i-mate 9502 Hands-On
By Hubert Nguyen, Posted on Oct 24, 07 12:38 PM PDT
The device is bigger than a Blackjack (review), even with the extended battery, but not to the point that I would dismiss it as my everyday phone. It is more attractive than any sliding-keyboard smartphones out there. The 9502 feels solid, especially the display sliding mechanism, which was a good surprise. The keyboard is roomy and will please users with bigger fingers, but I did notice that the keyboard touch was not as good as with the i-mate 8502 (read hands-on), which is exceptional. I did not look at all the Windows Mobile 6 features, but this has been covered extensively already. All in all, I consider the i-mate 9502 to be an extremely interesting smartphone, particularly because of the VGA display (640x480) and the external keyboard/display capabilities. It will be even better when i-mate releases its “Foleo” shell that integrates keyboard and display in a lightweight and cheap format (around $300).
Scoop: i-mate confirmed to us that it will be possible to connect a wired USB keyboard to avoid depleting the phone’s battery with Bluetooth!
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Legacy Comments
By msheery , 08/07/08 7:59 PM (CommentID #769940)
HI, Please tell me the retail price of Ultimate 9502 phone in pakistan? and where can I get this phone in Pakistan?
By biyiolaf@yahoo.com , 04/07/08 9:37 AM (CommentID #762830)
pls how much does this phone cost
By daniel , 15/06/08 7:30 AM (CommentID #726950)
my mate at school has one of these, sure there feature packed. but there laggy as anyting. i have iPhone and its way better :)
By sam , 02/06/08 12:38 PM (CommentID #709375)
what is it like is the txting and calling alright
By Sigi , 01/06/08 3:10 PM (CommentID #708430)
is the screen touch like the iphone?
By michael , 28/05/08 11:34 PM (CommentID #702637)
the design is copied from the sideick
By sohan , 25/05/08 2:13 PM (CommentID #696759)
currently sending this message from my imate ultimate its a good phone but a bit slow the ram is too small mail me on soaldo@hotmail.com for more info
By KKKoooo , 01/05/08 11:23 PM (CommentID #660587)
Had an i_Mate KJam, not happy with it, and I blamed it on WM5. But, read the review of this PDA and bought one. Can't get wifi to work properly and tried to contact i_Mate for support without success. Poor support from i_Mate means I can't buy this PDA for my company. I think HTC's TyTN 2 is a lot better mobile PDA than i_Mate.
By santhosh , 22/04/08 5:33 AM (CommentID #646026)
Is it available in India? If its not then can u send it through parcel or which ever possible means..
By nick thang , 22/04/08 12:56 AM (CommentID #645746)
i like to know if ur prices for the phone real, or is it duplicate from china. how can u show that it is the orignal..email me back please interested in some phone....nicksta4u@yahoo.com..Thank you for your time
By Emmanuel , 21/04/08 3:15 PM (CommentID #644987)
Imate ultimate 9502. I want it!!
By Craig , 01/04/08 5:44 PM (CommentID #604302)
Had it in Telstra Darwin scince 28 march
By Clint , 21/03/08 7:38 PM (CommentID #575983)
I went into the telstra shop the other day and it is coming out on the 8th april 08
By Scott , 19/03/08 12:18 PM (CommentID #569290)
I did not know that the HTC had Video out a GPS and so on. I think there is a world of difference between this and the HTC besides just looks.
By dan , 17/03/08 7:18 PM (CommentID #564532)
hi mrT
do you know when it will available in Oz thru telstra? Is it still on track for March 08?
By Voltron , 14/03/08 9:56 PM (CommentID #558349)
Soon to be released in Australia exclusively through the Telstra NextG network. Was going to be March but now pushed out to April.
By Coperyte , 03/03/08 7:27 AM (CommentID #528262)
This is an excellent product but since I already have the HTC-8925, it makes no sense for me to upgrade just for looks. They're actually identical besides cosmetic differences. But all those hoping to make video calls in the US will be disappointed. This feature has to be provided as a service by your carrier and noone here offers that yet.
By Roosevelt , 25/02/08 8:26 AM (CommentID #510856)
Been Treo Junkie for 6 years but this phone is amazing. I'm willing to switch phone services just to have it. Wow video calling!! I must have it NOW! Can anyone tell me if it will be in the U.S. and when? The cost is not even important. To be able to use my Live Messenger Video Call from anywhere is unbelievable! Please email me: ro@gripchurch.com Also is AT&T the only network it will work on in the states?
