09-06-2007, 12:17 AM
|
|
Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,221
|
|
i-Mate Launching 12 New Phones in the Next Few Months
"The Very Quiet i-Mate company has confirmed they will be launching 12 new Windows mobile phones soon in 3 different product ranges. After the break-up with HTC in November, i-Mate and owner Jim Morrison has been very quiet, and i-Mate posted its first loss since operations started in 2001. But now, just before Gitex the Middle East IT Exhibition opens, i-Mate starts talking. All the phones will feature Windows Mobile software, but of course no longer manufactured by HTC � but from a range of manufactures. So the new phone ranges will be...."
According to the blog post, i-Mates new global sales director, Jack Craine, mentioned two new low end models, called the I-Mate JAMA and will be in the US $350 price range. The I-Mate Urban will offer four different models to mid-range consumers at around $550. Rounding out the top end, the I-Mate Ultimate will offer six, count 'em, six different versions, differentiated by screen, format and keyboards and pushing $950. According to their corporate Interim report [pdf] released in July, Urban and Ultimate models should begin released during September 2007.
|
| |
|
|
|
09-06-2007, 12:52 AM
|
|
Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 841
|
|
I will believe when I see it. This was announced back in February - more than enough time to have some in the market already...
|
| |
|
|
|
09-06-2007, 01:17 AM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 378
|
|
In September? That's sooner than I thought but some of this is a little hard to believe. For example, 6 versions of the I-Mate Ultimate? How many are they going to produce of each? I'd love to know their inventory logistics there - how many of each they plan to hold in inventory and their expected sales for each of the 6 versions. Also, I'm interested to know how they will sell these devices - particularly in North America (via authorized dealer? carrier? import stores?) They've also got the iPhone to contend with, especially as it is slated for a Europe release as well.
Anyhow, if this pulls through it will be a great addition - it'll be interesting to see how things turn out. I like the 7150 and the 9150 in particular.
|
| |
|
|
|
09-06-2007, 02:02 AM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 45
|
|
First post got it right: seeing is believing. I would be surprised to see them produce a couple of these things, let alone 12 of them.
|
| |
|
|
|
09-06-2007, 02:31 AM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 192
|
|
Sadly, with HTC apparently still unwilling to release the Omni, or any sort of upgraded device with the HTC Universal form factor, I'm now looking forward towards Imate to see if their 7150 could finally provide a fair refresh to the landscape qwerty in a clamshell.
I cringe at the thought of putting my mobile fate in Imate's hands, their customer service in every fashion (phone, email, chat, forums) is just disgusting.
|
| |
|
|
|
09-06-2007, 02:42 AM
|
|
Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
|
|
Re: i-Mate Launching 12 New Phones in the Next Few Months
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Paul Martin
"The Very Quiet i-Mate company has confirmed they will be launching 12 new Windows mobile phones soon ..."
|
Hmmm....wasn't it almost a year ago that iMate announced it was releasing 5 new phones in the next few months? Now those same long delayed phones are included in the 12 new ones to be released in the next few months. I see a pattern here. 
Moving ahead one year.......Jim Morrison of iMate today announced that he is bringing iMate back from the brink of bankruptcy and will be releasing 18 new phones in the coming months, beginning with the long awaited Ultimate series.
Dave
|
| |
|
|
|
09-06-2007, 04:32 AM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,041
|
|
I thought the same thing... Just got my 'Wing' yesterday and lovin' it!!! I was thinking of all the new HTC stuff that was 'supposed' to be released back in June/July... But I needed a new device so....
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by freitasm
I will believe when I see it. This was announced back in February - more than enough time to have some in the market already...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
09-06-2007, 04:52 AM
|
|
Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,221
|
|
Re: i-Mate Launching 12 New Phones in the Next Few Months
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Paragon
...and will be releasing 18 new phones in the coming months, beginning with the long awaited Ultimate series.
Dave
|
Only 18? I was going to guess in the 20s. :lol: At least one of the JAMAs appears to have been released, but it's not clear if it's one of the two or if they are additional. Also, I believe 3 devices are supposed to be ready for the tradeshow so "we'll see". Now if I could just get "JAMA JAMA fo fama, fee fi..." out of my head. :mrgreen:
|
| |
|
|
|
09-06-2007, 08:19 AM
|
|
Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
|
|
Re: i-Mate Launching 12 New Phones in the Next Few Months
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Paul Martin
Now if I could just get "JAMA JAMA fo fama, fee fi..." out of my head. :mrgreen:
|
LMAOTIPMP!!!
I'm sorry, I just don't see this happening. iMate have had nothing of great interest to sell since the Wizard/JasJam. Their income for the past year has been extremely low. There have be all kinds of reports of financial troubles. Given that, if you were a manufacturer would you develop anything for them without a substantial down payment, and money up front before shipping? And they want to do this twelve times?! Coupled with the fact they haven't been able to do it once in the past year?! Nope, ain't going to happen, no matter how optimistic you want to be.
Dave
|
| |
|
|
|
09-06-2007, 09:17 AM
|
|
Philosopher
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 541
|
|
I believe the rumor is iMate will release two Ultimate devices in september on GITEX in Dubai, the 6150 and 8150 - the boring ones.
The rest? Who knows...
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
