GSPDA to Introduce Xplore M-Series in North America
Group Sense PDA Limited (GSPDA), today announced its entry into the North American market with the availability of its Xplore M-series smartphones. GSPDA, one of the largest sellers of handheld products in Asia and the subsidiary of Group Sense (International) Limited is launching the Palm Powered M28, M68 and M98 smartphones in North America. [updated with photos]
Joining the existing Palm Powered Xplore G18 and G88 smartphone product family, the Xplore M-series combines the industry-leading Palm OS and state-of-the-art wireless and multimedia features in a compact form factor. The Xplore M-series consists of three devices: the Xplore M28, Xplore M68 and Xplore M98.
"We are excited about entering the North American marketplace," said Thomas Tam, managing director for Group Sense (International) Limited. "The Xplore M-Series of smartphones feature state-of-the-art design and the ease of use of the Palm OS in a compact form factor we believe North American consumers will appreciate and want to use. The Xplore M-Series tri-brand smartphone also provides greater convenience for travelers."
"We believe GSPDA's cutting edge design philosophy and efficient time-to-market are well suited to the North American market," said David Nagel, president and CEO of PalmSource. "With the Xplore M-Series of smartphones, GSPDA is providing North American consumers an innovative and easy-to-use Palm Powered smartphone."
Xplore M-series Smartphones Expanded Features and Benefits:
- Palm OS Garnet
- Tri-band GSM850/1800/1900MHz, GPRS Class 10
- Bluetooth technology for communicating with headsets, car kits, computers and printers equipped with Bluetooth (Xplore M68 only)
- MP3 and MPEG4 for audio and video capturing and playback
- 1.3 megapixel integrated camera for vibrant photos
- 64 MB RAM/32MB SDRAM Flash Internal Memory Cark
- 2.2-inch D-TFD 65K colors LCD screen
- SMS/MMS/WAP/e-mail/Java support
- 1GB of memory capacity with Secure Digital (SD)/Multimedia Card (MMC) for expansion (Xplore M28 and M68)
- Transflash card for expansion (Xplore M98)
- One-handed navigation five-way jog dial
Previously, GSPDA has revealed they are working on a releasing a Palm OS Cobalt powered smartphone.
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YA
The world will end in 2006. Just as it was predicted in the bible along with the release of Microsoft Longhorn.... :p
RE: why no 3G
Verizon uses CDMA. All of the above phones are GPS/GPRS. Completely and utterly incompatible. Globally, CDMA is in just a handful of countries so it'll always be 2nd fiddle to GSM, especially as far as smartphones & data-centric devices are concerned.
Verizon simply needs the Treo 650. Right now I am hearing late May '05 at the earliest with August/Sept '05 as the more likely timeframe for a 650 launch on Verizon.
When you combine P1 and Verizon (two of the tech industry's biggest laggards, bar none) you know you're in for a wait of epic proportions.
RE: why no 3G
The world will end in 2006. Just as it was predicted in the bible along with the release of Microsoft Longhorn.... :p
RE: why no 3G
RE: why no 3G
I really wish they would have released CDMA counterparts for these, as they would make a much bigger splash in the market being able to support both major systems.
_________________
Sean
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.
CDMA vs. GSM in the USA: No contest - CDMA wins
Revelations 6, Verse 4 says this is a sign the Apocalypse is Near.
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Press release: CUPERTINO, California — February 11, 2005 — Apple® announced today that Steve Jobs will begin selling his own feces to Apple Cultists beginning March 1. Apple's new iPoo™ lineup is expected to easily surpass the iPod shuffle as the company's most popular product. Yes, Apple Cultists can already easily create their own iPoo™, but feces didn't seem cool until Jobs told them it was cool. Remember, kids: the ONLY cool feces is Jobs' highly individualistic, rebellious iPoo™ (coming soon in six different colors/flavors, including the red [hematochezia] and black [melena] U2 GI bleed model)
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Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
RE: why no 3G
If someone could somehow shoehorn AMPS, CDMA, and GSM into a single cell phone (with Bluetooth thrown in for good measure) that the same size as a V710, it'd be a doozy.
Trying to cover the massive sprawl that is the USA with GSM towers is a fool's errand. CDMA is, like it or not, the system best suited for our particular country. I want to see more dual-standard phones released, however, and combined with cheaper international roaming by Verizon.
