RegHardware reports that the next generation of Intel’s Centrino platform, codenamed ‘Santa Rosa’, may well include 3G mobile phone network connectivity as well as the standard Wi-Fi, if allegedly leaked company roadmaps are to be believed.

… the Santa Rosa specification includes ‘Windigo’, the Centrino platform’s first wireless wide-area network (WWAN) add-in. The report claims Windigo will host GSM, GPRS and WCDMA/CDMA2000 connectivity, but cites no sources for this information. You might expect Intel to be pushing WiMAX rather than 3G, so we wouldn’t rule this technology out as an alternative foundation for Windigo.

Tags: Intel, Centrino, 3G Centrino, 3G Laptop

Palm today announced it has forged a new relationship with Vodafone targeted at expanding the adoption of wireless push email in Europe. The Palm Treo smartphone that will result from this collaboration will represent an industry first by operating on Vodafone’s 3G/UMTS network. The new Treo smartphone will be available first to Vodafone customers in multiple European countries, including the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy and Netherlands, before the end of the calendar year.

Today, only an estimated 2 percent of business email inboxes worldwide are accessed via mobile, according to market research firm The Radicati Group. Palm, Vodafone and Microsoft will target this large, untapped market with real-time push email using Microsoft’s Messaging and Security Feature Pack available on Windows Mobile 5.0, which includes Direct Push Technology and enhanced security features.

Full Press Release

Tags: Palm, Treo, 3G Palm, 3G Treo, Vodafone, Microsoft

The HTC TyTN 3G Microsoft ® Windows Mobile ® 5.0 based Pocket PC phone, with its compact size and ultimate connectivity, is truly the complete mobile office solution. Roam anywhere in the world and use the high speed internet access, Bluetooth ® and Wi-Fi ®. It gives you more control than ever over the way you work.

The sliding keyboard makes it even easier to type your emails and messages on the go. With the excellent 2 megapixel camera and secondary camera for video calling, staying in contact has never been simpler. Music and pictures can also be easily synchronised, so you have them with you wherever you are.

Highlights:

• High speed internet with worldwide 3G
• Full connectivity with Tri-Band UMTS, Quad-Band EDGE, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
• Instant access to email
• Sliding keyboard for easy typing
• Secondary camera for video telephony
• Synchronised music and pictures for easy playback and management
• 112.5mm (L) x 58mm (W) x 21.95mm (T)

Tags: HTC, Tytn

The HTC MTeoR 3G Smartphone takes a giant leap forward for mobile phones as the world’s first 3G Microsoft ® Windows Mobile ® 5.0 Smartphone. Its slim and compact design makes it the ultimate pocket handset.

Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 technology with Direct Push, gives you instant access to your emails. The one-hand controlled Jog Wheel provides user friendly navigation when surfing the internet and reading your documents ideal for busy people on the run.

The options for connectivity and portability are endless by inserting a Micro SD card for additional memory and built-in Bluetooth. Video, music and pictures can be easily synchronised, so you have them with you wherever you are. Work and play using the latest applications and multimedia player. The MTeoR is the next generation in very smart phones.

Highlights:

• World’s first 3G Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone
• Slim, stylish and smooth candy-bar design
• Instant access to emails, calendar and contacts
• View your Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF documents on the go
• Sync with your PC to get video, music and pictures, and then play them back anytime
• Advanced connectivity and portability, including Micro SD memory and built-in Bluetooth ®
• Single-hand controlled jog-wheel for user friendly navigation

Tags: HTC, MTeoR, Smartphone, 3G

HTC, the world’s leading provider of Windows Mobile devices, today launched the world’s first tri-band 3G Windows Mobile Pocket PC [TyTN] and 3G smartphone [MTeoR] under the new HTC brand identity.

HTC will continue to support its operator-branded products and OEM partners as a key priority. At the same time, HTC will provide its new branded products to its existing Qtek channels, distributors, enterprise and operators, who do not carry operator-branded products. Migrating the Qtek brand to the new HTC brand identity will enable HTC to provide better direct support to those customers.

