Gadgets and Gizmos

Asus To Launch SOS Smartphone In USA

Asus the Taiwan-based manufacturer announced plans at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to launch its P527 GPS smart phone in the United States soon. The P527 is designed for travelers, sporting built-in GPS and related applications, including Travelog and Location Courier.

Travelog lets users capture their travel routes and export the information to Google Earth. The points of interest can be enhanced with pictures and memos that can then be turned into a presentation and edited.

It is the ideal personal gadget for users who enjoy efficiency on the go, and is also the first ASUS cellular product to launch in the United States. The P527 is based on Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT)’s Windows Mobile 6 operating system, which gives users the ability to view and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, as well as receive wireless “push” e-mail that is automatically sent to the phone from Microsoft Exchange Servers.

Some additional features include a Business Card Recognition application that can scan business cards and store the information in Outlook, and a Remote Control function that turns the phone into a remote control for PowerPoint presentations, according to Asus.