Continuing the recent flood of camera-phone announcements, Samsung released plans for a 3.2-megapixel digital camera phone, the SPH-S2300, that it said includes features that align its capabilities with those of a digital camera.
The phone includes a 3X optical linear zoom, along with a 4X digital zoom, allowing users to magnify pictures up to 12 times. Users can choose image sizes from 640 x 480 pixels to 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, and the ISO setting can be switched between automatic, 100, 200 and 400 speeds.
The camera also features manual setting options, including white balance, to adjust to lighting, an adjustable camera flash rather than an LED flash, and an auto-focusing function. Camcorder functions, a microphone and a memory card are also included.
The S2300 is being tested and Samsung expects to launch it in the Korean market this month.
Sony Ericsson also joined the crowd with the release of several new devices including three camera phones and a smartphone.
The new Sony Ericsson S710a megapixel camera phone and the Z500 clamshell camera phone both use EDGE technology for fast wireless data, content downloads, messaging and interactive gaming. According to Sony Ericsson, the EDGE devices are capable of uploading at up to 240 kpbs and downloading at up to 120 kpbs.
The S710a features a 1.3-megapixel camera with a photo light and 8X digital zoom. The Z500 includes Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC) technology. Both should be available in the fourth quarter.
Sony Ericsson also launched the K500 camera phone, which it is said looks like a phone on one side and a camera on the others. It includes a large color screen and a joystick for enhanced gaming experience and 12 MB of internal memory to store downloaded 3D games. It also has a 4X digital zoom camera that can capture still images or video. It is expected to be available in the third quarter.
Sony Ericsson also unveiled the P910 smartphone that combines phone, PDA, e-mail and Web capabilities. The phone is based on Symbian OS v7.0. It is expected to start shipping globally in the third quarter.
Finally, Sony Ericsson announced two new Bluetooth headsets, the Akono Headset HBH-660 and the Akono Headset HBH-300, and the Desk Speaker Stand CSS-25, which serves as a hands-free speaker phone and conference phone.
Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group, meanwhile, launched the lower-end A65 mobile phone. The phone includes a 4-way navigation key, a color screen and an optional clip-on camera with a flash. It has multimedia messaging capabilities and can be personalized with downloadable polyphonic ring tones and Java games. Siemens said it will be available in Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America starting in September.
Finally, LG Mobile Phones and AT&T Wireless Services Inc. released two new GSM handsets, the L1150 and the G4015.
Both phones include color screens, instant messaging capabilities and polyphonic sound with downloadable ringers. The dual-band G4015 is available now through AWS retailers and can be purchased as a prepaid phone on AWS’ GoPhone service. It retails for $50 after rebates. The tri-band L1150 camera phone, scheduled to be available in August, will sell for $120 after rebates.
