ITG now accepting xpPhone preorders with choice of AT&T, Orange, or Vodafone
In preparation for its global launch, China's In Technology Group (ITG) has just launched a redesigned English website and is now accepting unpriced preorders for the Computex-revealed xpPhone. Trumpeted by the company as the "world's first mobile phone that runs Windows XP," the AMD-powered slider hasn't undergone any notable changes—cosmetically or otherwise—since it was last seen, so all the specs you've previously committed to memory are still intact.
That means the xpPhone is still all about what you see below:
The SSD and HDD options you see listed are apparently not an either-or choice, with ITG asserting that the device supports both drives at the same time (the SSD to "help save power" and the HDD for the "full internet experience") and can even be used as a portable hard disk when the system shuts down.
More interesting than the specs, the seven major advantages, or even the nine major technologies involved with the xpPhone, however, is the fact that it "supports the global three major 3G standards."
To prove it, the preorder page requires you to choose your "3G module" from a drop-down menu that lists Vodafone, AT&T, and Orange. Why the same xpPhone isn't able to support all the necessary 3G frequency bands on its own is unclear, but the use of the carriers' names at least bodes well for those in the US and Europe who hoped the phone would be available outside of China.
I asked my contact at ITG for pricing info and a global release date and was told that I'd be notified immediately when such details were ready for public consumption. I was also told that the final product will be "more thin and sharp," so although we don't know when or for how much, at least we know to expect the xpPhone to be sporting a new look the next time it makes an appearance.
