Samsung Offers a Peek at New Pocket PC Phone

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,107460,tk,dn120202X,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pcworld.com/news/article...n120202X,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div>I had previous heard of this Samsung Pocket PC Phone Edition device, but I had no idea it was so ambitious - GPS and TV Tuner in addition to full CDMA 2000 1X EvDO network access? Nice! The real question is whether or not we'll see this sold outside of South Korea...but from a pure spec point of view, this looks like one impressive Pocket PC Phone Edition!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/107460-n_120202_samsung01.jpg" /> <br /><br />"Samsung Electronics has taken the wraps off a prototype of what is likely to be the most fully-featured PDA phone it has yet produced when it goes on sale early next year. The SPH-M400 is based on Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition, Microsoft's operating system for PDA phones, and runs on CDMA 2000 1x EvDO networks. Such networks, which are already in commercial service in South Korea, are capable of data transmission at speeds up to 2.4 mbps. It was unveiled at Telecom Asia 2002, which officially opens here on Monday.<br /><br />Looking much like a conventional PDA, the handset has a large thin film transistor LCD that can display 65,000 colors, voice recognition and a text-to-speech engine, a TV tuner, GPS satellite navigation, an infrared port, and a Secure Digital card slot with support for the SD I/O standard for plug-in peripherals. It is based around an Intel XScale processor running at 400 MHz, measures 5.2 inches by 2.8 inches by .7 inches and weighs 7.1 ounces."

[danmanmayer]

I can't wait until we see things like this in america. Why are we so far behind on the tech game. I thought our software companies were ruling over other countries. This is amazing. But long as i get a 400 mhz pocket pc phone by January i will be happy. Go samsung

[mookie123]

GPS and TV built in??

wooot? 8O

[Kirkaiya]

A TV tuner???

Wow!!

Now THAT is a cool device, especially since you could then (conceivably) use it as a PVR (Personal Video Recorder), storing your favorite programs onto a 512 MB SD card.. lol... This thing could be a TiVo, PDA, phone, and GPS tracker all in one. I can't believe they shoved all that into a package about the size of an iPaq..

Now, if only battery tech would make some great leap forward... where are those pocket-size fuel cells?

[portus]

This looks like my dream device! Built-in GPS on a PPC Phone Edition? Looks like our real-life gadgets are getting closer to Si-Fi faster than we can imagine ...

[jpaq]

This is what I'm talking about!!!

Now, please tell me it has good battery life. PLEASE! PLEASE!

The only other thing I would possibly want would be WiFi, but that's debatable.

:D
Me Likey!

[hrianto]

I wish they include WiFi and Bluetooth as well. Then this will be the perfect PDA. Oh.. have to be under 5oz as well if possible. 8)

[Kirk Stephens]

Wow 8O I hope this device doesn't just stay a prototype. I want this thing to become reality! Even better, an American reality. The only downside I could see with this thing is battery life. Can you imagine having this thing on cell phone standbye while recording Seinfeld to a SD card while it is verbally giving you GPS directions??? :way to go:

[mookie123]

This is what I'm talking about!!!
Now, please tell me it has good battery life. PLEASE! PLEASE!
The only other thing I would possibly want would be WiFi, but that's debatable.
:D
Me Likey!

well it has SD/IO so if that SD WiFi ever to come out it will work.
and I hope this phone wil come with optional handbag size battery so it runs at least 3 hrs. :o

PS. Why can't they jsut get rid of the wireless phone and start selling the unit immediately in the US? i bet it'll be a hit.

or maybe just replace the CDMA with WiFi. voila.....another instant hit.

[AKBishop]

What's the purpose of having a TV tuner in a PocketPC? Unless it has an antenna to receive broadcast channels, it seems pointless to me.

[anthonymoody]

Is this the network technology that Verizon uses here in the US, or Sprint?

TM

[Kevin Daly]

I hope it's not a case of feature set descriptions inflated by the marketing department to include anything that could possibly be supported at some unspecified date in the future with add-ons.
Or possibly depending on a visit from the Magic Feature Bunny.
Remember when the LOOX was being optimistically categorised in some quarters as a Pocket PC PHone Edition device?

[szamot]

humm just what the doctor ordered, minus TV Tuner + WiFi = yeah baby!

[sweetpete]

Is this the network technology that Verizon uses here in the US, or Sprint?

TM

Yes, both Verizon and Sprint use the CDMA network; however, they are currently using 1xRTT technology as the data overlay and won't be deploying 1xEvDO until probably next year or 2004.
I remember reading about 1 company that is targetting specific markets and has networks running 1xEvDO without the voice (strict data), but I can't recall their names. Google it if you're reallly interested in finding them.

[heyday]

What's the purpose of having a TV tuner in a PocketPC? Unless it has an antenna to receive broadcast channels, it seems pointless to me.

Exactly.... TV without an antena = No TV signal.....

Maybe they are thinking you will hook your VCR to it.....

No what we really need is a NICE PVR desktop app that will act like a tivo and then save shows in DivX for the Pocket PC... Full screen an everything... I guess there is that one company that has something like this but I can't think of their name...



heyday

[Paul]

I knew Samsung was up to something good... Can't wait to see the final specs on this and their upcoming PDAs. :D

[Cortex]

DONT HOLD YOUR BREATH!!!! :oops:

How long have we heard about variants of this device?

[revolution.cx]

Yah, a portable TV, that's crazy! What could they be thinking??!?!

