re: CeBIT 2001 GPRS Handset Wrap
Ericsson * Motorola * NEC * Nokia * Panasonic * Samsung * Sendo * Siemens * Philips * Sony
Simon Says:
"GPRS terminals seem to be coming very soon from a wide range of manufacturers."
>> GPRS Terminal Update from CeBIT 2001
30 March 2001
Simon Buckingham
Mobile Lifestreams
Alcatel presented a wide range of terminals, however it was surprising to find that they did not have a GPRS phone available. There was a discreet demonstration of GPRS using a prototype terminal, however the commercial terminal (the One Touch 511) will not be available until the end of 2001 / beginning of 2002.
The Ericsson T31 is a flagship product packed with features including Triband support, Bluetooth support (built in), GPRS (4+1), HSCSD and a WAP 1.2.1 browser: Focused on the corporate market, the Ericsson R520 supports the same range of features as the T31 (Triband support, Bluetooth support (built in), GPRS (4+1), HSCSD and a WAP 1.2.1 browser) but is a more conservative design. The most advanced product on display (with the least information) was the Ericsson T68. This phone is expected to launch at the end of 2001, features a colour display and supports MMS (Multimedia Messaging). It is packed with features including Triband support, Bluetooth support (built in), GPRS (4+1), HSCSD and a WAP 1.2.1 browser.
A new flip phone from Motorola called the V.66 supporting GPRS was on show. This tri-band clamshell design is likely to delight the operators who have been limited to using the larger Timeport 260 for GPRS access so far. With Motorola’s lead in the GPRS market, it is likely this phone will be available quite quickly and the GPRS implementation should be very reliable. A small personalisation detail has been added to the device making it possible to have interchangeable bezels on the upper flip.
The Motorola Talkabout 192 was also launched. This is also a GPRS compatible handset targeting a different market with features such as changeable covers, mass messaging and location services.
The other new Motorola phone announced was the Timeport 280. As with the devices above it is GPRS compliant, however the key feature that is unique to this phone is the dual slot functionality and the ability to add a credit card reader with a plug in accessory allowing m-commerce transactions to take place.
NEC showcased their new DB-7000 GPRS phone that will be available at the end of the year. This dual band device has a large colour screen (256 colours) and supports features such as picture CLI (i.e. a picture can be captured / saved and cross referenced to a number in the memory - when an incoming call arrives the picture of the person calling is displayed).
Nokia’s long awaited GPRS offering included the Nokia 8310, which is their headline phone in this area. The 8310 offers GPRS (total of four timeslots - 3+1 and 2+2) which will be available in Q3 2001. Another phone that also supports GPRS and other additional features is the Nokia 6310. The Nokia 6310 (a similar form factor to the existing 6210) is packed with features. It supports GPRS (total of four timeslots - 3+1 and 2+2). This handset will be available in Q4 2001. Nokia is very late with GPRS having put all its resources into HSCSD and other corporate devices such as the 9210 Communicator do NOT support GPRS.
Panasonic’s headline product was the GD95 _ a GPRS phone with WAP support. The GD95 is expected to be available "later in the year."
Philips had an extremely disappointing selection of terminals and are obviously finding things quite tough at the moment. They announced a range of new phones including a new version of the Xenium known as the 9660 and they also featured the Philips Fisio 610 and Philips Ozeo which will be launched in September 2001 and will support GPRS.
Samsung featured their SGH-Q100 GPRS phone which was first previewed at the GSM World Congress in 2000. Unfortunately it seems to have taken them longer than expected to get the phone to the market however it will be available in April 2001. In addition to support for GPRS it also features an Openwave browser.
The Sendo Z100 has the "look and feel" of a Microsoft product with a rich set of features including a 65,000 colour TFT screen, GPRS, streamed audio and video as well as a suite of Microsoft solutions including Mobile Outlook, Mobile Explorer and the Windows Media Player.
The GPRS terminal (the Siemens S45) is a dual band handset with additional features such as a personal organiser and voice control features. Siemens were showing live GPRS demonstrations connecting to the internet.
Sony also had a GPRS terminal on display but it was not indicated when the product would be available.
Sony’s strategy with regards to an operating system was still unclear. Currently the mobile phones support Microsoft Mobile Explorer so the logical next step would be a "Stinger" product, however they have already announced a PDA featuring the Palm OS.
GPRS terminals seem to be coming very soon from a wide range of manufacturers. <<
- Eric - |
