Hitachi's W51H sports 800 x 400 display for KDDI

So that hot little batch of phones KDDI threw down for its CDMA-based au network in Japan this week? Yeah, seems we might have gotten a little too wrapped up in that nifty lookin' Media Skin device, seeing how we glossed right over this little gem: the W51H clamshell from Hitachi offers up a staggering 800 x 480 display in its snow white (or red or black) shell. We'd imagine this is the very same 2.9-inch screen being demoed by Hitach just last month, trading some extreme eye strain for a nearly desktop-class web browsing experience without sacrificing battery juice. Other features of the W51H are fairly typical Japanese fare, including a 2 megapixel cam, fingerprint recognition, GPS, and 30MB of onboard memory. As usual, expect this to hit American store shelves right about the time pigs take to the skies.

[Via SCI FI Tech]

[Rock Bodham @ Jan 19th 2007 2:18PM]

So let me ask a stupid question...if I get an unlocked version of this phone from over seas can I use it on a US CDMA network such as sprint?

[kev @ Jan 20th 2007 2:29PM]

CDMA is not a standard, but a communications method. If the filters are the same, the operating frequencies are the same, then there might not be a problem. I highly doubt you'll get it to work, though. You have far better chances with Softbank's 3g lineup, sine they're dual-mode UMTS and GSM (which is standardized TDMA).

[Geoff @ Jan 19th 2007 2:35PM]

Why is it that all the really cool phones are landlocked to Japan and Korea, and all we get here in the states is the iPhone. =\ Bleh that thing is ugly, big, and waay to expensive for my tastes.

Seriously Hitachi, we NEED your phone over here. ASAP!

[Mike McLin @ Jan 19th 2007 2:36PM]

The picture confuses me. The first picture shows a clam-shell design where when folded, the big screen will be hidden on the inside. Yet, in the third picture, it shows the big screen on the outside. How is this possible? It appears to have a double-hinge design that doesn't allow you to swivel the screen like you can on a tablet pc. I'm confused.

[squeezee @ Jan 19th 2007 2:42PM]

You can see a break right above the hinges where it swivels and the curvature of the phone is identical on the front/back.

[CowboyGA @ Jan 19th 2007 2:42PM]

The phone has a swivel below the hinges (on the large lcd side). You can see it in the closed pics. I really can't figure out why the marketing boys haven't realized the US market for these things.

[Ryan @ Jan 19th 2007 4:00PM]

Nope, it swivels. See that fine line above the hinge? It's kind of like the Sony Clies of not-too-long-ago.

[Jeff @ Jan 19th 2007 2:57PM]

"I really can't figure out why the marketing boys haven't realized the US market for these things."

You know, I want to believe such a market actually exists, but I'm not sure it does. At the very least, it's a chicken or egg thing. Maybe if the iPhone *is* successful, we'll see more advanced (and more stylish) phones make the trip over here.

In Japan, phones generally are not subsidized. You walk into a store and buy one. If it costs $500, then that's what it costs. So that's one thing; people aren't conditioned there to expect phones to be free. On the other hand, if they're paying big bucks, then they expect a lot of features for the money. You can't get away with charging people $200-$400 (what most popular phones cost) if all you're giving them is basic calling features and crappy screens.

They also spend a huge amount of money accessorizing. You think the iPod has a big aftermarket accessory market... you literally can't walk into *any* store in Japan without being confronted by a rack of cell phone accessories. And everybody's phone is bling'd out in some way, even if it's just a charm hanging from the lanyard. Even businessmen do it. People just don't do that here. You're lucky if they even buy a case. The revenue for any phone usually begins and ends with the phone. In Japan, it's a whole culture. The phone companies, phone manufacturers and accessory makers collectively probably make about $1,000 for any given phone over its lifetime. And that's not including the service.

Now, maybe if people here become less conditioned to getting phones for little or nothing, and start seeing phones as something they really own outright and that they've paid good money for, then they'll start treating them as something other than commodities. In that sense, the iPhone would be a good thing for the US market, if it succeeds in starting that cultural shift. But so far, people seem to be pretty much content with their Razr-dominated market of cheap, unaccessorized crap that doesn't work very well and doesn't do very much.

[thegoodoldkicker @ Jan 19th 2007 4:03PM]

Nice one NTT, and kudo to Mits. This phone is no doubt a true innovation and design master from Japan. Who would ever thought that the DS change the face of celphone. Good job Nintendo.

To Apple and South Korea, start your photocopy machine. (LOL)

[PS3guy @ Jan 19th 2007 4:22PM]

nice phone only it GSM.

[Eh @ Jan 19th 2007 4:40PM]

japanese phones > iphone

[John P. @ Jan 19th 2007 4:54PM]

they do have some nice phones over there, but they can keep this one.

[kei @ Jan 19th 2007 5:06PM]

This looks more like how I would picture the iPhone than the real iPhone.

[JD @ Jan 19th 2007 6:01PM]

Pretty. I want to touch it!

[cheesecake @ Jan 20th 2007 11:24PM]

That thing is downright sexy. Why cant we get real phones in the states? :(