i-mate reportedly trims US ops

i-mate are one of those companies who used to be a big name in the Windows Mobile handset market, partly because they provided unlocked rebadges of HTC handsets - the geek's preference over operator-branded versions of the same devices.

However, HTC now self-brands its own handsets (and obviously still lets operators rebadge) so i-mate's raison d'être has somewhat evaporated. They've tried hard, but I had my suspicions they were in trouble when I visited 3GSM last year to be shown handsets that were, at best, treading water. They had some nifty functionality and were all tied in with i-mate's new line in TVs (yes, I know), but just looked... dire. Champagne colour! The company was obviously falling behind the pack.

Now, according to reports, the company has laid off the majority of its US staff. There have apparently been delays in getting its new Ultimate range out, drawn-out wrangles with operators, and now a volley of pink slips. And the resignation of the chief software officer and VP of sales.

I don't want to overstate things - I wish i-mate all the luck in the world - but things don't look good.