By narutouzumaki16 , 23/02/08 5:04 PM (CommentID #506131)
answering late i see, but anyway, this phone is amazing. just wish i could get this in us for less than the usd850-900 im seeing off the net
By Anonymous , 20/02/08 5:49 AM (CommentID #499392)
Though the RAM is rated at 128 MB but I found it disturbing in a Cnet Asia video review that the free ram was only 25 MB. You usually get a 25 MB free RAM with devices having a total ram of 64 MB.
But maybe this is as the model shown was a pre-production unit or maybe the VGA is taking its toll.
By The Truth , 19/02/08 6:59 AM (CommentID #496832)
I have alot of inside information from i-mate and I know the cost in the US for this device will be around $800, unless you buy from MobilepPlanet, and then it will be around $950. The 9502 is not an HTC product, it is made by another manufacturer called Mobinova - which appears to have alot of experience in the idustry with their personnel.
By Rupesh , 17/02/08 8:00 PM (CommentID #493043)
Is this phone available in US now ? Where any link ??
By MrT , 13/02/08 3:39 PM (CommentID #484040)
Telstra will be releasing the Ultimate 8502 & 9502 to Telstra shops and licensed dealers in early March this year. The respective costs, from Telstra shops, will be $999 & $1099
By andy , 10/02/08 8:30 AM (CommentID #476016)
when is the release in europe (germany)?
what will it cost?
By Sinner , 30/01/08 6:30 PM (CommentID #454844)
Can i unlock this phone in Macedonia Europe ??
By Volgot , 25/01/08 3:06 PM (CommentID #446893)
Hi.
Dear Hubert Nguyen, is it really made by HTC?
What about video drivers?
Slow or fast interface and video?
Have this device the same problem that all new HTC (7200 chipset) have (www.htcwiki.com/page/HTC+TyTN+II+Driver+Issues) or this Ultimate is exception to the HTC's rule?
Best regards..
Reply from Hubert
===============
Hi volgot, i-mate told me specifically that the 9502 was not made by HTC, but by another contract manufacturer.
By Anonymous , 24/01/08 1:21 AM (CommentID #444111)
hi, i was wondering if someone could tell me what this phone will cost in australia. thanx
By Hubert , 17/01/08 2:47 PM (CommentID #434689)
I don't think that HTC manufactures phones for i-Mate.
By Todd , 17/01/08 2:36 PM (CommentID #434679)
i spoke to imate australia and they said it was due to be released here in February of 2008 .... typically the call centre was in the phillipines, and hard to understand let alone get my question understood properly and from all the forums and posts i've read i'd say it would be a small miracle if in fact it was launched in February.
It's will also be sold through Telstra shops and i contacted them and they haven't heard anything at all about the model let alone if they were going to be getting it in.
The commpany that makes them is htc.com, look them up and question them, they make them and rebrand them as imates
HTC australia ph. 1300 769 669 toll free
By j1nxx , 10/01/08 11:57 AM (CommentID #424844)
Need new phone 2 was lookinat ETEN M800 but this one looks better and has 128MB RAM. Any release dates for europe ?
By nish , 08/01/08 11:04 PM (CommentID #422785)
this phones is off da hook, the best ive seen cant wait for it, the display is amazing, watching a video is as clear as DVD
By Cbreze , 07/01/08 10:11 AM (CommentID #420825)
Nice looking device. I hear it will be available after Jan 15 08' in the U.S. for $799. Might have to give it a spin.
By Mohammed Riyaz Ahmed , 01/01/08 10:57 AM (CommentID #413795)
Hello Every1...
I have changed many phones, and i have used many phones, but yet not seen the design such as 9502, its really ultimate, and regarding the specifications, an technical person will understand very well... well anyone will tell me the correct price for this product ? plzz mail me at riyaz917@gmail.com
By alexcoxy , 16/12/07 10:41 PM (CommentID #395887)
hey guys. I love this phone! It has everything! Please can someone drop me an email at alexcoxy@yahoo.com and tell me if this phone is available in Dubai.
By M. A. M. , 16/12/07 5:12 AM (CommentID #395332)
I checked all available options that are available/coming soon phones. In my opinion, this one is NICE! :)
Compared the phone with Asus P750 / SonyEricsson P1i and W960i / HTC TytnII / Nokia N95(8g) and E90 / Eten Glowfish X800.
But if you thought about a nice phone that is easily afforded I would suggest SonyEricsson P1i :).
