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The world's smallest and lightest phone now does email, is still ridiculous
Ultrapixels, styli and Retina displays -- enough. Willcom's Phone Strap 2 has arrived and it weighs 32 grams. Does it look familiar? It should, as it's the spitting image of its predecessor, the WX03A. With the same 32mm x 70mm footprint (though it's 1mm thicker), it's a pretty absurd proposition but then perhaps that's the point. The upgraded model can now handle email (oh yes!) on its one-inch display and ten-key keyboard, as well as calls and text messages. However, a tiny phone means a tiny battery and the Phone Strap 2 has just enough power to last around two hours of voice calls. If you're looking for a music player, Bluetooth and other phone staples, we're afraid you're going to have to shop around for a bigger model. The phone launches in Japan on March 21st, but you'll have to sign up for a standalone contract to (slightly oafishly) pick one up.
Willcom unveils its 33-gram WX03A, a phone-accessory phone?
You can't get more niche than a phone accessory that's also a phone, but that's exactly what Japanese network Willcom has got here in the miniscule WX03A "strap phone" -- a candy-bar handset that attaches to another phone. The device weighs in just 33g, crammed in a 32 x 70mm frame boasting a thickness of 10.5mm -- which, as you can see, compares favorably with a packet of curiously-named Japanese mints. With the space at a premium, features are very thin on the ground; no Bluetooth, memory card slot or even email functionality. There is, however, an infrared connection (for exchanging contacts), microUSB port, headphone socket and a battery capable of 300 hours standby. Those genuinely interested in carrying two handsets can pick one up in December, and we hope to see in-the-wild pictures of lop-sided, dual-phone nunchucks soon after.
Willcom to file for bankruptcy soon?
In Japan's perpetually white-hot mobile market, Willcom kinda got the short end of the stick by virtue of the fact that it uses PHS -- a tricky, rare standard that requires significantly more cells to operate than CDMA and UMTS. If the company falls into financial collapse -- as Nikkei English News is reporting today that it will -- we'd wager a bet that its continued use of PHS and its subsequent failure to obtain the same scales of economy as its competitors led directly to the bankruptcy. The apparently filing could come as early as next month, possibly splitting the firm into two chunks: one to see the legacy PHS network through the remainder of its life and a second, forward-looking bit that would possibly fall into SoftBank's paws and lead the charge on a 4G build-out. We'd hate to see any company with the strategic foresight to build a concept teddy bear phone go bankrupt, of course -- but in the long term, it could be for the best in Japan's competitive wireless landscape.
SoftBank prepping bid for Willcom?
PHS is in a bit of a pickle right now -- the niche wireless standard has no path for technological growth, has just a handful of supporting carriers around the world, and frankly, was never intended for wide-area deployment to boot. That leaves Japan's PHS-powered network, Willcom, in the lurch, which explains why they've recently hooked up with HSPA giant NTT DoCoMo to launch modern data devices. Mooching off someone else's network isn't a long-term strategy for survival, though, so what's next? Reports are flying in Japan today that rival SoftBank may look at scooping up Willcom's assets in exchange for its debtors waiving some percentage of its $1 billion in IOUs; what SoftBank would ultimately do with that extra spectrum is unclear, but presumably they'd continue to run PHS for some predetermined period of time before transitioning it to HSPA or LTE. Of course, Willcom has a rep for releasing wild devices that avoid the beaten path set by its larger rivals, so here's a preliminary word to the wise, SoftBank: if you make this happen, keep the product people on board.
Toshiba's WS206T notebook tablet gets handled ahead of Willcom release
Our own Engadget Japanese had an opportunity to play with Toshiba's odd little WS206T for Japanese carrier Willcom -- one of the concept devices demoed at CES, for particularly observant readers and rabid Toshiba fans -- and came away largely unimpressed. Shoving a thin, internet-enabled tablet into an old-school leather notebook sounds cool and all, but the problem is that the hardware's weak -- the screen's smaller than it could be, Willcom's PHS network tops out at just a few hundred kbps, there's no voice calling, and it runs some weird widget-based custom UI on top of Windows CE. What's more, it's a single-touch resistive display, and the UI's said to be annoyingly inconsistent. On the upside, it'll only run ¥2980 (about $30) a month for unlimited data, including the cost of the hardware itself, when it launches later this month -- just don't expect a product that's going to change your life and win you friends.
