i-Mate Launching 12 New Phones in the Next Few Months

[Paul Martin]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://kaz911.blogspot.com/2007/08/12-new-phones-from-i-mate.html' target='_blank'>http://kaz911.blogspot.com/2007/08/...rom-i-mate.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"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...."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/martin-20070905-ult7150_img_wt.jpg" /><br /><br />According to the blog post, i-Mates new global sales director, Jack Craine, mentioned two new low end models, called the <a href="http://www.clubimate.com/t-DETAILS_JAMA.aspx"><b>I-Mate JAMA</b></a> and will be in the US $350 price range. The <b>I-Mate Urban</b> will offer four different models to mid-range consumers at around $550. Rounding out the top end, the <a href="https://www.clubimate.com/ultimate/"><b>I-Mate Ultimate</b></a> will offer six, count 'em, six different versions, differentiated by screen, format and keyboards and pushing $950. According to their <a href="http://www.clubimate.com/Invest_Centre/Announcements/Interim_Report_(11-07-07).pdf">corporate Interim report</a> [<i>pdf</i>] released in July, Urban and Ultimate models should begin released during September 2007.

[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...

[JesterMania]

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.

[lorettaboy]

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.

[galt]

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.

[Paragon]

"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

[ricksfiona]

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....

I will believe when I see it. This was announced back in February - more than enough time to have some in the market already...

[Paul Martin]

...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:

[Paragon]

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

[alese]

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...

[yawanag]

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.

I am glad to hear that someone else feels about Imate the way I do. I paid $800 for an Imate and now I wouldn't use it as a paper weight. I got so many excuses and passing the blame on someone else. Their last solution was for me to mail it to Denmark for repair. My reaction: "you've got to be kidding!"

[Mikey]

I agree with the 1st post &amp; every negative one following in this thread. iMATE now reminds me of the Motorola MPx from several years ago. By the time these Ultimates come out (in 2010), they'll be so outdated. Where's the SirfStar III GPS? I'll be running from iMATE if these ever come out. Now when HTC makes some of these, I'm in!

____________________________________________________
Dell Axim x50v with BB Pearl - see no solution to converge!

[ADBrown]

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.

The Omni is supposedly going to see release some time on October/November, from what I've heard.

[galt]

The Omni is supposedly going to see release some time on October/November, from what I've heard.Unless you have specific inside info, I think those are old rumors.

[Malkatraz]

I agree with the 1st post &amp; every negative one following in this thread. iMATE now reminds me of the Motorola MPx from several years ago. By the time these Ultimates come out (in 2010), they'll be so outdated. Where's the SirfStar III GPS? I'll be running from iMATE if these ever come out. Now when HTC makes some of these, I'm in!

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Dell Axim x50v with BB Pearl - see no solution to converge!

Eek. I won't go integrated SS3 pocketpc again. Will think about a GPS pocketpc when they start integrating either the MTK chip (the best there is) or the SS3 LP. Very happy with my BT MTK GPS. I'll probably be purchasing either the 6150 (most likely) or the 8150. Can't quite beat the combo of Marvel 520mhz + Goforce 5500 + VGA in a small form factor.

But what will decide it for me is whether text is readable in true VGA. No-one ever seems to provide a photo of what a 2.8" true VGA screen looks like. Will accept the minimal battery hit (from increased processing).

[developerzero]

Did anyone else notice that on I-Mate's Ultimate website, they updated the 6150 &amp; 8150 with a new, black design?

Now if they do that with the 7150 and/or 9150, then I am definately interested.

Also, is there any information on the "Urban" models? What are they?

[Paul Martin]

I don't think they were scheduled to make an appearance at the show, just the Ultimates. Hopefully iMate will start to have some more devices to show, not just press releases. :wink: