AT&T introduces the HP iPAQ Glisten

It has been a long time since HP released an interesting iPAQ device. Now, with the release of Windows Mobile 6.5, it looks like the iPAQ is back once again with the Glisten. The HP iPAQ Glisten is a smartphone heading to AT&T targeted at business users over everyone else.

The iPAQ Glisten looks to be a good alternative to those who like the BlackBerry-esque form factor, but either require or prefer Windows Mobile 6.5. It has a 2.5″ AMOLED touchscreen, along with a QWERTY keyboard and five-way directional pad. In terms of specs it holds 256 SDRAM/512 MB Flash memory, GPS, 3.1 MP camera, 3G and Wi-Fi (complete with a dedicated on/off switch, which could prove very handy). It runs stock Windows Mobile 6.5, along with Flash support in the browser, and built in apps for Facebook and HP’s Snapfish.

The iPAQ Glisten may not be the most exciting Windows Mobile 6.5 phone compared to others recent releases, but it does seem like a decent choice. The combination of a candybar smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard, and a touchscreen makes it fairly interesting, and could put it above popular BlackBerries. There is also a great brand in iPAQ, with it being one of the better PDAs back when those were still around. The only thing holding it back is the $180 price tag after the $50 mail-in rebate. Unless users really need Windows Mobile or a physical keyboard, there’s no reason to pick this up over the 16GB iPhone 3GS. Unless, of course, you hate Apple’s policies for the iPhone and can’t switch the Verizon for a Droid.

Read [AT&T] Read [HP]