Cingular Unveils Budget Smart Phone | January 18, 2006

he $199 device is based on Windows Mobile 5.0 but supports only Cingular's Edge network and not the emerging, faster UMTS/HSDPA network.

By Mobile Pipeline Staff
Mobile Pipeline

Jan 18, 2006 08:50 AM


Cingular Wednesday unveiled its Cingular 2125 Windows Mobile smartphone but the device does not support the company's emerging 3G network.

The company said its new privately-labeled smartphone was built by HTC and is based on Windows Mobile 5.0. It also has built-in Bluetooth but only supports the carrier's EDGE network and not its emerging, faster UMTS/HSDPA network. In a statement, the company indicated that this was its "value" offering and that more communications features would eventually be available for the device.

The device is a quad-band phone that will work in more than 165 countries with which Cingular has roaming agreements for voice and the 95 countries in which it has roaming agreements for data, the company said.

"The Cingular 2125 Smartphone gives our customers a cost-effective, feature-packed solution that meets their needs, whether they're a larger company engaged in global business communications or an individual wanting a superior, high-speed e-mail and Web browsing experience," Jeff Bradley, Cingular's vice president for business data services, said in a statement.

Bradley indicated, however, that more messaging features would be available at a later date.

"This sets the stage for Cingular to bring to market later this year a new and eagerly anticipated addition to its industry-leading e-mail portfolio, the Microsoft Messaging and Security Feature Pack featuring direct push e-mail technology," he said.

In the meantime, the company added, the device supports mobile e-mail technologies from vendors such as Good Technology.

The device weighs 3.71 ounces including battery, uses a 200 MHz processor and has 64 MB of SDRAM and 64 MB of Flash ROM. It has a 2.2-inch QVGA display and includes a 1.3 megapixel camera.

The device costs $199 with a two-year contract.

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