SlashGear » Phones

Binatone iHome and DSP Multimedia Handset slap Android on DECT landlines

Chris Davies — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:42:42 +0000

The landline phone industry lacks the glamour (or at least the relentless hunger for an upgrade) of its cellular sibling, and so it’s perhaps no surprise that manufacturers are looking to borrow some Android hype. Both Binatone and DSP have added their Android-powered landline phones to the ring, in the shape of the Binatone iHome and the DSP Multimedia Handset.

The iHome has a DECT cordless handset and hooks up to your network via WiFi for data services like email, browsing and internet radio. It has a 2.8-inch 240 x 320 touchscreen, microSD slot and a speakerphone, with stereo speakers in the docking station, and you can pair up to five handsets with a single dock.

Meanwhile the DSP Android-powered Multimedia Handset – which curiously they’ve used a screenshot of HTC Sense for in the render – is intended to work as a combination phone, internet portal, DLNA media player and remote control. It too has both WiFi and DECT. No prices or release dates for either device; the Binatone looks to be intended as an end-user platform, while the DSP seems to be designed to slot into the company’s greater home automation range.

[via AndroidCommunity 1 and 2]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

ASUS AiGuru SV1T Skype videophone gets touchscreen

Chris Davies — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:21:41 +0000

ASUS have rolled out a new version of their standalone Skype videophone, in the shape of the AiGuru SV1T. The most significant change from the first-gen AiGuru SV1 is that the 7-inch 800 x 480 display now gets a touchscreen layer, meaning users no longer have to arduously navigate via the D-pad.

Otherwise, much of the SV1T seems to line up with its predecessor, which means you get Skype-to-Skype support along with SkypeOut and SkypeIn. Connectivity is either via WiFi or wired ethernet, and there’s a VGA-resolution webcam and both integrated speaker/microphone and jacks for plugging in external versions.

As before, no computer is required to set up a Skype account; you can create a new one – or access an existing account – directly from the videophone itself. What remains to be seen is battery life and price; the first model only managed around 20 minutes of battery-powered use and came in at around $300.

Press Release:

ASUS Launches Skype Certified™ Standalone Videophone with Large, Brilliant Touchscreen

Co-developed with Skype, the ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T is the Most Intuitive Way to Make Free Unlimited Video Calls without a Computer
Taipei, Taiwan, September 18, 2009 – ASUS today launched a Skype Certified™ touchscreen videophone dedicated to unlimited video calling over the Internet—the ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T. Part of the videophone product family, it is the first to feature a large 7″ touchscreen, greatly speeding up character input and making any video calling experience more intuitive and fun. The touchscreen works in tandem with the standalone device’s built-in webcam, speaker, microphone and Wi-Fi capabilities to let users make unlimited video calls for free to other Skype users without the need for a computer. This latest version expands and improves upon the first generation ASUS videophone announced last year.

The ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T’s simple-to-use, icon-based touchscreen interface takes the complexity out of Internet calling—making it easy for anyone to make and receive Skype-to-Skype video and voice calls. Users can even participate in conference calls, making the ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T an inexpensive, all-in-one voice and video conferencing solution for small businesses. Furthermore, the ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T allows users to make calls to fixed and mobile lines at really cheap rates; users can also receive calls from any land or mobile phone line if they have an online Skype number.

“Skype goes beyond traditional voice calling and brings people closer through rich, real-time video communication,” said Manrique Brenes, Skype’s director of business development and product management for consumer electronics. “The device’s touchscreen makes video calling an even easier and more accessible way for people to communicate. It offers the benefits of Skype video calling and exceptional audio quality—allowing friends, families, and small businesses to share their worlds face-to-face without being tied to a computer.”

Free Calls Whenever, Wherever
With the ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T, free unlimited video and voice calls can be made to anyone on Skype. This lets users make Skype-to-Skype calls whenever the need arises, without having to worry about costs. ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T users can also receive calls from Skype users who don’t have a videophone.

ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T users looking to make calls to fixed and mobile lines can subscribe to one of Skype’s popular unlimited calling* subscriptions or purchase Skype credits at www.skype.com.

Great Video and Voice Communications Experience
The ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T is designed specifically for video calls and is equipped with a large, high-resolution 7″ touchscreen and an integrated webcam for greater video call quality. Its built-in microphone and speaker also ensure exceptional sound quality; users who wish to maintain their privacy during calls can opt to use a standard mini-jack headset and microphone.

