HP Oak, Silver smartphone rumors resurface

HP is nearing the release of two important touchscreen phones previously only hinted at earlier in the year, according to a pair of reports. The Wall Street Journal now hints that one of HP's first true touchscreen-focused iPAQ smartphones is due in Europe as soon as two months from now; the report directly corroborates a leak early in the year of the Oak that reveals a hybrid touch and keyboard design intended for Vodafone. The earlier and more specific leak would give the phone a side-slider design with 7.2Mbps, HSDPA-based 3G as well as GPS and Wi-Fi.

As with recent iPAQ smartphones, the Oak is also said to be running Windows Mobile 6.1. The newspaper adds that the phone should be available worldwide after the European release but doesn't mention more specific dates or prices. The earlier leak had initially suggested a September launch at ₤260 in the UK (now $461) but now may change given the apparent delay.

Separately, Engadget has also obtained the first photos of the Silver, a candybar-style parallel to the Oak. It would lose the touchscreen and revert to a SureType-style keyboard while keeping the advanced 3G and Windows Mobile foundations of the larger and likely more costly Oak. It too is also slated for Vodafone, though its originally projected ₤250 ($443) price and July release date have since become inaccurate. A US launch is very likely for the Silver.

HP Silver