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Neonode AB, maker of the N2, files for bankruptcy
Neonode AB, a wholly-owned subsidiary of US-based Neonode, Inc., has filed a petition for bankruptcy in Sweden. The company, which has focused almost all of its efforts on pushing the now aged Neonode N2 since 2004, finally caved after looking so vulnerable in late July. According to Per Bystedt, CEO and Chairman of Neonode: "For the past six months we have focused on turning the business around and solving the financial situation of Neonode AB; we continue to have great belief in our technology and believe we have a competitive product in the Neonode N2 but without sufficient funds we cannot continue operations." No word of a revamped OS. No word of hardware tweaks. Nothing that sounds to us like they really want to survive in today's high-stakes handset market. At any rate, the parent company is hoping to trudge on as a technology licensing company, with or without Mr. N2. [Via GeekZone]
N2 recall leaves Neonode reeling, pleading for patience
From the outside, it has been easy to assume that everything was humming along nicely at Neonode's California / Sweden-based offices. Based on a recent open letter issued by the interim CEO and chairman Per Bystedt (not to mention the earnings report), that is indeed not at all the case. Neonode has failed at meeting guidance and anticipated sales for this year, with a number of things partially to blame. For starters, it admittedly tried to enter "too many markets, too fast," and a recall of the N2 surrounding "reception issues" didn't make things any better. Bystedt confessed to having just south of $3 million of his own money invested in the outfit, while he asked for other shareholders to be patient as he attempted to right the ship. Best of luck to ya -- we hear it's a pretty tough sector. [Warning: PDF read link][Via RCRWireless]
Neonode N2 officially coming to the US
It might be lagging a bit behind its European cousin, but Neonode is finally committing to bringing its N2 to the States in 2008. The finger-friendly touchscreen device is the follow-on to the N1 -- a phone that never even crossed the pond -- and features a 2 megapixel camera, expansion via a rather unusual miniSD slot, and mere GPRS data to ferry bytes down from the network. Without 3G or even EDGE, our excitement's tempered, but we're still curious to find out how it feels and functions in the hand. Look for availability and carrier agreements (yep, it sounds like someone will be officially offering this -- T-Mobile, perhaps?) to be announced in the second quarter.[Thanks, Kristofer B.]
Neonode N2 makes its FCC debut
It's been out in Europe for a good few months already, but the Neonode N2 has now finally landed into the FCC's all-important hands, which would seem to suggest that a US release isn't all that far off. From the looks of the tests reports, however, the touchscreen-based handset doesn't seem to have picked up any of those much-desired 3G capabilities in its trip across the Atlantic, although we suspect it'll still find its share of fans. For those not up to speed on it, the N2 boasts a 2-inch touchscreen that fills up most of the front of the handset, along with a 2 megapixel camera, a miniSD card slot, and quad-band GSM / GPRS capabilities (no WiFi though). Hit up the gallery below for a few more pics courtesy of the FCC, and keep it locked here for any word of a release. %Gallery-9221%
Neonode N2 launches in Europe on Vodafone, Wind
Intelligently waiting until after the iPhone lived out its (first) 15 minutes of fame, Neonode has just now went and threw a launch party to celebrate the official debut of the Neonode N2. Yesterday, the firm went wild at the Babae Club in Athens, Greece as it celebrated with MyPhone (its distributor for south-eastern Europe) and announced that the handset would play nice with "operators such as Vodafone and Wind." Sadly, exact releases dates were obviously muddled through all the jumpin' and jivin' going on, but the N2 should be in "select shops in south-eastern Europe" very soon, with the rest of Europe and "other major markets" to follow suit shortly thereafter.[Thanks, Sleepless]
Neonode's N2 ready for summer launch
Sick of the iPhone but like the whole touch-screen thing? Great, then you'll be happy to hear that the Neonode N2 is prepped for sale. Starting this summer, the phone that led the way for the iPhone (their words) will be up for grabs. No 3G or WiFi (or even EDGE) of course, and the launch will be limited to "south-eastern Europe," but hey, it's a start. Maybe we'll get a bit more info after the launch party in Athens (Greece, not Ohio). [Thanks, Guillermo V.]
Hands-on with the Neonode N2
We had a chance to go hands-on with the Neonode N2 today while trippin' the floors of 3GSM. So how was it? Pretty sweet. Although lacking WiFi and 3G, the device felt excellent in the hand. Text input was a bit buggy but that touch-screen interface and long (theoretical) battery life will likely be a hit in whatever market the N2 ultimately reaches... someday.%Gallery-1614%
Neonode's N2: the iPhone is just "following" its lead
We knew the announcement was coming, now here's the product: the Neonode N2. According to Neonode's 3GSM press release, "Apple's iPhone and several other manufactures" are just "following the lead set by Neonode." Of course, they are referring to their N1 which stuttered onto the scene back in 2004. Hyperbole aside, the quad-band GSM / GPRS N2 does look pretty sweet bringing MiniSD support to store your media, a 2 megapixel camera, and a 2-inch, 176 x 220, 65k color, and of course a touch-screen display all boxed up in a small 47x77x14.7-mm / 70-gram package. We'll try to get a hands-on of a working prototype from our crew in Barcelona later today. Until then, color us skeptics... we've been burned by our Neonode enthusiasm before.