Easy to Set Up and Easy to Use
The ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T offers the quickest, easiest and most fun way to make free video calls—at no point is a computer or additional software required. Users can be up and running in three simple steps:
1. Connect to a broadband connection, either wirelessly or via an Ethernet cable
2. Sign-in with an existing Skype name or create a new one
3. Start video calling

The ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T is as easy to use as it is to set up. Its intuitive icon-driven touchscreen interface enables the speedy keying-in of characters, allowing for fast contact searches and the inputting of new contact information.

With its Wi-Fi capability, small footprint and rechargeable battery power supply, the portable ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T does not need to be tied to a wall socket nor a computer during use. It can be moved from room to room without the hassle of interrupting or dropping a call.

*Unlimited calling: All calls are subject to Skype’s fair usage policy which is set at 10,000 minutes per month (with a maximum of 6 hours per day). Calls to premium, non-geographic and other special numbers are excluded.
Note: Specifications are subject to change without prior notice. Please visit www.asus.com for more details.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Cloud Telecomputer Glass slaps Android onto an awesome touchscreen desk phone

Chris Davies — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:28:36 +0000

We’ve seen Android on MIDs, Android on PMPs and of course Android on smartphones, so it should come as no surprise that the humble landline phone is next. Thing is, Cloud Telecomputer don’t seem to have received the memo about your desk phone being humble, as their Glass design rocks an 8-inch full-color touchscreen, HD audio, Bluetooth connectivity and desktop computer integration.

That means such niceities as touch-to-dial, support for various VoIP clients and native noise cancellation and DSP, together with power-over-ethernet and visual voicemail. It’s also capable of querying web directories such as LinkedIn during calls, so you can check up on a contact’s credentials while you’re chatting with them.

If that last talent didn’t make it clear, the Glass is intended for business desks rather than on the telephone table in your hall at home. Still, we’d like to think that Android could find its way to home media hub-phones such as Verizon’s Hub or the iriver Wave. Who knows, maybe our wish will come true; we’re reminded of the rumors of a T-Mobile Android-based home-phone/netslate, tipped to drop sometime in early 2010.

[via Electricpig]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Sharp DECT phone adds in 7-inch touchscreen digital photo frame

Chris Davies — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:51:17 +0000

You don’t see a huge amount of development in cordless landline phones, so we’re hoping Sharp Japan’s new JD-7C1CL/CW makes it over to the US and Europe. A combination of a base-station unit with a 7-inch touchscreen 800 x 480 LCD and a DECT handset, the JD-7C1CL/CW not only shows your digital photos but can also show received faxes rather than printing them out.

Inside the base station there’s 128MB of storage together with a multiformat card reader; you can load new images via infrared. Battery life is tipped at 200hrs standby or 6hrs voice-call talktime. If you’re not displaying photos then the touchscreen will show a clock or calendar, or mixture of the two.

The Sharp JD-7C1CL/CW will appear on Japanese shelves come September 25th, though price is yet to be confirmed. It’ll be available in both black and white.

[via Akihabara]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Phone Round-up: Nokia N97, LG enV3 and more

Brenda Stokes — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:26:47 +0000

We have quite a bit of phone news for you today, so we had better jump right in. First, we got word that the Nokia N97 NAM would be arriving on June 2nd, according to a new rumor. But there was a lot to come from Nokia besides that tidbit.

In fact, the phone maker announced a new clamshell phone called the Nokia 7020 that’s designed to add a bit of fashion to your phone. The Nokia 2720 fold was also revealed, which which has an affordable price tag at the expense of a stripped down feature set along with the Nokia 2730 classic, which is the manufacturer’s least expensive 3G phone.

We also found out today that the dev team tweeted about the status of Windows Mobile 6.5, claiming that it was “done.” We heard another rumor as well that the LG enV3 will be released on May 29th, but we’ll just have to wait and see if that turns out to be true or not. That’s all for today, folks. We’ll be back at it tomorrow with plenty more phone news and information to keep you satisfied.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Possible hardware specs for Zune HD, Microsoft Pink phone emerge

Brenda Stokes — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:09:52 +0000

We just heard earlier today that Microsoft developers themselves might have tipped off the upcoming launch of Zune phone in June, but now we’re learning even more about what a Zune HD or project Pink phone might look like. On the inside, that is.

These are just rumors as well, but it’s pretty interesting to see what might make it into the final specs of Windows Mobile 7 Chassis 1. This Chassis 1 is the primary thing that’s been driving project Pink phone rumors, so just what on earth is all the fuss about?

