HP readying first iPAQ phone with 3G, iPod-like wheel

HP's introduction of the iPAQ 500 will soon be accompanied by a new range-topping series that signals a full return to the smartphone business, according to unverified but credible reports. The simply-titled iPAQ 600 line would add a 3G Internet connection through HSDPA and would also offer assisted GPS through supporting carriers. HP also hopes to overcome the control limits of most slim phones with both a 2.8-inch touchscreen and an iPod-like touch wheel that would quickly speed through websites or long documents, the tip claims.

Expectedly, the new phone would run Windows Mobile 6 Professional with Office Mobile and would also see a performance boost courtesy of a 520MHz CPU and 128MB of RAM. If validated, the iPAQ 600 should come equipped with a 3-megapixel camera and would be announced as early as September, less than a year after the 500 launch. A second phone, the iPAQ 900, is also rumored and would adopt the same features but widen the phone to accommodate a full QWERTY keyboard. Its release date is unknown but may be simultaneous with that of the 600.