Pharos Traveller 137 hands-on

Pharos' Traveller 137 is at CES and as far as well packed Windows Mobile sets go, it is pretty much at the top of the heap. We won't bore you with the specs again, but if there's anything you want in a phone, it's likely already in there. Follow the read link to get a closer look at the world's first unlocked AWS 3G handset over at Engadget Mobile.

[Jash Sayani @ Jan 8th 2009 6:24AM]

How much $$$ ?

[absinthe party @ Jan 8th 2009 7:38AM]

Doesn't that kind of look like the G1 from the front?

[Shugg @ Jan 8th 2009 10:18AM]

tank city ,$648. Another iphonesque cell that will fail miserably here in the USA,,or am I wrong who would pay $648 for non name brand cell here in the USA???anyone,,crickets,

[chris @ Jan 8th 2009 10:33AM]

@Shugg

Pharos has name recognition, maybe not Sony or Apple recognition, but those in the know will recognize them. The claim to fame is the fact that it supports not only Tmobile, but ATT 3G bands unlike the Touch HD, all the while providing Touch HD specs. As for the iPhone, thanks but no thanks... I finished dealing with phones that had that level of capability about 3 years ago.

[r19578 @ Jan 8th 2009 11:40AM]

Pharos is actually the maker of the GPS device in Microsoft Streets & Trips package, so it's a widely recognized brand.

[Landon @ Jan 8th 2009 12:10PM]

Crickets can't buy cellphones....geez what a dee dee deeee.....

[bachviet @ Jan 8th 2009 11:10AM]

I would definitely consider this since I could use and abuse the now-grandfather-$5.99 T-Zones plan (3.5G) with it. With $24 per month saving over the iPhone 3G data plan, I make up the difference in price within 1-1/2 year.

[Kumar @ Jan 8th 2009 11:17AM]

I'd be all over it if the white orb in the navigation ring was red.

'How are you feeling today Dave?' 'I'm well Hal'

I'd like to see some test reviews....some people could really dig this, but probably at $500 unlocked tops, with the price of standalone NAV units dropping so quickly. More people are definitely into a phone that they can pop onto a holder on their dash so that it can tell them where to go.

[htd @ Jan 8th 2009 11:22AM]

just one bar left for the battery

[David @ Jan 8th 2009 12:42PM]

LOL, low battery already.

[E71 @ Jan 8th 2009 12:55PM]

Finally a competitor to HTC.

Interested++

[Rob @ Jan 8th 2009 1:21PM]

I called the company and apparently the GPS chip is not locked to their software so you can use any navigation software that you would like. I also was told that the maps come pre-installed for the US and the pay-per is for non-US maps but this has not been fully worked out yet. One advantage to their nav program I was told, is that it will use the data connection to find POI's etc., like having Google maps integrated with a complete nav solution.

[Ran @ Jan 8th 2009 2:45PM]

I don't see a flash for the camera.

[Roger @ Jan 9th 2009 2:26PM]

I have a Pharos GPS Phone 600, which is great in that it's a Windows Mobile and GPS, and all that. But I have a couple complaints, first the battery life sucks, about an hour run time, and as a phone, it sucks. I am constantly having to reset the phone because it's losing connection with the carrier (T-mobile). Other phones I have don't have that problem. Hopefully they have resolved those issues, rather than just adding more whistles and bells.