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BenQ A2DP stereo Bluetooth adapter is FCC approved
The FCC site just coughed up the approved, BenQ Bluetooth Stereo Headphone. Yeah, headphone, not cellphone. This A2DP compliant module is meant to clip onto your kit somewhere allowing you to listen to stereo audio via the tethered headphone of your choice. Think Sony Ericsson HBH-DS970 but with more bulk, no display (apparently), and mucho less style. Expect it to drop in your part of the world with a model number anywhere between HHB-180, 181, 182, or HBH-183 for the black model or HHB-185, 186, 187, or HBH-188 for white. But never, ever, HBH-184 for the same inexplicable reason that might cause you to actually purchase this device. [Via MobileWhack]
BenQ confirms iPhone?
The good folks at Morgan Stanley have already done all they could to convince anyone who wants to believe that Apple's working on an iPhone. Now another source has apparently come forward to buttress the claims. According to the Australian site Smarthouse, an executive at BenQ has confirmed plans for the phone, saying that "BenQ will not be making it ... however several of our suppliers have been approached to manufacture parts. Among manufacturers in Taiwan it is common knowledge." While we have no way to confirm the alleged exec's account, it does jibe with Morgan Stanley's claims that various Taiwanese manufacturers have been contacted to work on the project. If it's true that this is "common knowledge" in Taiwan, though, we expect that Stevie J. will be sending his minions to the island any day now. Apple's been pretty good about avoiding leaks from manufacturing partners, and if tongues are wagging in Taiwan, some of these contracts may just end up getting shifted across the Strait. (And, yes, the pic is one of the many iPhone fakes out there; we sort of like this one, since it's based on the original iBook, a design Apple abandoned years ago.)[Thanks, Mike]
Live pics of four phones from BenQ-Siemens
If you haven't gotten enough pr0n of the newest BenQ-Siemens phones by now, MobileBurn has a nice collection of pics to satiate that handset appetite of yours. We've seen all of these before -- the EF51 musicphone, EL71 slider, C81 candybar, and CF61 karaoke clamshell -- but we thought we'd run 'em by you again. They're all shaping up fairly nicely, here's hoping we'll be seeing these stateside before long.Read: EF51Read: EL71Read: C81Read: CF61
BenQ-Siemens' A31a low-end cellphone receives FCC approval
Ok, low-end phone junkies, here's another one for ya -- the BenQ-Siemens A31a. In an age of quad-band, it's kind of refreshing to find a dual-band phone, offering up a mere 65k color display with GPRS, right? Ok maybe not, still the FCC has approved it, so you'll find this GSM 850/1900 handset cluttering-up the phone aisles soon enough. Ohhh, a calculator and stopwatch... are we dreaming?
The aluminum EL71 slider from BenQ-Siemens
BenQ is practically keeping us employed with their various CeBIT announcements this week, but we don't mind with phones like the EL71. The handset features a 2-inch QVGA display for video playback of media stored on the supported microSD cards. The phone also features music playback, and can be hooked up into traditional stereos via an adapter. Also present in the 0.6-inch thick phone we have a 1.3 megapixel camera with LED flash, Bluetooth, and a ProSLIDE function to save you from the arduous task of sliding open the phone all the way -- instead it glides open automatically . We're also digging the aluminum casing of the phone, it's always good to know your 2-inch QVGA display is housed in a bit of solid metal. The phone should be available in its current "Quartz Anthracite" coloring this April, with "Opal Black" soon to follow.
BenQ-Siemens reveals more info on C81 musicphone
We didn't have a lot of info when we hit you with all those new BenQ-Siemens phones yesterday, but the deets are out on the C81, and it's looking like a pretty good mid-range handset for music types. For multimedia the phone sports video and music playback, with MP3 and AAC support, built-in speakers, and 128MB of included RS-MMC storage. There is also an EDGE radio to help with music downloads, along with USB 2.0 to speed media transfers from your PC. The phone does include JENTRO "activepilot" navigation software to keep you on track, with no word on what exact tech they're using to nab your locating, but otherwise it keeps things pretty standard with a 1.3 megapixel camera and the usual Bluetooth action. The C81 should be available to consumers in Q2 of this year, with no word on pricing as of yet.