By John Douglas , 13/12/07 4:46 AM (CommentID #392641)
Can you please let me know as to when the 9502 will be released in Australia and how much will it sell for here?
By Hassan Noorani , 13/12/07 1:35 AM (CommentID #392506)
Can anyone tell me when is it debuting in Oman or UAE? Thanks!
By Hubert , 09/12/07 8:00 PM (CommentID #389468)
Hi Nader, try stopping by i-mate's offices in Dubai, they might sell you one :)
By nader , 09/12/07 2:47 PM (CommentID #389303)
plz..i need a reply on my email...ill be in dubai till the 20th of december...i need the ultimate 9502..i need wit whatever it costs..if anyone knows if i can get it there at that time..plz email me...naderkaras@hotmail.com....thanx:)
By nader , 09/12/07 2:44 PM (CommentID #389300)
plz i need a relpy on my email...i need the ultimate 9502..ill be in dubai till the 20th of december can i get in there by that time with any price..its a killer!!
By cj , 05/12/07 4:37 AM (CommentID #384882)
looks like the screen slides up, I think it would be better if it was designed the same as a laptop ie. the screen is protected and folds out
By Anonymous , 19/11/07 6:08 PM (CommentID #370258)
What is this "Foleo Shell" that you speak of?
By omfl , 19/11/07 9:22 AM (CommentID #369880)
I aggree with #8 yudha, it does look like the sidekick slide... Hmmm
By Hubert , 18/11/07 9:10 AM (CommentID #368535)
- Price: $600-$800
- Should work on any GSM Network, worldwide
- release in late 2007 /early 2008
By Balaji , 18/11/07 8:37 AM (CommentID #368494)
Any idea about its availability date....
Particularly in India...
By leo , 16/11/07 11:54 AM (CommentID #365927)
may i knw da prize of imate ultimate 9502 in US$
By mattia , 15/11/07 9:29 AM (CommentID #364111)
hi guys! does the phone work in italy?? if the answer maybe yes che i know how much?? thanks
By jalal , 15/11/07 12:38 AM (CommentID #363367)
hello can i know how much is it how much does it cost its realy wawooooooooooo
By James Davis , 11/11/07 6:58 AM (CommentID #359085)
Yes! The phone looks great and if it is internet ready, it will be all you will ever need...so tell us, where can we buy it?
By akin. , 08/11/07 2:02 PM (CommentID #356032)
this looks awesomely versatile. please, can it work in Nigeria?
By Hubert , 05/11/07 10:37 PM (CommentID #354179)
Yes, the phone will work on GSM networks in the USA.
By yudha , 04/11/07 5:21 AM (CommentID #352868)
it kinda looked ke t mobile sidekick slide huh..?
By danits , 31/10/07 11:47 PM (CommentID #350464)
ilhan, keep dreaming mate, because it wont be $300. you kidding me, WTF is 300$? I bet that retail price wont be less then fifteen hundred US dollars!
But the fone is really good...a bit heavy if to compare with IPAQ 600 but have more advantges such as:
-Secondary Video Camera,
-Qualcomm MSM7200 Video Adapter!!!
-480 x 640 Screen resolution (a bit concerned if 400Mhz would be enough, however this 400MHZ runs on new ARMv6 instruction set, whereas IPAQ pfffff ARMv5TE?? wtf)
Never used Imate products, but thinking to buy this one at the reasonable price.
P.S. F**K HP!
By Ritesh , 30/10/07 7:02 AM (CommentID #349679)
Where do you buy this phone from ? what is a reasonably good price to pay for it? and what network does it work on in the USA.
will appreciate if you email me at ritesh.nisar@gmail.com
Thanks
By Tone , 29/10/07 5:32 PM (CommentID #349455)
does anyone know if you can record video?
By Hubert , 26/10/07 3:48 PM (CommentID #347893)
Hi George ;)
You make a good point with the XGA resolution, but I think that there's a lot of value in having a bigger keyboard - for users who do type a lot. That said, there are two bif IF:
1/ if the video scaling from PAL/NTSC is decent
2/ if the keyboard on the "shell" is good.
Both remain to be seen.
By George Bush , 26/10/07 3:25 PM (CommentID #347880)
The lack of XGA output on the 9502 makes the "foleo" much less attractive especially since the device already has a keyboard. The foleo makes much more sense for the 6150.
By ilhan , 25/10/07 12:03 PM (CommentID #346557)
It's the best cell phone I've ever seen, it was my dream for many years and now became the moment when I'll finally get it :)
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