HP's iPAQ Data Messenger / Voice Messenger get official on Vodafone, hands-on treatment

Given that both the iPAQ Data Messenger and Voice Messenger were spotted on HP's website last night, we didn't exactly need a press release to affirm their ascent into officialdom, but hey, we'll take it. The two WinMo 6.1-powered handsets will soon be loosed on Vodafone in Europe, and starting next month, prospective consumers can buy in for £399 ($677) / £333 ($565) off-contract; as for the subsidized rates, you'll have to hold your horses for those. If you're just interested in the hands-on video, however, you can mosey on beyond the break and mash play.

[rock99rock @ Oct 21st 2008 12:13PM]

Super sweet phone! Wait, what did you say? QVGA? What is that? No, i never owned a phone pre-2005... WHAT?! Oh well then that sucks!

[ccoolty @ Oct 21st 2008 12:22PM]

Dude, it's a phone, not a TV. QVGA is acceptable on PHONES.

[E71 @ Oct 21st 2008 12:31PM]

Actually no, ccoolty. Phones stopped being just phones when they inherited features from PDAs.

Although this phone looks awesome, there's nothing about its specs that make it stand out amongst the current top-of-the-line models.

Real shame too, I've been looking for a worthy alternative to HTC, ever since the TyTn-II missing graphics chip drivers scandal.

[KarlW @ Oct 21st 2008 12:41PM]

I actually really like HP devices. The HP brand instils confidence, and the design is always really nice.

I wonder if I'm the only HP fanboy...

[rock99rock @ Oct 21st 2008 12:43PM]

@KarlW

"The HP brand instils confidence"

Are you from earth?

[tom @ Oct 21st 2008 1:51PM]

actually with HP, there are something I always trust them on- Printers, especially Laser Printers.

I have a HP PCL5 from mid-90s at home, still working, still using it. They are just rock solid.

[crash900s @ Oct 21st 2008 3:59PM]

You're not the only HP fanboy. Although I don't really like the term fanboy. I have just had good experiences with HP products. I've had two HP laptops a ze4210 and a dv1310us. I have an HP all in one printer the photosmart 3210.

Pretty soon I'll get one of these phones. I'm just not sure which one I want yet. If the voice messenger had had a touch screen that would be the one for sure but I don't think it does. I was considering the Buisness messenger untill these came out and I'm not sure I like how thick the data messenger is. Decisions, decisions.

[Kersh @ Oct 21st 2008 12:19PM]

Why is the Q and Z reversed ?

[Phoenix @ Oct 21st 2008 12:26PM]

QWERTZ. German keyboard.

[Patriks7 @ Oct 21st 2008 1:05PM]

Not just German.. more like the majority of eastern Europe..

[Phoenix @ Oct 21st 2008 1:21PM]

Fair enough

[mailbox01 @ Oct 21st 2008 12:21PM]

It's the T and Z that's reversed

[mailbox01 @ Oct 21st 2008 12:22PM]

oops! I meant Z and Y

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 21st 2008 12:27PM]

You two are a match made in heaven. Or, kindergarten.

[Phoenix @ Oct 21st 2008 12:26PM]

Strange to just have an up-down thing on the keyboard rather than all 4 ways...

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 21st 2008 12:30PM]

I think the one on the left is more for web-page scrolling, it may be calibrated differently. Otherwise your normal directionals are on the right of the keypad.

[Phoenix @ Oct 21st 2008 12:32PM]

Ah, that's a good point, I didn't see the normal one... I'm used to it being right at the side on my kaiser.

Hmm, if that's what it's for then kind makes sense, only it looks kinda like you might have to use the "sym" key to go up with it...

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 21st 2008 12:28PM]

All of the sudden I'm craving AT&T. Whats up with the subliminal advertising?

[Cybergypsy @ Oct 21st 2008 12:30PM]

Way too many phones on the market

[rock99rock @ Oct 21st 2008 12:42PM]

What are you, new?

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 21st 2008 1:04PM]

He's a Mac.

[cj @ Oct 21st 2008 1:15PM]

"Way too many phones on the market"

Isn't that a good thing??

[Sarig @ Oct 21st 2008 12:37PM]

Y and Z are swapped on germany keyboards. It's called qwertz

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 21st 2008 12:41PM]

Not bad , but to make it a worthy competitor to BB storm, HTC HD, Samsung Omnia ad the likes it needs a strong UI. Has it got it?
Because if it's going to rely on plain vanilla Win 6.1 it has lost its game before coming out of the locker room

[Alexandre Emond @ Oct 21st 2008 12:44PM]

Is it a lefty phone? Numbers, buttons and joystick use to be on right for one hand (right) operation?

[Matt Smith @ Oct 21st 2008 1:03PM]

This keyboard bothers me for one reason... you can't tell the alphabet numbers that are associated to the numeric key pad... 1-800-GOOG-411 requires you to know which number the 'G' and 'O' are on the numeric key pad....
Just something that has bothered me about my Moto Q as well.

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 21st 2008 1:06PM]

Actually, as with all WinMo phones, the keypad in the phone application picture the numbers are their respective keys. Blackberry is the one with this problem.

[Matt Smith @ Oct 21st 2008 1:18PM]

Well, I was just talking about the physical keyboard... how it doesn't show that 2 = (A,B,C) and 3 = (D,E,F) etc... it would be nice to have that IMO.

[Matt Smith @ Oct 21st 2008 1:21PM]

I do see what you mean though... for this phone you can see it in the phone application screen above once you are into that.... so better than nothing.

[ran @ Oct 21st 2008 2:03PM]

This is why society is going backwards sometimes. Learn and memory folks!

[Quikboy @ Oct 21st 2008 11:02PM]

Not related, but you gotta try Live Search 411. It's similar, but better. It's get down voice commands really great, and the information usually seems more fresh.

1-800-CALL-411

Here's the site: http://www.livesearch411.com/

I've used both, and the Live Search one is a whole lot better.

[Matt Smith @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:33AM]

To be honest, this was just me trying to complain about my moto Q and it's lack of this feature, as it appeared this one lacked it as well... but since this phone provides a way to get the information needed... all is right with this phone. Just wish my phone had it. :(

[TareX @ Oct 21st 2008 1:14PM]

There's nothing about these phones that makes me want to have them.

[Christian @ Oct 21st 2008 3:13PM]

Looks good but, what happend with the QWERTY :(

[Marino @ Oct 21st 2008 3:32PM]

If you are going to make a phone this big why not make the screen bigger too?