EXCLUSIVE: Smartphone from Chi Mei

[Robert Levy]

Chi Mei Communication Systems, a company based in Taiwan which makes GSM/GPRS modules, is building a Smartphone device. Little is known about this device, but Smartphone Thoughts has acquired computer renderings of the hardware and uncovered a few details. Earlier this week we heard <a href="http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/Article5.asp?datePublish=2003/07/21&pages=09&seq=53">rumors</a> that Chi Mei and Motorola were working together on a phone but we have not been able to confirm whether <i>this</i> is that device or if there even is such a partnership.<br /><br />As a GSM clamshell device with an external display, this appears to be similar to the MiTAC Mio Smartphone with some key differences: no integrated camera, a USB connection for charging/syncing/accessories, an internal antenna, and a jog dial. <br /><br />When the phone is flipped open, the jog dial is used to control the volume of the earpiece, speaker and headset, record voice notes and processes voice tags. When the phone is closed, the jog dial is used to reject an incoming call and scroll through current profile and next incoming appointment on the external display.<br /><br />It appears that this will be the first Smartphone device to support "Voice Tags" which allow you to dial a number or launch a program using voice commands. It should be noted, however, that voice tags require training on a per-contact and per-application basies. This differs from the new VoiceDial application from Fonix which works with all of your contacts right away.<br /><br />Chi Mei Communication System's sister company, Chi Mei Optoelectronics, is the second larget TFT LCD manufacturer in Taiwan. This gives us high hopes for the display quality on this device.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/chi1.gif" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/chi2.gif" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/>

[brntcrsp]

two syllables - sa weet!

I like the fact that you can access information without opening the phone, which appears to be a limitation of the clamshell design. My cynicism doesn't inspire a release date anytime soon.

Oh accursed technolust - thou hath wounded me again!

[Eric Lin]

JEEZ. YUM. and a jog dial!!!

[MkollUK]

No integrated camera seems a strange idea.

It's increasingly rare for any moderately high-end phones to be released without one.

Tom

[Robert Levy]

No integrated camera seems a strange idea.

It's increasingly rare for any moderately high-end phones to be released without one.

Tom

Not really... we are seeing more and more places ban phones with cameras built in. After the novelty wears off, I think we'll see the market even out at around 60-70% of devices having cameras.

[Chafic]

What I really like about the specs is the internal antenna. Does it have BT ??

[Marc Zimmermann]

No integrated camera seems a strange idea.
Actually, I'll happily take longer battery life any day in favor of using the space for a half-baked camera.

[Will]

Photo's of this new smartphone have been published on MoDaCo. They comment on how it looks like the mystery device featured on the 'Orange Roadmap'

On the main page http://smartphone.modaco.com or
http://smartphone.modaco.com/viewtopic.php?t=87467

Will

[Chronos]

No integrated camera seems a strange idea.
Actually, I'll happily take longer battery life any day in favor of using the space for a half-baked camera.

Agreed- and reduce the form factor at all costs (the Mio 8380 looks great w/ nice specs, but I don't know if I'd want it in my pocket).

Incorporate SM2003, minimize the size, enable SDIO, and maybe add bluetooth support and its a winner! A friend has a Samsung V200 and what a great little clamshell phone. A similar form factor (for a clamshell) and I'm in! :lol:

[sebset]

This Smartphone will be sold in December 03 by Orange in UK and France. Wow! :P

[Robert Levy]

This Smartphone will be sold in December 03 by Orange in UK and France. Wow! :P

Source?

[MkollUK]

No integrated camera seems a strange idea.
Actually, I'll happily take longer battery life any day in favor of using the space for a half-baked camera.

When I first got my P800 I never thought I'd use the camera but I've suprised myself with the number of photos I take with it. It's never going to replace my Canon powershot but it's a lot more than just a gimmick. The number of times and places I've managed to take pics I never normally would have has led to some great photos.

I appreciate not everyone would want a camera in their phone but they don't take up that much space, look at the SE T610

[rbrome]

When I first got my P800 I never thought I'd use the camera but I've suprised myself with the number of photos I take with it. It's never going to replace my Canon powershot but it's a lot more than just a gimmick. The number of times and places I've managed to take pics I never normally would have has led to some great photos.

I appreciate not everyone would want a camera in their phone but they don't take up that much space, look at the SE T610

Same here. I almost never took photos before digital. Film was just too expensive and too much of a hassle. My first digital camera changed that dramatically, but of course I don't carry it all the time.

Now my photo-taking habits have changed again with camera phones. Now I take new types of photos that I never would have taken before.

But I also now don't bother to take my digicam with me in situations where I would have before. My camera phone actually has started to replace my digicam. Not for everything, of course, but definitely for some things. For example, I was apartment-hunting recently, and I found my camera phone was perfect for taking photos of apartments to help me remember what each one looked like. I didn't need great quality, and only needed them for a short while and to look at on my computer or share on the web.

Of course it helped that it was a VGA-resolution camera phone that takes decent pics (Nokia 3650). The CIF-resolution cameras aren't nearly as useful.

[sebset]

This Smartphone will be sold in December 03 by Orange in UK and France. Wow! :P

Source?

Orange roadmap :wink:

http://www.smartphony.org/geeklog/public_html/images/articles/20030624131332557_1.jpg

bye

[spg]

Very nice... although like I mentioned in another thread I still like the non-clamshell phone designs a little better. I also agree with whoever it was that said they would rather have more battery life in exchange for not having a camera. Battery life is a big deal to me with Smartphones, as you aren't going to get near as long with them as most normal cell phones. I'm certainly willing to make the tradeoff for features I need, but a camera is not one of those.