Hewlett-Packard plans a foray into the booming consumer smart phone market with an iPaq touch screen powered by the Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system.
Hewlett-Packard
is the latest company planning to crack the consumer smart phone market
pioneered by Apple's iPhone.
With an initial release in Europe by the end of the year, HP is reportedly
combining its enterprise-centered iPaq line of devices with a touch screen and
Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system.
Resource Library:
According to the Wall Street
Journal, mobile carriers will sell the device through retail outlets in
a departure from HP's traditional marketing approach to iPaqs, which have been
sold directly to enterprises. HP iPaq sales have lagged enterprise
smart phone sales from Nokia
and Research
In Motion.
In entering the consumer market, HP can expect stiff
competition from Apple's iPhone; RIM's new BlackBerry Bold, which is aimed at
consumers; and Google's newly announced Android.