator software. Users will be able to download one city map for free. Additional maps will cost extra.

The hw6500 will run on GSM/GPRS wireless networks, and support EDGE, a wireless networking standard that can provide average speeds of 100 kbps to 130 kbps.

It will have Bluetooth short-range wireless networking, but not Wi-Fi.

Some, but not all, versions of the hw6500 will have a 1.2 megapixel camera capable of taking 1280-by-1024-pixel still pictures or 640-by-480-pixel MPEG4 video. This will be accompanied by an LED flash.

This device will be 4.7 inches tall, 2.8 inches wide, and 0.8 inches thick (118 mm by 71 mm by 21 mm). It will weigh 5.8 ounces (165 g).

HP says this device will be available in the second half of April. The exact price is still not known, but it is expected to cost about the same as HP's other cellular-wireless Pocket PC, the iPAQ h6315.

Thanks to Dave's iPAQ for the tip.