A source has revealed that Windows Mobile 7 Chassis 1 will look like the following:

WM7 Chassis 1 Specification

Core requirements:
Processor: ARM v6+, L2 Cache, VFP, Open GL ES 2.0 graphics HW (QCOM 8k, Nvidia AP15/16* and TI 3430 all meet spec)
Memory: 256MB+ DRAM, 1G+ Flash (at least 512MB fast flash – 5MB/s unbuffered read @4K block size)
Display: WVGA (800×480) or FWVGA (854×480) 3.5” or greater diagonal
Touch: Multi-touch required
Battery: Sufficient to meet Days of Use LTK requirements.
Controls: Start, Back, Send and End are required (soft controls allowed as long as they are always present).

Peripherals:
Camera: 3MP+, flash optional, 2nd camera optional (VGA resolution sufficient)
GPS: aGPS required
Sensors required: Light Sensor, Compass (3 axis, 5 degrees, 100 Hz sample rate), Accelerometer (3 axis, 2mg resolution, 100 Hz sample rate)
USB: High speed required, 20 MB/s transfer rate.
BlueTooth: BT2.1 required, must run MSFT BT stack, CSR BlueCore6 or later recommended.
Wi-Fi: 802.11B/G required, must run MSFT Native Wi-Fi stack, Atheros 6002 or Broadcomm 4325 recommended.
Connectors: Micro USB and 3.5mm Audio required.

Options:
FM tuner: If tuner HW is present it will be detected and supported by the Media application.
Haptics
SD Card (Micro SD recommended)
DPAD, qwerty or 12/20 key keyboards all optional

So what does this mean, folks? What stands out to you in comparison to other smartphones out there and previous versions of WinMo?

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Jawbone PRIME Bluetooth Headset hands-on

Vincent Nguyen — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:00:35 +0000

High-end headset manufacturer Aliph have announced a new model, the Jawbone PRIME Bluetooth Headset. The Jawbone PRIME uses NoiseAssassin 2.0, a new noise-elimination system that can not only improve suppression by up to 9dB – that’s five times better than previous versions – but allow for fail safe voice recognition. During my test call with Chris Davies, he had no idea that I was talking to him from one of the busiest plaza in Rome, where half a dozen buses, pedestrians, motorcycles and cars were whizzing back and forth! With this level of superior sound quality, the price of $129.99 is worth every single penny.

As with earlier Jawbone headsets, the PRIME uses the Aliph Voice Activity Sensor (VAS) to monitor speech commands, a small nub that gently touches the user’s face. If that connection is lost, AVAD 2.0 provide a fail-safe mechanism and function as a standard headset using the microphone to cut out background interference.

Aside from the new technology, there’s also Multipoint functionality and the ability to pair simultaneously with two Bluetooth devices. Aliph claim the Jawbone PRIME is capable of handling up to 10mph wind without overwhelming conversation. It also has a subtle feedback mechanism built into the headset that gently alerts when voice clarity is compromised due to wind gust, so you can turn your head away from the wind. Lucky for me, it has been somewhat windy in Rome, while it did not totally eliminate all wind noise, I was able to carry on a conversation with Ewdison Then. Later while up in the mountains in Assisi where the wind really picked up, we carried on with our conversations with little thoughts about how windy it was.

Similarly, comfort and customization have been improved over the original Jawbone and Jawbone 2, with a choice of six included earbuds, and an optional earloop. The new earloop really does work by keeping the Jawbone Prime firm in its place. It’s worth noting that Aliph firmed up the new Fit Earbuds in comparison to the beta version given out at CES earlier this year. From a cosmetic point of view, Jawbone Prime is nearly identical to the Jawbone 2 with the exception of a new shield design. It’s suppose to intuitively guide the finger to the main button making operation of the headset easier. I find this to be true.

Jawbone Prime is available in the primary hues of the black Blah Blah Black, the satin brown Coffee Talk, and the platinum Going Platinum, as well as the EARCANDY series consisting of the red Frankly SCARLET, the yellow ‘YELLO!, the green Drop Me A LIME, and my favorite – purple LILAC You Mean It.

The Aliph Jawbone PRIME Bluetooth Headset is available to preorder now, priced at $129.99. It will be generally available on May 2nd, as well as on sale in the Apple Store, AT&T, Best Buy Mobile and Verizon Wireless stores across the US. Customers in the UK, France, Germany, Greece, Norway and Canada will also be able to buy the headset.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

LG Viewty Smart gets official

Brenda Stokes — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:25:13 +0000

Well, it’s official folks! LG completely revealed their Viewty Smart today and it’s pretty much exactly what we expected. Known for quite some time as the Viewty II, this phone features a touchscreen and several other smartphone features.

