Vodafone, Sharp, and NHK digital TV phone
By Ryan Block 
posted May 12th 2005 2:23PM
posted May 12th 2005 2:23PM
It ain't much to look at—especially for a fancy Japanese handset—but Sharp's new prototype cellphone, in concert
with service by Vodafone and NHK, is capable of playing back streaming H.264/MPEG-4 AVC (Advanced Video Coding) video
from digital terrestrial broadcasts (we're not sure if that means DVB, ISDB, or what have you). It can also play back
in split screen mode to allow internet access simultaneously, craking for up to 2 hours on end (we're assuming that's a
decent little screen it's got under the hood, there). It's a bit sizeable at 2 x 4 x 1.1-inches though, but it is a
prototype, afterall, so cut 'em some slack.
[Via Ployer]
Japanese phones have gotten bigger lately as they've been packing the features on, along with these huge screens.
I don't think those dimensions are really all that far out for a modern Japanese phone, except maybe the thickness. 1.1" is a little chunky. The length and width seem pretty common these days, though... the days of gumstick size phones are pretty much over in Japan. (Though I'm sure you can still find a phone that size if you want one... they're just not that common anymore.)