If the Traveler 137 is a little too much for your needs, then you may be interested in the Traveler 117, 127 and 619. Starting today, major North American retailers will sell the three at $529.95 for the 117 or 127, or just $199.95 for the 619. More information after the break.

TORRANCE, Calif. - January 6, 2009 - Pharos Science & Applications, Inc., a leading provider of location-based information and services, today announced the availability of three new smartphones for the North American market. The Traveler 117, Traveler 127 and Traveler 619 provide precise Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation on an unlocked Windows Mobile handset, empowering users with a capable smartphone that can operate on the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network of their choice. Taken together, the three phones expand customers' choices in the growing unlocked handset market and cater to individual hardware preferences, whether for touch screen, standard QWERTY keyboard or a large key QWERTY keyboard. The Traveler 117, Traveler 127 and Traveler 619 are available today from major retailers.

"While there is widespread agreement on the features our customers want in a phone, we've noticed they have more personal preferences when it comes to hardware," said James Oyang, PhD, President, Pharos. "The Traveler 117, Traveler 127 and Traveler 619 give our customers an uncompromising smartphone in the style of handset he or she likes best."

The Traveler 117

With 3.5G connectivity and a roomy, 2.8 inch touch screen VGA display, the Traveler 117 is a powerful smartphone that is ideal for making calls, surfing the web or navigating. With the touch of a finger, users can access work or personal e-mail or find the latest gasoline prices, movie show times, weather conditions or news headlines through Microsoft Live Search. The Traveler 117 comes preloaded with Pharos' Smart Navigator software, a pay-as-you-go navigation solution that recently won the Consumer Electronics Association's prestigious Innovations award. The Traveler 117 is now available for the suggested retail price of $529.95.

Traveler 127

Sporting a QWERTY keyboard for rapid text entry and a 2.5 inch touch screen, the Traveler 127 is designed to meet the heavy messaging requirements of the mobile professional. Able to download content at speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps, the Traveler 127 takes advantage of the fastest broadband speeds available to deliver an unrivaled mobile office experience. Users can access work e-mail and the complete suite of productivity applications in Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition. The Traveler 127 includes Pharos' award-winning Smart Navigator software that provides voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions, ensuring that users reach their destination safely and efficiently. The Traveler 127 is now available for the suggested retail price of $529.95.

The Traveler 619

The Traveler 619 is an unlocked Windows Mobile handset that features a spacious QWERTY keyboard with large keys designed for easier input. For mobile field workers and those who simply prefer working with keys that are easier to see and manipulate, the Traveler 619 provides a powerful smartphone with location-based services of real-time traffic, maps, driving directions, GPS guidance, gas price, weather, and movie information, and the ability to connect to enterprise applications. The Traveler 619 is now available for the sharply competitive price of $199.95.

Pharos is at CES showing off its latest device, the Traveler 137, and there's enough in it to make the Touch HD quiver with fear. For starters, there's a Qualcomm MSM7201A processor running at 528MHz, 256MB RAM and 512MB ROM. There's also a crisp 3.5" touch screen with a resolution of 480 x 800, a 3.0-megapixel camera, a microSDHC slot, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, aGPS, an FM radio, and support for quad-band GSM/EDGE and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (1700/1900/2100MHz). The Traveler 137 hits stores this quarter at an MSRP of $599.95. Jump the break for the press release.

TORRANCE, Calif. - January 6, 2009 - On the cusp of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Pharos Science & Applications, Inc., a leading provider of location-based information and services, introduced the Traveler 137, an unlocked Windows Mobile phone distinguished by its slender profile, cool applications, and bright, 3.5 inch touch screen. The Consumer Electronics Association lauded the arrival of the Traveler 137 with its prestigious Innovations award and has displayed the stylish handset in the CES Innovations Design and Engineering Showcase. True to Pharos' roots in the navigation space, the Traveler 137 provides full-featured navigation with voice prompts on a pay-as-you-go basis that spares users an ongoing monthly fee. In an industry brimming with mobile devices, the Traveler 137 stands apart by offering users tremendous value on a powerful, sleek handset that runs on the GSM network of their choice. The Traveler 137 will be available late in the first quarter of 2009 from major retailers for a suggested price of $599.95.

"Windows Mobile opens up a world of choice and personalization for our partners and customers. The Traveler 137 from Pharos is a great example of how partners can build on the Windows Mobile platform and create unique phones based on their expertise," said Stephanie Ferguson, general manager, Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft. "Pharos has long been a leader in providing navigation solutions for Windows Mobile, and we're delighted to see this expertise in action with the Traveler 137."

