HP announced two new mobile devices

They're sleek, stylish, and they're directly from HP. The company recently launched the iPAQ Data Messenger and the iPAQ Voice Messenger.

The Data Messenger sports a slide out QWERTY keyboard, along with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, a 2.8 inch QVGA screen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 3.1-megapixel camera. It offers 128 MB of RAM and 256 MB ROM, and a microSD card slot for additional expansion. In regards to connectivity, the phone supports quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), and tri-band UMTS (900/1900/2100 MHz - European 3G bands). The device has an 1140 mAh battery.

The Voice Messenger is different in regards to shape, offering a SureType-like keyboard, much like the BlackBerry Pearl. It runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard, and though it has a smaller 2.4 inch QVGA screen, is much lighter than the Data Messenger. It supports the same connectivity bands, offers the same amount of memory, a 3.1-megapixel camera, and a slightly larger 1260 mAh battery. According to HP, the Voice Messenger is designed for those that want a phone, but also need occasional access to e-mail.

Though both devices use microUSB for synchronization and charging purposes, HP has incorporated new technology in regards to navigation. Rather than using a traditional five-way navigational button, HP opted for an optical sensor, which, according to HP's Neil Dagger, allows you to "just glide your thumb over the disk, and you glide though the menus, tapping it when you want to select something.”

Vodafone will be the first carrier to offer the devices, however HP resellers will offer them without contract at £399 ($677) and £333 ($565), respectively. Subsidized pricing from Vodafone has not yet been disclosed.

source: HP, more via wmpoweruser