ASUS Aries

Either we're dreaming a lovely dream, or phone manufacturers are finally starting to embrace the concept of tri-band UMTS; for the sake of speed-loving Americans everywhere, we're hoping it's the latter. The "Aries" from ASUS will come bearing all the sweet, sweet fruits of Windows Mobile 6 Standard (that's like Smartphone, for you WM5-toting gals and gents) combined with UMTS on the 850, 1900, and 2100MHz bands for global coverage. Other features include a true scroll wheel (none of that Excalibur-style touch strip action here), 2 megapixel camera, front facing secondary cam for video calls, 520MHz XScale processor, and -- in the event you couldn't deduce it from the pictures -- a QWERTY keypad. We're told the Aries clocks in just a hair wider and thicker than the Excalibur, and if we're going to get global 3G in exchange, well, we're just fine with that. If in-the-flesh shots of phones aren't your thing, peep a decidedly more conceptual view of the Aries after the break!

[Louis @ Feb 12th 2007 9:38AM]

Pray tell, when will it be available and for how much?

[KC @ Feb 12th 2007 10:04AM]

Right after Nokia gets done suing them for creating an E61 clone.

Looks like a pretty slick piece of kit though.

[kerunt @ Feb 12th 2007 10:04AM]

According to the photo there's WiFi, too.

I like the brushed-aluminum look - great !

[WVGA @ Feb 12th 2007 10:27AM]

It looks like a QVGA screen...yawn. I just cancelled my Verizon contract as I found the Moto Q lame QVGA screen to be annoying for web browsing. Give me a higher resolution screen please!

[nigel @ Feb 12th 2007 10:48AM]

quite an ugly phone.

[Revels @ Feb 12th 2007 10:56AM]

Mein Gott that's fug.

[boe @ Feb 13th 2007 9:27PM]

Not sure why it hasn't dawned on any of these manufacturer's yet but if you want to impress BB Rim users - add a touchscreen! While these units are about the right form factor, go to WM6 pro and include the touchscreen.

[Ignacio @ Feb 12th 2007 11:21AM]

Quite a contrast between the real-world photo and the idealized (Illustrator?) shot...

[tom_squick @ Feb 12th 2007 11:40AM]

But will it play Doom?

[resource @ Feb 12th 2007 1:09PM]

Wi-fi?

I'm sorry but 3G is too expensive.

I know the Engadget boys get their 3G covered by AOL, lucky dogs, but I'd rather hop on open WI-FI networks until the price comes down.

[ryanmitton @ Apr 17th 2007 6:12PM]

from a business opinion, it looks like a great device. excalibur is a great device but we'd like to see a faster processor for intra-office use of skype over wifi. from what we understand with the excalibur (one handed device is crucial for business application) the new low cpu version of skype mobile still will not run on the excalibur omap 200mhz.

we look forward to the asus product for use on the canadian rogers network.

[angel @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:07PM]

hi there i have one unit here wana buy it? contact me 09053361043 only for 800 dollars