Group Sense PDA

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Company History

Group Sense Ltd. (GSL), an international company, it was founded in Hong Kong in June 1988.

Early days (1988~2000)

Their main businesses includes:

Translation dictionaries (Instant Dict，快譯通 (Hong Kong/Taiwan), 快译通 (China)) which translates as “Express Translation” (1988 ~ Early 2000s)
ODM Designs and Manufacturing electronic dictionaries for Japan market (1990s to 2010s)
Pager 小灵通 based on Japan PHS system (1990s to early 2000s)

PDA Era (2000-2002)

On 4 September 2000, the business restructured into three divisions; Electronic Dictionary, PDA/Smartphones, and ODM services. In May 2001, a join venture, GSPDA, were formed between GSL, Intel, SB China (Softbank subsidiary) and UTStarcom.[14] The PDA division was named Group Sense PDA Limited (GSPDA).

Company were having a rough time on fading of pager business and heavy competition in China market on PDA market.

In 2001, GSL released their Xplore V series (V88) PDA, the V88 comes with 8MB RAM, the look does start to look like a PDA at the time.

A Bi-lingual PDA with GSM mobile connectivity and own proprietary OS were shown to press and tested by connections, named Xplore [2]. i-Xplorer938 e968 early smartphones

Vision on data enabled PDA would be popular and the company would focus on this path were mention in their annual report.

Smartphone Era (2002-2007)

In late 2002, GSPDA signed a licensing agreement with PalmSource for permission to develop Palm OS PDA's [1], with 5 Palm OS devices eventually developed. The license was initially only for devices to be marketed to the Asia/Pacific market [10], before they later pursued a full ODM license with worldwide distribution rights [11].

A flip cover device codename “Onyx” were report being develop in 2001-2002, the design of device were close to the original GSM PDA series which differs from the later Palm base Xplore series, this device was axed eventually before release.

During this period, a new Xplore were being released every year.

GSPDA were also in development on possibilities of other operating systems. v2002 Linux PDA's

The Singapore branch of GSPDA incorporated as a subsidiary called “Group Sense Technology (Singapore) Pte Ltd.”, before renaming as Oswin Technology PLin 2004, when they began trading as Oswin Technology, eventually moving to a newown domain name in Nov 2004.

In 2006-2007, PalmSource cancelled the PalmOS6.1, GSPDA mention they will continue to ship devices with PalmOS 5.4 and a Java base smartphone S20 as a replacement should see the market that financial year.

Unlike most other years, no special mention of M70 that were announced 2006 Sep and shown to press and ITU 2006 (Hong Kong) in their annual report.

In 2008, the Xplore brand (and Palm OS device lineup) was depreciated, and Group Sense Mobile-Tech Ltd. (GSML) was created, initially producing GPS units, VOIP handsets, and later focusing on POS PDA's and systems.

Post 2008, all references of PalmOS base were removed from main site, xplore.com.hk were no longer alive.

In total, six Xplore Smartphones were developed by GSPDA.

Initially, GSPDA announced two models, a candybar model “Zircon Z3”, and a clamshell model “Onyx” [12][13]. The Zircon model was released in July 2003, renamed as the Xplore G18, while the Onyx was promised for later release in Q3 2003. However, the Onyx release did not eventuate, and in early 2004 was quietly removed from the GSPDA website. Photos of the Onyx device are on the right.

Common Features:

GSM only
160×220 LCD

G18 - July 2003, Candybar touchscreen phone, CIF Camera, 16MB, codenamed “Zircon”.
“Onyx” - Slated for 2003Q3, but was cancelled. Clamshell, CIF Camera (see photos on right column)
G88 - 2004, Candybar slider phone, 48MB, CIF Camera, codenamed Zircon I

M28 - Candybar slider phone, VGA Camera, codenamed Zircon II
M98 - Clamshell, 1.3MP Camera, Micro-SD expansion, 96×96 external screen, codenamed Onyx II [4]
M68 - Candybar, 1.3MP Camera, SD expansion, bluetooth ($699SGD / $430USD)
M70 - Candybar, 1.3MP Camera, SD expansion, bluetooth

Codename Oswin Z

“The smallest Palm OS® Smartphone in the world” Launched July 2003 in Asia, Q3 in EU. Sold over 100,000 units[15].

