ASUSTeK Computer Inc (ASUS) today previewed one of the most compact 3G smartphones in the world to date – the P305, at the 3GSM World Congress . As a Windows Mobile 5.0 powered 3G smartphone, the P305 offers powerful multimedia and productivity features that allow users to be more productive and truly experience a mobile lifestyle.

Video Telephony brings people closer

Essentially representing the ultimate 3G technology, video calls have become the signature requirement of any 3G mobile phone, but this is often met with poor processing power that limits streaming capabilities and handicaps the primary purpose. ASUS has overcome such hurtle, by possessing video telephony technology that is both ready and available now. The high-speed CPU in the P305 smartphone offers superior processing speed that outperforms any 3G mobile phones in the market with 384Kbps downlink/uplink transfer rate. This translates into fluid and smooth video call on the P305, letting users fully enjoy talking and seeing each other.

Higher productivity and better entertainment

Running on Windows Mobile 5.0 with Direct Push Technology, the P305 will provides instant updating of Microsoft Office Outlook Email, Calendar, Contacts and Tasks when synchronizing with Exchange Server 2003 to ensure users are always up to date while on the move. The P305 also provides an outstanding multimedia experience with Internet Explorer and an integrated multimedia suite (including Windows Media Player 10 Mobile) for users to enjoy music and video in a variety of audio formats, including MP3, AMR, AAC, WAV and WMA, as well as streaming MPEG-4 video.

Wireless support and expandability

With built-in compatibility for Bluetooth 1.2 and IrDA, the P305 to be used as a diminutive mobile storage device for any files types and multimedia content. The mini-SD expansion card slot also allows for additional memory for storing a wide range of content including music, games, photos and video.

With 3G capabilities along with the power and functionality of Windows Mobile 5.0 in a small and sleek form factor, the P305 offers endless hours of fun while serving as mobile business companion.

Full Press Release

Tags: Asus, Asus P305

Yesterday Nortel announced that it had completed the first bi-directional high-speed connection between two mobile devices. The technology, called HSUPA, is the next evolution of the HSDPA networks that are currently being rolled out in the United States and other countries.

The advantage of HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access) is that it allows for high bandwidth uploading of data as well as the high-speed downloading that comes with HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access). This opens the door for better quality VOIP (Voice Over IP) and video calling, two applications that rely as heavily on the uplink speed of a connection as much as they do the downlink speed, as well as wireless file transfers.

Nortel’s mobile to mobile HSUPA test managed to reach upload speeds of 1.4Mbps, or about 4 times the speed obtainable with current UMTS and HSDPA network connections.

Via Cellular News

Tags: UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA

Sony Ericsson reveals new productivity, imaging and entertainment features for the P990 Smartphone

Sony Ericsson today revealed a host of unannounced applications and entertainment content features for its flagship Wi-Fi enabled UMTS smartphone, the P990, which was introduced to the Global Developers community in October 2005 They include:

The P990 is the next in a line of successful Sony Ericsson smartphones - the P800, P900 and P910 – and is based on the same proven concept and recognisable form factor. It is designed to be first and foremost a great mobile phone but offers all the benefits of UMTS including video calling, high-bandwidth multi-media downloads and the ability to browse the Internet with full HTML pages. These are viewed in landscape on the new Opera 8 browser.

Push Email

Secure, simple and fast access to email and the Internet are critical requirements for true office mobility, and this is an area where the P990 excels. The ability to access email and calendar while out of the office is critical for mobile executives as they no longer need to return to the office to perform this task. The P990 will support a range of push email services from different partners.

Security

Sony Ericsson has partnered with antivirus software giant McAfee to offer McAfee VirusScan and Firewall Mobile to further strengthen the P990’s email and web browsing security. This Try & Buy software provides scanning services on emails, attachments and web downloads for cellular communications, all to the same standard as its well known computer applications. Secure access to corporate networks completes the remote email story as Sony Ericsson offers a free VPN client powered by Certicom.

Read the complete Press Release

Tags: P990, P910, UMTS Smartphone

M600 slim, compact and stylish UMTS messaging phone puts secure e-mail and Internet at your fingertips

Sony Ericsson today announces the M600 phone and messaging device. This is a fully-specified email tool and mobile phone rolled into an extremely stylish, slim device featuring a touch screen and handwriting recognition. M600 is the second Symbian OS 9.1 and UIQ 3.0 enabled phone in the Sony Ericsson portfolio. New push email applications, remote synchronisation and expandable memory give owners a UMTS phone and email connectivity in a device that easily fits in their pocket - at just 15mm thick, it is one of the slimmest business UMTS devices of its kind available.

