Targeting business and leisure travelers, Pharos Science & Applications, Inc., a leading provider of real-time, location-based information and services, today launched its first GPS-enabled smartphone. The GPS Phone offers a full-featured navigation experience on a sleek smartphone with extensive wireless options and the added convenience of a two mega-pixel camera and FM radio. The GPS Phone will be available in February 2007 at national retail outlets and online stores. “Pharos’ GPS Phone is the ultimate mobility device for travelers who want to stay in touch, stay on course and stay ahead of the game with a variety of productivity and entertainment features,” says James Oyang, Ph.D., Pharos President. Powerful CommunicationIn a single, powerful handset, Pharos packed multiple wireless options designed to ensure that customers are always in touch via digital voice and data communications. The GPS Phone features quad-band Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) cellular mode, Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS), EDGE, WiFi and Bluetooth – all in a lightweight, slim smartphone running the Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC platform. The GPS Phone includes standard calling features and ships with an unlocked SIM slot so customers can use an existing GSM SIM card or sign up for service with the GSM carrier of their choice.Advanced NavigationThe GPS Phone also combines Pharos’ industry-leading Ostia navigation software and real-time location services with the highly sensitive SiRFStarIII Global Positioning System receiver to provide an easy to use, precise navigation experience. Using the GPS Phone, customers can navigate to Outlook Contacts, Points of Interest or entirely new locations in just a few taps of the unit’s touch-screen display. Pharos installed detailed Tele Atlas street maps of the U.S. and Canada so users can view their route as they navigate door to door via voice-prompted, turn-by-turn driving instructions. Multi-stop routing and automatic re-routing when off-route round out the unit’s many reliable navigation functions.Versatile EntertainmentBuilt to be an essential tool on the job or off, the GPS Phone features a two mega-pixel camera with flash that records and plays back pictures and video. The multi-purpose device also includes an FM radio and Windows Media Player 10 Mobile. Its large, 2.8-inch, touch-screen, color display makes it easy to appreciate high-resolution video, watch TV, and access music files.Mobile Office The GPS Phone extends the office and enhances user productivity with Microsoft Office Mobile applications that include mobile versions of Outlook (for emails, contacts, calendars and tasks), Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player 10 and more.User Friendly, Feature Rich Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz cellular modem; GPRS, EDGE, Blootooth® version 2.0 class 2+EDR; and WLAN 802.11b/g. Unlocked SIM card slot easily accepts user’s existing SIM card and wireless carrier service. • Free three-month subscription to Pharos Smart Navigator Web-based location services. Windows Mobile 5.0 with Microsoft Office Mobile. Digital camera with 1200×1600 pixel resolution; GPS location stamping capability for future “navigation by image” function. • Built-in microphone and speaker for hands-free operation; supports external stereo headset. Lithium-Ion Polymer rechargeable battery: up to 5 hours talk time; 15 hours PDA use; 160 hours standby. Bonus Microsoft Streets & Trips for trip planning on a PC. The Pharos’ GPS Phone earned Honoree status for the prestigious CES Innovations award for outstanding design and engineering in wireless communications. The award is given by the Consumer Electronics Association. For more information visit http://www.cesweb.org/attendees/awards/innovations/rd_2007honorees.asp. About Pharos Pharos is a leading provider of GPS navigation solutions and location based services (LBS) for mobile devices. The company is a charter member of Microsoft’s Partner Advisory Council, a Qualcomm BREW Developer, and a member of CTIA and ITS America. Pharos products are sold through a network of leading national retail locations and online stores including Amazon, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, DataVision, Dell, eXpansys, Fry’s Electronics, J&R, Newwegg, RCS, Tech Depot and others. For more information, please visit www.pharosgps.com.
HP iPAQ hw6925 Pocket PC Phone Review
“The 312 MHz XScale processor in this iPAQ may be boring, but it’s fairly reliable. Of course, that is in itself a double edged sword, being reliable for being not too fast as well as not too slow. As it is just barely fast enough to support Voice-over-IP applications such as Skype, it dismays me somewhat that HP didn’t at least allow for a little more performance. While a fast processor can automatically scale back its speed to save battery life, a slow processor can’t scale up its performance when needed. The hw6925 has a fairly unremarkable array of software, with all the standard Windows Mobile applications, plus a few preloaded “teasers” designed to try and get you to purchase additional services from Cingular, such as their Telenav GPS navigation system. This iPAQ does come preloaded with a Java runtime application, which is supposed to permit the use of small Java applications like the popular Opera Mini. However, in my tests the program invariably locked up when trying to run Opera Mini. A surprise, given that every other Windows-based JRE seems to have no problem with it. ” Read more here: