3GSM – i-mate Adds a Colorful Splash to SPL Smartphones

[Mike Temporale]

I guess it should come as no big surprise that i-mate has taken another page out of Motorola’s book by adding colours to their already Moto Slvr-like Smartphone, the SPL. But for some reason I am surprised and fascinated by the news. Style and colour have long been missing in the Windows Mobile arena, and it’s great to see a company like i-mate take notice of that and move to fill that void. Also, based on the screen displayed on the Blue device, it looks like the SPL will be getting a Windows Mobile 6 upgrade. :mrgreen: The new SPL will add Red, Blue, and Pink to the existing Black. I can’t really explain it, but I really want to get my hands on that Blue or Red model. They look amazing! Anyone else taken back by the sudden addition of colour? (Check out some real life device shots after the Press Release image below).

http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20070212-iMateSplColorPR.jpg (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20070212-iMateSplColorPR-Large.jpg)

Update: i-mate has the specs of these new coloured devices as: Microsoft Windows ®5.0 for Smartphone, GSM / GPRS, Tri Band 900/1800/1900, Bluetooth® V1.2, Mini SD Card Slot, 2.2” 65K colour 240x320 pixel LCD, Talk time 4 hours, up to 150 Hours Standby, 2.0 Mega Pixel camera, Multi language options, and Microsoft® Direct Push email directly from MS Exchange® 2003 SP2.

I'm kind of surprised that they list these are Windows Mobile 5, but that screen shot seems to indicate version 6. :? Perhaps we'll see the colours released soon and an upgrade later? Just a thought. You can read the whole press release here. (http://www.imate.com/press_releases/i-mate_unveils_new_roadmap_and_services_for_MOs-12Feb07-FINAL.pdf) (PDF)

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http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20070212-iMateSplColorFront.jpg (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20070212-iMateSplColorFront-Large.jpg)

http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20070212-iMateSplColorBack.jpg (http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20070212-iMateSplColorBack-Large.jpg)

[Jerry Raia]

These guys taking a page out of the Motorola playbook?

[Kris Kumar]

i-mate should seriously find a carrier. I am surprised they are able to sell enough phones at retail prices and survive. 8O

[roma]

No need for a carrier in Europe though no provider in The Netherlands (except one, mine) sells this phone. Might be due to the very bad radio inside. I'm on my third set by now and still problems after a GPRS connection. Not possible to call me or make outgoing calls anymore. Soft reset needed. I hope they will offer Mobile 6 for it and hope that update fixes this issue.

[Jerry Raia]

Not a good sign. :lol:

[roma]

Nope :(

Unfortunately a lot of SPL owners I speak to on the Dutch forums experience the same problems with it. Two different ROM's didn't solve so far. I hope they will fix it since it's a very sexy phone that feels and sounds even better than my previous phones (SP5m/Qtek 8500). I'd like to keep it.