Is it time for the 'HP Oak'?
Reports have it that Hewlett Packard is working on a new smartphone for release before the end of the year. The new touchscreen smartphone initially dubbed the ‘HP Oak’ will be initially sold in Europe by carriers in their retail stores. Initial reports on this new device came out earlier this year… But it sounds like HP has finished their development and is getting ready to ship the device.
From the Wall Street Journal:
The new device will have a touchscreen and keypad and will use Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, say people briefed on the plan. It will be able to send and receive emails, and access the Internet.
The phone is the latest version of H-P’s iPaq devices. H-P, which has been selling iPaq-branded devices since it acquired personal-computer maker Compaq Computer Corp. in 2002, primarily focused earlier iPaqs on businesses and typically didn’t sell them through retail stores.
This is an interesting move, as PC manufacturers seem to be hopping on the smartphone train of late. Look for Dell and Acer to enter the market as well, possibly as early as Q1 2009.
[Via: WSJ.com]