For such a slim device the M600 has an impressive 80MB onboard memory for storing email attachments and multimedia content. An additional 64MB Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™), which is a new ultra-small recording media designed for highly compact mobile devices, is provided in the box. The M600 is the first Sony Ericsson product to feature this new memory card.

The software platform and user interface, make multitasking – for example browsing the Internet whilst making a voice call - a reality. M600 also takes full advantage of its UMTS capabilities with fast and easy email handling (even with large attachments) and high bandwidth multimedia downloads. Document handling offers and PowerPoint, Word and Excel editors and an Adobe PDF viewer.

The display is a 2.6-inch 262k with 320 x 240 resolution. USB 2.0 support allows for fast file transfers. The A2DP profile has been included; this gives users access to stream stereo audio to the M600. Reading emails and viewing high quality video and graphics content is made easy with the 3-way Jog Dial and each key on the QWERTY keyboard handles two letters, one is chosen depending on the angle that you tap it.

The Sony Ericsson M600 is available in Granite Black and Crystal White beginning Q2 2006 globally.

Read the full Press Release

Tags: Sony Ericsson, M600, UMTS Phone, M2

This Smartphone combines RAZR styling with a BlackBerry-like form factor. Key features include Windows Mobile 5, a QWERTY keyboard, EV-DO high-speed data, Bluetooth (with stereo), and a megapixel camera. Other features include a side scroll wheel, a miniSD memory card slot, and a full-duplex speakerphone.

Today’s individuals and corporations are looking for mobility to give them an edge, and the new Q delivers. The world’s thinnest QWERTY, Q changes the playing field for mobile email devices by delivering a superior mobile office experience with no compromises. Combining quality voice, data, and multimedia in one amazing “RAZR-thin” package, Q helps make mobility = productivity.

Fifty percent thinner than its top competitors, Q is also lightweight and features electro-luminescent keys, QWERTY keyboard, thumbwheel for single-handed control, and internal antenna. Q also provides users the opportunity to balance work and play through additional features such as a large, vibrant, color screen, Web surfing capabilities, a 1.3 mega pixel camera with photo lighting, video and MP3 audio capabilities, and cool compatible Bluetooth®-enabled accessories like the new RAZRWIRE Bluetooth® eyewear.

Summary of Key Features
• One of the first devices to run on Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0; Optimized for Microsoft Exchange 2003 and a variety of third party email solutions that enable a broad set of corporate email capabilities
• Thinnest QWERTY device in the world – 11.5mm
• Full, ergonomic QWERTY keyboard, 5-way navigation button and thumb wheel
• Video clip capture and playback
• Connectivity via Bluetooth, IrDA and mini-USB; compatible with Motorola’s line of Bluetooth-enabled wireless headsets
• Multi-Media Messaging (MMS)
• Dual, stereo-quality speakers
• Audio formats supported: iMelody, MIDI, MP3, AAC, WAV, WMA, WAX, QCELP
• Image formats supported: GIF87a, GIF89a, JPEG, WBMP, BMP, PNG
• Video formats supported: H.263, MPEG-4, GSM-AMR, AAC, WMV
• Mini-SD removable memory card slot
• Large, high-resolution display (320 x 240 pixels, 65K TFT)
• 1.3 mega pixel camera with photo lighting
• PIM functionality with Picture Caller ID
• Advanced speech recognition and speakerphone

The Moto Q is expected to be available in Q1 of 2006. For more information on pricing and product availability in your region, please check with your local Motorola representative.

Tags: Motorola Q

NTT DoCoMo announced today three prototype high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) handsets developed with Fujitsu, Motorola and NEC, respectively. DoCoMo aims to start HSDPA services sometime between July and September 2006.

HSDPA, a high-speed packet transmission technology standardized by the Third Generation Partnership Project, offers a theoretical maximum downlink speed of about 14Mbps. At present, the prototype handsets have maximum speeds of 3.6Mbps, 10 times faster than current 3G FOMA handsets. HSDPA is expected to facilitate powerful new services by enabling high-volume downloads and the viewing of highly rich content.

Via SlashPhone