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i-mate’s Ultimate lineup of mobile phones is definitely a mobile enthusiasts wet dream. At least in theory. With no US wireless carrier-support and nary an FCC seal of approval to speak of, i-mate hasn’t exactly broken into the US high-end handset market. So, no matter how high-end the i-mate Ultimate lineup may be, there’s just that little issue of getting the handset into consumer hands.

But, that may all change with the FCC’s approval of the i-mate Ultimate 8502 Windows Mobile Professional-powered handset. As evidenced by the FCC’s label to the right, the Ultimate 8502 has been cleared for duty in the US by the almighty FCC.

The i-mate Ultimate 8502 boasts a veritable what’s what of high-end mobile phone features that any true cellphone lover can appreciate. Features like HSDPA/HSUPA (in other words, HSPA), GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, 2 megapixel camera, TV-out, and QWERTY keyboard secures the i-mate Ultimate 8502 a spot among the Windows Mobile smartphone elite.

The candybar form-factor is sure to appeal to the broadest possible mobile phone market, so it makes sense that i-mate decided to push this particular Ultimate handset through the FCC’s labs. It would be nice to see the i-mate Ultimate 9502 get the FCC’s nod of approval - with a full-VGA display and 3 megapixel camera, the Ultimate 9502 is a monster of handset.

Still, it’s nice to see i-mate making some headway into the US market with the Ultimate 8502.

FCC

We’ve been waiting for i-mate to get their Ultimate lineup up and running for some time now. The Ultimate devices are ready to rock, but delays and carrier resistance has caused i-mate to miss its target window for a US launch.

i-mate was banking on the Ultimate lineup of handsets bringing them out of the semi-obscurity they’ve always enjoyed and into the global limelight. Their Ultimate devices are impressive (if a bit homely), but it’s been a long time in getting those devices out to the public. In fact, it seems that it’s been too long in coming.

With  costs mounting and revenues failing to keep up, i-mate has reportedly served pink-slips to most of its US division. Last Friday, i-mate chopped the entire engineering, QA, and tech writing departments off the i-mate payroll - leaving only a barebones staff to run the i-mate online portal in hopes of more US-sales. Even the Chief Software Officer and VP of Sales and Marketing took a walk after the massive employee firing on Friday.

The Ultimate 8502 and Ultimate 9502 are serious players in a crowded smartphone market, we hope i-mate stays around long enough in the US to prove themselves.

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

Remember new i-mate Ultimate 8502 and 9502 smartphones? Well, it’s Autralia-based Telstra that will be the first mobile operator to carry them. The two companies have reached an agreement under which Telstra’s customers will get an unfair advantage over the rest of us to try out the new super powerful Windows Mobile smartphones. In addition, Telstra also scored exclusive rights to exclusively offer the two devices on the continent. Too bad the first few people that buy either the Ultimate 8503 or 9502 will have to spend a small fortune — AUD$999 and AUD$1099 respectively — to own them. That’s starting from “early March” this year when they actually hit Telstra and their Licensed Shops…

What does the i-mate booth look like, you ask? Well, here you are. I-mate’s booth featured their Ultimate lineup of mobile phones. The Ultimate 9502 and Ultimate 8502, which were just announced (although, we’ve already had a chance to play with them at CTIA 2007) were displayed alongside the Ultimate 8150 and Ultimate 6150.

Whether you need a VGA display, QWERTY keyboard, or 3G (HSDPA) data, i-mate has you covered with their Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional-powered Ultimate lineup.

Hit the gallery for pics of i-mate’s booth.

[Show as slideshow]

i-mate used the Mobile World Congress to unveil two new members of its Ultimate family - Ultimate 8502 and 9502. Both devices run Windows Mobile 6 Professional edition and boast such features as Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, WiFi, 256 MB ROM and 128 MB RAM, HSDPA, HSUPA, full QWERTY keyboard (the 9502 has a slide-out keyboard), direct video output, and of course the microSD expansion slot. Qualcomm’s 400 MHz MSM 7200 CPU is running the show.

In addition, the 9502 model has a 3 MP camera, 2.8″ VGA touchscreen and uses 1660mAh Li-polymer battery — while the 8502 has a 2MP camera, 2.6″ QVGA touchscreen and relies on somewhat smaller 1430mAh Li-polymer battery… Full release follows after the jump.

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Ever since our favorite little ODM cut their manufacturing-strings and started hocking their wares under their own global brand, HTC has blossomed into the Windows Mobile smartphone manufacturer that we all knew it would be.

Now that HTC has their own-branded line of mobile phones, their ODM business accounted for less than 10% of their Q4 2007 revenues. It seems that HTC is only keeping their ODM business as a sideline revenue stream, they obviously don’t need it.

On the other hand, the likes of Palm, i-mate, and MWG do need HTC’s WinMo smartphone prowess. DigiTimes is reporting that Palm, MWG, and once HTC-spurning i-mate are going back to HTC as their ODM source. All the new ODM handset orders should boost HTC’s 1Q 2008 ODM-revenue to over 10% of their quarterly earnings.

HTC’s just growing and growing. With 10-12 handsets planned for a 2008 release, we can’t wait to see what they do next.

[Via: DigiTimes]

i-mate is reportedly working on a “shell” device that will feature a 1024×768 display (7 inch?), the full QWERTY keyboard and a battery that can last 80 hours. While this sounds to good to be truth, and somehow reminds us on Palm’s cancelled project (Foleo), this time we’re bit more optimistic.

