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

[Gad Get Posted Jun 10th 2008 4:45PM]

Misleading pictures are an Engadget specialty.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 10th 2008 7:54PM]

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

[Yarnage Posted Jun 10th 2008 4:45PM]

It was obviously sarcasm you dolts.

[zerito Posted 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.

[oldmanhorton Posted 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

[scrunge Posted 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.

[RAMz Posted Jun 10th 2008 5:55PM]

Very nice on paper.

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

[(Unverified) Posted 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.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 10th 2008 9:38PM]

is it just me or is that camera in that phone (the one on the front) crooked? or have i totally missed that that isnt a camera or something....

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 10th 2008 10:07PM]

iPAQ... wow, these things are still around.

[ThePengwin Posted Jun 10th 2008 10:24PM]

@Steffen Jobbs

iPAQs are very nice smartphones/PDA. I used one for a year, with no problems, and the only reason i changed is because i upgraded my pgone plan, which gave me a TyTn II.

Also, if iPAQs are failure, why has the product line been around for the better part of a decade?

I know youre mactarded, but iPAQs are a worthy smartphone. It would have been tough competition between this and a TyTn II if it was out sooner.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 10th 2008 10:46PM]

@Steffen Jobs

Tell me you little loser do you stock the real Jobs? I bet you rummage threw his garbage and collect his old pieces of gum. So desperate for an existence far grander and far more interesting then your pitiful little life. The only meaning that you and the rest of the your little Apple spamming whore troop get is by posting meaningless dribble on tech web pages. Just because you work at an Apple store for a little more then minimum wage doesn’t mean any one cares about you or what you have to say. I bet your beating off right now because some one acknowledged your existence.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 6:36AM]

hmmm. not sure if you guys use a PDA everyday for work or play. I looked (and wanted to buy the iPhone) but stuck with my iPaq 6900. apart from glitz the iPaq is functional and quick. From a work perspective I've had an internal GPS for at least two years with TomTom, while using a bluetooth headset and listening to music and directions while i drive, it all mutes when i get a call and starts up again when the call ends. From a business use perspective I can use push email (i don't often), outlook, http mail, pop and imap. The enterface allows easy emailing to different and multiple users and a functional use of transcriber, keyboard and voice commands. I tried the iPhone it was clumsy other than sending simple emails and SMS's/texts to a couple of users and short messages - not usable as a mobile device. Any phone camera still isn't really a camera and there cheap enough to buy a real one. I'm going to have a look at both but l don't see how the iPhone is going to be a tool - how much web brousing are you really going to do on it other than quick check here and there? I wish - I liked it and tried it. Perhaps the new 3G version may have other GUI benefits - l'll wait a while and see.