The touchscreen is capacitive with a 480 x 800 resolution and features a 3D interface. Other features included an 8-megapixel camera that is capable of video at up to 480p and an ISO of 1,600. The LED flash, panorama stitching and continuous shooting features make this one really special and really add to the notion that this camera could be great even outside of a phone.

With 3G support, a microSDHC card slot that can hold 32GB and on board storage of 1.5GB, you have plenty of room for all your media. You can expect the LG Viewty Smart to make its first appearance next month in Europe and then expand to other countries thereafter.

[via SlashPhone]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

T-Mobile announces new 3G Sidekick LX

Steven Grady — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:03:09 +0000

Starting today, the Sidekick LX is available for pre-order from Sidekick.com for pre-existing T-Mobile customers. The phone will retain its iconic swivel design, but now coming in two colors -orchid and carbon- and adds features such as GPS-enabled LiveSearch. The Sidekick LX will also feature a 3.2″ TFT display, and a 3.2 MP camera. The new Sidekick also features a notably thinner design.

The new Sidekick will also take advantage of T-Mobile’s developing 3G network, offering much faster browsing speeds than the previous generation Sidekick. This will come in handy for the social-network loving users who will advantage from the “Communities” section of the LX, which will feature one-click links to Facebook, MySpace and Twitter via an optimized application screen. These applications will also push notifications directly on the homescreen of the Sidekick, letting the user know if they have any events from their friends on their networks.

The camera will offer a new multimedia experience that will allow users to upload video straight to YouTube and share with their friends. The original Sidekick established itself early on as a social-networking and texting giant, and was one of the first consumer-grade phones to feature a full QWERTY keyboard. Hitting shelves on May 13th for $199 with a 2-year contract. Here’s the full specifications:

Integrated social networking application bundle includes Facebook, MySpace and Twitter
· High-speed Web browsing with 3G support
· Built-in GPS support with Live Search
· 3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus and an LED flash
· Ability to record, play and share videos
o Share recorded videos via e-mail and upload videos to social networking sites
o Watch videos on YouTube via the web browser or on MySpace
· Carbon or orchid finish
· Music player with streaming audio and streaming RTSP video
· 3.2-inch F-WVGA screen with high-definition LCD technology with 854×480 resolution
· Support for personal e-mail, SMS, MMS, instant messaging (IM)
o Clients include AOL® Instant Messenger, Windows Live and Yahoo!® Messenger
· Iconic swivel design and full QWERTY keyboard (manufactured by Sharp)
· Intuitive user interface with Quick Find to search across all applications
· Network Address Book
· Included 1GB microSD™ memory card
· Bluetooth® 2.0 with A2DP supports stereo Bluetooth and Bluetooth file transfer to other Bluetooth devices including photo printers
· Dimensions: 5.1 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches; 5.7 ounces
· Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE worldphone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
· Dual-band UMTS/HSDPA (AWS Band IV & Band I)
· 1250 mAh Lithium Ion battery
· Battery: 3G — 3 hours talk time, 6 days standby; 2G — 5.5 hours talk time, 8 days standby
· Software and services provided by Danger, a Microsoft subsidiary.
· Shortly following launch, T-Mobile plans to make available Exchange Active Sync support via the Sidekick Download Catalog so customers can stay virtually connected to work.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

IPEVO S0-10W WiFi Skype phone

Chris Davies — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:59:27 +0000

If Grandstream’s VoIP desk phones appealed, but their $299 price tag didn’t, then IPEVO may have the Skype phone for you. The IPEVO S0-10W WiFi Skype Desktop Phone looks pretty standard, but hides a full WiFi b/g Skype phone with a 2.4-inch color display and integrated speakerphone.

Setup is straightforward, with the S0-10W working with either WiFi or wired ethernet connections. WEP, WPA and WPA2 wireless encryption is supported, and you can use SkypeOut, Skype Voicemail, SkypeIn and standard Skype-to-Skype calls without needing to turn on your computer.

Full contact list access is offered, and you can preset up to three one-touch speed dials. You can even set status messages (standard or custom) and moods, directly from the S0-10W.

The IPEVO S0-10W Wi-Fi Skype Desktop Phone is available now, priced at $169.99.

[via Crunchgear]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

AU KDDI shows off iida G9 handset

Brenda Stokes — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:31:43 +0000

AU KDDI, a Japanese company, recently unveiled a new brand called iida that is intended to bring in consumers that care about making a fashion statement. Their latest offering is the G9 from Sony Ericsson, a slider that’s gotten the fancy treatment.

