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Sometimes it takes months for a smartphone to ship after a carrier initially announces it, while other times you can quickly purchase that cool new handset just weeks after its unveiling. An example of the latter is Sprint's delivery this week of the innovative Audiovox PPC-6601 through its business channels.

Announced late last month, the PPC-6601 is the American introduction of a new Pocket PC Phone (the XDA III) built by Taiwanese OEM High Tech Computer. The handset is already available in Europe under different model names, including the XDA III, and should eventually ship from other U.S. carriers as well. Click here for information on European and American carriers.

Unlike smaller smartphones with thumb-keyboards, this handset's keyboard is unique because it is retractable. That's a good thing, because no one will ever confuse the 4.92 x 2.83 x 0.75 inch and 7.23 ounce XDA III with one of its more compact Windows Mobile brethren, such as Motorola's MPx220.

The smartphone also features Bluetooth to connect to wireless headsets and printers, for example, but not Wi-Fi like some other editions of the handset. There is also a 400MHz Intel XScaleCPU, 128MB of RAM, and an SDIO Secure Digital slot. The device's display measures 3.5 inches diagonally and supports the Pocket PC standard 240 x 320 pixel resolution at 65,536 colors. The removable lithium ion battery should provide up to 3.6 hours of continuous digital talk time or up to six days of standby time.

As a Pocket PC Phone, the new mobile handset delivers the full suite of standard Windows Mobile-based applications, including Microsoft Pocket Excel, Outlook, Word, Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, Microsoft ActiveSync and MSN Messenger. Other applications include Handmark Express and AudibleListener.

Sprint PCS Business Connection provides business and personal wireless e-mail. Interfacing with Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino data, the PPC-6601 also supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync for over-the-air synchronization of e-mail and calendar information with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.

The PPC-6601 sells for $630 without a service plan, but costs much less with a one ($529) or two ( $479) year contract. Although it doesn't integrate a camera—as businesses often prefer mobile devices without them for security reasons—an edition (the PPC-6600) with a VGA camera with flash should ship soon for consumers.