Notebooks and phones get one step closer with Toshiba

Today’s IT business world is not for those that limit their field of view only to a certain range of products, and since Sony released its first docking station for Apple’s iPod less than two weeks ago, Toshiba didn’t sit back and wonder, but made its debut into the smartphone market with its first Windows Mobile phones, and its new weapons are called G500 and G900.

The G500 is capable of running Windows Mobile Standard, while the G900 is one of the first phones to support the latest operating system for such devices from Microsoft, Windows Mobile 6. The G900 comes with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a 3 inch VGA screen, and the features common with the G500 include a fingerprint sensor that can be used to tap and scroll through your applications as well, but if you are familiar with the Satellite and Portégé series from Toshiba, you will find all their features included into the two new products we’re talking about here too.

The software that comes with the G500 and G900 enables you to turn them into Bluetooth remote controls to control your notebook’s Winamp or PowerPoint but, as you can figure out, the uses of this facility are not limited to that.

The accelerometer that is built in into these devices can be used to improve the security of your smartphone, so when the device gets out of Bluetooth range the alarm automatically arms, disarming itself when you’re back in range.

Both phones are 3G capable, offering the faster 3.6Mbps HSDPA where possible, EDGE and 802.11b/g, and now the secondary VGA cameras allow you to use them for 3G video calls. The VoIP client included will be only available for Toshiba’s SME VoIP PABX for the start, but it is expected to support additional VoIP systems with time.

At last, the G900 can be used as a USB host that allows you to connect USB flash drives, external drives or digital cameras to access files and photos with the help of the supplied adapter.

Unfortunately, there’s only one problem with the G500 and G900 - they are nowhere to be found on the market yet, but it seems we’re going to see them available at direct suppliers and through the mobile networks within six months, so keep an eye open for the G500 and G900!