The G9 features a 1Seg TV tuner and supports 1X, CDMA and GSM networks. It also has a titanium compound used as a coating for the stainless steel body, adding a touch of class into the mix. With a 480 x 854 3-inch touchscreen display, a microSD card slot, and a 3.2-megapixel camera, the G9 is actually really similar to the Sony Ericsson Cyber-shot S001.

You can record content using this device and you can use a mobile pico projector to display content received from the 1Seg tuner on your wall or a screen. Other features include GPS, Bluetooth, mobile wallet, 3.5 hours of talk time and 230 hours of standby. The G9 is set to launch in Japan sometime in August. Three color options will be available including a black finish with green accents, a titanium finish with silver accents and a mirror finish with pink accents.

[via Impress]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

T-Mobile Android home-phone plus touchscreen netslate in 2010

Chris Davies — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:56:35 +0000

T-Mobile USA are working on two Android-based non-smartphone devices, the first a data-enabled home phone to be followed by a 7-inch touchscreen tablet. According to documents obtained by the NYT, the two devices will launch early in 2010 and be intended for in-home rather than mobile use.

Details on both devices are scant at present. The home phone is said to have a recharging dock, together with a separate base station that would handle data synchronization. It sounds similar to the Verizon Hub or perhaps iriver’s WAVE HOME, pictured above.

As for the tablet, that’s described as a small laptop without a keyboard, using a 7-inch touchscreen for control. As well as basic internet access – the NYT suggest checking the weather – it could be used as a touchscreen remote for other devices in the home. No specific availability details have been revealed, but the home phone is expected to launch in early 2010, with the tablet following “soon after”.

[via Android Community]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Neutrano set to release Nutec WristFone

Brenda Stokes — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:13:53 +0000

Okay, now I’ve seen everything. Bringing everyone a bit closer to being a real life Inspector Gadget, Neutrano has just announced their Nutec WristFone which combines the features of a watch and a cell phone for handy time-checking and communication fun.

The Nutec WristFone is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. You can look at your wrist to tell the time, but when you receive a call, the watch face can be removed from the wristband, and you can start talking on it like a regular cell phone.

A few other features this gizmo has is GSM and SD card support, 1.3 megapixel camera, PDA, hand writing recognition, music and video playback, voice recorder, FM radio, touchscreen display and Bluetooth. It really packs quite a punch for such a small package! The Neutrano Nutec WristFone will be available in stainless steel and leather versions beginning on June 15 of this year.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

MetroPCS to get Samsung Finesse touchscreen phone

Brenda Stokes — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:33:01 +0000

The news is non-stop from CTIA 2009 today and wouldn’t you know it that there was a little surprise tucked away in the endless slew of press releases? MetroPCS is will be getting a new touchscreen phone from Samsung called the Finesse.

This phone is actually pretty similar to the Instinct and the Delve in that it uses the TouchWiz interface. However, this is not a smartphone–it just looks like one! It features a 3-inch 240 x 400 touchscreen display, 3G, web browser and mobile IM. It also has a GPS application, a media player and an email app.

It seems this phone is available now without a contract. However, since it’s not subsidized, the Samsung Finesse will cost you $349. A tad pricey for the feature set, but may be worth it if you’re not looking to get roped into a two-year contract.

[via PhoneMag]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Sprint gets LG Lotus in red

Brenda Stokes — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:38:06 +0000

The LG Lotus will be coming to Sprint very soon with one external difference: a textured red finish. It might not sound like much, but a new color option is often enough to sway a person’s decision from a type of phone on one carrier to another.

The Lotus is a flip phone and has a single click interface, providing shortcuts to frequently used applications. It also features a full QWERTY keyboard, a 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth and Wireless Backup. The microSD memory slot makes adding up to 12GB of storage a snap and external music controls make enjoying your tunes a breeze.

Another cool feature is the fact that music playback can continue while you’re performing other functions like texting or browsing online. The LG Lotus on Sprint will be available starting on April 19 and should cost about $100 with a two-year contract, though an official price has not yet been announced.

[via Electronista]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Grandstream GXV3140 plug-&-play IP multimedia phone

Chris Davies — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:24:47 +0000

Grandstream have announced a new IP phone, the GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone, and unlike most of its rivals this isn’t a launch solely for the benefit of big enterprise customers. The Grandstream GXV3140 supports VoIP and video conferencing via an integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam, together with IM, internet access and streaming radio, and the company claim that out-of-the-box you can be making video calls within minutes of plugging it into a broadband router.

