Toshiba K01 goes official as IS02 in Japan

Talk about a globetrotter. Toshiba's K01 has made the journey from the American FCC to a Japanese carrier in the space of just one day. AU, part of the KDDI group and one of Japan's big three network operators, has picked up the phone and promptly renamed it the IS02. Coming with a 1GHz Snapdragon core, a 4.1-inch capacitive touchscreen of the AMOLED variety, and that indispensable (for some) QWERTY keyboard, this WinMo 6.5 handset will be available to our Japanese comrades in the latter part of June this year. Given the long waiting times both for this and its brandmate, the IS01, we have to wonder what's up with Japanese carriers. Have they developed an aversion to the cutting edge or what?

[emopoops Posted Mar 30th 2010 4:28AM]

ahhhwwwe this phone is so pretty. way better than the rumor...

[Edmunn Posted Mar 30th 2010 4:54AM]

Ugly user interface

[emopoops Posted Mar 30th 2010 4:56AM]

@oh ha ha

[frauhottelmann Posted Mar 30th 2010 5:16AM]

@Edmunn That's the advantage of WinMo. If you don't like the interface, you simply change it...

[seanGadget Posted Mar 30th 2010 5:47AM]

@frauhottelmann
But even the best windows 6.5 skin cannot even touch windows phone 7's UI.

No 7, No Deal, period.

[leikasimone Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:56AM]

@emopoops The 4.1 inch capacitive screened device has all the specs where it matters, and may even be upgradable to Windows Phone 7 series. A good phone for asia, but not that great. Reactions: http://bit.ly/k01-by-toshiba-viewed

[steveys Posted Mar 30th 2010 4:41AM]

Exactly what I have been waiting for (5 row keyboard would have been nice). Will be buying as soon as I can unless anything changes between now and a UK release...

[CL Posted Mar 30th 2010 4:51AM]

@steveys This would be the handset I've been waiting for too....except I would like to have Android (or dare I say, webos) on it.

[steveys Posted Mar 30th 2010 5:01AM]

@CL

Sure, i've been on windows for a while so a fresh OS would be nice and exciting but I still don't feel like I have strong reason to change. I really have no issues with 6.5 and HTC Sense (I would need to be sure some guys on xda were going to port that over), in fact it is pretty great. And I have a number of apps I use that do my just fine. All I really want over my touch pro is a larger screen and faster processor. Windows Phone 7 looks nice but it will be a while before it has all the apps I need. (plus this has the three buttons so there has a better chance of an optional upgrade than the hd2)

[pika2000 Posted Mar 30th 2010 5:18AM]

This is funny. So the IS01 is Sharp with Android, and the IS02 is Toshiba with WinMo. LOL. I guess it's a new lineup from KDDI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llR6pcceivs

[Physicsguy89 Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:10AM]

"Coming with a 1GHz Snapdragon..." wow, nice...
"...a 4.1-inch capacitive touchscreen of the AMOLED variety..."
getting better...
"...QWERTY keyboard..." awesome...
"...this WinMo 6.5 handset..." FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[FC1032 Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:42AM]

@Physicsguy89

Exact same reaction for me.

[Edobe Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:11AM]

1 question. Since this phone has 3 buttons, can it be upgraded to 7 series?

[Rem DX Posted Mar 30th 2010 8:34AM]

@Edobe
I was wondering the same thing.
No front facing camera on the HTC HD2 kinda killed it for me as I'm a heavy skype user on my nokia 5800XM which I've been dying to get rid of.

I see no reason why they'd have 3 buttons, a capacitive screen and a snapdragon processor if it can't upgrade. Maybe they're into cruel jokes?

[n8equalsd Posted Mar 30th 2010 10:07AM]

@Edobe
no. It has a call, windows, and back button. There's no search key.

[Wesscoast Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:21AM]

Admitted its an ugly homescreen but that band across the bottom looks familiar.

If any of these companies make profits, Apple will sue.

If they die of their own accord (eg. Palm) Apple saves money on legal fees.

[vodanhdaisu Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:56AM]

K01 is such a Japanese style, stylist, good-looking, expensive,as well.
I love this bad-boy :)

[nooruls143 Posted Mar 30th 2010 8:51AM]

What a beauty. But it is chained by rubbish WinMo 6.5. Put Android on it and it will be a "Tiara-Wearing Fully-Functional Beauty Queen With Brains!"

[TareG Posted Mar 30th 2010 9:34AM]

This. phone. looks. gorgeous.

[fel Posted Mar 30th 2010 3:35PM]

....so is this thing coming out in the US or not?