MDA Compact III arrives at T-Mobile in the UK

T-mobile is the first UK mobile provider to offer a smartphone with built-in GPS

14 November 2006 17:24 GMT / By Amber Maitland

T-Mobile has launched the MDA Compact III smartphone, which is the first device from a mobile operator to offer integrated GPS.

It’s a rebadged edition of the HTC Artemis, unveiled earlier this year at IFA. It features T-Mobile’s Web’n’walk tariff, runs on Windows Mobile 5.0, and has dual 2.5G and GPRS connectivity.

In addition, for business users, it supports Microsoft Direct Push Email as well as BlackBerry Connect.

To make use of its integrated GPS receiver, it’s available with CoPilot Live navigation software as well as realtime traffic alerts. The device has been designed to facilitate navigation, with a jog wheel and touchscreen so that it’s easy to enter a destination.

As it’s based on Windows Mobile 5, it comes complete with Microsoft Office, as well as a web browser to make use of the web’n’walk capabilities.

Other features include a screen that can be both landscape or portrait oriented, and a 2MP camera. The MDA Compact III will be available from 16 November for £60 when purchased on the Flext 35 tariff with web’n’walk.