BT and HP to offer UMA based smartphone, powered by Windows Mobile 6.0, to BT Fusion customers

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Direct from the BT Media Centre...

BT and HP to offer UMA based smartphone, powered by Windows Mobile 6.0, to BT Fusion customers

BT Business Fusion customers to have new feature rich versatile device

BT and HP today announced an agreement to offer the HP iPAQ 514 Voice Messenger, Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) Windows® Mobile 6.0 smartphone in BT Fusion device portfolio. The agreement will provide BT customers with a seamless communication solution – a single smartphone for both office and mobile use.

The HP iPAQ 514 Voice Messenger with built-in Wi-Fi and UMA is a dual-mode smartphone that provides customers with the opportunity to benefit from high speed broadband access in the office, or at BT’s Openzone hotspots, as well as for mobile use. This eliminates the need for an additional desk phone. It provides one phone number, enhances productivity through access to business applications and helps control business costs by offering fixed-line rate calls when in Wi-Fi zones.

“By combining the HP iPAQ 514 Voice Messenger with BT’s superb network infrastructure, BT business customers will receive the most comprehensive end-to-end solution in one device,” said Eric Cador, senior vice president, HP Personal Systems Group, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Delivering and supporting Fixed Mobile Convergence solutions is an integral part of HP’s mobility strategy that will deliver results for carriers and enterprises.”

”Our business customers are embracing BT Business Fusion as a realistic way to manage their communications costs and improve productivity,” said Jerry Thompson, BT’s Director of Applications and Devices. “By offering our customers the extremely versatile HP IPAQ 514 Voice Messenger we believe we will increase our customers’ productivity through high speed access to broadband for email and Windows Mobile business applications as well as reducing the overall costs through very attractive call rates.”

The HP iPAQ 514 offers business professionals a powerful, easy-to-use smartphone that combines the features of a mobile phone, the capability of a handheld organiser, constant contact of a push e-mail device, and the power of high speed internet access. The HP iPAQ 514 also incorporates the convenience of voice commands to deliver a new mobile email experience for business users.

BT plans to strengthen and further build its presence in the fixed-mobile convergence space with the BT Business Fusion service. The HP iPAQ 514 Voice Messenger will be launched by BT in the UK in mid 2007.

This of course follows on from our earlier story about HP launching a Smartphone.

It's great to see Windows Mobile's exposure being expanded in this way. BT have another press release about Windows Mobile 6 here, i'm assuming they're referring to the same device (and hence the HP device is made by HTC, no surprise there...)

P

[Guest madbandit]

maybe the 514 has the higher rez screen to it than the aforementioned 510...

intruiging!