Earlier this year, Microsoft Corp. and Sendo publicly demonstrated the first colour prototype of the Sendo Z100 Multimedia Smartphone. The Z100 is based on the Microsoft smart phone platform, code-named Stinger, that powers a new generation of colour mobile phones with advanced mobile Internet and personal information management (PIM) functionality. The Z100 will be the first colour smartphone that gives users access to e-mail, contacts and meaningful Internet content, any time, any place.
In addition, it is a fully functional phone that will operate on GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 networks across Europe, Asia and the Americas. The Z100 includes USB, IrDA and RS-232 connectivity and it will be able to include hot-pluggable Multimedia Card memory. In addition it has HTML, c-HTML and WAP browsers. Naturally, other features like voice command and control and a wide range of accessories will be offered. Since the Z100 is a next generation 2.5 G GPRS phone, Sendo is planning extensive testing of the phone with a number of operators. Depending on the maturity of the GPRS networks, the company expects to launch the product towards the end of the year/beginning of next year.
Microsoft’s smart phone platform, code-named Stinger, is designed specifically to take advantage of 2.5G and 3G broadband wireless networks, Stinger is the first smart phone platform available today but built for tomorrow’s networks. Stinger provides a wealth of services, such as secure corporate data and Web access, and e-mail and up-to-date PIM functionality, on a high-quality mobile phone.
Sendo has chosen to develop these devices together with the world’s largest software company, whose software is used in the vast majority of personal computers, said Hugh Brogan, CEO of Sendo, in a statement to the press. Brogan added that for the development of future generation of phones, such as smartphones, software skills and applications are key ingredients. There are more than 6 million application developers for Microsoft’s operating systems. There is no other company that offers this competitive edge and that allows us to enter the market quickly.
