HP iPAQ Data Messenger / Voice Messenger handhelds emerge

Looks like that rumor was mostly spot on, as two new consumer-minded iPAQ handhelds have emerged on HP's website. Without much fanfare, the Windows Mobile 6.1-powered iPAQ Data Messenger and Voice Messenger have been granted dedicated sites, complete with imagery, specifications and recommended accessories. Starting with the touchscreen-heavy Data Messenger (seen above), you'll find a 2.81-inch LED-backlit display (320 x 240), a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR / WiFi, HSDPA, quad-band GSM support, aGPS, a 3.1-megapixel camera and a microSD card slot. As for the Voice Messenger (pictured after the break), it's packing a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 LED-backlit screen, a 20-key "keyboard" and most everything else already mentioned on its big bro. There's nary a clue on pricing or a release date, but we imagine both of those snippets will reveal themselves shortly.

Update: We just scored an internal HP doc with prices and ship dates -- expect to see the Voice Messenger for €399 ($532) on November 5th and the Data Messenger for €499 ($665) on November 22nd, both on Vodafone in the Netherlands. One more shot of the Data Messenger with the keyboard slid out after the break.

[Via WMPowerUser]

Read - HP iPAQ Voice Messenger
Read - HP iPAQ Data Messenger

[prime @ Oct 20th 2008 9:01PM]

looks cool

[Jon @ Oct 21st 2008 7:49AM]

Yea, back in 2003.

[Mihran Deirmendjian @ Oct 20th 2008 9:06PM]

QVGA is just plain unacceptable.

[a ham sandwich @ Oct 20th 2008 9:37PM]

you beat me to it. 320x240?! really?! really?!

[rock99rock @ Oct 20th 2008 10:29PM]

+1

I was just as surprised. But i guess "Joe Schmo" doesnt know the difference.

Damnit Joe! Get with the times! GAAAWWwww

[a ham sandwich @ Oct 20th 2008 11:54PM]

u mean joe the plumber?

im sorry, im sorry, i had to.

[Ellianth @ Oct 21st 2008 1:03AM]

I agree, but i would be willing to forgive that.

But then i remember that this is the same hp that makes me pay a lot for the ipaq mobile messengers and then refuses to provide any updates to the OS like all the other manufacturers do. I learned my lesson from the hw6955 and the h6325. Fuck HP!

Phone looks nice though ^_^

[XenoX101 @ Oct 21st 2008 6:10AM]

The first thought I had about this device, literally the first thought.

[Graham @ Oct 20th 2008 9:06PM]

Seriously, Phone Messenger and Data Messenger ? Why dont they just call them a "phone" and a "phone with internet"? Or did I just invent a new word?

[kavendano14 @ Oct 20th 2008 9:15PM]

They should call it something catchy, like ifOne.

[Anthony @ Oct 20th 2008 10:40PM]

I totally agree. Honestly had to read the posts to decide whether they were actually phones nor not. The names are so stupid I thought they were just trying to repackage a PDA w/ wifi or something.

[nikster @ Oct 20th 2008 9:25PM]

These don't look half bad, just wondering why HP doesn't come out and say it: They are iPaq phones.

[Oli D @ Oct 21st 2008 2:45AM]

voice messenger?

Thats just a phone!
And how heavy can data really be?

[timbuckto @ Oct 20th 2008 9:28PM]

I freaking hare the Rocker keys on the "Phone Messenger" there a couple of Sony phones that have them... And the suck really bad. It's as if my iPhone's haptic-less touch screen keyboard have a better tactile feel to it. Not to mention better accuracy.

Is it just me or are there more people out there that want to yell, COPY CATS! The freaking "data messenger" looks like a curvy touch diamond and the "phone messenger" looks like a SE i900. These total douchers need to back out of the phone market and focus on other areas of tech.

[Muhammad-Oli @ Oct 20th 2008 10:55PM]

Yeah you're talking about the M600i and the P1i and I doubt you've used them for a good length of time to get used to them. People who own and use the P1i daily say it is the best keyboard on a phone that they've ever used.

[Towncivilian @ Oct 20th 2008 9:31PM]

Why not Bluetooth 2.1?

[Data Storm @ Oct 20th 2008 10:24PM]

I will never buy another HP Phone / Handheld, i had my 6955 and it was total junk, and I paid so much for it, it was laggy and very frustrating, and then HP never bothered to update it to WM 6.
I hate you HP.

Cheers!

[sb9 @ Oct 21st 2008 8:47AM]

Yes F&^% HP for not providing OS updates to my 6955. Will never buy.

[Levi @ Oct 20th 2008 10:26PM]

Well, obviously there must be a difference between voice messaging and calling someone on a phone, so I'm glad they don't call it a phone... but my question is why wouldn't you just buy a phone???

[huh @ Oct 20th 2008 10:53PM]

I would do my usual statement of how HP promises much but delivers so late that their offerings are pointless, but they've started with something so pointlessly lame maybe they'll actually ship it on time. Seriously, these might have been sort of interesting (though dull in that corporate take no chances kind of way) a couple of years ago.

[tino @ Oct 20th 2008 11:03PM]

Those are some low spec. I probably can match them with a $200 phone.

Give me a break HP. You have never made a good iPaq after the merger.

[LimboMan @ Oct 21st 2008 4:11PM]

I'd have to say that my HP iPaq hx4700/4705 is still a winner -- still can't find anything 'current' to rival the hardware of the device that I continue to use to this day (with the help of 3rd party WinMo 6.X development community). My ideal device would be my hx4700 with a phone. 3G data and GPS would be bonus, though not a necessity.

[xor24 @ Oct 20th 2008 11:04PM]

i immediatly wondered does it support 3G networks

[Fusion Fuzo @ Oct 21st 2008 2:49AM]

beauty and the beast

[kevin @ Oct 21st 2008 2:54AM]

i think they really meant beast instead of best...that data messenger is thick. probably thicker than a tytn ii and that's a veritable monster. it looked sweet, but methinks there are better options especially for the ridiculous sum we in north america will have to shell for those phones.
and they never upgraded the os? that blows. hmm, maybe with winmo 6.1 and the update function enabled it won't be an issue...?

[NSR500 @ Oct 21st 2008 5:18AM]

With HP's track record it would not Surprise me if this release is another BRICK. Since the Merger they have not been able to release and support a decent set of handheld devices. I have owned & tested their 3xxx series through the 9xxx series and wish I had done something better with my time.
Frankly, I'd be surprised if they can even find a US Carrier to work with them. LOL!

[Shea @ Oct 21st 2008 5:55AM]

Anybody else notice the fact that the keyboard slides to the RIGHT?
Terrible for right-handed users - it seems simple, but its so unintuitive.
I've witnessed many a HTC TyTN II user blindly try to pull the keyboard the wrong way, and then correct themselves.