Archos Meets Android In PMP-Phone
By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 2/9/2009
Igny, France — Archos will adopt Google’s Android operating system for use in a touch-screen-equipped portable media player (PMP) that will incorporate GSM/HSPA (high-speed packet access) cellular technology to place wireless calls, browse the Web and retrieve email.
Archos plans third-quarter shipments, but it didn’t say when or if the device would be sold in the U.S.
Although the new device will combine PMP and smartphone, Archos uses the term Internet media tablet (IMT) to describe it and other touchscreen-equipped, Wi-Fi-enabled handheld devices launched last year. All provide screens of 5 inches and larger, PC-like processing speed and a more PC-like Web-browsing experience, the company explained.
Last year, the company launched its first cellular-equipped handheld device, the Archos 5G with GSM/HSDPA and Wi-Fi for wireless Web browsing and email but not for voice calls. It did not ship in the U.S., a spokesman said.
“With the integration of voice, Archos is looking to expand beyond portable media players to provide solutions for the converged space, where a foundation in high-quality video content delivery is a benefit,” Archos said in a written statement.
The new 10mm-thin device will feature 5-inch touchscreen, full-width Web-page viewing, options for storage up to 500GB, Adobe Flash and Flash Video support, full screen, HD-DVR capabilities, battery providing up to seven hours of video playback time, HSPA technology delivering theoretical download speeds up to 7.2Mbps, and “laptop-like performance” via TI’s OMAP3440 processor based on the ARM Cortex superscalar microprocessor.
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