Live from CeBIT: BenQ-Siemens P51 smartphone
We're still kickin' it live here in Hannover with more hands-on action. This time, with the BenQ-Siemens P51 smartphone. No doubt, this phone has the looks and the specs come right to the edge. Problem is not that EDGE -- this handset goes GPRS-only, son. So get nostalgic for the little smartphone that never was and click on for more shots of this Treo-killer that might still be.
BenQ-Siemens shows off CF61 music clamshell
More info has been unearthed on the CF61 we spied yesterday, and though we're disconcerted by certain karaoke functionalities, it's shaping up to be a fine musicphone for Benq-Siemens. The phone seems squarely targeted at the teen-ish market, with interchangeable music faceplates and plenty of iPod aesthetic. Luckily there's enough functionality in there to get by, including a microSD slot, and Bluetooth. The main thrust of phone is, of course, music, so there is plenty of format support and the usual tinny speakers. There is also a karaoke function that displays lyrics on the screen so you and your friends can sing along, but we'll leave the morality of such actions up to you. Perhaps most oddly, the phone is powered by a AAA battery and manages 20 hours of talk time and 10 days of standby -- can't argue with those results.
BenQ EF81 coming to US?
As usual, the FCC teases us with visions of a future that seems tantalizingly close, but could really be far, far away. This time the government watchdogs have revealed that they've approved the BenQ EF81 for US use. BenQ was pretty careful with the phone they supplied the FCC, with none of those telltale service provider logos that sometimes provide us with clues about who we're going to have to sign up with for one of these. However, the fact that the EF81 is a tri-band GSM phone sort of narrows that down just a little. With a 2 megapixel camera, dual displays, 64MB of memory and TransFlash for expansion, this could be a handy little clamshell for shutterbugs on the go.
BenQ's P51 gets some more details
Well, looks like BenQ-Siemens has a P51 page up and humming along, so here are the vital stats: 802.11b/g, SDIO, 65k color QVGA display, 128MB RAM and 128MBflash memory, Bluetooth, SiRFstar III GPS, Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU2 (MSFP), GSM / GPRS (puhlease!), and an estimated "Q3/2005" launch window listed in theit press doc (we're hoping they meant Q3 2006, but if this thing was already way late it's not like it wouldn't be living up to the P50 legacy). Their page, however, states a July 2006 launch, and that "prices will be determined locally," (i.e. expensive).[Thanks, chilko]
BenQ's announces EL71, E61, C81, CL71, CF61, Google deal
They're being a little light on the details this morning, but BenQ's officially launching another five handsets, including the EL71 (pictured), E61 (aka the Hermes B), C81, CL71, and CF61. We have a good idea what to expect from some of these (pictures all after the break), but obviously none are as world-rocking as we hope the P51 will be. BenQ also announced a deal to outfit their devices with Google local software for finding local info when you're out and about, but devices sporting G won't hit until April, so hang on.Read - BenQ releaseRead - BenQ Google
BenQ resurrects P50 as P51
The long-fabled original Windows Mobile-based Treo-killer, the BenQ P50 (pictured above), has long passed its zenith in being lusted after, and was since given up upon and eventually more or less forgotten. So yeah, you could say it comes as some small surprise to us that BenQ is resurrecting the vaporous handset with Windows Mobile 5.0, and even throwing an integrated GPS receiver into the mix. They haven't given any further information than that as of yet, so while we understand the integrated WiFi is still intact, we don't know if it's still got the SDIO slot. But ultimately we're hoping for a few things here: namely that this handset won't cost more than $800 (though we have a sneaking suspicion it may), that they'll have finally added at least EDGE, and that, you know, they actually release it this time. Just a thought. [Thanks, Dave]
BenQ to rollout first DVB-H handset at CeBIT
BenQ falls in line with LG, Samsung, and Nokia among others by announcing their first DVB-H handset. Developed by the good folks at Siemens, the handset not only allows punters to view that sweet, sweet digital TeeVee but record it as well. Expected to launch in June just in time for squinting at the FIFA World Cup across Europe and the rest of the non-US world for that matter. Sorry, no pics, but the device will be on display at CeBIT (which starts Thursday) where we’ll try to catch a hands-on for ya’ll. Afterall, there's always the chance that it'll show up here.