First of all, I DO think there’s a room for a device that could fit somewhere between the full-blown laptop and a smartphone/PDA. The problem is that such a device should be affordable — after all, it IS the third device for most people. i-mate’s “shell” should apparently cost around $300 and rely on the smartphone to do all the processing and storage. Guess, they want to bundle their Ultimate phones with these “things.” Now, that’s something I don’t like, although I can imagine corporate customers loving it.

As usual, nothing is still confirmed, but that never stopped us from speculating.

[Via: ubergizmo]

With the i-mate Ultimate 6150 already approved by the FCC and the Ultimate 8150 just recently getting the FCC-greenlight, i-mate is poised to make a big splash in the high-end US Windows Mobile smartphone market. The Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional-powered Ultimate 8150 and 6150 are slated to launch in November with those blazing-fast 520Mhz CPU, HSDPA, WiFi, GPS, 2 megapixel cameras, FM radio, Bluetooth 2.0, TV-out, and that glorious VGA display.

Well, the good folks over at the i-mate booth (#133) here at CTIA San Francisco were kind enough to let us in a few details. It seems the highly-anticipated i-mate Ultimate 7150 has been put on the back-burner while i-mate and Arima work to “develop the platform further.” Sounds to us like the Ultimate 7150 has been nixed from the product lineup. Those previous rumors of the Ultimate lineup getting the ax may have been based on some truth - it seems i-mate has chosen to go a slightly different route with a portion of their lineup.

Most notably, there were two new beautiful Ultimate models available for some playtime. The i-mate Ultimate 8502 and 9502 are both Windows Mobile 6.0-powered jobbies - the Ultimate 8502 is a monoblock handset with a full-QWERTY keyboard below the display, while the Ultimate 9502 rocks a spring-loaded sliding-keyboard, a la Sidekick Slide. The VGA resolution displays were amazing, and we came away with a positive impression of both devices - solidly built, and up to par with Stefan’s “denser is better” philosophy. The white-backlit keys on both the Ultimate 8502 and 9502 are nice and easy on the eyes, and did we mention the amazing VGA display? Well, it’s trick.

The i-mate reps indicated that the i-mate Ultimate 8502 and 9502 could be on schedule for a “late 4Q delivery” - possibly by December 23 or early January at the latest. We can’t wait to get our hands on review units of these bad boys. The Ultimate 8150 and 6150 review units are on the way (ETA: a “couple” weeks), and the Ultimate 8502 and 9502 review units will be shipping shortly thereafter. Make sure to keep checking back for more details on the hot, QWERTY-packing Ultimate 8502 and 9502 smartphones soon!

Hit the “read” link for more pics of the as yet unannounced i-mate Ultimate 8502 and 9502.

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So, we’re here at CTIA San Francisco 2007 and the first thing on our agenda was the Microsoft launch luncheon (try saying that three times, fast). Here’s what they’ve got planned…

In keeping with the Microsoft’s expertise in enterprise mobile solutions, Microsoft has launched their first “dedicated mobile device management server” - Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008. And, to help roll-out device compatibility with the Mobile Device Manager, Microsoft has teamed up with AT&T and Sprint to bring

Microsoft has keyed in on the business customer’s needs beyond the realm of simple email, contact management, and calendar sync-ing. They’re leveraging the Windows Mobile platform to bring a new level of integration and user-level management to the enterprise IT professional. With features like over-the-air application delivery and secure VPN connectivity, the Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 aims to ensure that fleet-management of Windows Mobile devices maintains “end-to-end data integrity” as well as providing secure access to corporate data - in other words, Windows Mobile device fleets can all be updated and synchronized with ease and allow user-corporate VPN connection under the watchful eye of the Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Center 2008.

IT heads will be happy to hear that the new Mobile Device Center will employ an “always on” connection - affording them the control they need to maintain and ensure fleet integrity. Should the “always on” connection drop-out, Microsoft’s “fast reconnect” technology gets the user securely back online without having to re-authenticate. And, if the IT department sees a problem with any device in their fleet, System Center Mobile Device Manager provides the IT Administrator with the power to lock down a specific handset - they can disable Bluetooth, SMS/MMS, WLAN (WiFi), InfraRed, POP/IMAP email, and camera functionality.

AT&T and Sprint have signed on to make their lineup of Windows Mobile devices compatible with Mobile Device Manager starting early next year. New devices with Mobile Device Manager support are expected to be available in 2Q 2008 from HP, HTC, i-mate, Intermec, Motorola, Palm Inc. and Samsung - with service partner Avanade, CSC, EDS, Getronics, HP and TCS supporting Mobile Device Manager.

Microsoft seems to be taking aim squarely at RIM’s BlackBerry Enterprise services. With the level of device integration and control that System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 brings, RIM had better step up it’s game if it wants to hold onto its position as a powerhouse in the mobile enterprise game. And, with RIM’s servers taking nose dives every so often, Windows Mobile should be looking even more attractive to corporate IT departments everywhere.

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Following on i-mate’s launch of its Ultimate lineup of Windows Mobile 6.0-powered smartphones with the i-mate Ultimate 6150 and 8150, the FCC has just approved the i-mate Ultimate 8150 - and not a moment too soon, these bad-boys are slated to start shipping pretty soon.

The Ultimate 8150, from ODM Arima, will rock the same high-end goodies that the Ultimate lineup is known for - Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional, HSDPA, WiFi, GPS, VGA display, 2 megapixel camera, 520Mhz CPU, FM radio, Bluetooth 2.0, TV-out. And that just a taste of what the Ultimate lineup offers.

Talk about feature-packed, we can’t wait for the i-mate Ultimate 8150 to start shipping. We’ll get a chance to speak with i-mate at the upcoming CTIA San Francisco conference, so keep an eye out for more updates!

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