"Most navigation solutions for smartphones only work when within a carrier coverage zone," said James Oyang, PhD, President, Pharos. "We've equipped the Traveler 137 with our hybrid navigation system that follows you wherever you want to go and charges you only when you actually use it."

The Traveler 137

Weighing just 4.9 ounces and encased in a sleek, stylish black case, the Traveler 137 combines everything users expect in a multimedia handset with the complete suite of productivity applications in Windows Mobile. The 3.5 inch touch screen display dominates the device, rendering web pages and images in 65 thousand colors and 480 x 800 pixels. E-mail, web browsing and multimedia are a snap thanks to 3.5G connectivity with download speeds up to 7.2 megabits per second (Mbps). A three megapixel camera records picture and video while a second camera on the front of the handset enables users to participate in video conferences. The Traveler 137 comes preloaded with a touch screen keyboard, SPB Mobile Shell with touch-and-sweep user interface, and Microsoft Office Mobile suite, Media Player, and Live Search, a service that provides free information about traffic, gas prices, movie times and weather.

Smart Navigator, Pay-As-You-Go GPS Navigation

The Traveler 137 features Pharos' Smart Navigator software, a unique hybrid navigation system that earned a CES Innovations award for outstanding design and engineering. As a hybrid navigation system, Smart Navigator works both on-board and off-board the device. Thus, even when the Traveler 137 is out of a carrier coverage zone, the user has the ability to display maps, create routes and navigate door-to-door. Initially, maps of the United States will be provided free of charge. Pay-as-you-go maps are available for Canada, Western Europe and Eastern Europe on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis. The service will soon be extended to include maps of China, Russia, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and elsewhere.

Traveler 137 Specifications

Operating System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional

Hardware partner: Pharos works closely with Inventec

Processor: Qualcomm MSM 7201A 528MHz

Memory: 256MB DDR SDRAM, 512MB Flash ROM

Phone: unlocked GSM quad band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, EDGE / GPRS, Tri-band 3G, 1700/1900/2100 MHz, UMTS 384Kb/s, HSDPA 7.2Mb/s, HSUPA 2Mb/s

Talk time: up to 4 hours talk time and 200 hours standby time

Display: 3.5" TFT LCD with touch panel, 480 x 800 Wide-VGA with 65,000 colors

Wireless: GPS aGPS compatible, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, BluetoothTM v2.1 + EDR , FM tuner

Camera: 3 megapixel for picture or video, .3 megapixel on the front for video conference

Expansion: USB 2.0, micro SD slot support SDHC, stereo audio jack

Battery: 1380 mAh Li-Ion, rechargeable/replaceableSize: 4.60in (L) x 2.40in (W) x 0.51in (H)

Weight: 4.9 ounces

"We are a team of security researchers, software developers, and mobile technology fanatics who want to help make the mobile world a safe place to work and play. Our team is primarily comprised of very technical folks who want to take on the challenge of developing security solutions for the next generation of computing devices. Most importantly, we are the kind of people who love building great products that are as easy to use as they are advanced in how they keep you safe."

Flexilis is a new security suite that is designed to protect your data from malware, viruses, theft or loss. It is in beta right now. To find out more, or to sign up for the beta, head over to their site.

Looking for a great deal on a modern Windows Mobile device? Then check out what Expansys is selling for a mere $389 USD: a Touch Diamond! [Affiliate] I'm kind of amazed to see the huge price drop, but perhaps it's a simple supply/demand issue because these units are Euro frequencies, meaning you won't get 3G in the US or Canada. If that doesn't matter to you, it's hard to beat this price on what is still a flagship device from HTC.

Motorola's worst kept secret, the Attila, has finally been unveiled as the MOTOSURF A3100. We're still waiting on an official specs sheet from Motorola, so for now, feast your eyes on the images above and after the break. A Q1 launch is expected for Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Other regions? Motorola's keeping mum.

Two weeks ago we snuck in a game giveway right before Christmas - and today I'm happy to announce the winners! The following forum members should expect to hear from the publisher within the next few days (and if not, they can contact me directly for more info). Congratulations to:

Mpatrick, Pony99CA, rkistler, mwfielder, John Mackay, Joel Crane, Certs, Ploobers, Paulsg63, & Mmidgley!

