Hewlett-Packard Co. unleashed a wave of products yesterday, including two HSDPA-capable, iPAQ-branded smartphones running Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile 6 Professional operating system.
The offerings are notable as HP used to sell a range of iPAQ smartphones through various wireless carriers, but more recently has largely abandoned that distribution channel, apparently in favor of a more direct enterprise sales tactic.
HP’s two new touchscreen devices launched with no carrier deals announced, but the devices run tri-band UMTS/HSDPA and quad-band GSM/EDGE with Wi-Fi, so they can run on AT&T Mobility or T-Mobile USA Inc.’s networks domestically as well as European networks. The company dubbed its new devices the iPAQ 900 Series Business Messenger, which offers a QWERTY keypad, and the iPAQ 600 Series Business Navigator.
The Navigator appears on HP’s Web site for $600. The Messenger, presumably, would be more expensive.
Both devices offer 3-megapixel cameras, 256 MB of Flash memory and expandable memory.
“HP has clearly decided to focus on this (enterprise) segment and they’re offering very interesting devices,” said Avi Greengart, analyst at Current Analysis. “They’ve got very little brand recognition, but their hope is to get to IT managers who already buy other HP products.”
The PC maker’s stock ticked up slightly this morning to $50.20, near its 52-week high, following the news.
HP rolls out 3G smartphones
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