HTC is well known in the industry as the company behind many of the most popular operator-branded devices. It has established unique partnerships with key mobile brands, including the leading operators in Europe, US and Asia, and supplies products to industry leading OEMs. HTC will also continue to support in-life Qtek products to its European channel and distributor partners.

Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corp. said: “We have a rich heritage of innovation and aim for our products to continue being the devices of choice on the Microsoft Windows Mobile platform. Our operator and OEM strategy remains key to this success, and we are committed to further strengthening our partner relationships by providing customised and differentiated offerings.”

The package for partners will include: richer device propositions, dedicated customer support, product training and toolkits, online and marketing support. It has also launched its first range of accessories - including Bluetooth headsets and in-car kits.

The first devices to be offered with HTC brand are the HTC TyTN and the HTC MTeoR. These will be available from late July.

“We’re thrilled to see HTC launching the TyTN and MTeoR under the new HTC brand, which further adds to HTC’s stellar record of innovation on the Windows Mobile platform,” said Pieter Knook, Senior Vice President, Mobile & Embedded Devices Division, Microsoft Corp. “These devices are defining a whole new category of phones with a range of entertainment and productivity options. An HTC brand also brings more choice to Windows Mobile customers in a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse mobile market.”

The HTC TyTN is the latest innovation from HTC. It delivers a wealth of rich features, showcasing the ultimate ‘Office in your pocket’ experience for business users on the move. Business critical functionality, encased in a sleek, stylish form factor, offers the ultimate range of connectivity options including: tri-band UMTS 3G which will allow users to roam across Europe, US and Asia, plus GSM, GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a mini-USB port, making data transfer simple - anytime, anywhere.

Both devices will be available across Europe from late July.

Research in Motion’s 3G-enabled BlackBerry finally made its debut this week, initially in Germany on the Vodafone network.

As expected, the BlackBerry 8707 is based on the 8700 RIM launched in November 2005. The older model supports EDGE-equipped GSM/GPRS networks. The new model will also work across 2100MHz UMTS connections.

The 8707 has a 230 x 240 display, 64MB of Flash memory and 16MB of SRAM. It has Bluetooth 2.0 on board, and can operate as a modem when it’s paired with a computer. It’s based on a 312MHz Intel PXA901 processor like its predecessor.

Via The Register

Samsung will this month ship Europe’s first digital TV phone capable of receiving programmes broadcast on a terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) network. It also pledged to ship its latest 3G phone in Europe soon.

The SGH-P900 will initially be sold in Germany where it will be able to pick up local service provider Debitel’s DMB transmissions, which started yesterday. No prizes for guessing that the service will focus extensively on the upcoming World Cup tournament.

The SGH-P900 is Europe’s first phone to support TDMB (Terrestrial Digital Media Broadcasting), which allows you to view live TV which will be a boon during the FIFA World Cup 2006. The triband (GSM 800 / 900 / 1800) SGH-P900 clamshell supports high speed EDGE and has a 262K Color TFT LCD. The display is capable of showing 30 FPS allowing users to enjoy a vivid live broadcasting as if they were at home. To receive TV signals, users can easily flip the 2.2″ TFT LCD screen to a horizontal position for optimal viewing. It has a 2 Megapixel Camera with LED Flash and Video recording. The SGH-P900 has 128 MB of onboard memory and has a Micro SD card slot allowing you to record and save TV broadcasts, videos and games. It also has a MP3 Player, Bluetooth, USB, Document Viewer and supports Video Streaming.

The Samsung SGH-P900 has TV out so you can view the T-DMB broadcasts and Video Recording on the big screen. It has Dual Speakers and Digital Power Amp for enhanced music experience. It measures 94.5 x 47.5 x 26.6 mm and weighs 124 grams. Samsung plans to release the SGH-P900 in the second quarter of 2006 before the ‘2006 FIFA World Cup Germany’ gets underway.

Tags: DMB, TDMB, Mobile TV