OQO never got around to actually selling the OQO Model 2+ that it introduced back in January, but that didn’t stop someone from picking one up on eBay for $4,500. I know a lot of GBM community members were waiting to buy an OQO Model 2+, but I hope none of you plunked down that much cash for a used one with no warranty or support.

The “Virtually New” OQO Model 2+ had a starting bid of $4,000 and it looks like not one, but two bidders were actually willing to pay $4,500.

I have to admit that I sometimes overpay for gadgets since I’m an early adopter, but this is just ridiculous.

Based on the seller’s location and eBay history of selling OQO accessories, this Model 2+ probably belonged to an OQO insider.

via Engadget

Who Paid $4,500 for an OQO Model 2+? is a post by Xavier Lanier from Gotta Be Mobile.

OQO will be shutting its doors before shipping the OQO Model 2+ according to industry sources. Bob Rosin, OQO’s SVP of sales and marketing, told the Wall Street Journal that the company is facing a cash crunch, has reduced work hours and is actively looking for a buyer.

We’re fans of OQO and really hope the situation improves, but things are looking grim. Apparently the company is virtually out of cash and the company will not say when the Model 2+ will ship. There’s an estimated ship date of May 2009 listed on the Model 2+ product page, but the WSJ article points out that the target will most likely be missed.

I called an OQO spokesperson, who could not offer   a timeline of when of when/if the Model 2+ would ship. I pointed out that OQO still lists May 2009 as the expected ship date for pre-orders on its web site. She said tha the company’s never promised when it woud ship by and couldn’t offer a timeline.

Industry insiders, including a couple of OQO partners, have told me they don’t expect the OQO Model 2+ to ship at all. The surging popularity of cheaper devices and the Model 2+’s non-standard components have made it even more challenging for OQO to continue doing business.

I asked the spokesperson to confirm or deny whether or not would be shutting down and she said she could not. I was hoping she would tell me that the company was in not shutting down, and in fact had some good news to share with us in the near future.

Unfortunately, it appears OQO is on its last legs and we can expect some bad news in the coming days or weeks, barring a last-minute buyout. Calls to OQO’s direct sales phone number goes directly to a voicemail message that provides service information. Calls to their corporate sales lines go directly to voicemail that promotes the OQO Model 1.

News of OQO’s financial difficulty came to light after a moderator at OQO Talk started a discussion on the subject and James Kendrick from jkOnTheRun confirmed that Expansys canceled all OQO 2+ pre-orders.

OQO May Be Shutting Down is a post by Xavier Lanier from Gotta Be Mobile.

OQO - Current Model 02

As an attendee of Digital Experience, I just got a list of vendors planning to present at Digital Experience emailed to me; and, what do I find but this little nugget of info listing OQO as a presenter, announcing their Model 2+ featuring the 1.86 ghz Intel Atom processor, 2GB of RAM, and an embedded touchscreen. This makes a marked change for OQO’s current Model 02, which has a 1.6 ghz Via processor, max of 1GB of RAM, and only an active digitizer. No word on whether their new touchscreen will also support active pen input and whether it is capacitive touch. I can’t wait to get my hands on that puppy.

From the Digital Experience email I received:

OQO, Inc. announces the new model 2+ with the Intel ® Atomâ„¢ processor, the world’s first PC OLED display, and worldwide 3G capability. Based on the 1.86GHz Intel Atom processor and 2GB RAM, the OQO model 2+ offers performance up to twice as fast as its predecessor and includes an embedded touchscreen for easier input.

OQO To Debut Model 2+ With 1.86 Intel Atom, Touch At CES, Digital Experience is a post by Rob Bushway from Gotta Be Mobile.