HTC Universal will run Windows Mobile 5.0

The Universal, HTC's nicely spec'd out new 3G Pocket PC Phone (this thing has a built-in QWERTY keyboard, UMTS, a large VGA touch screen, 1.3 megapixel digital camera, 128MB of RAM, 520MHz Intel XScale processor, WiFi, and Bluetooth), is anything but a secret, especially since T-Mobile Deutschland introduced it as the MDA IV earlier this year, but HTC, a Taiwanese manufacturer which usually stays behind the scenes, took the unusual step yesterday of formally announcing that the phone will be available globally in the 2nd half of the year. The announcement, which coincided with yesterday's unveiling of Windows Mobile 5.0, also answered one of the nagging questions about the Universal/MDA IV—namely whether or not it would run on the newest version of Microsoft's mobile OS (it will). So when is Cingular going to get this?

[bowlhed @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

thats nice, but how long you gona get out of the battery though with a screen like that?

[dejitaru @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

omg that is the hotness but I was equally impressed with the Samsung i300 that was shown during the keynote as well. Choices choices.

[aabb @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

HTC flexing its muscle as ODM. They design and build these cool phones; why not let everyone know about it? Cingular/T-Mo/etc are just slapping their own name on the thing, that's all. Give credit where credit is due.

[ryecob @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

is the windows mobile OS *really* all that, or is MS in overdrive to position it as the only game in town?

[Danielle @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

OMG how much is this thing gonna cost?

[TheZodiac @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

aabb, thats all HTC does is make phones - thats it. Of course everyone is going to rebrand it. And, Im sure everyone KNOWs Cing or Tmo dosnt actually make these damn things. HAHAHAHAHA...

And I thought the UX50 was cool when it came out - this takes the cake and cupcake too.

[Rich Goldsmith @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

This thing looks kick arse. Pricing, anyone? How does it stand up to, say, a T-Mo Sidekick?

[yuppicide @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

If this thing is priced well and will run AIM/lots of games/and allow custom ringtones I'm down.

[morgan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

I love my sidekick, but I'd definitely pony up for the screen, wifi and bt this phone offers....so how much?

[Vexorg @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

#6 Posted May 11, 2005, 12:35 PM ET by TheZodiac:

That's not true. While the PPC Phones may be HTC's most recognizeable products, they in fact manufacture most (if not all) of the iPaqs, as well as the Dell Axim X50 and X50v.

[boe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

Does HTC have a website where they list the specs on their products?

Thanks

[aabb @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

HTC not only makes the phones/iPaqs. They actually design them as well. Dell basically tells them their feature requirments and they come up with product to bid. As for the phones, it's similar deal, except that there will be multiple rebranding here and no exclusivity clause which forbid HTC to sell the phones under their own name, like Dell/HP. Usually the consumers are kept in the dark about ODMs, but now they are starting to tell people their side of the story.

[db @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

time to trade in my x50v and Nokia 6260 for one of these...

[Wells @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

to #7 Rich Goldsmith-

its like putting a Lexus next to a Bentley both nice but really which would you want. so it becomes a thing of bells and whistles and the HTC has everything (dont know about gps though)

[010111 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

if the prior MDAIII is anything to go by i would guess an unlocked unbranded price around $950. carrier subsidized price around $500-600. it's a nice phone and i really like it and am glad someone is doing a nice modern full-spec'd PDA in landscape/laptop style again especially in VGA... but $950? yikes. you can get a *nice* laptop for $950.

even so... this and the hw6715 are my 2 top choices lately for an all in one convergence device.

[Austinguy23 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

What are it's specs?? Anyone?

[aabb @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

HTC not only makes the phones/iPaqs. They actually design them as well. Dell basically tells them their feature requirments and they come up with product to bid. As for the phones, it's similar deal, except that there will be multiple rebranding here and no exclusivity clause which forbid HTC to sell the phones under their own name, like Dell/HP. Usually the consumers are kept in the dark about ODMs, but now they are starting to tell people their side of the story.

[jayson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

I envision this to be a really expensive device!!! When will these things become cheaper like nokia phones???

[Nathan Beckstrand @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

That is the worst keyboard I have seen in a while. Sure it is a small keyboard but it has two critical flaws. The first is with no gap between keys it is way too easy to press the wrong key. Second, the keys are not staggered, the 'a' is supposed to be slightly to the right of the 'q'. This makes typing very unnatural.

[J9BlueNile @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

I will give a kidney for that phone...

[jay @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

#19... tell that to nokia (referring to the communicator).

[myfishbone @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

i think this thing has potential! ...especially if its mod-freindly!
this thing could rival (well almost)some hand held entertainment systems if it has the graphical abilities of lets say ummm psp....maybe im pushing it!

[Moe Biggsley @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

This phone is the best I've seen to date. Ok so, there's no space between keys and the "A" is not slightly to the right of the "Q" key but overall you can't find another device like this. If it has all the rumored features we've heard about, this will be the closest we will get to perfection.

[Nour @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

This phone/pda/pocket pc has got everything I ever wanted in a handheld:

-Windows Mobile 5.0 (the latest)
-3G Technology (UMTS)
-520Mhz Intel XScale Processor (quite fast!)
-Megapixel camera (1.3 MP)
-VGA camera for visioconference (groovy)
-640x480 Touchscreen (a killer screen)
-Full QWERTY keyboard (it's full..)
-Bluetooth (gotta have it)
-Wi-Fi (even better!)

The biggest problems: the BULK & the WEIGHT
But I personally don't care, this thing has it all!! In fact, I prefer it to:
-Nokia's 7710, 9500
-Sony Ericsson's P910i
-i-Mate's PDA2, JAM, PDA2K...

I would like to know about the screen colors: is it the average 65k? or the awesome 262k?
And I'm quite curious about the price...

[Sana @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

Well, all this hype about this new device here is making me hard. I have a PDA2K right now...and i think it sucks, I will trade it in any day if I can get a guarantee for the service if I'm going to pay that much for a phone. Arguably the best phone out right now...but they need to get their customer support straight.

[beks @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

It seems that the Windows Mobile 5.0 OS is still under developement, you can tell by the quality of the fonts of the start menu (looks like they were photoshopped to me..) In fact, it should have been called Windows Mobile 2005, but because it's still not ready...
Anyways, WAP on this thing should be quite a fun experience.. which is why I prefer to Nokia's upcoming N-Series (if only they had larger (touch)screens and a keyboard)..
Rotating screen and a dual speaker system are also very welcome features..

[Chris H @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

eXpansys Australia advise availability of the HTC Universal badged as the "i-mate JASJAR GSM/GPRS Pocket PC (Worldwide English)" priced at A$1,619.95 (1,472.68 exc.). Availability: Due Sunday 11th September 2005. Information at: http://www.expansys.com.au/product.asp?code=119353

[pook @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

Well.. I am writing this post on my new jasjar. In short, its the dogs twitcher! Of course it is heavier than a do-nothing-but phone... and why? Because it has everything.

I have owned and written apps for the pda2k for some time and this puppy rocks!

conclusion... if you want convergence at its sweetest, get one. :)