Tuesday, December 19, 2006

CEBIT BenQ's new phones include Windows Mobile 5.0 PDA

The P51 includes Wi-Fi and comes pre-loaded with Skype so that users can make voice-over-IP calls over Wi-Fi networks. The device features a Qwerty keyboard, Global Positioning System and 128MB of built-in memory. The Windows Mobile software includes PowerPoint and allows users to receive push e-mail from their corporate e-mail accounts. The P51 is expected to become available in the third quarter.

The EL71, another new handset, is a slider phone featuring a metal finish and designed for the "young professional," BenQ said. Other new handsets the company introduced include the CF61, a consumer-oriented phone with a music player, Bluetooth and exchangeable covers, and the C81, a multimedia phone with a larger-than-usual speaker for better audio, BenQ said

BenQ also announced that it would preinstall a Google search bar on some handsets. The announcement follows similar deals over the past few months between Google and other handset vendors and operators.

BenQ also launched a service that will allow its customers to wirelessly update the software on their phones. It will provide people with more ways to configure and personalize their phones, BenQ said.