MWC 2009: i-mate 'Project Centurion' set to become world's smallest Smartphone

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Check out this device, a pre-production device codenamed 'Project Centurion' from i-mate. Yes, it really IS that small. Yes, it really works... and yes i've played with a real life working unit!

The device - due later this year - features Windows Mobile 6.1 standard, HSDPA and a 2 Megapixel camera, powered by a 800mAh battery that is claimed to provide acceptable battery life taking into consideration the power savings gained by running a small screen.

At this early stage we don't have a lot more info about the device, but we'll definitely keep an eye on this one! Hats off to i-mate too for not just copying HTC et al and trying to do something different! :(

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[Guest Monolithix]

Looks sexy in white! :(

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

My thoughts exactly! I want one! :(

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[Guest pd.ryder]

Do they supply an i-stick for poking at the i-buttons with? Miniaturization has to stop *somewhere* - how are you supposed to operate that?

It's a bit silly if you ask me...

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Actually, it feels quite usable!

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[Guest ZSX]

I love them all - the silver/white, gold/black, steel/grey - if only I could afford them all!

[Guest rodnav]

i like it. i'll finally get a new windows mobile standard to change my imate sp3i

[Guest nickcornaglia]

Get rid of that keyboard, turn that screen 90 degrees, and add a 12-Key pad and I'll take 2!

[Guest nickcornaglia]

Oh yeah.....lose the silver sides too! :(

[Guest spider]

Get rid of that keyboard, turn that screen 90 degrees, and add a 12-Key pad and I'll take 2!

I can only agree with you :(

[Guest Amplificator]

I will be getting one of these just because it's kinda cute and small :(

[Guest Monolithix]

What's this? Buzz and excitement over an i-mate device?

Who'd have thought :(

[Guest deadphill]

Was thinking this earlier...

Paul I take it you had that meeting with i-Mate then?! :(

Cheers

Phill

[Guest StGeorge]

I am a real sucker for this form factor of device - think I may have just found my next phone.... here's hoping it is not too pricey!

[Guest nickcornaglia]

What's this? Buzz and excitement over an i-mate device?

Who'd have thought :(

And a Smartphone (Standard) device as well!

[Guest Dark Horse]

That's a peach of a handset and ticks all the right boxes: small, QWERTY keyboard and WinMob Std with no touch screen nonsense, this is a good contender for a next upgrade. Hope i-Mate manage to pull it all together after so many previous mediocre devices.

Oh, and classic matt black all the way :(

Edited February 18, 2009 by Dark Horse

[Guest ZSX]

Paul, did you get a chance to see the "Project Legionnaire" at the i-mate booth? This also looks quite interesting, even if it is a Pro phone. It is tinier even than my Touch Diamond, so they will have to have some significant finger optimizations (6.5?) if it is to be useable. ADVERT LINK REMOVED have a couple of pics:

Edit:

Hmm... Curiouser and curiouser. WMPoweruser is now reporting that the Legionnaire is

a Windows Mobile 6.5 handset with modern specifications like WVGA screen, HSDPA, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, microSDHC slot etc and it is supposed to act also as a touchpad when you slide it in the Warrior.

So, what is the Warrior? Well they say it is

actually a very innovative device, as is it is basically a dock with a 10-inch XVGA screen, a dedicated battery, SD Card reader instead of a Hard Disk and an array of several ports, including HDMI. As for the for the task of providing processing power, this is up to second device that i-Mate revealed, the Legionnaire.

So, something like the Redfly but even more integrated? The estimated price is Warrior $199, Legionnaire $500.

More info at PocketLint. Including this very professional diagram:

Edited February 19, 2009 by ZSX

[Guest Amplificator]

That Legionnare looks pretty good too.

I like the size, however with a WVGA screen they really need to have some good inger-optimized menus like already mentioned or it will be too small to operate.

But i-mates new devices looks really good this time :(

[Guest Metoo]

Hmm, is it just me, or do these devices have the look of TechFaithWireless about them?

Note the type of silver gray plastic on both models - reminiscent of the Ubiquio 501/503 (and iMate JAQ) and the Toshiba G series.

For quality's sake, I hope not - but as they were a previous i-Mate ODM, I woudn't be surprised.

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

i-mate have ditched their previous ODM model and are designing all their models in house and getting them made by an engineering partner. They are not working with any of their previous ODMs as I understand it.

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[Guest chucky.egg]

Hey, cool, it's a WM version of my Nokia E71!

http://www.pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=1332

[Guest nuttyphilt]

Hey, cool, it's a WM version of my Nokia E71!

http://www.pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=1332

I was thinking exactly the same thing!