HP to finally ship the iPAQ 900 series business phone

We first heard about HP's iPAQ 900 / 914 3G Business Messenger in September of last year, and after a series of delays (which seem to be endemic to the iPAQ line), it looks like the device is finally set to start shipping. Nothing much has changed, except that a Windows Mobile 6.1 device with a 2.46-inch display, WiFi, GPS, HSDPA, and a 3 megapixel camera isn't exactly the hot sheets it was almost a year ago. That said, that chubby case hides a 1800mAh battery, which should let enterprise users get their business on for the better part of a full day. Should be shipping around the world starting June 30, although specific worldwide dates will vary.

[Via WMPoweruser and Phone Scoop]

Read - HP press release
Read - Hands-on at Mobinaute

[helloUser @ Jun 10th 2008 3:56PM]

'Nothing much has changed, except that a Windows Mobile 6.1 device with a 2.46-inch display, WiFi, GPS, HSDPA, and a 3 megapixel camera isn't exactly the hot sheets it was almost a year ago.'


Really? Seems like it is for the iPhone, even a year ago with half those specs engadget and the rest of the sheep were creaming their pants over *that*

[gabe @ Jun 10th 2008 3:57PM]

+1

[Fernando @ Jun 10th 2008 4:11PM]

thirded

[Ed @ Jun 14th 2008 4:47AM]

lol... so true :)

[Zak @ Jun 10th 2008 4:24PM]

Hellouser, you are the king of missing the point. He said it's not the hot shit it was a year ago. And that's true. Is there something you didn't understand about that? Where in the article did he say anything about the iPhone?

Oh right, he didn't. YOU did. The fact is, a year ago a phone like that would have been desirable over an iPhone for business. Today, not so much, the only significant difference being the hard keyboard. And of course the iPhone has a much better UI, which begs the question: Why would you get this phone again?

[OnlyShawn @ Jun 10th 2008 4:29PM]

negatived for misuse of "begs the question"

[Mile @ Jun 10th 2008 4:56PM]

@Zak

Lighten up, Francis.

[Tony Rayo @ Jun 10th 2008 4:57PM]

I don't see iPhones ever making their way into the business world if for no other reason is because of the lock-in contract (which interestingly enough is the same reason why I am not picking up one of these sexy beasts). Sadly Sprint has the best coverage in the DC Metro Area, but I am still looking to change providers for multiple reasons.

*Is looking forward to moving to Kyoto just to get away from being locked into Sprint + Comcast*

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 10th 2008 5:47PM]

I took a quick sniff of that iPAQ and had to quickly pinch my nose. Ewwww.

iPAQ = IMMENSELY HUGE FAIL

For the life of me, why did they even bother. That is one fugly handset.
Yes, I know they make computers, but did they think that every company that makes computers can make a good smartphone. They're definitely not the bitten fruit company even if HP did stick an "i" in front of PAQ.

There is just too much good competition right now for HP to think they can squeeze in some new model smartphone and expect it to sell.

[tekdroid @ Jun 10th 2008 11:42PM]

Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 10th 2008 5:47PM
For the life of me, why did they even bother. That is one fugly handset.
Yes, I know they make computers, but did they think that every company that makes computers can make a good smartphone. They're definitely not the bitten fruit company even if HP did stick an "i" in front of PAQ.

There is just too much good competition right now for HP to think they can squeeze in some new model smartphone and expect it to sell.
------------
It's a good thing some users out there need the functionality this provides (even if it is just a hot-swappable removable battery with tactile keys), that they aren't too concerned about how they look to others; they simply want to get the job done.

[anonymoose @ Jun 11th 2008 5:52AM]

@steffen jobs
you say they're "not the bitten fruit company" when it comes to making computers and phones when HP has been making IPAQs since the year 2000 and the line has been successful enough to still be around 8 years later.

[EdZ @ Jun 10th 2008 3:59PM]

Misread the title as "Serious Business" phone. It appears I've been spending far to long on the internets as of late.

