Windows Phone Thoughts: New O2 XDAs: You Win Some, You Lose Some

"O2 UK has canceled the O2 Xda Zinc, the previously unveiled 3G Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC Phone Edition the carrier originally planned to release in January. According to an O2 spokeswoman, 'the Zinc (which was developed by AsusTek) failed to pass the carrier's network tests'. However, it's not yet clear if O2 Asia will continue the Xda Zinc or if the Asian reseller will cancel it as well."



That's a pretty big blow to AsusTek, whatever the real merits of the Zinc. In any case, O2 UK has found a more than capable replacement for the new hole in their line-up - they're picking up the Xda Trion (aka Hermes), though pricing and exact availability date has yet to be determined. In other news, O2 Ireland is also adding another device to their device range. Available 'exclusively' (yeah, right :) ) from O2 the HTC Artemis bows in as the Xda Orbit (pictured above), packing CoPilot Live software with preloaded maps for the UK and Ireland. The Xda Orbit will go for 272 Euros ex VAT, though what kind of voice plan would go with the subsidised price has yet to be disclosed.