iriver WavePhone hits Korea ahead of schedule

Well it looks like folks in Korea may not have to wait until March to get their hands on iriver's first cellphone after all, as the WavePhone (previously known simply as the "wave") is apparently now available (or will soon be available) at ten iriver shops in the country. That limited roll-out is apparently being done ahead of the full-fledged launch including a number of larger stores, which will presumably still happen in March, although there's unfortunately still no word of a release outside of Korea (or word of a price). As you can see above, the folks at AVING also managed to get their hands on the phone and, naturally, they've provided plenty pics of it, which you can check out by hitting up the link below.

Read - Reigncom
Read - AVING

[Via Electronista]

[FLaSHBaCK @ Dec 1st 2008 3:48PM]

hmmm, very interesting...

[blueangel00100 @ Dec 1st 2008 3:54PM]

More like THICK and UGLY

[Cory @ Dec 1st 2008 9:40PM]

That's what she said to you last night.

[bigjohnz @ Dec 1st 2008 9:19PM]

Are those seriously the menu icons on the screen? Talk about fugly!

[juicy @ Dec 1st 2008 3:52PM]

looks like a flippin cracker jack toy

[Flashpoint @ Dec 1st 2008 4:23PM]

looks like a nipple

[Patriks7 @ Dec 1st 2008 3:55PM]

iEye and Clak, please don't dare comment on this post..

Now to the phone.. It looks quite nice, but I find the screen to be kinda too small for the actual body of the phone..

[GingerFox @ Dec 1st 2008 3:57PM]

hmm and that bit on the left makes the screen look off center, other wise nice looking phone:)

[biohazard1067 @ Dec 1st 2008 4:01PM]

It is off-center

[aecsuper @ Dec 1st 2008 7:37PM]

its probably off-center because that little hill thing makes it easier to type on a possoble keyboard.

[Electromodo @ Dec 1st 2008 3:59PM]

hmmm... interesting joy stick you have, WavePhone...

[bill cant fart @ Dec 1st 2008 5:02PM]

Well... at least we know it's a boy.

[Sergio @ Dec 1st 2008 4:00PM]

Some old school looks:
http://images.techtree.com/ttimages/story/nokia_7710_product_inhand.jpg

[chickenator @ Dec 1st 2008 4:00PM]

more and more PMP maker developing phones.
i'm waiting for CobyPhone.

[Nick @ Dec 1st 2008 4:10PM]

Or CowonPhone..

[Joe @ Dec 1st 2008 7:12PM]

Coby... COBY?! The shit-for-brains company that started out as a Sony knockoff? They sell cheap dollar store assware and apparently hired a design team in 2006 so they could start shoveling it to the Wal-Mart crowd who slobbers and swarms over a low price no matter what the item or quality. Hell, Coby never even bothered to change their logo font and appearance from a clear copy of Sony's. The name was obviously even picked to remind one of Sony upon first glance. Utter bullshit, I say.

[Gnormie @ Dec 1st 2008 4:01PM]

The screen size actually looks about right for a device of the size, in similar proportions to other popular touchscreen phones anyway. The only thing I really can't get is the huge offset from one side, as it just looks as if the phone is the wrong way round and meant to be more of a handheld console rather then a phone.

[triela @ Dec 1st 2008 4:13PM]

Nice! So they squeezed a phone -and- a PMP into the casing of a minivan ceiling light? Those crazy modders!

[Pradster @ Dec 1st 2008 9:35PM]

LOL! Nice one, now i shall never be able to look at the phone in the same way again!

[ijyt @ Dec 1st 2008 4:28PM]

There's something industrial about it that I like. Same with the iRiver SPINN.

[ijyt @ Dec 1st 2008 4:31PM]

Though, the only thing that puts me off is the knob. It looks out of place.

[gdodson @ Dec 1st 2008 4:38PM]

So iriver is finally releasing the W10. As a phone.

[BratPAQ @ Dec 1st 2008 4:45PM]

large body, small screen...people wants small body, large screen, not the other way around

[Metkis @ Dec 1st 2008 5:22PM]

"Fat chicks need love too. But they gotta pay."

[ace587 @ Dec 1st 2008 4:55PM]

nice, now if verizon would pick this up, they have a winner

[HOOPER @ Dec 1st 2008 4:57PM]

Okay guys, I know next to nothing about unlocking phones or what have you, so please don't downrank me too hard, but is there any kind of practical way to get one of these in the US and make it work on AT&T? Or would there be if/when it gets released here? Thanks.

[Relyt @ Dec 1st 2008 5:57PM]

You could try importing it (Warehouse123) and then buying an AT&T SIM card. (And no, I don't have a smart comment to add, either...)

[iKurt @ Dec 1st 2008 5:27PM]

gPhone!!! (by Google)

[dale1v @ Dec 1st 2008 6:28PM]

put it in piano black, or aluminium, it would look even better.

[jmzrbnsn @ Dec 1st 2008 6:45PM]

FAIL

[Minilap @ Dec 1st 2008 7:09PM]

Go find another place to describe your life.

[Pradster @ Dec 1st 2008 9:36PM]

It does have an Interesting GUI, if you bothered to check out the pictures before commenting btw!

[John Cho @ Dec 2nd 2008 12:38AM]

errr....

guys, it's not a cell phone.
it's a glorified IP phone

[superhobo @ Dec 2nd 2008 4:56AM]

Joystick, nice
Everything else, meh