M98
RE: M98
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: M98
2" LCD is small, but I bet 160x160 looks strong on it. About the same density as 320x320 on a normal PDA. But just read an eBook on this for 2 hours! :-)
Xplore™ M28
Palm OS Version: 5.4
Processor: TI OMAP 310, 168MHz
Display: 2.2
Battery: Rechargeable Lithium-Polymer
Expansion Slot: SD / MultiMediaCard
Size/Weight: 1.85 x 3.9 x 0.8 (4.5 oz)
Network Technology: Tri band 900 / 1800 /1900 MHZ, GPRS Class 10
Xplore™ M68
Palm OS Version: 5.4
Processor: ARM 9 OMAP 310
Display: 2.2 TFT , 64K colors, 160 x 220 pixels
Battery: Lithium-Polymer 1300mAh
Expansion Slot: SD / MultiMediaCard
Size/Weight: 1.95 x 4.29 x 0.89 (4.5 oz)
Network Technology: Tri band GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900MHZ, GPRS Class 10
Xplore™ M98
Palm OS Version: 5.4
Processor: T1 OMAP 310,168MHz
Display: Main LCD 2.0. Sub LCD 1.17in
Battery: Li-Polymer 860mAh
Expansion Slot: External TransFlash Memory
Size/Weight: 96.5 x 47 x 24 mm (4.2 oz)
Network Technology: GPRS Class 10, Tri Band 850/1800/1900 MHz
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: M98
"Hmmm, some of the information listed on the PalmSource site disagrees with what's in the GSPDA release on these models. I suspect these phones have been tweaked a bit for the U.S. market, while PalmSource has info on the Asian versions.
Still, it's nice to know that the Xplore M98 will be a clamshell device."
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: M98
I don't think the 600s is near that small. Sometimes they are measure horizontally or diagonally. The Treo looks loads larger than the one on that little flipper.
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
Specs correct?
A pity that the M98 doesn't have Bluetooth, and that none of them have EDGE. A clamshell phone running a real OS with those specs might have been a little tempting.
RE: Specs correct?
I'm not sure the M98 is even Palm OS. Haven't seen that one on other announcements. Would be nice to have Garnet on a flipper with better screen real estate than that.
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: Specs correct?
Xplore™ M98
Palm OS Version: 5.4
Processor: T1 OMAP 310,168MHz
Display: Main LCD 2.0. Sub LCD 1.17in
Battery: Li-Polymer 860mAh
Expansion Slot: External TransFlash Memory
Size/Weight: 96.5 x 47 x 24 mm (4.2 oz)
Network Technology: GPRS Class 10, Tri Band 850/1800/1900 MHz
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: Specs correct?
antoinerjwright.com
This makes sense
Woohoo!!
RE: This makes sense
RE: This makes Group sense
As for how useful these will be as Smartphones, we'll have to wait and see. People looking for the Palm equivalent of the SE P910/i might do well to try and track down a PiTech QDA 700.
RE: This makes sense
Personally I carry a treo 650, but I know enough people who prefer a smaller and lighter Palm OS smartphones.
RE: This makes sense
RE: This makes sense
I still have grave doubts about software support for the GSPDA's screen resolutions, however.
Never took off in parts Asia
Why the lukewarm response in Malaysia? Going by the crowd comments at local mini-tradeshows with the Treo and Xplores selling side-by-side, it sounds like boxy designs, lack of a keyboard, and lackluster screens are the Xplore turn-offs.
My own nay against the Xplore would be its display: Milky and definitely not as sharp or bright as the Treo 600 (let alone the Treo 650.) Let's hope GSPDA did something about it for the North American sets.
Graffiti
http://www.pda-1.com
RE: Never took off in parts Asia
RE: Never took off in parts Asia
That's from Brian over at BargainPDA.com; more pics in this post:
RE: Never took off in parts Asia
http://www.bargainpda.com/assets/3689.jpg
http://www.bargainpda.com/assets/3684.jpg
Surur
RE: Never took off in parts Asia
Unfortunately, GSPDA makes unreliable equipment. Reminds me of Hyundai cars from 10 years ago...
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Press release: CUPERTINO, California — February 11, 2005 — Apple® announced today that Steve Jobs will begin selling his own feces to Apple Cultists beginning March 1. Apple's new iPoo™ lineup is expected to easily surpass the iPod shuffle as the company's most popular product. Yes, Apple Cultists can already easily create their own iPoo™, but feces didn't seem cool until Jobs told them it was cool. Remember, kids: the ONLY cool feces is Jobs' highly individualistic, rebellious iPoo™ (coming soon in six different colors/flavors, including the red [hematochezia] and black [melena] U2 GI bleed model)
*************************************************************************************
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Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
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why no 3G