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 All of the new GPRS-enabled handsets will come with some common features including high-speed WAP browsing and SMS. Most will also have e-mail and calendar functions of varying degrees of sophistication. In higher priced models users will find IR (infrared) connections, touch screen interfaces with handwriting recognition software and eventually multimedia messaging capabilities that will let users send pictures and audio over their mobile devices.
For the moment, Digifone has approved only four handsets for use on the new data network, including three Motorola phones (T280, V66 and Accompli A008) and Research in Motion's (RIM) highly popular Blackberry. Digifone has said in no uncertain terms that it will approve more phones before and following the launch of GPRS.
Moreover the company is expected to launch a device previously codenamed "Wallaby," now know as the XDA. The device, made by Taiwanese company HTC which also makes phones for Compaq and Toshiba, combines a colour-screen PDA (personal digital assistant) with a fully-functional mobile phone. The XDA runs on a version of Microsoft's PocketPC 2002 operating system called Merlin.
This sleek looking device is thought to contain Intel's much awaited ARM-based 206MHz StrongARM central processing unit. And in terms of functionally, fans of Windows will discover that the Merlin (PocketPC) operating system has a familiar feel and is exceedingly easy to use.
The XDA also includes e-mail (included in the same mailbox as SMS), WAP browsing, games, Java support and the device can be integrated with back office systems such as company e-mail and other business resources.
Officially, Digifone says that the new PDA will be launched shortly after GPRS launches in January. The company would not give the cost of the device, saying only that it would be "competitively priced." Speculation has been that the XDA will cost more than IEP400, with the first customers likely to be business rather than home users.
The company is also offering a device made by RIM called the Blackberry which has proved highly successful in the US. This handset, like the XDA, is a personal digital assistant and the company expects to sell plenty of them, following an order of 170,000 units by Digifone's parent company mmO2.
"We have had a lot of interest from many American companies for the Blackberry," Tony Dempsey, Digifone's GPRS project manager, told ElectricNews.Net. "We expect the take-up to be very big on this particular device."
The Blackberry offers e-mail, SMS, calendar functions and Digifone says shortly after the launch it hopes to offer a model that will include voice functions.
Dempsey, who admits that the devices will be "key" to the uptake of GPRS, says that the company will look to sell all of its devices, PDAs and mobiles phones, to consumers as well as business.
Eircell is somewhat more tight lipped about its GPRS handset offerings. So far it too has approved four devices for use on its GPRS network but the nature and brand of these handsets will not be divulged until sometime in early 2002. Eircell did however say that it had approved some Motorola models and it had high hopes for its PDA/mobile phone offerings, which will be Bluetooth enabled.
Earlier this year Strategy Analytics forecast that global PDA retail revenues will increase five-fold by 2006 with shipments passing the 85 million unit mark. "Fifty percent of global cellular data revenues will be generated from messaging applications and services in 2006," said Chris Ambrosio, senior analyst in Strategy Analytics' global wireless practice in August.
"PDAs are experiencing a growth rate that demonstrates that they may possess that elusive mix of style and power that will allow it to emerge from the myriad number of devices competing for dominance in mobile device markets," added Ambrosio.
The study also said that the consumer market will drive PDA shipments in 2006, and that the Palm OS will lose market share to the Pocket PC through 2006, but will retain its global dominance.
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