Camera Phones Plaza

Hewlett-Packard Co., commonly referred to as HP, understands very well how important growth is in order to get over some critical times. Because, after all, the success lies in looking constantly forward. According The Wall Street Journal, HP is now aiming at growing its device business beyond corporate users and therefore is preparing to release a new version a brand new version of its iPaq smartphone that will target consumers. The plan regarding this device is that it will be launched in Europe, at first, and will be sold by a mobile carrier in retail stores.

There aren’t too many details available yet. However, the latest iPaq will feature a touchscreen and keypad and will use Microsoft Corporation’s Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system. In addition, the smartphone will be able to send and receive emails and access the Internet.

It’s well known the fact that people recognize HP as laptops and desktop PCs manufacturer rather than a smartphone maker. As a matter of fact, the company is quite new in this area, as it has been selling iPaq-branded devices since it acquired personal-computer maker Compaq Computer Corporation in 2002. HP has released several models in the past, including the HP iPaq hw6945 Mobile Messenger and the HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger (the first Windows Mobile 6 smartphone). Both devices aimed at businesses and they weren’t typically sold to retail stores.

HP spokesman Mike Hockey said that the most recent iPaq device, the HP iPaq 910c Business Messenger, focused once again on the business area and was launched this summer. The smartphone is a well-stocked, messaging-centric device for mobile professionals and it has to endure the competition from HTC, Samsung and Motorola. More and more companies tend to enter the smartphone realm, such as PC maker Dell or the PC maker Acer of Taiwan who revealed its plans to launch a smartphone at the end of this year or early 2009.

In addition, the spokesman said that “the iPaq brand is extremely strong around the world, especially in the European market”. Actually, this is the reason why the new device will most likely be released in Europe within two months and only later in the world-wide.

(Source The Wall Street Journal)