That’s a big difference to most IP phones, which require a background server. The GXV3140 has a 4.3-inch 480 x 272 color LCD display, dual ethernet ports, SD and USB connections, plus TV and stereo audio outputs, a stereo headset jack and a full-duplex speakerphone. Three separate SIP accounts can be loaded simultaneously.

As for internet access, the full HTML browser can show Flickr photo streams, Last.fm music, RSS feeds and more. The Grandstream GXV3140 IP multimedia phone will go on sale in early May, priced at $299.

Press Release:

Grandstream Announces the GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone

The GXV3140 Combines Rich Multimedia Applications with Best-in-Class Personal Video Telephony

BROOKLINE, Mass. & ORLANDO, Fla. –(Business Wire)– Mar 30, 2009 Grandstream Networks, the leading designer and manufacturer of next generation IP voice and video solutions, is pleased to announce the GXV3140 IP multimedia phone. The GXV3140’s extraordinary video quality, advanced telephony features and rich multimedia applications distinguish this product in a unique class of its own.

The GXV3140 splendidly blends state-of-the-art real time video conference capability with a number of popular web and social networking applications. It features an advanced 1.3M pixel tilt capable CMOS camera (with privacy shutter), a 4.3” 480×272 digital color LCD, dual Ethernet ports, SD & USB, a stereo headset jack, TV-out, stereo audio-out, and a full duplex speakerphone. It supports a full HTML web browser, IM with Yahoo/MSN/Google, thousands of internet radio stations, popular online music networks such as Last.fm, Yahoo Flickr web photo album, personalized RSS feeds of news/weather/stock/currencies, calendar, alarm clock, and 9 languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Italian, Portuguese). The GXV3140 will support an even greater selection of music and photo networks as well as streaming from popular video sites in the very near future.

The GXV3140 raises the bar for personal multimedia communication by combining a number of cutting edge technologies. Such technologies include: a zero touch plug-and-play deployment, advanced audio/video streaming, hands-off personalization of news/weather/language/time based on automated detection of a users’ location, and 1-touch instant access to popular music/radio/photo/video sites and social networks.

The GXV3140 also incorporates a feature that will enable users to communicate with each other for FREE right out of the box through Grandstream’s industry leading peer-to-peer technology. The GXV3140 will boot up within minutes, ready for making video calls with ZERO configurations when the user plugs the device into a broadband router at home. With this smart peering plug-and-play technology, friends and family can connect with each other through high quality real-time video conferencing over any distance without a charge.

In addition to serving the consumer market, the GXV3140 presents an attractive solution for service providers (especially SIP trunk service providers). Internet Service Providers can offer video telephony and rich multimedia applications bundled with worldwide traditional PSTN termination and E911 service. The GXV3140 supports 3 independent SIP accounts, nearly all popular voice codecs, and leverages Grandstream’s field proven, broadly interoperable SIP technology.

“The GXV3140 is the most advanced and Web friendly IP multimedia phone on the market. By marrying social multimedia applications and IP video conferencing, it offers the consumer market an aesthetically appealing visual communications and entertainment experience,“ says David Li, CEO of Grandstream. “The GXV3140 provides a strong alternative to travel, allowing consumers or business users to stay closely connected with friends, family, colleagues and business partners located around the world for minimum cost. In today’s economic downturn, such a device is critical. Consumers can maintain frequent visual contact with their loved ones while sparing their discretionary income. In addition, they can enjoy Web entertainment and social networking through 1-touch access on the GXV3140 without using a PC. Grandstream is very pleased to bring this innovative IP multimedia product and the tremendously rich social entertainment experience behind it to the consumer market.”

The GXV3140 will be generally available through Grandstream’s worldwide channel partners in early May for a manufacturer suggested retail price of $299.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

FCC gets LG GM630 flip; shows TV tuner for US

Brenda Stokes — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:40:18 +0000

The FCC got their hands on the LG GM630 flip today and it seems this handset might just be making its way to the U.S. with a TV tuner at the ready. That would certainly make for an interesting mobile phone, wouldn’t you say?

We don’t know any of the official specs as of yet, but what we do know is that it will be very similar to the LG HB620T, which is available currently in Europe. We can assume it will have a 240 x 320 rez screen with a 2-megapixel camera. Other features will possibly be an FM radio tuner and Bluetooth.

