IDLDPL ties up with ASUS India for Distribution of PDA Products

India Digital Life Style Distributors more commonly referred to as IDLDPL has announced a tie-up with ASUS Technology selecting the company to be its national partner for the distribution of ASUS PDAs.

In June this year, ASUS India has launched its P535 PDA phone in the market. Since then, ASUS’ products have been highly appreciated for their quality and design.

IDLDPL on the other hand, brings in its genius and expertise in the distribution of IT and lifestyle products. As it is, the company has its own sales offices in around 15 locations in India along with innumerable channel partners and retail chains.

The ASUS PDA P535 is a compact Windows Mobile 6.0 smart phone with wireless and GPS functionality. Other features include an Auto-Focus 2.0 mega pixel camera and business scanner.

According to Mr. Andrew Tsui, Managing Director, ASUS India, “ASUS as a brand has been received well among the users and customers in the Notebook, LCD monitor, Wireless and networking solutions in the Indian market. I expect the same will be extended to our PDAs. Our tie up with IDLDPL will surely help us in reaching out to customers in India as IDLDPL has a wide presence across the country.”

Mr. Surinder Saini, Asst Vice President Sales, in IDLDPL, said, “ASUS is a leading provider of high performance 3C total solutions worldwide. Any product that is coming from ASUS is expected to bring the same quality and capability. We are proud to be associated with the ASUS brand as their national distribution partner in India for PDA products. I expect this relationship will turn out to be a win-win situation for both the companies in taking this product line to a bigger market in India.”

HTC P6300 Windows Mobile PDA phone

The much-written-about HTC Touch has been the subject of many a heated debate among followers of the smartphone industry in recent weeks. Some love it, others (including our very own esteemed editor) are not so keen.

But one thing is clear: it is a departure for the firm that doesn't quite work, and it is one that certainly won't do what it was originally intended to do - which was run the Apple iPhone juggernaut off the road, or at least give it a bloody nose. And, on top of all that, overlaying a simple touch-driven interface on top of Windows Mobile isn't the revolution we were hoping for.

The new P6300 smartphone (around £400 SIM-free) represents a return to business-as-usual for HTC and anyone expecting iPhone-rivalling fancy pants features will be sorely disappointed.
This is, pure and simple, a Windows Mobile-based PDA phone with no fancy extras, aimed at business or corporate users.

And that's exactly what it looks like when you pull it out of the box for the very first time. It's grey and unassuming, more accountant on an audit than advertising executive on a brainstorming session. It doesn't look particularly cool, but it goes about its business in an understated sort of way.

The front is dominated by a large 3.5in, 240 x 320 resolution screen surrounded with some sensibly arranged and simple buttons. Above it are shortcut keys for messaging and Internet applications. Below it are the usual smart phone controls for picking-up and hanging-up calls, while a pair of soft buttons and a Windows Start button flank a D-pad, used for navigating Windows Mobile's often complicated and cluttered screens.

The edges of the P6300 are, thankfully, just as uncluttered. On the right hand edge you'll find the stylus stowed away and a shutter button for the two megapixel camera. On the left is a rocker for the volume plus a key for accessing the device's voice control centre. This can be used to launch applications or phone speed dial contacts and it works really well - as long as you don't mind people staring at you in the street as though you've just escaped from Broadmoor.

On the top edge is the power switch and an SD memory card slot and at the bottom, a rather odd-looking hybrid mini-USB socket – used for syncing, charging and for connecting the proprietary hands-free headset supplied in the box. And though confusingly it looks different to a standard mini-USB socket, this 'ExtUSB' socket will in fact still take standard cables, so you can use your power cable in the car, or spare USB lead at your desk in the office to charge it.

And, while I'm on the subject of box contents, the P6300 comes with a USB wall wart charger and a quality belt clip case as well.

T-Mobile Announces Wing WM6 PDA Phone

T-Mobile flies high with Wing and Windows Mobile 6

T-Mobile today announced the new Wing, the successor to the discontinued MDA. The new Wing arrives as T-Mobile’s new flagship Windows Mobile-based handheld device, based on the HTC P4350. HTC manages to pack a Texas Instruments OMAP 850 processor clocked at 201 MHz, 128MB ROM, 64MB of RAM, 2.8 inch QVGA display and a sliding QWERTY keyboard while keeping size down to 2.3 inches wide, 4.3 inches tall and 0.7 inches thick.

HTC backs the hardware with support for quad-band GSM, EDGE, 802.11g and Bluetooth 2.0 wireless network protocols. There is also an integrated 2.0 megapixel camera and a micro SD memory slot for multimedia pleasures. T-Mobile ships the Wing with Microsoft’s latest Windows Mobile 6, the second Windows Mobile 6 device in T-Mobile’s lineup.

“The T-Mobile Wing with Windows Mobile 6 helps people stay connected with friends, family and colleagues, whether they’re in the office or on the go,” general manager of Microsoft’s Mobile Communication Business John O’Rourke said. “The T-Mobile Wing’s work and play features help people take their PC experience on the road with them, making sure they’re always in touch.”

The myFaves capable phone includes AOL Instant Messenger, MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger applications on top of the text messaging capabilities. T-Mobile also packs in Microsoft Office Mobile and Outlook Mobile for viewing and editing documents, and email with Direct Push support.

Expect to pay $499 for the T-Mobile Wing, or $299 with contract. The T-Mobile Wing is available immediately from T-Mobile.