Seriously though: portable LCD based televisions have been available for 10 years, and they use this incredible thing called a telescoping antenna!

Who knows what antenna system they are using on this device, but since the TV circuitry has been reduced to virtually a single chip, it seems like it might be a neat trick.

Extra credit: www.monetmobile.com provides the high speed wireless service a poster mentioned.

[sponge]

No one said the TV Tuner interfaces with the OS, it could essentially be a portable TV and a PDA shoved into one. That, and it's only a tuner, you still need a source, where you might get an addon to support coaxial, maybe even antennae.

[scrinch]

Yes, both Verizon and Sprint use the CDMA network; however, they are currently using 1xRTT technology as the data overlay and won't be deploying 1xEvDO until probably next year or 2004.

I'll bet that after all the teething problems Sprint has had with Vision (not to mention slow sales) they will think twice about upgrading any time soon to the next faster flavor of CDMA2000. And Verizon hasn't even got their Express Network fully up and running yet. My guess is that it will be at least 5 years before we see nationwide 1xEvDO. So the Samsung SPH-i700 will be the CDMA PPCPE phone of the near future...not the SPH-M400.

[RedRamage]

While I think a TV Tuner might be a really cool feature, I wonder if what they are refering too might be universal remote control software? Yeah know... something to "tune in" the channels on your TV? Just a thought.

Now, what I'd REALLY love is a PPC with a built in AM/FM Radio. That would be really cool. Then I could listen to my Detroit Tiger games whenever they were on cause I always have my PDA with me.

[sweetpete]

Extra credit: www.monetmobile.com provides the high speed wireless service a poster mentioned.

Thanks Revolution.cx. That's the company I was talking about. Too bad about their limited availability, but maybe they will start expanding next year?

[sweetpete]

Yes, both Verizon and Sprint use the CDMA network; however, they are currently using 1xRTT technology as the data overlay and won't be deploying 1xEvDO until probably next year or 2004.

I'll bet that after all the teething problems Sprint has had with Vision (not to mention slow sales) they will think twice about upgrading any time soon to the next faster flavor of CDMA2000. And Verizon hasn't even got their Express Network fully up and running yet. My guess is that it will be at least 5 years before we see nationwide 1xEvDO. So the Samsung SPH-i700 will be the CDMA PPCPE phone of the near future...not the SPH-M400.

You'd be surprised how quick it comes. My sources tell me that Sprint is already starting the build out in some market and will be testing early next year. You're correct, they've been bitten by the cost of the initial deployment and slow uptake, but consumers (especially business), want faster wireless services to start rolling out. 2.5 G has been disappointing in some ways, but don't expect it to put a halt. Carriers will need to compete soon with faster alternatives (like free WLAN and Ricochet coming back to life).

[Jonathon Watkins]

Remember when the LOOX was being optimistically categorised in some quarters as a Pocket PC PHone Edition device?

Well - Tosh was originally going to produce a 1.1 version of the LOOX with PPC Phone built in, BUT the project got canned. It WAS going to happen. :roll:

[DaleReeck]

By GPS, I assume they mean that GPS locator service that cell companies are going to provide (you know, so that emergency medical can locate you) and not an actual usable GPS device that you could load Mapopolis up with :)

[st63z]

^ I'm guessing Qualcomm's gpsOne (SnapTrack) technology? Another satellite/cellular hybrid solution, but from what I recall a more "real" GPS technology than the one the GSM providers are using (if that makes sense)...

[Kirk Stephens]

just a random thought: it would be really cool if the stylus was also a telescoping antenna :)

[albsilva]

Doesn't Samsung have it's own ARM-based CPU? Why did they choose the Intel Xscale?

Alberto Silva

[JMountford]

Samsung has quickly moved into the top 4 of sell phone manufacturers. That is great for CDMA customers. The problem is American carriers are still behind. Therefore; American customers are limited in their choices. I also know that when Samsung puts out a handset for Sprint Samsung must deal with many caveats above and beyond in order for sprint to sell Samsung's phones.

It would take nothing for Samsung to re-engineer the phone a bit to use US Services, Heck I think, (but am not sure) that a 1xEvo phone will still be able to use 1XRTT features and operate at the 1XRTT speed. I will try to get verification of that.

I remember a year or so ago a Korean company making a TV converter to slap on the iPaq. The technology os there. As for the antenna, maybe the Cell Antenna of the phone would work for TV. I wonder at the exspence of a device that has this feature built in. I remember years ago when Sega was making it's Game Gear device there was an optional add on accessory that allowed you to watch tv with the device. I loved that thing, but I remeber how choppy the analog to digital conversion was on the screen.

I would love to see more products come out with built in Bluetooth or WiFi. I actually really like the idea of Wireless USB!

I like Samsung OK. Traditionaly though I have been unimpressed with their designs. Heck even this PPC is a traditional looking PPC. I want to see some outside the box designs coming out. The new Palm OS device the i500 or whatever it is, is a very nice looking device. I just do not like Palm's OS.

Now I would love to see a Sanyo PPCPE device.

And yes Samsung does have it's own Arm based CPU. Maybe they are still working on it? Maybe current code will not work on it? I am not sure it is odd. Maybe that is something they will change for production.

GPS would all most certainly be that of the built in Qualcom GPS Technology, which is not true GPS but does allow Location Based Services.

I do know that Sprint is Still working on moving forward with their 3G Migration Path.