John Chan from CNet gives us some insights into the soon-to-be-released iMate Ultimate 9502. On the upside, the abundant connectivity options, QWERY slide-out keyboard and VGA each get a tick. On the downside the i-Mate Ultimate 9502 weighs 200 grams - that’s 24 more grams than my current iMate Jasjam. Although heavier, it is 6mm thinner so it sort of balances things out. Looking forward to getting double the RAM (128MB) and ROM (256MB) on the 9502 too!

Here’s his summary on the iMate Ultimate 9502:

The i-mate Ultimate 9502 can possibly be the very definition of a top-of-the-line Windows Mobile handheld. One problem we have with it is that none of the devices in the Ultimate series are available. We can’t look at and judge the 9502 because there is no track record. As of now, i-mate cannot confirm the availability of the 9502 in our region yet, though we understand the company should be setting up shop in Asia Pacific very soon. Hopefully, the 9502 will come sooner rather than later so we can finally tell if its title is justified or just a self-proclaimed brag.

I’m sure John’s been informed that the iMate 9502 Ultimate will be in Telstra Shops this week.

We’re busily getting all iMate Ultimate 9502 accessories organised so I can pimp yours and mine!  Watch this space.

i-mate Ultimate 9502 Preview - CNET Asia

Two good sources have confirmed that the iMate Ultimate 8502 & 9502 will be available for purchase this coming Tuesday 25th March!

I tried calling the Bourke Street, Melbourne TShop so that I could reserve one but they’re like us…too busy to answer phones! We both need more staff!

Post a comment when you get yours to give us your first impressions. Don’t be shy.

Gizmodo Aus

February 12, 2008, Barcelona, Spain - i-mate(tm) (London AIM: IMTE), the specialist in Windows Mobile powered devices, today unveils the latest devices in its Ultimate range, the Ultimate 9502 and the Ultimate 8502 at Mobile Congress World.

The Ultimate 9502 and 8502 are the latest devices from the Ultimate range, a collection of four devices in various forms to suit individual preferences, from classic PDA to a notebook replacement and were designed to provide the latest and best in phone and PDA technology. With a wide variety of features ranging from to HSDPA and HUSDPA connectivity to the 262k colour TFT screen, every component of the device is specified at a very high level.

The Ultimate 9502 represents the flagship of the Ultimate range and delivers an all in one Windows MobileR device. Powered by 3.5G (HSDPA & HUSDPA), and WiFI and Bluetooth connectivity, the Ultimate 9502’s VGA display is perfect for multimedia viewing, or checking through maps using the its integrated GPS functionality for navigation. There are dedicated shortcut keys all around the 9502, allowing easy and fast access to often used applications. The 9502 includes integrated support for Direct Video Out capabilities, providing you with the option to connect it to monitors or projectors and watch videos off it or even use Windows Mobile on a larger screen. This feature was especially included in a business sense so users can perform video conferencing or project slideshows and presentations from the phone itself, making it a viable alternative to a notebook.

The Ultimate 8502 delivers a customised out of the box experience in a slim line QWERTY keyboard form factor. With a 2.6 inch touchscreen with 65k colour TFT backlight, it is fully loaded with Microsoft Office Mobile giving users access to popular applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint on the go. This device also comes with built-in GPS navigation functionality offering users satellite navigation. The 8502 can play video clips directly and a variety of music file formats on the inbuilt Windows Media Player 10 Mobile media player.

“2008 sees i-mate(tm) continue to deliver on its iconic devices and sophisticated services,” said Jim Morrison, CEO, i-mate(tm). “The Ultimate range has already won plaudits on its design and strong specifications. The Ultimate 9502 and 8502 will continue to build on i-mate’s, the best of breed
combination of innovation, design and technology. Each of our devices is designed with different users in mind giving our customers real choice.”

As part of i-mate(tm)’s service proposition, Mobile World Congress will also mark the launch of i-mate’s(tm) I-Q Services, a portfolio of services that ensure the best wireless experience out of the box. With I-Q, i-mate can immediately customise user devices, fully support devices on a 24/7 basis and fully protect and if necessary, remotely wipe devices that are lost of stolen. little as 48 hours. Mobile Operators can use i-Q to improve their services to the enterprise segment and to accelerate their time-to-market with new mobile devices to address the rapidly expanding mobile workforce.

IDC estimates that the worldwide mobile worker population will grow to 878.2 million in 2009 to account for 21.3 percent of the global work force*. Morrison concludes, “The mobile industry is starting to develop an approach here a customer can select a device based on what they want and need, not because they are restricted by available options. With the latest Ultimate devices powered by Windows Mobile and customised for the enterprise, we believe we are delivering what our customers are asking for.”

See our current iMate accessories here at Mr.Gadget Australia!