HTC P4550 "Kaiser" reviewed

Paul from MoDaCo has our envy today, having recently taken possession of HTC's pièce de résistance -- the HTC "Kaiser" -- which looks to make a self-branded debut bearing the model number P4550. As he points out, HTC left virtually nothing out of the P4550 as Windows Mobile-based QWERTY sliders go; the 256MB of onboard Flash, 128MB of RAM, 3 megapixel cam, HSUPA, and trick flip-up display all set new marks for lustworthiness in the category. What's more, the device is said to be really snappy with Windows Mobile 6 and a 400MHz Qualcomm MSM7200 core, picture quality from the camera is superb, and voice quality is apparently top notch. The conclusion? "It's quite simply awesome." Too bad it's also quite simply not available yet.

[carlo @ Jul 1st 2007 3:34PM]

Cool. I hope it will be available here in the US. Nice that you can disable 3G, and GPS is fun as well.

[Joe @ Jul 1st 2007 3:37PM]

Paul has an ask me page, where you can ask him questions about the Kaiser:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/01/htc-p4550-kaiser-gets-the-hands-on-treatment/

One of the most attractive features is that there's finally a Windows Mobile 6 device with 128MB RAM. In his review he raves about how he never has to close anything and everything is snappy. The way it should be.

[Joe @ Jul 1st 2007 3:39PM]

Crap, wrong URL, here's the correct one:
http://www.modaco.com/index.php?showtopic=256548

[gjp303 @ Jul 1st 2007 3:40PM]

Dude, don't post this htc crap. its taking away from the iphone news. GIVE ME MY IPHONE NEWS!

[Sam @ Jul 1st 2007 3:41PM]

I don't care how much it costs, this will be my next phone after the 8525.

[Frankenstein Black @ Jul 1st 2007 4:14PM]

Curently being tested by you know who in the US. Should be ready in about 2 or so months ;^)...

[Neebs @ Jul 1st 2007 4:08PM]

Can we have a "no mobiles" RSS pipe? I am sick of mobiles and they all just end up being compared the iPhone in the comments anyways...

[P @ Jul 1st 2007 4:20PM]

Ok I’m a Windows Mobile fan. I’ve had 3 HTC designed iPaqs 3 HTC Smartphones , and 2 HTC PPC Phones, but the lack of innovation is what’s holding windows mobile back. We haven’t had a major bump in processing power since 400mhz became standard with the Intel XScale chips 5 years ago. HTC hasn’t really changed form factors since the introduction of the Wizard 2 years ago. What does the Kaiser really introduce? Built in GPS – that’s nice but I already have a Bluetooth GPS. The extra memory is nice, but I haven’t had any out of memory problems on my 8525. The tilt up screen? I think that would actually be more uncomfortable than the flat screen. 3MP camera isn’t bad, but that will probably just mean a bigger bad image.

All these things are nice, but they aren’t going to make me dump my 8525. The only reason I upgraded from an 8125 was 3G. HTC basically IS windows mobile, and it’s time for them to start innovating.

[Ayle @ Jul 1st 2007 4:53PM]

So please tell us what kind of technology they could add? Beside a vga screen ans slimming it down a bit I don't know what they could really do to innovate...
Maybe you never had any problem of memory on your 8525 but I know that every time I wanted to use opera on my 8125 I had to make sure nothing was running in the background so 128mb of ram is indeed really nice...

[Djarid @ Aug 16th 2007 2:28AM]

Like the touch you mean?

[MacNewb @ Jul 1st 2007 4:27PM]

I'm sorry, it just seems like the run of the mill update of cell phones... ho-hum

[Mark @ Jul 1st 2007 4:29PM]

I thought you guys had a proper mobile site for all the cellphone news?

[Parm @ Jul 1st 2007 4:36PM]

Can't wait to get my hands on one of these! I've been holding off upgrading for a while as I've been waiting for the Kaiser. Still no news of a release date, but I'll keep waiting.