Have fun with the game - but don't let it ruin all of your productivity in the new year!

"Conduits Technologies, Inc., announced today the release of Pocket Player 4.0, an alternative media player for Windows Mobile 6 Pocket PC and Smartphone. Pocket Player aims to satisfy consumers who demand more from a dynamic media player on a mobile device, and recently won Best Audio at the 2008 Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine Best Software Awards for its Pocket PC and Smartphone editions. Pocket Player 4.0 introduces AAC and M4A playback and podcast subscriptions, as well as enhanced MP3 support and other improvements. Pocket Player 4.0 is fully compatible with all Windows Mobile 6.1, Windows Mobile 6, and Windows Mobile 5.0 devices."

A free trial version of Pocket Player 4.0 is available. If, after trying it, you like what you see and want the full version, you can grab it from our affiliate software store (Windows Mobile Classic/Professional, Windows Mobile Standard) for $19.95. However, if you purchased Pocket Player 3.x on or after December 1, 2008, you're eligible for a free upgrade; if you purchased any version of Pocket Player before that date, then it's just $9.95 for an upgrade.

Rentoble will allow you to rent the latest phone from the four major US carriers, or rent an unlocked GSM phone to use wherever you want. When you are done, just send the phone back and pick out a new device. They don't have every phone the carriers handle. For example, for T-Mobile they only have the G1 and Sidekick LX, and for AT&T a couple of Blackberry's and the Samsung Epix. The only Windows Mobile devices I saw were on the Sprint and Verizon networks.

If you are the kind of person that is constantly buying a phone, then selling it after several months when something new catches your eye, this might be a cheaper alternative.

The Motley Fool posted an article a few days ago on how Palm could lose everything (haven't they just about done that already?) and what they must do to survive. The main reason I am posting this is the Fool has some research showing that closed systems are crushing open systems in the marketplace. Closed systems are represented by Nokia, Apple and RIM, where the own the operating system and do much if not all of the hardware design. Open systems would include Palm, HTC and Motorola where the software is purchased from a third party, like Microsoft or Google.

This is the exact opposite of the PC world where only Apple owns their own OS. All other PC vendors buy from Microsoft or use a flavor of Linux, and despite all of the media attention on Apple, it is still below 10% of US share, though it is growing, especially in the consumer space.

Years ago when MS got into the phone OS business, they hoped to repeat their desktop success in the mobile device world and to date, aren't even close, while newcomers like Apple and very focused developers like RIM own the top positions. Do you see this trend continuing? What can the open system vendors (MS, HTC, Palm, etc.) do to turn this around? Should MS release their own phone? I know one of the things that really frustrates users is when there is a problem with their Windows Mobile device, Microsoft won't even talk to them. It is the carrier's responsibility to service the consumer, and speaking from experience, in all but the easiest of solutions, the carrier immediately responds with "wipe the devices memory and let's see what that does." That response simply says "I have no clue about this OS we've put on your phone, so just reset it." If MS sold a phone, I suspect they'd be far more inclined to help the user than their OEM partners are.

To kick off the new year, we're announcing the winners of last month's Ringtone Shuffler contest. If your username is listed below, congratulations! Please check your private messages within the next 24 hours for registration details.

• edhead
• janoulle
• maskology
• paulsg63
• ucfgrad93

Thanks to Gx5 for their generosity. Stay tuned as we bring you more contests in the coming weeks!

Depending on where you are in the world, it's already 2009, but I've still got a few hours left in 2008 so here I am writing up a quick post. I wanted to wish everyone in the Thoughts Media community a very happy New Year! 2008 ended a bit rocky for most of us, but I hope 2009 will be a great year of prosperity and hapiness for everyone. I want to thank each and every one of you who regularly visit our sites and have made them your technological home on the Web. Your support is deeply appreciated. I also want to thank the great teams of volunteers that make each of these sites tick: your dedication and desire to strive for excellence helps make these sites great. Here's to a great 2009!

We'll all be taking January 1st off to relax and come January 2nd we'll be back to the news as normal.

With the release of the iPhone in 2007, upgraded to 3G in 2008, the release of Google's G1 on the T-Mobile network and Windows Mobile seemingly treading water for a few years, user enthusiasm for the platform seems to have waned recently. RIM isn't sitting still either as both the Blackberry Storm and Bold have given users more than just push email.