But with a TV tuner thrown into the mix, it’s hard to say how this one will work.The big question on everyone’s minds right now is how the TV signals will get to the phone in the first place. MediaFLO seems like a likely option, but nothing is official at the moment.

[via UnwiredView]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Chairman phone from Ulysse Nardin is for luxury nerds

Brenda Stokes — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:05:44 +0000

Who doesn’t like an excessive gadget every now and again? If you’ve been itching to get your hands on something stylish and high-tech, you’ll definitely want to check out The Chairman phone from Ulysse Nardin.

The aptly named “Chairman” is a phone for those seeking luxury in every aspect of their lives. Ulysse Nardin is a watchmaker and along with SCI Innovations, they have come up with this elite handset. So, what makes this phone stand out? Besides the fancy title, it also has a functional watch rotor. Kinetic energy is used to power the watch and it provides additional power to the rechargeable battery inside the phone.

What’s cool is you can see the rotor turning inside the phone. No word on pricing just yet, but you know what they say about these luxury items: if you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it! The Chairman will be available in the fall in steel/gold, solid gold and solid steel versions.

[via Slippery Brick]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Samsung Haptic 8M touchscreen phone launched

Brenda Stokes — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:30:03 +0000

Samsung is adding to their touchscreen phones today with the Haptic 8M handset. This phone uses haptic feedback (hence the name) and sports a 3.3-inch display that has a 480 x 800 resolution.

The Haptic 8M supports HSPA-based 3G, T-DMB digital TV tuning and has an 8-megapixel camera. The camera is enabled with face tagging technology, meaning it can recognize faces. Other camera features include flash and smile detection.

Also included is a microSDHC card slot and the TouchWiz interface. The Haptic 8M will only be available in Korea at first on SK Telecom for the equivalent of around $660. Since this model does not support US 3G, there would need to be another version should it ever be released stateside.

[via Akihabara]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Sony Ericsson Idou: Live Video and Gallery from MWC

Chris Davies — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:44:54 +0000

Sony Ericsson’s Idou may be far from complete, but that didn’t stop the company pulling out the limited number of pre-production demo units they had and running through a quick showcase of some of the touchscreen smartphone’s features. Headline functionality for the Idou is the 12.1-megapixel autofocus camera with Xenon flash, 3.5-inch VGA-resolution touchscreen and new Symbian Foundation OS; check out our live demo video and full gallery after the cut.

What other details we do know are that the Idou uses a resistive touchscreen, rather than a capactive panel, and has what Sony Ericsson are calling “Turbo 3G”, which we’re assuming means either HSDPA/HSUPA or EV-DO Rev.A. There’s also WiFi and a sliding lens cover, and an onboard suite of photo-editing applications that allow you to tweak shots on-device. The touchscreen is used for spot-focus selection, and of course there’s Sony Ericsson’s usual Walkman-style media apps with support for the Bluetooth A2DP wireless stereo profile. The Idou microsite is at http://www.sonyericsson.com/idou/.

Still unclear about the Sony Ericsson Idou is internal or external storage; we’re assuming the handset will come with both some amount of onboard memory, and a Micro M2 card slot to accommodate all those high-resolution images. Battery details are also unclear, as is the data/charger connector. From our photos it doesn’t look as though Sony Ericsson have gone with something standardized, like micro or mini USB.

We’re promised a full launch for the Idou – which by then should have a “proper” name, rather than what Sony Ericsson were at pains to point out was a “project name” – over the Summer, with availability in the second half of 2009.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Verizon Hub launches for $199.99

Chris Davies — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:05:55 +0000

Verizon have officially launched the Verizon Hub, the company’s “communications command center”. Built around a 7-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen base-station and cordless home phone, the Hub connects to a broadband connection (which can be Verizon’s or from another provider) and offers on-demand access to information and entertainment. That can include family calendars, directory enquiries, traffic and news, theater times (and ticket booking), streaming video, photos and music, visual voicemail and more.

The Verizon Hub also integrates with a family’s Verizon Wireless cellphones, including direct photo message display, locating family using the Chaperone service, and exchanging GPS locations and directions with VZ Navigator phones. Contacts and calendars are synchronized across the Hub and different associated cellphones, automatically updating, plus there’s also full land-line functionality including diverts, simultaneous ring and on-screen voicemail control.

The Verizon Hub itself costs $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a two-year agreement; additional cordless handsets will be available for $79.99 each. You’ll also need at least one cellphone with Verizon Wireless service; an optional extra is the Verizon Digital Voice plan, which offers unlimited calling in the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories and Canada, and unlimited messaging to and from Verizon Wireless phones with Unlimited Messaging for $34.99 per month.