Codename Zircon, HAL ID zicn, Device ID zicn
The Xplore G18 was sold in Singapore as the Zircon Z3.
Sold in Germany through Quelle as the Universum Xplore G18.
Also know as X-PRO P168 in Taiwan

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=1162

Source 1 Source 2

Phone features: Dual band 900MHz and 1800MHz, GPRS Class 10
Support services: E-book, E-mail, WAP, SMS, MMS, STK, Java, etc.
Organizer: Address, Date book, Memo, To-do, etc.
Entertainment: Camera, formats, games, photo album, etc
Input: Virtual keyboard input, Graffiti hand-writing recognition
PC Sync: Synchronization with PC
Conectivity: IrDA 1.2
Others: Calendar, Calculator, Timer, etc.
OS: Palm OS® 4.1
Main Processor: Motorola Dragonball Vz 33MHz
Memory: MaskRom - 16M Bytes, SDRAM - 16M Bytes, Flash - 4M Bytes
LCD: 176 x 240 pixels, 256K color, 2.2“ D-TFD color LCD + touch panel (display color subject to software support)
Camera: CIF (352 x 288)
Battery: 850 mAH Lithium-Polymer (removable)
Battery Life: GSM Talk Time (2 hours), GSM standby time (100 hours)
Weigh: 105g (approx.)
Unit Size: 48 x 100 x 21 mm

Announced Feb 2004 as update to G18. Promoted as “Still the smallest Palm Powered Phone”. https://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=2375

Codename Zircon I, HAL ID zicn, Device ID zicn [22]
Also known as Zicron G88 in Singapore

Source 1 Source 2

Phone features: Dual band 900MHz and 1800MHz, GPRS Class 10
Support services: E-book, E-mail, WAP, SMS, MMS, STK, Java, etc
Organizer: Address,Date book, Memo, To-do, etc.
Entertainment: Camera, formats, games, photo album, etc 70,000 words English -chinese Dictionary, 50,000 Chinese-english dictionary keyboard input, Graffiti hand-writing recognition
USB PC Sync: Synchronization with PC
Conectivity: IrDA 1.2 Others: Calendar, Calculator, Timer,etc.
OS : Palm OS 4.1.2
Main Processor : Motorola Dragonball Vz 33MHz
memory: MaskRom - 16M Bytes, SDRAM - 16M Bytes, Flash - 4M Bytes in-built 24MB Flash Memory
LCD: 176 x 240 pixels, 256K color, 2.2” D-TFD color LCD + touch panel (display color subject to software support)
Camera: CIF (352 x 288)
Battery: 850 mAH Lithium-Polymer (removable)
Battery life: GSM Talk Time (2 hours), GSM standby time (100 hours)
weight: :105g (approx.)
Unit Size: :48 x 100 x 21 mm
Network dependent features may require relevant subscription service

Announced Nov 2004

Codename Zircon II, HAL ID zcn2, Device ID zcn2 [22]

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=3710

Source 1 Source 2

2.2” 260,000 colors TFT touch panel LCD Display
Video recording & playing function
MP3 player & Voice recorder
VGA Digital camera with zoom & multi-shot function
Email support POP3, SMTP with attachment
View and edit attachment function (in conjunction with application software)
Full screen Chinese & English handwriting recognition input
32MB M-systems built-in memory
External SD/MMC memory card expansion slot
40 polyphonic ringtones support MIDI & MP3 format
Support GPRS Class 10, xHTML, WAP2.0, MMS, SMS*
Built-in exciting Palm games
Built-in English to Chinese dictionary
Data transmission through IrDA
Synchronize your data to your PC
Palm OS 5.4
CPU: Arm 9
Battery life: Talk time up to: 3.5 hrs; Stand by time: 170 hrs
Dimension: 106mm x 50.8mm x 23.5mm; 130.5mm x 50.8mm x 23.5mm (Slide up)
Weight: 132g (including battery and stylus)
Network dependent features may require relevant subscription service
Specifications, accessories, features and download content are subject to change without prior notice

First Xplore phone with Bluetooth. Ann. Feb 2005, rel, early 2006

Sold in UK as Hagenuk S200.
Sold in Italy as Xplore M68.
Codename Unknown, HAL ID zcn5, Device ID zcn5 [22]

[5][6][8]

Source 2

Size & Weight: 49.5 x 109 x 22.5 mm (1.9 x 4.3 x .88 Inches); 127g (4.48 oz)
Processor: ARM 9 OMAP 168 Mhz
Operating System: Palm OS Garnet v5.4
Memory: 32 MB RAM / 64 SDRAM flash memory
Expansion: SD/MMC memory slot
Screen: 176×220 pixel (only 160×220 used) ; 2.2 inch, 65k-color; transflective (D-TFD)
Audio: 2.5mm headset jack; rear speaker
Power: Rechargable Li-Ion Poly, 1350 mAh (4 hrs talk/170 hours standby)
Connectivity: Tri-Band GSM radio (900/1800/1900), Class 10 GPRS,
HotSync-Connector, IrDA, Bluetooth (v1.1)
Exciting Palm games included: Bejeweled, Book Worm, GTS Racing, Megabowling, Zap! 2016

