The most advanced product to be based on Microsoft's Smartphone 2002 platform as of yet is unveiled as Motorola shows the new MPx200.
Read the review of Motorola MPx200.
Orange, Motorola and Microsoft today unveiled the Motorola MPx200, based on Microsoft's Windows Mobile for Smartphone - perhaps better known as Smartphone 2002 - platform, aimed at professional consumers. The latest phone in the Orange Signature handset range, the MPx-200 marks the first device from a top four manufacturer to feature an operating system from Microsoft, while it is also the most advanced Smartphone 2002 handset as of yet.
 | Motorola's new MPx200 is the most powerful handset yet to be based on Smartphone 2002
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Today’s news follows Orange and Motorola’s alliance announcement made in June and Microsoft and Motorola’s alliance announcement made today. It also marks the third time Orange has brought a Smartphone 2002-based device to market, after becoming the very first carrier to do so with the original SPV in October 2002.
The tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz clamshell Motorola MPx200 is powered by a 200 MHz processor, and offers a whopping 32 MB of RAM. Featuring both an internal, 16-bit transflective TFT colour display and an external, monochrome Caller ID display, the smartphone also comes equipped with a non-SDIO capable SD/MMC Card expansion slot and a 2.5 mm earphone jack.
A full range of Smartphone 2002 applications comes pre-installed, including the traditional line-up of PIM applications, Pocket Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger, Windows Media Player and more. Also, an additional attachable camera will be made available separately, enabling users of the MPx200 to send MMS messages with pictures. Neither Orange nor Motorola commented on the expected price of the add-on camera.
As an Orange Signature handset, the Motorola MPx200 also features services such as Orange Backup and Orange Update, originally introduced with the Orange SPV and respectively offering users to back up or download upgrades to their handset over-the-air. Additionally, users can also download and install new applications and games using the Orange Update service.
The MPx-200 will come with a number of accessories bundled, such as a 16 MB SD Card with several applications, a desktop cradle for synchronization purposes, a USB synchronization/charger combo cable and a set of stereo headphones. In addition, car kit and travel charger accessories will be available for purchase separately.
Likely to be of great dismay to potential customers, the MPx200, as is the case with the Orange SPV line of smartphones, require applications to be pre-certified by Orange to allow these to be installed. This issue has caused an uproar amongst power users, which have not only expressed their dismay with Orange's approach to the issue through numerous discussion forums, but also publicly traded ways of disabling the so-called application lock.
According to Motorola, the MPx200 measures in at 48 x 89 x 27 mm, making it slightly smaller than the only other clamshell Smartphone 2002 device in existence, the MiTAC Mio 8380. In comparison with other competing devices, it also offers longer standby and talk times with these respectively listed at up to 112 hours and up to 270 minutes.
The MPx200 will initially be available to Orange UK customers in October, and Orange said other countries within the Orange Group may also range the device. The phone will retail at £239.99 GBP (inc. VAT) subject to an Orange monthly contract.
Motorola also announced that the product will be available next month from AT&T Wireless in the United States and other distributors throughout Europe and Hong Kong, including carriers debitel (Germany), Optimus (Portugal) and MTM (South Africa), as well as through retail distribution in Spain, The Netherlands, Turkey, Russia and Asia.
Additional hi-res pictures of the Motorola MPx200 are available on the following pages.
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