i-mate Ultimate Web Site Now Live

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.clubimate.com/ultimate/' target='_blank'>http://www.clubimate.com/ultimate/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Ultimate is a new and exciting range of devices from i-mate™, the specialists in Windows Mobile® devices. The devices are designed with the latest in mobile technology to help you get the most from Windows Mobile® and i-mate™ solutions... From the 520MHz Intel processor, to the XGA direct video out, from HSDPA connectivity to the 262k colour VGA LCD touch screen, every component of every device provides the latest and best in mobile phone and PDA technology. Besides having the assurance of superior technical specifications, customers also have the comfort of choice with five distinctive form factors available.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070226-ultimate.jpg" /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=53870">If</a> <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=53890">you</a> <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=53895">can't</a> <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=53978">get</a> <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=54013">enough</a> of the i-mate Ultimate series, then head over to the (now official) <a href="http://www.clubimate.com/ultimate/">Ultimate section</a> of Club i-mate</A> and check out the devices' specs and a rundown of what the Ultimate brand is all about. Mind you, it's probably nothing you haven't already seen before.

[jamijam]

Two things:

1)

They're all reasonably thin. 7150 is thinner than the HTC Hermes/TyTn which makes it a contender in that portion of the market. 8150 is 11mm which is also quite impressive.

2)

Do you see what I-mate is trying to do? WM phones currently don't have any brand strength. When some curious fellow commuter asks me what phone that is, pointing at mine, I usually have to say "well it's a T-Mobile Vario II, but it's also known as ... ... ... ...".

By releasing 5 simultaneous devices in every conceivable form factor, they are trying to make "windows mobile" and "i-mate" equivalent. Well at least that's what it looks like to me!

[jamijam]

3)

This all is starting to look a bit too good to be true. They all have a 520MHz CPU, an FM tuner, HSDPA, above average memory and a decent battery while being relatively thin?

Maybe I've just become too accustomed to manufacturers making very little improvements to their WM device line-ups :D

[Ce]

To me it seems that a lot of companies are giving a sneek preview of their devices since Apple announced the iPhone. The only thing missing is a release date indication.....I (almost) don't see any apart from "Q3" or "Q4" '07.

[pocketpcadmirer]

In the pics, they sure look pretty to me, but, I still doubt about their quality as in whether they ll be able to match the quality standards set by HTC

[JesterMania]

These are looking good, I think i-mate is trying to penetrate more into the regular consumer market with these form factors. I have a feeling that a large portion of the market aren't ready to give up the T9 pad yet (...until the iPhone shows up maybe) so the slider and clam shell phones should be especially appealing to the masses. This should be great for the WM community as a whole since a lot of people I know complain how the design of current WM phones aren't as attractive as those of some other non-WM models (such as the LG Chocolate or the MotoKRZR).

[ignar]

A feature I must have in my next WM device is integrated GPS. None of those seem to have one, and disappointing.

[virain]

A feature I must have in my next WM device is integrated GPS. None of those seem to have one, and disappointing.
Agreed. GPS, 3G, Tri or Quad Band, Touch Screen are things that realy important to me, FM Radio? I don't care of it. It's more like waiste of battery power

[MTM]

I wonder how the 8150 can be 94mm x 50mm x 11mm. It doesn't fit with the picture if it's supposed to have a 2.6" screen.

See a comparison with the HTC Wizard here:

http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/3GSM-2007-On-site-Coverage-article-image-a_1773-p_8-i_12172.html

[Covert]

I wonder how the 8150 can be 94mm x 50mm x 11mm. It doesn't fit with the picture if it's supposed to have a 2.6" screen.

See a comparison with the HTC Wizard here:

http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/3GSM-2007-On-site-Coverage-article-image-a_1773-p_8-i_12172.html
That wasn't a working 8150 model in that photo...it was purely a mock-up. But I do still have my doubts about them being capable of cramming all of those features into such a tiny package. Hey, if they can - I'll be all over it. :)

[jamijam]

A feature I must have in my next WM device is integrated GPS. None of those seem to have one, and disappointing.
Agreed. GPS, 3G, Tri or Quad Band, Touch Screen are things that realy important to me, FM Radio? I don't care of it. It's more like waiste of battery power

I'm guessing the FM Radio uses 0 battery when off and almost-0 when on.

