New HP iPAQ hw6710 and hw6715 Mobile Messengers have WiFi and WinMo 5

Man, they good. HP's iPAQ Mobile Messenger line isn't even out yet, and they're already fixing up the things that the users have been complaining about (namely no WiFi and Windows Mobile 5.0). Otherwise the specs seem exactly the same: 312MHz Xscale chip, 128MB Flash, 64MB RAM, GSM/GPRS/EDGE, Bluetooth, IrDA, MiniSD, GPS, 3-inch screen, and 1.3 megapixel cam. Still not quite enough to run mobile Skype over WiFi, and the 240 x 240 screen rubs us the wrong way, but we'll get some SIP up in there in no time. Hot damn, it's on now.

[Thanks, Jason]

[Jeeter @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

I get the feeling that the image has a typo and should really read "Windows Mobile 2003, Second Edition" instead of 2005.

[[David:moua] @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

But WHY a mini-sd slot ?
Does it really make difference to put a SD slot ?

There is no perfect pocketpc, there is always a little thing like this that change everything :(

[David:moua]

[Chris Paddock @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

I agree with Jeeter, another thing is the pic, there isnt wm 5 (not 2005 btw) installed there.

[Jon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

When is it going to come out? When is ANYTHING with 5.0 and wifi going to come out?? :(

[markj @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

ill take any of these over a sony play sh1t portable

[jg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

options are a good thing. between this, the treo 670 and HTC which of these phones do you choose!!! this is a big improvement over the phones that are available now where nothing appeals to me. I've had the same nokia for 3 years waiting for a new phone to appeal to me and now i have 3.

[Phil @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Either the datasheet above is wrong or the uploader is. 240x240 is not QVGA. 240x320 would be. Although I do agree that the picture looks as though the display is square.

[Whiplash @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

You know, there's really nobody that's pushing the envelope in this segment. They all copy each other and turn out one generic device after another. I've had 3 pocket PC's issued by my company at one time or another, and never found a compelling reason to continue using it, given the complexity of getting basic stuff working, like networking, email, synching etc. I wish Apple would just jump back into this market if for no other reason just to mix things up.

[Florian SEROUSSI @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

I just ordered a 6515 but i want wifi!!! when is this device coming out??

[e @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

how does this compare to the samsung i730? i was near purchasing the i730 this week, but the 6715 has me hesitating. wm5 and gps are great added features but is the mini-sd a deal breaker?

[PDA addict @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

The hw6500 has SD & miniSD, but no WiFi. The hw6700 drops the SD, preseumably to fit the Wifi radio.

Also the 128MB flash ROM (more ROM than RAM) tells me that it is upgradable to WM 5.0. It is scheduled to ship with WM 2003 SE.

[Horny @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

#10. Not the mini-sd is not a deal breaker. #2 is just a pussy because he can buy a mini sd card that includes a normal sd adapter at Best Buy.

[Sebhelyesfarku @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Only morons buy Windoze devices.

[Captain Obvious @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

#13. That makes no sense.

[alpha @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

This one has GPS built in? That's sound excellent.

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

I don't mind the 240x240 screen. Anything is better than my Treo 600.

David: You can buy a MiniSD to SD adapter for eight bucks. Use the MiniSD sans adapter for your phone and with adapter for your other devices. A 1GB MiniSD card is 80 bucks.

This phone is perfect. I would buy this up as soon as possible, I just won't be in the market for another six months though.

[Horny @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

#14. See comment #16 and you have obviously never purchased a mini sd card.

[[e-mail] @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

i don't think ill buy another pda phone from ipaq (current owner of the h6315)due to the fact that they screwed up so much the last time. i think ill wait for dell to make a pda phone.

[Tapani @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

I'd like to see a 3G version of Motorola Q with WiFi. That would be a news not this kind of big devices with legacy connectivity features. Or a Nokia communicator 9300 like 3G+WiFi Windows Mobile device! But I don't expect to see those in many years.

[e @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

thanks for the comments re: i730 vs. 6715.

still wavering between the 6715 model or the i730. but given the predictable delays in product launches, i think i'm leaning toward the i730 since it has most everything other than wm5 (which it might upgrade to anyway) and a camera (which would be still be crappy compared to a real phone). plus cingular service pales in comparison next to verizon.

[arctec1 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Why 802.11g? Why not the more common standard of 802.11b? Something seems funny to me about the hole thing.

[me @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Because g is faster, has WPA/etc and it's backwards compatible with b?

[Colty @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Well it looks like a fake to me, unless HP has removed it from their presentation since they screen grabbed this..

[tim lang @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

HTe biggest draw back is the battery life.. PocketPC Phones stink when it comes to battery life. I am waiting for this phone.. Cell, PDA w/WiFi and Bluetooth, and a GPS.. Killer.. But I bet hte talk time is like 3 hours.. for a consultant or heavy PDA user, not nearly enough. But.. I'll take it.. when it is available for a Verizon Network! Ughhhhh!

[wonderloo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

ARGGHH!! WHEN will this PDA/PHONE be available here in the PHILIPPINES??? I can't wait to have one of these!

[?e @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Why is it so important with the WiFi thing? Please give me info because I'm onto to buy the 6515 these days... Why should I wait for the 6715...?

[Tore @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

#26 - WiFi gives you *truly* high-speed communication if you're within range of a hotspot. Cellular 3G is good for traveling, but the speeds are still quite limited. WiFi also allows you to use your existing internet service for browsing, email, messaging, etc. And depending on how HP implements it, it opens up for VOIP calling. VOIP is typically a flat rate, not tied to using minutes. But it all depends on how providers implement the services, and how "smart" the phone is about switching between VOIP and cellular.

[Tino @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

LOL at the 240x240 screen. Does it excess the Gameboy screen yet?

[Liff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

Whether it's 11b or 11g on a pda will make next to no difference performance wise, it'll still be running via sdio interface, and that can't handle the high speed.
The advantage of g over b is that if your wireless network runs b and g, the access point shares the bandwidth between the networks, but the devices can't both talk at once since they share the same frequency, but are different protocols. It'll only allow g to talk, then b, etc. Turning b off if all your devices and running g only will boost throughput (transfer rates, not connection speeds) by a reasonable amount. Same goes for the converse, turn off g if you only have b devices. Even if your devices connect on 11g at 1.5mbps, the rest of your faster devices will benefit from the fact it's not taking up it's own dedicated time slots using the 11b protocol.

[E71 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM]

This is by far the closest pda phone to my expectations despite its rather large size.

Only thing now is, we need a full size 240x320 screen or better and then I'll purchase my first pda(phone).