Two New V603s: Killer Swivel Clamshells
Vodafone raised the competitive bar a couple a couple notches today with the announcement of two new killer swivel clamshells phones: the V603T and V603SH (from Toshiba & Sharp; both 2G). The company said the V603SH is the first phone to feature a Motion Control Sensor that recognises and responds to movements. Jointly developed by Aichi Steel Corp. and Vodafone, the one-chip sensor allows customers to perform menu operations by moving the handset up, down, left or right. Vodafone think this will allow new possibilities with mobile gaming, such as aiming a gun by moving the handset while playing shooting games or swinging the phone like a golf club to hit a ball in golf games. Watch our video clip of the new V603SH above taken at the press event (shot with a V902SH handset); use Quick Time or Real Player to view this 3GPP video file.
The company also said that the V603T offers an innovative “TV-View-Style” design to increase TV viewing enjoyment for customers. By holding down the unlock button located on the side of the handset while it is open, customers can push the LCD display backward a complete 360 degrees to activate the TV.
The V603SH and V603T feature analogue TV tuners, which enable both TV viewing and FM radio listening. Customers can also relive scenes from their favourite TV shows by using capture functions to record broadcasts. In addition, both handsets come equipped with an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) so customers can easily find the shows they want to watch.
V603SH by Sharp
1. Main Features
– Motion Control Sensor for a new way performing mobile handset operations As a first in Japan (As of 31 Jan 2005), the V603SH features a Motion Control Sensor jointly developed by Aichi Steel Corporation and Vodafone K.K. that recognises and responds to movements, enabling customers to experience a host of new features not available in mobile phones until now. Without pressing buttons, menu operations can be performed by moving the handset up, down, left or right and often-used functions (shortcuts), can be called up by moving the handset in a variety of preset patterns.
With the two pre-installed trial version V-applis, customers can also enjoy new possibilities with mobile gaming, such as aiming a gun by moving the handset while playing ‚The House of the Dead Mobile™ offered by Sega Corporation [3G Phone 30sec. Video Clip] and swinging the phone like a real golf club in Full Swing! Golf™ offered by Taito Corporation [3G Phone 30sec. Video Clip]
– Integrated TV Tuner and Electronic Program Guide for easy TV show searches The V603SH™s analogue TV tuner allows customers to check TV programmes of interest and listen to FM radio broadcasts on the go. Thanks to the handset™s 180 degree rotating ‚Swivel Style™ LCD screen, wide-angle-view Mobile ASV technology, and automatic horizontal/vertical view switching made possible by the Motion Control Sensor, TV viewing is easy in any environment or situation. Customers can also relive their favourite TV or music moments by using the capture or recorder function for TV broadcasts or the radio recorder function to record radio broadcasts. The handset also comes with an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) so customers can easily find and learn more about the TV programmes they want to watch.
*Reception varies according to signal strength and in some cases TV visuals or audio may encounter static or not be received.
*Communication charges apply when using EPG.
*Captured stills or recorded TV or radio cannot be copied, edited or sent by mail. Captured stills or recorded TV or radio cannot be played back on other handsets or set as wallpaper or ring alerts.
– Auto focus 2.02 megapixel mobile CCD camera with 2x optical zoom The V603SH has a 2.02 megapixel CCD mobile camera with a 2x optical zoom for vivid photography even when zooming up. By utilising the Swivel Style design, the reversible LCD screen can be used as a viewfinder for a digital camera like feel.
V603T by Toshiba
1. Main Features
– Integrated analogue TV tuner and ‚TV View Style’ for convenient TV viewing enjoyment The V603T™s integrated analogue TV tuner allows customers to check TV programmes of interest and listen to FM radio broadcasts while they are on the go. To make mobile TV viewing even easier than before, the V603T features the ‚TV View Style™ design innovation, which lets customers activate the TV by holding down the unlock button located on the side while the handset is open and pushing back the LCD display a complete 360 degrees. For convenient TV viewing in any situation, the V603T also comes with a desktop stand (cradle) so the display is at eye level and a reel-type earphone microphone antenna.
*Reception varies according to signal strength and in some cases TV visuals or audio may encounter static or not be received.
– Fully featured recorder functions and Electronic Program Guide for easy TV show searches The V603T enables customers to relive their favourite TV moments by using the capture or recorder function for TV broadcasts. In addition the handset comes with and Electronic Program Guide (EPG) so customers can easily find and learn details of the TV programmes they want to watch.
*Captured stills or recorded TV or radio cannot be copied, edited or sent by mail. Captured stills or recorded TV or radio cannot be played back on other handsets or set as wallpaper or ring alerts.
*Communication charges apply when using EPG.
– V-kara Mobile Karaoke Ver. 2 and dedicated Chaku-Uta ® player for music enjoyment
The V603T supports V-kara Mobile Karaoke Ver. 2 so one can easily enjoy karaoke by connecting the handset to a TV. For more fun with friends and family, it can award points after a song has been performed. Furthermore, the V603T features a dedicated Chaku-Uta ® player as a tool for enhanced enjoyment of Chaku-Uta ® ringsong downloads. In addition to a wide variety of playback modes such as random and repeat, the player also features an ‚intro quiz™ function that plays the first parts of Chaku-uta ® ringsongs.
The phones should be available within this month.
Download detailed specifications (.PDF) Here.
Access hi-res JPG images (.ZIP) Here.