[boe @ Jul 1st 2007 4:37PM]

This phone has some upgrades over the PPC6800. Hopefully this has a working Bluetooth receiver. There is a significant issue with the BT on the HTC mogul/PPC6800 -
http://www.htcwiki.com/page/HTC+Mogul

[Tom Reinke @ Jul 1st 2007 5:02PM]

I hate to be the dumb commenter, but who is this going to be released for? Cingular only? I sure would love to have this but I'm currently on Verizon. :(

Does anyone know anything about Verizon smartphones/PDA's that are going to be coming out in the near future?

[DJT @ Jul 1st 2007 5:54PM]

http://pdaphonehome.com/forums/samsung-sch-i760/

[elliot H @ Jul 1st 2007 5:47PM]

ya but its no iphone!!!

[DJT @ Jul 2nd 2007 12:50PM]

I could be totally offbase here, but I think once all the media hype over the iphone is over, that people will actually be a bit disappointed in the it. If you look at comparisons to several other phones, including the HTC Ocean, HTC Touch, HTC Kaiser, Samsung i760, and several others, iPhone doesn't really stack up that nicely.
I think that the celebs and hip teens will like it pretty well, sortof like the sidekick, but the phone is too pricey for teens, and not really a great business phone so the market is really somewhat limited to people who love gadgets and can afford it.

[CrankyMommy @ Jul 1st 2007 6:11PM]

HTC fanboys...weehoo thanks for supporting American Companies.

[stitifier @ Jul 1st 2007 6:54PM]

Real Americans believe in the power of the free market to deliver superior technology at lower prices.

[Jon @ Jul 1st 2007 7:00PM]

Your iPhone and 99% of its components are probably made in China.

[Mark @ Jul 3rd 2007 7:32AM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Tech_Computer HTC is not an American company.

[Jason Brown @ Jul 1st 2007 7:22PM]

All of you, during the announcement of the Iphone Jobs plainly said "The Iphone is not a pda phone" so stop comparing them. As to htc and cdma the starcomm 6800 is due in the fall. and it has been delayed since February. It is almost exactly like the Tytyn.

[Joseph Gershgorin @ Jul 1st 2007 8:44PM]

It's already out, it's called the HTC Mogul.

http://nextelonline.nextel.com/NASApp/onlinestore/en/Action/DisplayPhones?phoneSKU=PPC6800SP

[Jason Brown @ Jul 1st 2007 9:14PM]

your right, i was thinking of telus.

[August @ Jul 4th 2007 12:26PM]

"'The Iphone is not a pda phone' so stop comparing them."

Please leave quietly.

[ryanworrell @ Jul 1st 2007 7:53PM]

Will if teh t-mobile rumor is true hopefully this will be a UMA phone!

[Pastry Chef @ Jul 1st 2007 8:41PM]

I don't see why they limit the memory so much. How difficult would it be to put 2GB in there? I'd really like to stop having to install apps and use my memory card because it really slows things down to a crawl.

[Vexorg @ Jul 2nd 2007 3:06AM]

The major limiting factor on RAM is that it has to be constantly refreshed, and adding more memory means more power is needed for the RAM. This means that adding RAM to a phone can have an adverse affect on battery life.

[riggs @ Jul 2nd 2007 2:31PM]

you mean just like the iphone will be obsolete in under a year? (iphone2 rumors and talks already circling about) :\

[Bobobobobobob @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:52AM]

While the iPhone had several new technology, this Kaiser has what? You are out of your mind paying $700 for this, will be obsolete a few months after it's release.

[Che @ Jul 1st 2007 10:03PM]

too bad it also looks ugly

[matt @ Jul 1st 2007 11:07PM]

Can someone answer this question - if I buy this directly from HTC (and pay full price of course), will I be able to hook it up to AT&T, regardless of whether they ever come out with it? Thanks

[Alistair @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:42AM]

Yes, provided that its purchased in an "unlocked" state. Most direct for sale HTC devices are, so you shouldn't have to worry about it.