GSM 900/ 1800/ 1900MHz
Palm OS® 5.4 Garnet
Display: 260K Color, 2.2”TFT, LCD Touch Screen
Instant email with one touch only
Bluetooth Synchronization
SMS Alarm
Video caller ID
Full screen writing input, support both Chinese and English
1.3 mega pixels camera, with digital zoom and multi-shot function
Video viewing and recording function
MP3 playing and recording function
40 poly ringtone support MIDI and MP3 format
Email support (POP3, SMTP) with viewing and editing attachment function
(in conjunction with application software)
Support GPRS Class 10/ xHTML, WAP2.0, MMS, SMS
External SD memory card expansion slot
Bluetooth, Infrared and USB connectivity
Exciting Palm game

* Subject to local network service and usage conditions

Battery
Traveler charger
Stylus
Stereo Handset
USB PC synchronize cable
Download software

CPU: Arm 9
Dimension: 49.5 x 109 x 22.5 mm
Weight: 129g
Talk time: Up to 240mins
Stand by time: Up to 170hours

Announced Feb 2005, Released in Aug 2005, and discontinued in Sept 2006 [4]
Attractively priced, but poorly marketed [7]
Sold as XPRO P368 in China.
Codename Onyx II, HAL ID UNKNWON, Device ID UNKNOWN [22]

Source 1 Source 2

GSM 900/ 1800/ 1900MHz
Toggle between Phone mode and PDA mode by one touch only
Full screen writing input, support both Chinese and English
Video caller ID, SMS Alarm
1.3 mega pixels camera, with digital zoom and multi-shot function
Video viewing and recording function
MP3 playing and recording function
40 poly ringtone support MIDI and MP3 format
Email support (POP3, SMTP) with viewing and editing attachment function (in conjunction with application software)
Support GPRS Class 10/ xHTML, WAP2.0, MMS, SMS
External TransFlash memory card expansion slot
Infrared and USB connectivity
Exciting Palm games included: Bejeweled, Book Worm, GTS Racing, Megabowling, Zap! 2016
Palm OS® 5.4 Garnet
Display: External – 260K Color, TFT 96 x 96 pixels resolution
Internal – 260K Color, TFT 176 x 220 pixels resolution
CPU: Arm 9
Talk time up to: 2 hrs
Stand by time: 100 hrs
Comes in white, orange, or silver
Dimension: 95.5 x 46.8 x 25.5 mm
Weight: 109g
Specifications, accessories, features and download content are subject to change without prior
notice
Subject to local network service and usage conditions

Almost identical to the M68. Ann. Sept 2006, rel, early 2006

Codename UNKNOWN, HAL ID zcn5, Device ID zcn5 [22]

A minor update, the M70S was later released in Oct 2007 with a firmware update.

Source

Features

Tri band: GSM 900/ 1800/ 1900MHz
Palm OS® 5.4 Garnet
Display: 260K Color, 2.2” TFT 176 x 220 pixels, touch screen
Push Email
One touch Email function
Bluetooth communication and synchronization
SMS Alarm
Video Caller Display
Full screen Chinese and English handwriting input
1.3 mega pixels CMOS camera, with digital zoom function
Video recording and playback (support MPEG 4 and 3GPP format)
MP3 ringtone and playback
40 poly ringtone, support MIDI and MP3 format
Email support (POP3, SMTP) with viewing and editing attachment function (in conjunction with application software)
Support GPRS Class 10/ xHTML/ WAP 2.0/ MMS/ SMS
External SD card expansion slot
Bluetooth, Infrared and USB connectivity
Exciting Palm games
Network dependent features may require relevant subscription service

Accessories

Li-Polymer battery
Traveller adaptor
Stylus
Handsfree
USB sync cable
Download software

Specification

Processor : ARM 9
Dimension : 109 x 50 x 23.7 mm
Weight : 131g
Talk time : Up to 240 mins*
Standby time: Up to 170 hrs*
Subject to local network service and usage conditions
Specification, accessories, features and download content are subject to change without prior notice

The Axia A108 was announced in Nov 2004, but discontinued by 2006. It was launched under the brand name Axia, separate from the Xplore devices. It was also sold under the Zircon brand name,

http://tech.sina.com.cn/mobile/n/2005-05-19/1742612387.shtml

. This device was advertised as "The world's smallest PDA Phone on Win CE .NET OS"., in a similar fashion to the Xplore devices.

In Feb 2005, at a local GSPDA public meeting, a representative indicated that GSPDA indicated to release a Palm OS 6 (Cobalt) based smartphone by the end of 2006[16] - over a year after Cobalt 6.1 was announced in 2004[17], and almost two years after Cobalt 6 was announced in Feb 2004.

In April it was indicated that the Zircon Axia A108 device would be available with a range of different OS platforms, including Palm OS 6 Cobalt [18][19].

These plans were again confirmed in May 2005, during an interview with PalmSource exectutives.

Finally, in late May, a prototype device running Cobalt 6.1.1 was shown at the PalmSource DevCon [20][21].

However, after this date, no news was heard about the Cobalt version of the Axia, and the launch never materialised.