NTT DoCoMo Unveils 505i Series i-mode Mobile Phones
NTT DoCoMo today unveiled specifications of its new 505i mobile phones, a series of six enhanced PDC (2G)-compatible models equipped for advanced i-appli applications based on Macromedia Flash and Java technology. Each 505i model also comes with a camera, infrared port, and external memory slot. DoCoMo expects to introduce the models one by one beginning in mid-May. CONTINUE
COMMENTS: A quick summary of specifications:
* Macromedia Flash browser for rich content
The 505i-series incorporates Macromedia Flash in the microbrowser, allowing users to access a broad range of rich content and applications enhanced with highly fluid animation.
* Enhanced i-appli (“i-appli DX”)
The 505i series is equipped for “i-appli DX,” a new service from DoCoMo, to handle a wider range of Java-enabled content. A 200-KB scratch pad, double the size of scratch pads in the former 504i- and 504iS-series models, enables more data to be downloaded at one time, thus reducing required number of connections. You can also have more applis onboard that each receive a chunk of dedicated memory area to save persistent data like games state, user ID and PW, etc. You can also now have more than one appli running at once and “hot-switch” between them, just like you can with applications running on a Windows desktop PC. There are other enhancements that make the onboard Java environment much more similar to that of a PDA or desktop.
* Enhanced storage capacity
Enhanced storage capacity enables 505i models to store up to 20KB of data for browser pages and ringing tones each, meaning, for example longer, better-quality ringing tones.
* Extra-friendly i-mode mail
Already used on FOMA (3G), users can decide in advance which mail messages to download by checking each mail’s subject line, sender name, and receipt date/time (helps cut down on spam packet fees).
* Extremely high-resolution cameras
Each 505i phone is equipped with a high-resolution camera for taking still pictures. Some models offer resolutions of 1 to 1.3 megapixels, similar to that of a low-end digital camera; some can also take video clips (although you can’t transmit the clips via the network). Cameras can also read JAN- and QR-standard barcodes for easy retrieval of data from printed materials.
* External memory storage
505i phones accept “Memory Stick Duo” and “miniSD” memory cards for data storage and data exchange.
Spec sheet here.