RegzaPhone
Latest
Toshiba is dropping out of Fujitsu / Toshiba phones while Hitachi considers exiting the TV biz
Fujitsu Toshiba Mobile Communications has only been in existence as Japan's number two mobile company (behind Sharp) for a short time, but it appears even a decent earnings report wasn't enough for Toshiba to stay in the business. While the joint venture prepares to release the au IS12T WP7 handset running Mango Fujitsu, Fujitsu is preparing to buy out Toshiba's 19.9 percent stake and take sole ownership in 2012. Toshiba may not be the only Japanese tech giant taking a step back, as Hitachi is considering following Pioneer and exiting the TV biz stage left. As price competition squeezes out all but the largest manufacturers and even Sony feels the pinch, Hitachi is considering outsourcing the brand to overseas manufacturers. Neither announcement should put brakes on hardware we've been anticipating, but that REGZA phone or Wooo television you just dropped a few yen on could become a vintage item very soon. [Thanks, Colin]
KDDI launches trio of Gingerbread-powered phones for the Japanese market
Last month, outdoorsy types in the states were treated to the G'zOne Commando, and now the Japanese market is about to get a macho Casio-made, Android-powered handset of its own. KDDI just launched the G'zOne IS11CA on its network, along with the Toshiba Regza Phone IS11T and the Xperia acro IS11S -- all of 'em Gingerbread-powered (sigh). The G'zOne IS11CA's design is similar -- but not identical -- to the Commando's, complete with rubberized bumpers, a 3.6-inch (480 x 800) display, and compliance with the US military's 801G specifications for dust, shock, and immersion in water. Meanwhile, the Regza IS11T is a 4-inch (854 x 480) slider boasting full QWERTY keyboard, 8 megapixel camera, GPS, TV tuner, and DLNA support. And lastly, the Xperia arco IS11S is a slab with a 4.2-inch (480 x 854) display, available in three colors. No word yet on pricing, though we know the G'zOne IS11CA and the Xperia arco are coming in late June, while the Regza Phone is slated to go on sale in September. Candy-colored press shots at the source links.
