Smartphone With Quad-Band GSM, EDGE And 802.11g WiFi - Presenting Chi Mei UCP-100

[Kris Kumar]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/3gsm_2005/index.php?p=kin' target='_blank'>http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/3gsm_2005/index.php?p=kin</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Chi Mei is the same company that created the MPx220 for Motorola, and the UCP-100 is clearly based on the same platform. The features are mostly the same as the MPx220, including quad-band GSM, an internal antenna, dual color displays, a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and a miniSD card slot. But key upgrades over the MPx220 include class 10 EDGE, 802.11g Wi-Fi, and of course the Kineto UMA software. It was not announced which version of Windows Mobile for Smartphones the UCP-100 will use. The current 2003 version does not include native Wi-Fi support, so the UCP-100 may use the upcoming "Magneto" version."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Feb2005-MPx220successor.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />Quad-band GSM + EDGE + 802.11g WiFi 8O All that in the MPx220 form factor! I want this Smartphone. :drool: Kineto Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology over 802.11g, it's "g" not "b", sounds cool. Since T-Mobile has pretty good WiFi network, I am guessing that this device will be a perfect addition to their model lineup. Check out Phone Scoop's <a href="http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/3gsm_2005/index.php?p=kin">3GSM day 3 report</a> to learn more about this cool Smartphone.

[Mike Temporale]

First off, I just want to clarify that this IS a Smartphone. I realize the screen shows Pocket PC OS, however I questioned the guys over at PhoneScoop, and here's what they had to say:

It was a mock-up, not a functioning prototype. So someone might have just printed out the wrong screenshot to paste behind the plastic. I've definitely sesn that mistake before. I wouldn't read too much into it.


Now, with that out of the way....

I WANT THIS PHONE. WiFi 8O Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie! :drool:

[runbuh]

With all the problems that the MPx220 has had, and you STILL want this phone? Not me...

[cesarfong]

after all this techie in one geek.. how much does it cost? ...

[Bacco]

After using my SMT 5600 for a number of months, I'm not sure I want a phone that big anymore.

Who other than AT&amp;T/Cingular offers EDGE here in the States?

[Jerry Raia]

We all know what a good job Chi Mei did with the MPx220 don't we??

[Ben]

Sounds like everyone is skeptical, but hopefully they learned from their mistakes. This looks like the phone of my dreams, so long as I can also get a detachable qwerty thumbpad for sending long emails. Everything else (if it works like the latest version of the mpx220) and the critical wifi that hasn't been available before with these other features should be just what I need. I will finally be able to take a break from buying a new phone every few months because none of them do everything.

[Jerry Raia]

This phone really looks like my Moto v710.

[conflagrare4]

Don't get so excited guys... correct me if I am wrong, but I remember Chi Mei as the wonderful company that made the flawless MPX220

[Kris Kumar]

Don't get so excited guys... correct me if I am wrong, but I remember Chi Mei as the wonderful company that made the flawless MPX220

I see it as Moto's fault. Maybe even Cingular. For not testing it properly.

But have to admit, since this phone will have WiFi, and some kind of tech for switching between WiFi and Cellular network, the # of points of failure has increased.

[Mike Temporale]

Everyone keeps bringing up the MPx220. Yes Chi Mei was the company that manufactured it for Moto. But what we don't know is; who's fault are the problems with the final release version of the MPx220. All of these major problems found with the MPx220 were there in the pre-release models.

For all we know, Motorola could have just ingnored the feedback from pre-release models and asked Chi Mei to go ahead with a production run.

[ppatt]

What ever happened? The announcements and this article were dated 2005. I have a friend that sells phones and he tells me that providers are scared to death of wi-fi...

Did this phone die due to lack of interest? I'd find that hard to believe.

[Mike Temporale]

This paticular phone? Who knows. But there are plenty of WiFi enabled phones out there today. The T-Mobile Dash is a prime example.

[Jerry Raia]

Who needs WiFi? Oh wait, we already did that post. (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12505) :lol: