Audiovox Introduces PPC 5050 Pocket PC Phone

Audiovox was one of the first to deliver a Pocket PC Phone, with the Thera. Audiovox released the Thera just before Pocket PC Phone Edition devices started becoming availble, so they instead went with a proprietary dialer and phone integration software. While many users liked the device, this non-standard platform, together with inferior battery life, resulted in luke warm satisfaction from the user community. The Thera was manufactured for Audivox by Toshiba, and is in fact identical to its Toshiba cousin.

For their second generation device, they have turned to HTC, one the largest OEMs for PDAs and pdaPhones. HTC makes iPAQs for HP, and also makes many of the Pocket Phone Edition and Smartphone devices sold by carriers such as T-Mobile, AT&T, and mmO2.

At CES this week in Las Vegas, Audiovox has introduced the PPC 5050, a new CDMA Windows Mobile (Pocket PC) Phone Edition device. This is a totally new device from a different OEM than the Thera was, so the fact that they are both Audiovox shouldn't be reason to expect the PPC 5050 to bear any resemblance to it's predecessor.

First off, the PPC 5050 is a solid Windows Mobile 2003 device. It is powered by a 400Mhz Intel XScale processor with 64MB or RAM and an SD/MMC expansion slot.... all standard equipment for today's Windows Mobile devices. The PPC 5050 also has a 3.5" 16-bit TFT color screen that can display up to 65,536 colors. There have been a number of Windows Mobile Phone Edition devices shown in recent months that used smaller displays. In form, the PPC 5050 looks very similar to the XDA. It measures 5.1" x 2.9" x 0.72".

Since it is a pdaPhone, there is radio. The PPC 5050 supports not only CDMA2000 1xRTT, but it is the world's first device to also support the next generation of CDMA, 1xEVDO. When the networks support it, this will offer vastly improved data speeds.

As mentioned earlier, the batter life of the Thera was marginal, but that will not be the case with the PPC 5050. The PPC 5050 is powered by a Lithium Ion battery of 1500 mAh capacity. This is rated at up to five hours talk time or 200 hours standby time.

The PPC 5050 will come with the expected accessories - stylus, AC adapter, cradle, case, and a stereo headset. This is nice because a number of the new pdaPhones are coming with at least one of these items not included. Other accessories will be available from Audiovox including a thumb board and auto adapter.

There are a couple of questions that come to mind when reviewing the PPC 5050. For one thing, HTC developed a CF slot sled for the newer XDA II. Will there be one of these available for the PPC 5050? I'm guessing that there won't. Another question Thera owners may have is whether you will be able to hold it like a phone and talk, or will you be required to use the headset. In this case, I think its safe to assume you will be able to use it like a normal phone. All of the other HTC devices work that way.

This device is expected to be available through US carriers in 1Q2004. No word on whether Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless will both carry the device. With the first generation device, Verizon Wireless sold the Audiovox Thera, while Sprint PCS wold the Toshiba 2032. They were, however, the same device.

We have started a forum to discuss the latest on this device HERE.