Just slot your sim card in the phone and you're good to go. You might need to set up some server information to use MMS and 3G browsing, but the information is all provided on the AT&T website and on HTC forums across the internets =)

...and for the record, the same thing goes for any quad-band, unlocked GSM phone. If its Tri-Band (like the HTC Elf/Touch) then you have to make sure you get one capable of 850mhz to work with AT&T service.

[Richard @ Jul 1st 2007 11:17PM]

Hey! With WM6 can you use an MP3 file as an alarm. THAT would be progress!

[Peter @ Jul 2nd 2007 12:44AM]

You can have mp3's as alarms with WM5.

I don't understand all the hate. I can only guess it's envy. As far as I'm concerned, it's got everything I want/need and nothing I don't. Run of the mill? Hardly. The specifications speak louder than the haters ever can. Can you find another phone will all of it?

[Richard @ Jul 2nd 2007 6:44AM]

OH! No hate involved. I love my 8525 but w/o a 3rd part app you can't wake up to your favorite tune(s) AND that tune has to be in memory, not on the card. Of course, half the time I have to pop out the card and pop it back in so the phone will read it.

WM is a good OS. It just needs to mature to be able to do some really simple things better.

[Dave @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:23AM]

I became little bit nostalgic about HP IPAQ 2215...what a device :) I had mario and contra on it. The jog was round so for the first two/three years of usage there were no problems with moving Mario f.ex. Emulators rule!

[Dave @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:23AM]

although I'm not a newbie to Pocket PC World (Had mine great iPAQ 2215 in College) I'm wondering if camera on the Kaiser is able to record video, if so on what specifications?

[bernard @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:29AM]

Can't wait till the CDMA Kaiser. But seeing as they haven't even gotten the Titan out, it'll be a very long wait...

[Brian @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:39AM]

What a dog of a phone. Seriously, why would anyone buy this ugly POS when there is an iPhone now?

This is nearly as ugly as Windoze itself!

[ClintEastman @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:06AM]

It's call functionality, something the iPhone is lacking.

[Sean Donnellan @ Jul 2nd 2007 5:56AM]

This, and the HTC Nike, are the next range of GPS enabled WM Phones.

I've been waiting for this since it's announcement in February! (pdadb.net)

I 've had a Magician (MDA Compact), A Wizard (MDA Vario) and currently have a Nokia E70 (Symbian - never again).

With over 1400 contacts, and a very busy calender, the RAM/ROM config on this should stop the slow access of the previous 3 phones.

Now out of contract, so let's hope for TMobile WnW Upgrade not being too expensive - Roll on August launch!

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 2nd 2007 5:59AM]

Wow, a phone that actually DOES STUFF and not much hoopla at all, go figure.

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 2nd 2007 6:08AM]

-and since when did "not available yet" mean squat in the post iHype world?

Double standards, anyone?

[Jeff Seale @ Jul 2nd 2007 8:03AM]

Is this the new HTC phone that Sprint is said to be offering very soon?

[Bobobobobobob @ Jul 2nd 2007 8:44AM]

128mb ram whoopedoo another windiot getting an orgasm over this bulky piece of crap

[Jon @ Jul 1st 2007 9:58PM]

Aren't you supposed to be busy getting a hard-on while busy watching Steve Jobs playing with your Iphone?

[Jimmy B @ Jul 2nd 2007 9:55AM]

awesome phone, it could certain replace my M3100 (or for you you americans the 8525) hopefully it will be in london by the time i get my upgrade, which is about a year from now

[huso @ Jul 2nd 2007 9:10PM]

check this out.
the phone is already available on ebay for GBP670.00

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HTC-Kaiser-P4550-Not-released-Sim-Free-Be-First_W0QQitemZ270140837090QQihZ017QQcategoryZ3312QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem