GPS phones are all the rage these days, especially when they’re purpose-built handsets with GPS functionality as a priority (rather than throwing in a GPS receiver just to say it has a GPS receiver). We’d gladly hock our souls for a really good GPS phone, like those from Pharos – they’re just so damned pricey. So, it’s a good thing @LINK0@ has the good grace to save our souls from eternal damnation by offering a $200 discount on the Pharos GPS Phone 600 ($499.95) and 600e ($399.95).

The Windows Mobile 5.0 PocketPC Edition-powered line of GPS phones sport a WASS-enabled SiRFstarIII GPS chip with 20 channels – the Pharos GPS Phone 600 includes pre-loaded navigation software, whereas the 600e model cuts the nav software out of the feature list to shave a C-note off the asking price. And, to make up for the lack of Windows Mobile 6.0 goodness, Pharos saw fit to endow both the GPS Phone 600 and 600e with a speedy 400Mhz processor, Bluetooth 2.0, FM radio with RDS, 2 megapixel camera, and WiFi b/g.

Of course, all the grace in the world couldn’t bring @LINK1@ to knock $200 off of Pharos’ asking price for free. Rather than sign your soul away, T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) asks that you enter into a 2-year voice and data plan – but with the Pharos GPS Phone 600 commanding a hefty $699.95 and the GPS Phone 600e going for a slightly-less dizzying $599.95, a 2-year contract doesnt sound too bad.

With T-Mobile set to launch their high-speed 3G HSDPA network @LINK2@, you may want to hold off on the EDGE-only quad-band Pharos GPS Phone lineup. But, with the E-TEN @LINK3@ Windows Mobile 6.0 @LINK4@ already out in the wild, at least you won’t be stuck Windows Mobile 5.0 (if the ROM works on the Pharos-branded handset, that is).

[Via: Mobile Whack]

Triband HSDPA, Quadband GSM, 640 x 480 screen with 65k colors, WiFi and GPS based on the badass SiRF Star III chipset make me want this device. I don’t care that it runs Windows Mobile 6, I just want it. With a 2 megapixel camera that has autofocus and a 1530 mAh battery, carrying around this 139 gram 15.8 mm device to a party and having it survive all those drunken picture moments is entirely possible.

[Via: The Unwired View]

We’re hearing that E-ten and Arima have joined forces to start pushing high-end devices loaded with the Windows Mobile OS. Arima will bring to the collaborative effort their experience in developing Ericsson mobile phones and related chipsets and networking chips from Marvell Technology Group, while E-ten will be bringing expertise from their experience in developing Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) Windows Mobile handsets using communications processors from Samsung Electronics. The two companies will use their combined experience to craft high-end mobile devices with high-speed data features and integrated GPS.

Sources at E-ten said that the first jointly developed phone, the X800, is slated for a Q3 2007 delivery and will feature HSDPA, GPS and Wi-Fi.

The new deal is something of a reassuring sign of the Windows Mobile OS’s success amid harsh competition from the likes of Apple (NSDQ: AAPL), RIM, and, of course, Symbian. We’re glad to see manufacturers are still willing to invest quite heavily in the Windows Mobile platform.

[Via: DigiTimes]

Good news for the owners of E-TEN Glofiish X500 and M700 Pocket PC phones — E-TEN has released Windows Mobile 6 ROM updates for the mentioned devices, and made them available through its site. At the moment only three language-localized ROM updates are available – English, Russian, and French – with more to come later this year.

Updating your Glofiish is a snap. You have to register, enter your IMEI code, as well as a valid e-mail address, and you’re almost done. Next, just follow the instructions, press “Next” few times, and voila — you’re ready to reap the benefits of the newest Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT)’s mobile OS. (via: Slashphone)

E-Ten has gone official with their Glofish X500 update. The E-Ten Glofish X500+ will update the GPS PocketPC with a full VGA resolution screen! As the first VGA device from E-Ten, the X500+ will get an enhanced Auto-Macro camera and..wait for it, Windows Mobile 6.0! E-Ten, we gotta hand it to you. At a time when PocketPC’s are severely lacking in the resolution department, you go and give us VGA and WM6! The higher resolution gives the device a higher pixel density, making movies and pictures sharper and more detailed.

Get your thin-on with this 113.5×60.5×15.5mm X500+ in black or silver.

via: digitimes

E-Ten will be updating the already-impressive Glofish M500 with the Glofish M500+. No, we don’t get Windows Mobile 6 in this updated version, but we do get a VGA screen to complement the built-in WiFi and GPS features! It’s about time that Pocket PC displays started to catch up with the rest of the industry. The guys over at Unwired View got the scoop on this updated Glofish via Portavik.ru.

**UPDATE** That would be the E-Ten Glofish X500+ – not the M500+. Our bad. **

source

Yet another device from E-TEN’s glofiish family has been approved by the FCC. This time, we’re talking about M700. No U.S. carrier has picked it up yet, but doesn’t mean you won’t be able to grab this great device once available — there’s always the unlocked phone market. Anyhow, E-TEN glofiish M700 bundles QWERTY keyboard, 2 MP camera and a WiFi in the side-slider form factor. Plus (or that’s better minus), the M700 lacks 3G, but we don’t need in the States anyway. (via: Engadget)