We've all seen rumored screen shots and articles on Windows Mobile 6.5 and 7.0, as well as purported integration of Zune bits to replace Windows Media Player on the devices, though no real timelines or confirmations of anything have surfaced. Do you think Microsoft can turn the tide with new releases and regain some of the enthusiasm surrounding their platform they enjoyed in previous years?

Website Polls Powered By MicroPoll

Click here to vote. It is a free poll at my site - a simple yes/no vote. I look forward to additional comments in the forum.

"Innovisoft Corporation releases the first commercial, publically-available virtual mouse cursor for Windows Mobile compatible with any Windows Mobile 2003, 5 or 6 device with a D-Pad. Previously, virtual mouse cursors were proprietary and locked to specific devices."

If you have seen the virtual mouse pointer on various models of Pocket PC (dating pretty far back, but as recently as that on the Samsung Omnia) and thought "Gee, wish I had that", your dream may be a reality. Innovisoft has now released a Virtual Mouse offering that is compatible with devices 5 years old and newer, with a trial version available. Interested? Check it out and let us know how it is!

"China Techfaith Wireless Communication Technology Limited ("TechFaith") (NASDAQ: CNTF), an original developed product provider centered on the research and development of mobile telephone solutions, announced today the shipment of its Windows Mobile based touch screen PC CDMA device to Mexico. The PC CDMA mobile device is the first of its type to enter the Mexican market. This new device has a 2.8" touch screen, 3G technology, Windows Mobile 6.0 operating system, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, photo camera, music player and Office Mobile applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) that allow users to receive, edit and send their files. In addition, the PC CDMA device also supports high-speed Internet connection."

If the folks at TechFaith are hoping to take a sizable bite out of the Windows Mobile market, they'll have to do better than this. 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM, and a QVGA display are hardly killer features. Neither is the 22-month old Windows Mobile 6.0.

"SmartphoneNotes is a powerful text notes organizer for Windows Mobile-based Smartphone. With SmartphoneNotes, you can easily create and manage text notes directly on your Smartphone and synchronize them with Microsoft Outlook® on your desktop computer"

This app appears to make Notes on your device behave a bit more like they do in Outlook, allowing you to color code and categorize them. All of the settings are synchronized back to Outlook. Be sure to look at the requirements. For the Smartphone (aka WM Standard) it supports all the way back to 2003, but for the Pocket PC, you need Windows Mobile 5 or later. Vista and XP are supported, and it is compatible with Outlook 2000 or later, assuming the OS supports it. I am not sure if Vista and Windows Mobile Device Center support Office 2000 or not. We could have a discussion as to whether it supports 2002, 2003, or 2007 as well, but that is really for another thread.

There is a trial version for both platforms. The Smartphone version is $17.95 and the Pocket PC version is 19.95.

"The Software Store has gone mobile. Browse and download over 5,000 apps & games right from your Palm device. Plus, there are over 1,000 free apps to choose from. The mobile software store supports over 25 Palm devices1, from the Centro to the Treo Pro."

If you have a Palm device, be it PalmOS or Windows Mobile, Palm has created an application store you can browse, purchase and download directly from your device. There is a link for PalmOS and Windows Mobile devices to download the store application. I've not tried it to see if it verifies your Windows Mobile device is really from Palm.

"Let's be frank, the impressive number of folks jumping ship to new OSs and other companies claiming increased smartphone market share are clear indicators that plenty of customers want something other that Windows Mobile, and the latest words out of Microsoft's largest mobile partner certainly reconfirm our suspicions. A unnamed HTC executive speaking to Smarthouse admitted that the sales of its flagship Android device are, in fact, hurting sales for HTC's Windows Mobile offerings. Now, we'll probably have to wait a bit longer for more comprehensive numbers -- if they're ever actually released -- but we have a feeling that people want something different, and Google's first dip into the mobile OS space is certainly a viable alternative."

This is unsurprising news. In 2008 we saw a drastic increase in touch based Windows Mobile devices, such as the HTC Touch Pro and HTC Touch HD but at the same time we also saw almost all Windows Mobile device makers move away from Windows Mobile Standard platform, which in my opinion is the bread and butter of the Windows Mobile ecosystem since it competes directly with RIM's Blackberry dominance in the business world. Unfortunately as good as Windows Mobile Standard is the same cannot be said for Windows Mobile Professional. The Pocket PC platform was designed for a different time and for new users of the operating system can be incredibly difficult and frustrating to grasp. Heck, even after I spent some time with the HTC Touch Diamond I had to trade it in for an easier to use device. Sure T-Mobile's G1 isn't the most attractive device on the block - in fact it's a hideously ugly device - the beauty of the first Google Android device lies in the software. Google's Android platform is fun and easy to use and most importantly it is incredibly exciting.

