Pantech & Curitel's IM-U100 mediaphone

Hot off the heels of Pantech & Curitel's IM-U110 1GB musicphone comes their IM-U100, their new a media-centric slider that works it with a 15:9 widescreen 2.6-inch QVGA display (we're still trying to figure out how a QVGA display can be widescreen), 2 megapixel camera, EV-DO, MicroSD, and audio/video playback software which apparently even supports music and video-on-demand. This one seems squarely intended to be a portable media device, which is kind of uncommon now for a cellphone -- but it won't be for long. It'll run about $550 US when launched in Korea.

[splob @ Jan 26th 2006 10:46AM]

Maybe it's some sort of new WQVGA resolution, 240x400?

[Dissent @ Jan 26th 2006 11:46AM]

Its ergonomics as a phone look really bad. Just imagine trying to hold that thing while the keypad is out.

[KC @ Jan 26th 2006 11:52AM]

Hmmm... it's a SKY (SKTeltech) which means it is linked to SK Telecom which is 50% owner of Helio...

I wonder if there is a chance that any of these new phones might make it over here on Helio

Sell a hundred thousand units or so in Korea to cover development costs... throw in a carrier subsidy and all of a sudden this $550 phone can show up for $200 on the upcomming MVNO....

Hey I can dream right?

[Mike Evans @ Jan 26th 2006 12:18PM]

According to the press release, Pantech say that �we are confident that users in Korea and, eventually, overseas will appreciate the world class PMP functionality of the new IM-U100" - in other words, this is one Korean phone that might actually be exported!

You can read more here:

http://mobilementalism.com/2006/01/26/new-pantech-multimedia-phone-pmp-my-phone/

[jason @ Jan 26th 2006 12:19PM]

QVGA is 4:3 by nature, so either (a) it's a resolution that's vertically appended, but stil close to QVGA, say, 400x240, or (b) they just stretch the pixels and make everything elongated

[Justin @ Jan 26th 2006 1:22PM]

Come on Helio! That phone is niftay.

[Colin @ Jan 26th 2006 3:39PM]

Is there ANY chance that an IM-U110 would work in the US?

[Deluxe @ Jan 26th 2006 5:46PM]

I'm not sure about the exact detauls, but 240x400 resolution is quickly becoming the new standard resolution here in Japan and Korea, since Mitsubishi Electric released the FOMA D902i.

From a users opinion, it's a very pleasant aspect ratio to use, and seems to be the logical step for mobile devices, since TV's and the like are now widescreen.

As for this handset, I like the style except for the Up/Down scroller. They're not used very often in Japan anymore, and as a user i find them slow and frustrating, especially for things like games. Give me UDLR or a nub any day.

[khafaga @ Jan 26th 2006 7:44PM]

No bluetooth, read on their pr...

[SeanO @ Jan 27th 2006 12:51AM]

Love the look of this device, just wish that the price point was a little less steep.

[Mark @ Feb 14th 2006 3:21AM]

Oh, boy! Nice device! I love it!
portable DVD players!

[enkh_amar @ Mar 2nd 2007 8:24AM]

it's good

[sengeegesumn @ Mar 13th 2007 8:45AM]

hello, i've got a u110, but i can't play mp3 files on my u110.my phone didn't play mp3 songs on my micro sd. please help me, how can i play my favorite songs on my phone? please..