Looks like the much anticipated O2 XDA IQ is going to hit the market very soon. For those who are not aware the XDA 1Q is a state of the art smart phone which is also wi-fi enabled! So you may wonder what’s new.? Well unlike other wi-fi enabled phones this one isn’t bulky at all and sports a very stylish and sleek design. Weighing just about 110 grams, the O2 XDA IQ includes integrated wireless LAN support and Bluetooth. Other features include infrared, a 1.3-megapixel camera, a mini SD slot, quad-band, GPRS, EDGE and Wi-Fi connectivity.

O2 prefers the Pocket PC variant of Windows Mobile but there has been a single Smartphone in the Xda range previously – the Xda SP. With its second outing into Windows Mobile Smartphone territory O2 does something no other operator has done in the UK – bring Wi-Fi into the mix.O2 is unconcerned enough about this to have taken the plunge and I’d guess that revenue is not in too much immediate danger. The world’s best known VoIP provider, Skype has a beta of a client for Windows Smartphone, but as yet it is text only (i.e. only suitable for IM). A VoIP solution that I know does work on Windows Mobile Smartphones, CiceroPhone is designed for corporate networks and delivered as part of a big rollout to companies rather than individual.

O2’s Xda IQ looks every inch a smartphone, its overall dimensions (46.5mm wide by 109mm deep by 18.5mm high) and weight (110g) being entirely average for its class. The silver and black styling is distinctive, but the way the screen and keyboard are bisected by an array of shortcut buttons and a mini joystick is pretty standard.The 2.2in. screen has a resolution of 240 by 320 pixels and delivers a high-quality image. A light sensor automatically activates the keypad’s backlight when you press a key if surrounding conditions are dark enough.The Xda IQ has a 1.3 megapixel camera, whose lens is on the back of the device; the camera is activated using a button on the upper right edge. There is a self-portrait mirror, but no flash. The top edge houses the infrared port and the on/off switch, while the bottom edge is home to a 2.5mm headset connector and mini USB port for PC connectivity and mains power.