[deyanimay @ Jun 10th 2008 4:01PM]

Who ever wrote this is obviously not an apple fanboy and actually looks at the phones that other companies make.

[Jonathan @ Jun 10th 2008 4:01PM]

Full QWERTY and a touchscreen?!? This would have been a contender to replace my palm if Engadget hadn't ruined it by introducing the HTC Touch Pro last week.

[bob cobb @ Jun 10th 2008 4:05PM]

damn, they could make that screen about an inch bigger by getting rid of and shrinking some of those stupid buttons.

[TareX @ Jun 10th 2008 4:08PM]

Finally...

a phone uglier than the Centro.

[miles @ Jun 10th 2008 4:42PM]

c'mon I like the Centro!

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 10th 2008 5:55PM]

I don't think the Centro is ugly. It's just that it looks like a toy for kids. It has nice lines and should be comfortable to hold. Maybe it's the color schemes they use. It sure has a good price, I'll grant Palm that.

[Keith @ Jun 10th 2008 4:10PM]

*yawn* Not interested. I've already owned a practically identical unit from Samsung and it was utter trash.

Microsoft and its Win Mo partners have just 1 month and a day to come up with something light years than the garbage they've been producing thusfar...

[Kris @ Jun 10th 2008 4:44PM]

Why do they only have that amount of time? You do realize the new iPhone software isn't exactly ground breaking other, right? Sure, it's got a great user interface and a decent web browser but that's it. You _still_ can't copy and paste on their phone (it's 2008, wtf?), use speed dial or even voice dial.

I'll give the iPhone credit: It's a great looking phone and its UI is very slick but there is a reason Windows Mobile is on so many phones. Windows Mobile has it's own problems but overall it includes more functionality than the iPhone 2.0 software update will.

I'm all for people being fan boys but at least know _something_ about the competition. That's all I ask.

[PRP @ Jun 10th 2008 4:21PM]

I really hope that was a joke

[kal326 @ Jun 10th 2008 4:27PM]

I seriously hope it was a joke, because im pretty sure iPaq predates iAnything Apple has ever released.

[jkr @ Jun 10th 2008 4:28PM]

and people wonder why the iPhone is taking over.

[enochbenjamin @ Jun 10th 2008 10:23PM]

iAnything Apple has ever released.

I had a newton before palm was even a company. No other company had a handheld device except for maybe pism (something like that)

[gad get @ Jun 10th 2008 4:32PM]

That looks like it would be hard to type on.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 10th 2008 6:00PM]

Not really. You're supposed to get thumb surgery in order to use it. The bone surgeon chisels the thumb bones almost to pencil points and the plastic surgeon removes excess skin and nails and you end up with pointed thumbs. You'll be typing out text very quickly once you heal.

[deyanimay @ Jun 10th 2008 7:50PM]

Isnt that kinda what some one did for the iphone.

[deyanimay @ Jun 10th 2008 7:51PM]

Here it is
http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/10/man-has-thumbs-altered-to-improve-iphone-dexterity/

[gad get @ Jun 10th 2008 8:05PM]

Epic win!

[Prince Ali @ Jun 10th 2008 4:33PM]

how much?

[gad get @ Jun 10th 2008 4:33PM]

Seriously, those are the tiniest keys! Maybe a small child could type comfortably on it...

[Palmist @ Jun 10th 2008 4:34PM]

Too little too late Palm.

Game is over Palm. I don't care about any of your handhelds anymore, both your Centro and Ipaq sucks.

F#$%#$% Palm.

[miles @ Jun 10th 2008 4:42PM]

Did you look at it? Its not a Palm.

[gad get @ Jun 10th 2008 4:43PM]

It's the HP iPaq, meaning it's an HP product.

[Fusion @ Jun 10th 2008 4:46PM]

Dude you are a bit confused LOL.

The iPaq is made by HP not by Palm and has nothing to do with them exept that it runs WM just as some of Palm phones.