BenQ Siemens Hermes B is now the E61
More details (but not many) have emerged about the BenQ Siemens Hermes B musicphone that we saw last month, including the fact that it's shed its mythological moniker in favor of the shorter and snappier E61 (no relation to the "Nokiaberry" of the same name). The E61 will sport a rather ho-hum VGA camera (seriously, what's the point?) and miniSD slot, but a rather innovative set of media controls that sit on the top of the handset, allowing for easy in-pocket operation. Sorry, that's all we got for you- but we have a feeling that you probably ended up here accidentally while searching for the much-hotter Nokia model anyway, so no biggie.[Via Slashphone and Phone Arena]
BenQ's CL71 "Cupid" slider phone
Some more info has surfaced on one of BenQ-Siemens' Greek phones announced last month, this time for the Cupid slider. The real name of this business oriented slider is the CL71, and it includes a 2-inch 200x176 LCD, 1.3 megapixel camera, and Bluetooth 1.2. We're not sure why BenQ-Siemens is targeting this at business users, since along with that camera they've also included FM radio and a TransFlash slot, but it all looks pretty good to us. Sadly, no 3G data here, just GSM/GPRS, so maybe we will leave this one to the suits after all.[Via Slashphone]
The Siemens EL71 slider shown by Orange
Orange was showing at 3GSM what might be the last non-BenQ Siemens device, the EL71. It was just a dummy version of the slider phone, supposedly we should be seeing it introduced in March, but that's all we know for now.[Via Slashphone]
BenQ-Siemens' EF51 musicphone can't handle the abuse?
We weren't necessarily impressed with the EF51 "Pandora" phone from BenQ-Siemens when we spied it the other day, but at least it seemed to be a cute little musicphone. Well, was cute, now that we've seen the live shots of a well abused demo model, we can't say as much. Not only does it look cheaply constructed, but the MP3 controls fold out to reveal a seemingly jury-rigged control mechanism, but at least they're covering what looks to be a well laid out keypad. It also turns out that along with stereo Bluetooth support and stereo speakers, the phone includes a 1.3 megapixel camera, which is always nice, let's just hope this is an early prototype of what will soon be a tough little pocket-ready musicphone.
BenQ M580a cell phone is FCC approved
The FCC site just bled another US-bound clam -- the BenQ M580a. This tri-band GSM 850/1800/1900MHz with GPRS cellphone targets first time Bluetoothers with it's side-mounted Bluetooth hotkey to automatically detect and connect to Bluetooth headsets and the like. Other than that superfluous unique feature, the phone boasts a simple 1.8-inch 128 x 60 internal display and 90 x 32 external, VGA camera, and supposedly a "low price" once these actually drop Stateside. [Via MobileWhack]
LG, BenQ license Flash Lite from Adobe
Adobe recently announced that both LG and BenQ have licensed a mobile version of the Macromedia Flash platform, known as Flash Lite, that will be used for the graphical interface on handsets from the respective manufacturers. Flash is seen by both companies as a way to give their phones some brand identity and help them stand out in the marketplace, while also serving to cut down on development costs. LG says it will begin shipping Flash Lite-powered models in April, while BenQ will deliver BenQ Siemens phones with Flash starting in Q4 of this year.
Still more from BenQ-Siemens: the S81, aka Ulysses B1
BenQ-Siemens has taken the wraps off of the S81, aka the Ulysses B1, a 13mm-thick UTMS candybar. The phone supports video downloads in a range of formats, including H.264, and can play most major music formats, including MP3, AAC, and WMA. The phone has a 2-inch 176x220 display, 1.3 megapixel camera, and a microSD slot. It's expected to be available in the second quarter.
