GSM/GPRS Sleeve for the iPAQ no more

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/options/wireless_solutions.html">http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/options/wireless_solutions.html</a><br /><br />It would seem that after months of delays, HP has finally decided to cancel the iPAQ GSM/GPRS sleeve based on the fact it has been removed from their pages. <i>(Those pages by the way are now sporting the new HP look rather than taking you to the old Compaq site.)</i> This doesn't come as a huge surprise since the much talked about 5000 will have a GSM/GPRS model. Source: fmiralles

[hrianto]

For anyone that still want to have GSM/GPRS function in their iPaq or PPC they always can go to audiovox Tri Band GSM/GPRS Compact Flash Card.
Here is the link
http://www.audiovox.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/product_mainpage.d2w/input?prrfnbr=1472612

[Arne Hess]

For anyone that still want to have GSM/GPRS function in their iPaq or PPC they always can go to audiovox Tri Band GSM/GPRS Compact Flash Card.
Which I'm currently test and previewed at PPCW.Net (http://www.ppcw.net/stories.php?story=02/10/03/9931178) today.

http://www.ppcw.net/images/column/audiovox_rtm-8000/IMG_1334_small.jpg http://www.ppcw.net/images/column/audiovox_rtm-8000/IMG_1331_small.jpg (http://www.ppcw.net/stories.php?story=02/10/03/9931178)

However, you need a headset to make voice calls which you wasn't forced to use with the Wireless Pack - a real pro for the Wireless Pack

[JonnoB]

For anyone that still want to have GSM/GPRS function in their iPaq or PPC they always can go to audiovox Tri Band GSM/GPRS Compact Flash Card.
Here is the link
http://www.audiovox.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/product_mainpage.d2w/input?prrfnbr=1472612

Unfortunately, you cannot buy it if you live in the US. Anyone know where these are being sold?

[Pinnacle]

Plus, the Audiovox card isn't being supported by T-Mobile in the US; and it's very, very, tough to get it set up with GPRS. And, the card doesn't support Dial-Up.

It works beautifully for Voice, but who wants a card sticking out of their PPC that doesn't offer easy data as well?

In the US, the Audiovox card is worthless right now without a lot of headaches. I know...I've owned one since the first week it was offered by PDAorDie.com, an overseas company that ships to the US.

[Terry]

AT&T Wireless has a plastic mock-up of the sleeve on display in their California stores (although they don't actually have them or know anything about them).

[Pony99CA]

http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/options/wireless_solutions.html

It would seem that after months of delays, HP has finally decided to cancel the iPAQ GSM/GPRS sleeve based on the fact it has been removed from their pages. (Those pages by the way are now sporting the new HP look rather than taking you to the old Compaq site.) This doesn't come as a huge surprise since the much talked about 5000 will have a GSM/GPRS model.
So the only evidence of this pack being "cancelled" is that it's not listed on the product pages? I can see at least two reasons why this could have happened.

First, maybe it got delayed, and they didn't want vaporware on their Web site any more.

Second, maybe during the conversion of the Web site to use the HP look, some things got lost in the shuffle.

I think there should be some confirmation before raising this flag. An HP press release would be best, but has anyone actually asked HP about this?

I don't think the iPAQ 5000 is a reasonable solution, as people who want GSM/GPRS and have an existing iPAQ will now have to buy a new Pocket PC, not just a sleeve.

Steve

[teddyp]

This jacket is still listed on the UK site and has been available for some time. It is real I have used one!

[SassKwatch]

[quote=Ed Hansberry]First, maybe it got delayed, and they didn't want vaporware on their Web site any more.
"Maybe it got delayed" is the understatement of the year.

I had been user of a Visor Deluxe/VisorPhone combo and, for the most part, that served my needs fairly well. But I had also been eyeing PocketPC's for a while and when the iPAQ 38xx series was introduced last fall with an accompanying 'coming soon' announcement of the GSM/GPRS sleeve, I snatched up a 3835 in a heartbeat.

And waited......., and waited, and waited......for the sleeve release. Waited anxiously past the first announced release date of Dec '01.......waited past the Jan '02 announced release date....waited past the announced Mar '02 release date....waited past the announced June '02 release date. Waited when it was released in Europe that in retrospect appears to have been a beta test.

So yeah, one might say it's 'delayed'.:) More likely though, it's dead.

[ETARD33]

Hi all, I saw this topic and became worried so I posted a query regarding this matter at compaq and to my relief here is the reply.

Reply From: SAVeira
October 3,2002 2:00pm Rate this reply:

The GSM/GPRS sleeve has been taken off the HP web site, but it has not been cancelled for North America. Once sleeve is released in North America, it will come back on the HP web site. :D

[JonnoB]

Hi all, I saw this topic and became worried so I posted a query regarding this matter at compaq and to my relief here is the reply.

Reply From: SAVeira
October 3,2002 2:00pm Rate this reply:

The GSM/GPRS sleeve has been taken off the HP web site, but it has not been cancelled for North America. Once sleeve is released in North America, it will come back on the HP web site. :D

I would assume so since Compaq/HP seem hell bent on keeping he sleeve design in spite of its uber-bulkiness.