Industry witnessed the release of three unique, advanced handsets from the likes of Verizon Wireless, NTT DoCoMo Inc. and startup Mobiado, a division of Bonac Innovation Corp., which today released a $1,200 GSM camera phone built from aircraft aluminum.
First up is Verizon Wireless, which released its first CDMA EV-DO device. The carrier’s new XV6600 wireless personal digital assistant features Microsoft Corp.’s operating system, 64 MB ROM and 128 MB RAM, Bluetooth and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. UTStarcom Personal Communications, formerly Audiovox Communications Corp., built the device, which uses Intel Corp.’s XScale and Qualcomm Inc.’s MSM5500 chipset.
Verizon is selling the phone through its national account sales team for $550 with a two-year service plan.
Separately, DoCoMo released its new N900iG FOMA 3G handset, which can roam across more than 100 countries, such as the United States. DoCoMo said the advanced, clamshell-style phone can work on either W-CDMA or GSM networks from the likes of Cingular Wireless L.L.C., Orange plc, Hutchison, Telecom Italia Mobile and others. Users can access standard DoCoMo applications like i-mode information and i-appli Java applications when they roam.
Finally, luxury phone company Mobiado released its new Mobiado Professional mobile phone, which the company said is CNC machined with lightweight aircraft aluminum to withstand rigorous use. The phone is polished with silicone carbide and features stainless steel buttons and an abrasive-resistant cast acrylic screen. The phone is a tri-band GSM device with an integrated digital camera, which the company is selling through its Web site for $1,200.
