BenQ to Release UMA-Enabled Cellular-WiFi Handsets

[Sandrax]

BenQ snd Kineto Wireless , a key innovator and leading supplier of UMA Technology (Unlicensed Mobile Access), announced that BenQ is collaborating with Kineto Wireless to develop UMA-enabled dual mode GSM-WiFi handsets. The collaboration is a result of growing demand for UMA Technology, the standard for fixed-mobile convergence, from network service providers around the world.

BenQ's P50 Pocket PC phone is the first product from this collaboration. The P50 is a quad-band GSM/GPRS product with an integrated 802.11b Wi-Fi radio and UMA Client Software from Kineto. The P50 also has an integrated QWERTY keyboard and a complete Microsoft Windows for Pocket PC Phone environment including Windows Media 9 capabilities.

BenQ is using the Kineto Wireless UMA Client Software for the Microsoft Pocket PC Phone environment. Kineto Wireless provides a full compliment of device developer solutions for silicon platform suppliers, mobile handset developers and phone adaptor vendors to integrate UMA Technology. Kineto Wireless licenses Platform Developer Kits (PDKs), UMA Client Software for specific mobile platforms, test tools and integration services.

The companies intend the P50 to support volume UMA deployments in 2005.