RSSSprint Unveils Windows Mobile 5 Phone
By Ed Oswald | Published September 16, 2005, 6:13 PM
Sprint on Friday announced the availability of the Sprint PCS Vision Smart Device, which it calls the first PDA/phone combination in the US to feature Windows Mobile 5.0. Made by UTStarcom, the CDMA device will allow users to take advantage of Sprint's next generation EV-DO high-speed network.
The PPC-6700 will also include WiFi capability, Bluetooth, a full QWERTY keyboard, and 1.3-megapixel camera with the capability for recording video. The device bundles Microsoft Office Suite for Windows Mobile, as well as ActiveSync and support for over-the-air synchronization with an Exchange 2003 server.
Inside the unit is a 416MHz Intel PXA270 processor. An SD card slot will give the user the option of adding more memory above what is built in. Some users will be disappointed that the device only gets 3.7 hours of battery life, although Sprint did not specify whether that number is talk time or total usage.
"We believe the PPC-6700 really is the next-generation mobile device," said Philip Christopher, president of UT Starcom Personal Communications. "When paired with Sprint's advanced wireless service, [the device is] designed to enable professionals to virtually carry office capabilities in their pocket."
Third party applications included with the device are Action Info and AudibleListener. Users will also receive a 30-day trial to Action Info, which carries content from FOX Sports, AP News, AP Stocks, Restaurant Row, and Zap 2 it Movies among other providers.
A special promotion is available to Sprint customers who sign up for an Audible subscription, where they can receive up to $100 cash back.
The PPC-6700 is slated to be available online and in stores later this year at a retail price of $629.99 USD before any discounts and promotions. The product page on the Sprint Web site, however, lists the device at $479.99 USD with a two-year contract.
Microsoft better put pressure on these manufacturers to get their prices down if they want to take out RIM when Exchange 2003 SP2 is released. Integrating direct connect into this phone would have sold a lot more too.
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|I wish Sprint & Nextel could devise a way to merge the Sprint PCS & Nextel iDEN networks. *sigh*.
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|*sigh*
When will anyone learn... If you're going to build a PDA phone think modular. You're not going to use your PDA 24/7, but you probably want your cell phone 24/7. Have the cellphone functions powered seperately from the PDA. 1350mAh is enough to give over two hundred hours in low power standby modes in most phones. Having the whole PDA powered in something that's supposed to dual function as a cellphone is simply ignorant, but appears to be the industry standard.
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|That would be the best thing to happen to smartphones. Awesome idea.
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|The antenna is so big, and the battery life is enough to terminate any interest I had in it. If it was as small as my Audiovox SMT 5600 (it has Windows Mobile 2003) and had a comparable battery life, this would be the best phone ever.
Too bad... I really liked it until I saw the battery life. =(((
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|I have the 6600 model right now.
What the 6700 has that my 6600 does now:
1) 1.3mp camera (mine is 640x480)
2) keyboard comes out the side (mine is out the bottom)
3) built in wifi - mine aint got it.
4) a mini usb port - mine aint got it.
5) Windows mobile 5. (mine has 2003).
These are enough enhancements to get me to sell my 6600 and purchase the 6700. I've been extreamly happy with my 6600 - but the keyboard is tiny - this 6700 has fixed that problem.
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|Thats faster than one of my desktop systems! I want one! If only it had a longer battery...
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