o2-xda-zest

THIS

IS

02-XDA-ZEST

ASUS

ASUS gets real with O2 XDA Zest on Pay&Go pre-pay plans

Remember the XDA Zest Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone that was rumored to be in the works in ASUS’s R&D labs? Right, well it looks like ASUS has finally gone live with the WinMo handset on O2 (NYSE: TEF)’s network. Known officially by its rebranded moniker, the O2 XDA Zest is being billed as the first XDA-branded smartphone to be offered on O2’s Pay&Go pre-pay plans.
O2 is expected to make the XDA Zest available to the consuming public on November 17th with a non-contract £250 ($395) price tag. For the contract-lovers out there, the XDA Zest will be made available for significantly cheaper (even free) when purchased with a qualifying rate plan (tariff).
With 3G (HSDPA), WiFi, GPS, 3 megapixel camera, and a 2.8-inch touchscreen display, the O2 XDA Zest looks like a decent Windows Mobile smartphone.

Asus is known as a late entrant to the smartphone game, but that doesn’t mean they’re slow learner. As a matter of fact, we’re hearing they’ll be launching an Android-based phone during the first half of 2009. According to the company sources, the Taiwan-based company may initially sell these phones in the local market before also launching customized models for overseas clients.
In other news, the company sources also noted that Asus plans to gradually phase out EMP-based handsets and instead switch to handset platforms from Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM) and Marvell.
Asus’ smartphone shipments in the Taiwan market totaled 30,000 units in the first nine months of this year, and they expect to add another 10,000 units until the end of this year.