Willcom's BAUM and WX340K handsets are clearly delicacies
Only in a market where a diamond-studded mobile sells out in three days during economic turmoil will you find a not-too-riveting handset being served up for brunch. Over at what we can only assume was a lively presser in Japan, Willcom has taken the wraps off of its WX340K flip phone and ultrathin BAUM candybar (both crafted by Kyocera). Outside of style alone, neither phone is all that mesmerizing, with the former packing a 2.7-inch QVGA display, two megapixel camera with AutoFocus, POP / SMPT support and a NetFront browser; the latter simply changes it up with a 2.4-inch LCD. Both critters fully support the FeliCa e-wallet system, though pricing and availability details seem to be missing. More completely odd hands-on shots are in the read link.[Via Engadget Japanese]
Willcom D4 Ver.L comes with extra longevous battery
Not quite sure what happened of late, but extra long lasting batteries are all the rage now. With netbook manufacturers offering up extended cells left and right, it's only fair that Sharp toss out a Willcom D4 with a super longevous battery, too. The Willcom D4 Ver.L (L stands for Long, loony) reportedly arrives with a lovely CE-BL58 extended battery as a standard accessory, and while the resource-demanding Office application isn't included, that helps keep the price at ¥97,700 ($901). A fair trade for the hardcore traveler, we suppose.[Via Pocketables]
Conceptual teddy bear phone shown off in Japan, could totally sell for $199 on contract
We've seen some bizarre -- bizarre -- handsets in our day, but this one is just too darn cute to call weird. The conceptual Kuma Phone was recently shown off in Japan by Willcom, and according to local reports, the audience in attendance absolutely adored it. The GSM teddy bear, er, mobile can hold up to four speed dial numbers, boasts a built-in vibration function and allows users to answer / terminate calls by "pressing the tail." An accompanying pamphlet suggested that it would run around $500 should it ever hit mass production, which leads us to wonder if they plan on using Boyds / Vermont Teddies or something.[Via textually]
Willcom D4 MID dissected for your viewing pleasure
By now, you've surely realized that the Sharp-branded Willcom D4 is far from being the perfect handheld, but that's not to say you shouldn't be lusting over a few internal shots. Thankfully, one fearless owner decided to tear the MID down for our viewing pleasure (and to install a larger 1.8-inch HDD, but that's beside the point), and everything you've hoped and dreamed of seeing is just one click away. Okay, so it's not that dramatic, but it's still worth a peek.
Willcom's D4 gets reviewed
Jenn from Pocketables has gotten her hands on the diminutive Willcom D4 and given it an ultra-thorough review -- and we've got the details. While she praises the general speed of the device, screen resolution and brightness, and comfort of holding the D4, her reactions to the touchpad and keyboard are less than enthusiastic. Adding insult to apparent injury, it seems that the battery life leaves quite a bit to be desired (unless you're employing the extended battery pack), the video playback is choppy with most codecs, and the non-standard headphone jack is deeply, deeply annoying. The conclusion? Willcom's miniature needs "Help to achieve its potential," which is probably not what most potential buyers of the $1500 device want to hear. Of course, you should explore the whole review -- and its handsome photos -- so hit the read link for more.
Willcom D4 MID gets unboxed, all four pre-orders ship out
Okay, so maybe there are more than just four lost souls who are jonesing for Willcom's D4 MID, and if you're waving your hands frantically in a futile attempt to express your love for said device, you can reportedly expect to see one headed your way soon. For everyone else who has yet to make up their mind, head on past the break for an unboxing video that's sure to sway your decision meter one way or the other.[Via Wow-Pow]
Sharp-branded Willcom D4 MID gets examined, shown off on video
Willcom's Atom-based D4 MID has been out and about for a little while now, but the folks at Direct From Japan have now thankfully gotten their hands on a Sharp-branded version of the device and offered up some of their initial impressions by way of UMPC Portal, along with a video. On the upside, they say that size and weight of the device is "perfect for a big pocket," and that the screen quality and pixel density is "amazing." They also seem to have been particularly impressed by the dock, which'll let you charge a second battery, and by the device's rather unique touchpad on the side of the screen. They were less impressed by the hefty $1,200+ price tag (or more when you factor in the optional dock), however, and by the small keyboard, though we doubt many were expecting anything otherwise there. Those outside of Japan also won't be able to do much with the included W-SIM card but, if you're still curious about the device, you can check out the video after the break.[Thanks, TareX]
Willcom's full Summer '08 lineup
In addition to the 03, Willcom has unveiled a pair of other handsets for release this summer on its Japanese PHS airwaves. The 03's a hard one to top -- pretty much any smartphone, a morphing keypad, and a WVGA display is going to make things tough on the competition -- but Sharp has a second entry in the trio with the D4. Like the 03, the D4 packs Windows Mobile and a full QWERTY board, but unlike the 03, the D4 flips up all Kaiser-style, which should be just perfect for showing off the WSVGA (yes, wide super VGA) display. On the simpler end of the spectrum, the Willcom 9 is a chunky, blocky flip with a QVGA display, 1.3 megapixel camera, and NetFront browser that'll be available in black or white. Kind of anticlimactic when you put it up against those other two, but not everyone wants a smartphone. No, not even in Japan.Update: The D4 runs full-fledged Windows, not Windows Mobile -- makes more sense considering the monster specs. Thanks, everyone!
