NEC Australia has announced the launch of their first i-mode 3G mobile phone – the NEC N600i – for those down under. Available now in Telstra stores, the dual-mode N600i is equipped with the Access NetFront 3.2 browser, a QVGA 2-in colour LCD screen, Bluetooth, TransFlash memory card and a 1.3-megapixel auto-focus camera. The new unit is also available to order via Telstra’s i-mode online shop.
KDDI/au have announced the latest addition to their CDMA 1X handset line-up, the A1405PT [ .jpg image ] from PanTech & Curitel. The phone was jointly developed with KDDI and marks the first entry of a Korean-made model into the Japanese market. Due to hit the streets by the end of November, it comes with a limited set of features (only a VGA camera for example), but it does tout an organic EL “Stream Screen” sub-display and has a built-in “crime prevention buzzer function” that is able to sound the warning sound of a large volume. This should be a fun feature for our next trip out to see the Yomiuri Giants play!
Japan’s Willcom will launch four PHS mobile handsets this November packed with many of the same functions as high-end DoCoMo or KDDI models. Functions for the WX310K and WX300K both by Kyocera; Sanyo’s WX310SA; and JRC WX310J include a PC document viewer, NetFront V3.3 internet browser, Intellisync for Outlook, fingerprint authentification, music player, pixel reader, macromedia flash, even Bluetooth — all at rates the bigger carriers will find hard to match.
PHS (personal handyphone system) subscriber numbers, long in free fall against 3G mobile carriers, are slowly climbing back from the abyss thanks to low-cost fixed-rate subscriber packages that are saving consumers bundles of yen. Currently Willcom has an inter-service flat call rate under 3000 yen ($26) per month. The company has announced they will introduce a flat rate mobile data fee of just 3,800 yen ($33) to coincide with the release of the new 300/310 series. PHS subscribers will be able to dig in to a full buffet of mobile services for around 6,700 yen ($58) a month.
Toshiba has announced the latest addition to its line-up of Dynastron complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors for integration in mobile handsets. The new ET8E99-AS [ .jpg image ] brings 3.2-megapixel capability to cellular phones and other camera-enabled mobile devices in a small package, offering, according to the company, low-power consumption and high-level performance. Samples of the new sensor are available immediately and mass production will start within the calendar year. The ET8E99-AS will be exhibited at CEATEC JAPAN 2005, from October 4 at Makuhari Messe.
DoCoMo has developed their first mobile handset to receive terrestrial digital broadcasting and analog TV in one 3G Foma package. The P901iTV handset, by Panasonic, targets the start of mobile digital broadcasting in April, 2006 and will make its public debut at the upcoming CEATEC Japan 2005 trade show October 4 to 8 at Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba. (WWJ will be on-hand to get photos and video!)
The twist-style handset comes with a 2.5-inch, wide-view main LCD screen plus a sub-display, antenna-embedded earphone for enhanced TV reception, and 2.2-megapixel camera. The handset can only handle around 2.5 hours of continuous digital TV viewing; 1.5 hours of analog — ruling out Lord of the Rings style 3-hour viewing marathons. DoCoMo’s Osaifu-Keitai mobile wallet is part of the package as well, enabling the phone to be used as electronic money.
Vodafone and KDDI have had demonstration models of terrestrial digital TV receiver/handsets for some time. Last may their latest versions were up and running at the NHK Science and Technical Research Laboratories open house. Vodafone displayed the 801SH Sharp CDMA Qualcomm handset with a hybrid split-screen displaying TV images on the upper half with the bottom reserved for scrolling data feeds. KDDI showed off a similar au prototype handset by Sanyo. Check-out our video report from that event here.
NEC has announced the world’s thinnest clamshell-style mobile phone to be launched into the Hong Kong market [press release in Japanese]. The new model will also be introduced in Italy, Russia, Australia and China. It boasts slim measurements of 47.9mm (width) X 101.5mm (height) X 11.9mm (depth; when folded) and weighs 96g. Supporting dual-mode GSM/GPRS, it is equipped with a 1.9-in, 65,000-color display with a 1.3-megapixel digital camera. The unit is also loaded with PictBridge, an MP3 player, Java and Bluetooth.