[aaronchow]

In the pics, they sure look pretty to me, but, I still doubt about their quality as in whether they ll be able to match the quality standards set by HTC

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought i-mate models are also manufacturerd by HTC :?: :?:

[Timothy Rapson]

These models really have the specs down. They match or exceed about every comparable model on the market right now.
But, that can only mean that they are not real. These are all just mockup models. The specs are too good to be believable.
From what I understand I-Mate phones were formerly made by HTC, but they are opening their own design &amp; production facilities. Seems they think HTC was making too much money for work that they think they can do themselves. HTC is going the other way, starting to offer their own branded versions of the phones they have sold under others' names.
It is perfect for us mobile watchers as we get to see different new models and new production/sales approaches.

The idea of such a high set of standard features uniform throughout their whole range is fascinating. I don't see any point in using a 2.6 inch VGA screen though. I will be VERY surprised if this line of phones ever arrives at all, much less arrives on time as described. It is just too fantastic to believe.

But, if only one makes it here, I want a 7150 to replace my Axim X51 some day. I get a full keyboard, phone, .2 inch bigger VGA screen and a camera to love and only give up .1 inch in thickness and the CF slot I really don't need. I'd take that deal.

[ctmagnus]

The one issue I have with this lineup is that only one of the models has a qwerty keyboard, and that model is a clamshell. I greatly prefer the candybar formfactor and I'm not particularly fond of T9 input.

[MTM]

I wonder how the 8150 can be 94mm x 50mm x 11mm. It doesn't fit with the picture if it's supposed to have a 2.6" screen.

See a comparison with the HTC Wizard here:

http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/3GSM-2007-On-site-Coverage-article-image-a_1773-p_8-i_12172.html
That wasn't a working 8150 model in that photo...it was purely a mock-up. But I do still have my doubts about them being capable of cramming all of those features into such a tiny package. Hey, if they can - I'll be all over it. :)
It surely was, but the picture at the official site has the exact same looks and dimensions, making it impossible for it to have a 2.6" screen and those dimensions.

I will have to see all these features cramped into such a small package in 2007 before I believe it. This has about the same dimensions as the Nokia N95 (minus GPS and 5 megapixel camera, but with VGA touchscreen, more RAM, 50% more capacious battery, etc.) in a device half the size!

In my opinion this (the 8150 at least) will either get postponed to 2008, have other specifications, or be quite a bit larger.

[jngold_me]

I'd be very wary of those off-center navigation nubs.

[ricksfiona]

I think it's completely possible to have all these features in such a small package. It's all about embedded technologies and it's been at least a couple of years since we've really been oohed and awwed. Look how thin the Motorola RAZR is... Look how far cell phones have come in size reduction in the last 10 years.

The ONLY thing is that I wish they had a Treo look-alike. For me and from the sales, the form-factor is near perfect. The only reason I'm not getting a Treo is cause it doesn't support T-Mo's 3G network. Otherwise, I think it's the bomb!

[MTM]

I think it's completely possible to have all these features in such a small package. It's all about embedded technologies and it's been at least a couple of years since we've really been oohed and awwed. Look how thin the Motorola RAZR is... Look how far cell phones have come in size reduction in the last 10 years.
I still don't think it's possible - then I can't see why all other manufacturers should be making phones twice as big as they could be.

Anyway, it's not really my main point here. The main point is their rendering on the official site and the dummy shown on 3GSM is way off size-wise compared with the dimensions listed. It doesn't make any sense. If they wish to have this out within the next half year the dimensions and the overall design have to be finished by now. That why I see this as very strange, since I don't think this is just a blunder, as this is now published completely official.

[k1darkknight]

...can't see why all other manufacturers should be making phones twice as big as they could be.
Well, they probably COULD make a cell phone the size of a AA battery...but where would they put the buttons? Or for that matter, the battery! You can only make a device so small before it becomes impractical to use. Maybe, if it didn't need buttons (voice dialing), they could even make a self-contained ear piece phone...but then, how would you enter the numbers for the voice activated dialing in the first place?

[ecsk2]

I wonder how the 8150 can be 94mm x 50mm x 11mm. It doesn't fit with the picture if it's supposed to have a 2.6" screen.

See a comparison with the HTC Wizard here:

http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/3GSM-2007-On-site-Coverage-article-image-a_1773-p_8-i_12172.html
That wasn't a working 8150 model in that photo...it was purely a mock-up. But I do still have my doubts about them being capable of cramming all of those features into such a tiny package. Hey, if they can - I'll be all over it. :)

Well you never know ALL those i-mate dimensions might be off...

http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/02/27/is-i-mate-misquoting-dimensions-on-its-ultimates/

See the links there too under the text..