Willcom shows off 1seg-equipped Willcom 03 smartphone
It looks like those wanting something a bit more capable but just as brightly-colored as Willcom's most recent candybar phones could soon be getting their fix, as the company has just announced its new Willcom 03 smartphone, which packs a bundle of features into an eye-catching package. Up front and center on this one is a 3-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen display, which should complement the built-in 1seg mobile TV tuner quite nicely. Otherwise, you can expect built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, along with 256MB of flash memory, a microSD card slot for expansion, a 2 megapixel camera, and Windows Mobile 6.1 for an OS, to name but a few features. Look for this one to hit Japan by the end of June.[Via Engadget Japanese]
Willcom's D4 MID pumps Vista on Intel Atom, into our hearts
Check it out, 'cause you're looking at what must be the world's smallest QWERTY device capable of running Windows Vista Home Premium SP1. At least it will be when it makes its debut in Japan come June. Measuring just 188 x 84 x 25.9mm and 470grams, all that power / battery conservation / smallness of the Willcom D4 (aka, Sharp-built WS016SH) comes courtesy of a 1.3-GHz Atom processor pumping away beneath that sliding / tilting 5-inch, 262k color, LED-backlit 1,024 x 600 touchscreen hiding a 64-key QWERTY keyboard. Inside you'll find 1GB of memory, a 1.8-inch 40GB disk, 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, microSD slot, HD audio codec with mono-speaker, and Opera browser riding atop Japanese PHS (W-SIM) or 802.11b/g WiFi. Hitting Japan for ¥128,600 (about $1,254) -- a lot less with 2 year contract. And with Willcom experimenting with Android, don't be surprised to find this released in an alternate form later in the year or early '09. Engadget Japanese is at the launch event with plenty of hands-on images in the gallery below.Update: Whoa, weird. Our Japanese colleagues are telling us that there's an optional Bluetooth, companion handset for making calls over W-SIM. Gallery updated with new pics.%Gallery-20501%[Via Engadget Japanese]
Willcom picks up a pair of sleek new candybars
Check it, Willcom faithful. Two new candybar-styled handsets have emerged for your carrier of choice, and we must say, we're pretty envious. Up first is the Kyocera WX330K (or Honey Bee, as we prefer), which checks in at 42- x 120- x 9.9-millimeters, is available in five different hues and features a two-inch QVGA display, Opera 7.2 browser, IrDA and an eye-catching Call button (of all things). Next up is the elusive X Plate, a 64-gram sophisticated toy that boasts a 1.8-inch LCD along with Java and Flash support. Plenty of pics waiting in the links below, so go on, take a peek at what America's missing out on.Read - Kyocera WX330KRead - X Plate
Willcom shows off an Android prototype
Android might have launched last month in a cloud of vapor, but since then we've seen a couple of concrete developments from Google's mobile phone project. The latest comes courtesy of Japan's Willcom, which recently demonstrated what appears to be an early prototype of an Android reference board running on a FreeScale CPU. The unit was shown taking a call while running Google Maps to show off the operating system's multitasking abilities, but other than that, nothing earth-shattering was revealed. Check the read link for a few more pics.Update: Link fixed, sorry about that.[Via Digital World Tokyo]
Sharp's WS011SH Windows Mobile superphone in the wild
Sometimes -- all too often, in fact -- devices simply don't live up to their carefully selected and prepared press shots, but yeah, we're pretty sure that's not the case here. LetsGoMobile recently had a peep at Sharp's lovely WS011SH Advanced/W-ZERO3 [es] on the floor of IFA, and seriously, it seems to look every bit as good in the wild (if not better) than it did in Sharp's own materials. With a 3-inch WVGA (yes, wide VGA) touchscreen serving up Windows Mobile 6, you can sorta think of it as an HTC Vox on performance-enhancing drugs -- the only difference being that we stand zero chance of ever seeing this 'round here on account of the PHS radio designed for Willcom service in Japan. Tragedy, ain't it?[Thanks, David]
Willcom concept phone powered by single AA battery
Japanese carrier Willcom has hooked up with Sanyo to show off a back-to-basics handset powered by a single AA battery -- one of Sanyo's own Eneloop rechargeables, naturally -- that still manages to serve up 5 hours of talk time and 250 hours of standby. Just how back-to-basics are we talking, exactly? For starters, the phone lacks a display, pretty much ending any hopes of using this thing for gaming, video playback, or seeing who the heck is calling. In exchange, though, you get power versatility that's pretty much unmatched by any other phone on the market and an array of nodules that gently massage the side of your face while you're trying to hold a conversation. Between the perfectly round shell (looks like an AA battery, get it?) and the fact that it'll only get down with PHS networks, we hope this sucker goes through a few revisions before it sees production -- but we like where Sanyo's head's at.
Sophia Mobile's nani to rock Windows CE 6
It's not too often that we find a fairly well-spec'd all-in-one gizmo humming along on Windows CE 6, but apparently, Sophia Mobile's nani is one such device. According to "official specifications" just released, this PDA phone will also feature a 600MHz processor, 4.3-inch 800 x 400 resolution display, a potent media player that can handle MPEG1/2/3/4, DivX, XviD, WMA, WAV, and OGG formats, an image viewer, GPS, WiFi, a microSD expansion slot, USB connectivity, and support for PHS (W-SIM) in Japan. Moreover, it looks like a lucky soul managed to get a bit of hands-on time with the machine, so be sure and check out a few more angles after the break.[Via PMPToday]
