Asus debuts GPS-packing P527 smartphone

Well, it looks like Asus has finally come though with a follow up to its P526 cellphone / PDA / GPS combo device, although anyone (like us) hoping that it'd make the jump to 3G will likely be sorely disappointed. As before, the new P527 model tops out with quad-band EDGE connectivity, a shortcoming Asus seems to be trying to make up for with added shininess. Otherwise, you can expect the same SiRFStar III GPS chipset that got all the attention last time around, along with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, an integrated 2 megapixel camera, an FM radio, and a microSD card slot, with Windows Mobile 6 again running the show. No official word on pricing or availability just yet, but GPSAndCo speculates that it could possibly hit France by the end of the year for about €500 (or just over $700).

[Via Navigadget]