i-mate finally sets up shop

With all the anticipation for the Ultimate series of WM6 (Windows Mobile 6) PDA-phones, and i-mate having no products to show for outside of tradeshows, we were wondering if this was another case of vaporware. Well, we can put those fears to rest now as the Dubai-based company has officially set up shop in the region with its headquarters in Singapore.

Aside from announcing its new operations, i-mate also revealed which of its new products will be making their way to this region. The new devices were first showcased in the US during CITA and includes four in the Ultimate series and three in the JAMA line. Read on for pricing and availability information.

All of the Ultimate series of devices will be available in Singapore starting December, with the rest of the region to follow in the next few months, according to i-mate's CEO Jim Morrison. Two in the JAMA line, the 101 and 201, will be available as well though the dates are not confirmed for those. Listed below are the estimated retail prices of the new devices. The company's GM for Asia Pacific, Michael Cavey, told us the final prices will vary depending on the country of sale and the estimates are conservative ones. We are hoping that the final prices will be lower rather than higher.

• i-mate Ultimate 6150 -- US$890
• i-mate Ultimate 8150 -- US$895
• i-mate Ultimate 8502 -- US$895
• i-mate Ultimate 9502 -- US$995
• i-mate JAMA 101 -- US$399
• i-mate JAMA 201 -- US$399

All of i-mate's handhelds and smart phones listed here come with the company's two-year global warranty. Additionally, customers also get access to security software that locks the device and wipes out data in case of loss or theft. This software is embedded in the ROM from the factory, and remains active even when an unauthorized user hard resets the device--making it virtually useless to anyone other than the rightful owner.

For support, there is also a feature that allows technical staff from i-mate to remotely view the system files of a device over the Internet, making it possible to fix problems over the air without the hassle of sending in the handheld. These features make it clear that i-mate is focused on the business user who is concerned with security and minimizing downtime.

We'll give the hardware and software full reviews closer to the actual shipping dates, so check back for the low-down soon.

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