Pharos Traveler 137: AT&T And T-Mobile 3G

Whether the world (or, more accurately, the US) needs an unlocked Windows Mobile smartphone with the required band support for 7.2Mbps HSDPA and 2.1Mbps HSUPA on both AT&T and T-Mobile remains to be seen.  Nevertheless, Pharos believe that's just what network-hopping executives are looking for, hence the triband UMTS Traveler 137.

As well as all that cellular connectivity there's WiFi and Bluetooth, plus a 3.1-megapixel camera (and front-facing 0.3-megapixel camera for video calls), FM radio and GPS.  The display is a 3.5-inch WVGA 800 x 480 panel, and while the OS is Windows Mobile 6.1 at present, Pharos say the Traveler 137 is fully compatible with WM6.5 once that becomes available.

Under the hood there's a 528MHz Qualcomm MSM7201A processor and a battery good for up to 4hrs talktime or 200hrs standby.  It's available now, from Pharos themselves as well as Amazon, Dell, Expansys and Newegg, with an MRSP of $599.95; buy it from Pharos with a two-year T-Mobile USA contract and they'll knock $250 off the sticker price.

Press Release:

Pharos Delivers First Windows Phone to Provide 3G Speeds on Both Major GSM Networks

Available for the first time today, the Pharos Traveler 137 offers unrivaled 3G connectivity and best-in-class navigation on a sleek new phone

TORRANCE, Calif. –(Business Wire)– Jun 04, 2009 Pharos Science & Applications, Inc., a leading provider of location-based information and services, today announced the immediate availability of the Traveler 137, a striking Windows phone that is the first to give users access to 3G data speeds on both the T-Mobile and AT&T Wireless networks. The Traveler 137 features hybrid navigation software, giving it the unique ability to provide voice-prompted navigation even without a connection to a carrier's network. The Traveler 137 is sold unlocked, enabling users to use local GSM SIM cards worldwide and avoid international roaming charges. The Traveler 137 is available today from Amazon.com, Dell.com, eXpansys.com, and Newegg.com for the suggested retail price of $599.95. Users can obtain a $250 discount on the phone if signing up for a new T-Mobile two-year contract through Pharos.

"When it comes to phones, we believe consumers deserve the full spectrum of choice," said Stephanie Ferguson, general manager, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Corporation. "The Traveler 137 is a great example of a Windows phone that gives consumers the choice of 3G networks, the choice of personalization and the choice to use a single, powerful phone for both work and life."

"The Traveler 137's ultra-sensitive aGPS gives users the ability to navigate quickly; its high speed 3G capability brings a world of information to users' fingertips; its touch-and-sweep interface on a crisp WVGA screen makes using the powerful Windows phone fun and easy," said James Oyang, PhD, President, Pharos.

Traveler 137 Specifications

Operating System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, updateable to Windows Mobile® 6.5

Processor: Qualcomm MSM 7201A 528MHz

Memory: 256MB DDR SDRAM, 512MB Flash ROM

Phone: unlocked GSM quad band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, EDGE / GPRS, Tri-band 3G, 1700/1900/2100 MHz, UMTS 384Kb/s, HSDPA 7.2Mb/s, HSUPA 2Mb/s

Talk time: up to 7 hours on GSM, 5 hours on 3G and 200 hours standby

Display: 3.5" TFT LCD with touch panel, 480 x 800 Wide-VGA with 65K colors

Wireless: GPS aGPS compatible, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth™ v2.1 + EDR , FM tuner

Camera: 3 megapixel for picture or video, 0.3 megapixel on the front for video conference

Expansion: USB 2.0, micro SD slot support SDHC, stereo audio jack

Battery: 1380 mAh Li-Ion, rechargeable/replaceable

Size: 4.60in (L) x 2.40in (W) x 0.51in (H)

Weight: 4.9 ounces

About Pharos

Pharos Science & Applications, Inc. is a leading provider of GPS navigation solutions and location-based services for mobile devices. The company is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and a member of ITS America and CTIA. Pharos products are sold through a network of leading national retail locations and online stores. For more information, visit www.pharosgps.com.