By the Way palm is doing quite well. Centro is selling like hotcakes, they have two new Windows mobile handest set for this year the Treo 800 and 850(first 320x320 WM QWERTY phone). About a year ago they purchased the Palm OS back and are developing a new linux based version of it.

I myself am a Blackberry user/abuser :-) Competition is good!

[MisterB @ Jun 10th 2008 4:57PM]

Let me correct you Fusion:

Palm did not purchased the Palm OS back, what thye purchased was the Palm Os Garnet source code from Access, also the purchased the rights to the Palm trade mark. That means they can call their new linux based os Palm OS and make it fully compatible with legacy Garnet apps.

That Treo 850 is looking quite interesting. First "blackberry style" WM phone to have a touch screen and also the first one to be 320x320. Currently all blackberry style WM phones are non touchscreen and 320x240.

[Gadget Chick @ Jun 10th 2008 4:34PM]

what is this "iphone" everyone speaks of?

[Gadget Chicken @ Jun 10th 2008 4:40PM]

That is your ex-boyfriend. He is called iPhone.

[joe @ Jun 10th 2008 4:42PM]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/17/hp-ipaq-900-series-smartphone-hits-the-fcc/

The link above shows what it looks like, not the one from the post.

[gad get @ Jun 10th 2008 4:45PM]

Misleading pictures are an Engadget specialty.

[deyanimay @ Jun 10th 2008 7:54PM]

Its the 900 series which means that there is going to be more than one phone in the series.

[Kris @ Jun 10th 2008 4:45PM]

It was obviously sarcasm you dolts.

[josearoldan @ Jun 10th 2008 4:50PM]

This device looks a lot like my HTC Cavalier. Keyboard might be small but once you get used to it you use it naturally. If I had not gotten the cavalier a month ago, I would have considered this phone.

[Some Kid @ Jun 10th 2008 4:56PM]

i have to agreewith the first post becasue the iPhone originally had none of that and we were all clamouring over it
isnt it amazing that we are holding HP to a higher standard than apple
that seems wrong cause HP will not be able to live up to it

[scrungew00t @ Jun 10th 2008 5:46PM]

The picture shown is an earlier preproduction model (feb 08?) and someone has already posted a link to the latest picture. Sadly, the final look is far worse usability wise. The keyboard looks tiny but is actually usable. It has the feel of Treo 650, which i own so maybe that's why. I only got to play with the final model a little bit and the keys were far, far worse.

[Alex @ Jun 10th 2008 5:55PM]

Very nice on paper.

And that's all I have to say...

[infectedarea @ Jun 10th 2008 6:57PM]

The keys really don't look that much different to the old hw69xx series iPaq's.

Personally I've been waiting for the 610c IPaq which STILL isn't released here in Australia. While there are many phones with similar features, none of them seem to have everything that these do. The HTC Touch Diamond almost had me but why no card slot HTC and I'm not waiting till August for the HTC Touch Pro.

[rpflo @ Jun 10th 2008 9:03PM]

All you iPhone haters ...

iPhone:
Hot girl who finally got a master's degree, a big bank account, awesome summer house, etc.

The other phones:
Fat girl who has a doctorate degree, a big bank account, awesome summer house and a plastic keyboard.

You know you all would rather hang out with the hot girl. Unfortunately you haven't ever hung out with the hot girl so you can't understand why those of us who have, think she is so hot. Including Engadget's shameless coverage of something so simple as 3G on the iPhone.

If you'd go watch the keynote and see how incredible the SDK is for developers you'll maybe catch a glimpse at just how hot this girl is going to continue to get. Windows mobile on the other hand? Getting fatter.

[kal326 @ Jun 10th 2008 4:31PM]

@rpflo
You left out the fact that the "hot" chick will only do about 33% of what you actually want to do with it. I on the other hand will be happy with a "full access pass" even if it comes with a little cushion for the push'n.

[Larry Kelley @ Jun 10th 2008 4:32PM]

someone give this fucktard a bib, he's drooling all over himself