Microsoft had a dream with Windows Mobile. Create a mobile operating system and license the technology to OEMs so they can create awesome exciting new devices. Unfortunately Windows Mobile hasn't changed at all since I started using it on my Motorola MPx220 way back in the day. Sure, we might have received a fancy new homescreen with Windows Mobile 6.1, but that is just Window dressing on a house that is already falling apart. The fundamental flaws of what holds Windows Mobile back are still present well over a half a decade since I started using it. Google on the other hand paid very close attention to Microsoft's dream and tweaked and applied that dream to the current generation of mobile devices and users.

Can Microsoft come back and create the software and excitement needed to save it from obscurity? Only time will tell. In the meantime however, I would expect to see Google Android continue to nibble away on Microsoft's market share well into 2009; especially as more and more companies release more Android based devices.

I think the line from Douglas Adam's quadrilogy has always seemed the most appropriate for goodbyes, perhaps because it fits my sometimes quirky personality. I have enjoyed my time as a contributing editor at Pocket PC Thoughts. When I first received an email invitation from Jason, I was shocked and humbled at the opportunity. I had been a site visitor since almost the beginning and really looked forward to contributing in this new way. Over my time here I've tried to do the best I could, even as I've seen the mobile landscape change from PDA-only devices to an almost exclusive focus on smartphones and phone-enabled devices. For now, I'm still a two-device guy but I'm sure it won't be for long.

Unfortunately, in the transition between the two worlds, I find my real-world responsibilities as radio announcer, husband, and father of two precious girls are taking more of my time and I have less to share with Thoughts Media. And so, with regrets, I shared with Jason my need to take leave of the Contributing Editor position. It's an experience I have greatly appreciated, especially getting to work with someone of Jason's caliber.

Beyond Jason's leadership at the helm of Thoughts Media, he has entrusted each site to the care of a managing editor. For us, Darius Wey has served as that organizer, filter, guide, mentor and even friend. He has helped me through countless issues, especially as I began as a Contributing Editor. I want to extend a special thanks to him. The rest of the team, Jon, Janak, and Ed have also provided some needed feedback and have made me a better editor. Lastly, if you've ever stopped in to comment on a post, or at least take the time to read it, I thank you. That's what makes this site worth it. In closing, perhaps the Bible's Apostle Paul said it best in many of his closings of his letters, Grace be with you. I don't know about you, but I can use all the grace I can get!

"Photos of the ASUS Galaxy 7 touchscreen phone have been popping up for months now, and due to a resemblance a certain Samsung device, it's been referred to more than once as an "Omnia-killer" (of course, we understand the urge, but we have to ask if it's even worth the effort). Now it looks like the folks over at Mobile Review have their hands on the thing, and they've been kind enough to share their thoughts. Right off the bat, they were disappointed to learn that plans for a 800 MHz processor had been scrapped in lieu of the far less exciting 528 MHz Qualcom MS7200A, but they then go on to give props to the phone's Glide interface (on par with TouchFlo3D, it seems) and its build quality...."

Mobile Review, a Russian mobile site, has done a great in-depth review of the Asus P835, or Galaxy 7. As usual, pricing and availability are unannounced, so if you just got some great Christmas cash, I don't know you'll want to keep holding on to it until the Galaxy arrives.

"You don't usually equate CES with big time Energizer introductions, but this year is going to be different. While our fingers are still crossed that a 50-foot drum-toting bunny is seen storming around in the Vegas heat, we do know that said outfit will be bringing along its minty fresh Zinc Air Prismatic batteries, not to mention the newly unveiled Rechargeable Solar Charger. The above pictured device will boast a USB port to power an assortment of devices, and it can also be charged from an AC outlet if you just can't seem to locate the sun. Better still, its weatherproof nature should make it suitable for argonauts, and it'll only run $49.99 with a pair of rechargeable cells when it lands next summer."

I've tried some solar chargers over the years and never been totally impressed. They've either been poorly designed or performed poorly. With built in USB charging as well as the ability to charge batteries (assuming AA's and hopefully AAA's) it should cover a pretty wide variety of devices. From a design perspective, this seems to be pretty well thought out, so I'll probably be grabbing one when they come out to see how it performs.