Press Release:

The Home Phone Experience Changes Forever

New Verizon Hub Puts a Communications Command Center in the Home; Available in More Than 2,500 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Households across the nation can now experience for themselves the most talked-about new consumer electronics device on the market, the Verizon Hub. The Verizon Hub is an intuitive device that puts a communications command center in the home that bridges wireline and wireless connectivity and runs on any broadband connection – whether supplied by Verizon FiOS Internet or DSL or any other high-speed service provider.

Starting Sunday, Feb. 1, all Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the nation will have live Verizon Hubs available to test out. The Verizon Hub, the first-ever VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) home telecommunications system featuring fully integrated connectivity with family members’ wireless phones, gives busy families information at their fingertips from an easy-to-navigate touch screen with clear icons. With the Verizon Hub, adults and kids get on-demand access to customized and family-specific information and entertainment by just touching the screen:

Manage the family calendar and send reminder texts to family members’ mobile phones – and text updates when appointments change;

Look up a business address and send a place-message to family members who use VZ Navigator(SM) to help them easily access GPS turn-by-turn directions to the business;

Find recipes and watch instructional cooking shows for those recipes from the best names in cooking;

Check local traffic conditions and get the latest weather forecasts for cities you choose;

Catch up on the latest news, sports and entertainment of the day with V CAST videos; and

Read a summary of an upcoming movie, watch a movie trailer, find local theaters and show times, and purchase tickets.

The Verizon Hub’s Web management site gives families the freedom to view customized information and share content on their Verizon Hub from any Internet connection. By logging into the Web site, family members can check missed calls, listen to voicemail and quickly upload favorite pictures to display on the Verizon Hub’s digital photo frame.

Full Integration with Verizon Wireless Phones
The Verizon Hub is the first VoIP phone designed from the ground up to be integrated with popular Verizon Wireless services: messaging, Chaperone® and VZ Navigator functions are all available on the Verizon Hub. For text, picture and video messaging-happy families, users can send and receive multimedia messages between the Verizon Hub and messaging-capable Verizon Wireless handsets and other Verizon Hub devices.

The Verizon Hub makes it a snap to use and manage the company’s Chaperone child location service. Parents can view a list of family members using Chaperone directly from the Hub’s home page, and hit “Locate Now” to see a map showing the Chaperone device’s location. Then, by hitting “Send to VZ Navigator,” a parent immediately has directions to that Chaperone phone sent to their own mobile phone. A subscription to Chaperone is required.

Several VZ Navigator-based services are available – after looking up an address, it’s easy to send a place message from the Hub to any VZ Navigator-enabled mobile device. Verizon Wireless customers without a VZ Navigator subscription receive just a text message with the location information, but not GPS turn-by-turn directions.

A True Communications Command Center
The Verizon Hub is a family communications command center, helping busy families manage their lives. From the touch screen, there’s access to:

Calendar (with Text Message Reminders) – View a monthly calendar, navigate forward and backward from the current month, set Calendar Alerts with a subject field for a specific time and date and reminder notification to appear on the Verizon Hub. Calendar Alerts can also be sent as a text message to any Verizon Wireless mobile phone.

Contact List – Create a personalized address book by storing contact information for friends, family and businesses. Contact list entries are synchronized between the Verizon Hub, Verizon Hub handsets and the Verizon Hub Web management site for quick and easy access.

Movie Listings, Show Times and Ticketing – Find out what’s playing at local theaters, view show times, play trailers and purchase movie tickets directly from the Verizon Hub’s touch screen.

Ringtones – Customize the Verizon Hub with a selection of free embedded ringtones.

Traffic – Get current video reports of slowdowns and accidents in top metropolitan areas.

V CAST News and Sports – Watch video of headline, financial and sports news, check sports scores and schedules.

V CAST Entertainment – View entertainment and celebrity news, kids’ entertainment and horoscopes.

V CAST Food & Dining – Access and view recipes (some with video demonstrations), tips and techniques, and healthy eating information.

V CAST Lifestyle – View tips and information on parenting and family, home and garden, going green, beauty and fashion, health and wellness, and travel.

Verizon Relay – View photos received via picture messaging from family and others, all in one place.

Visual Voice Mail – Browse voicemails in the voicemail box through a graphical interface, view message information before choosing which message to play, prioritize message playback order.

White Pages and Yellow Pages – Perform name-based searches of white page directory listings by city and state and search the entire Yellow Pages by keyword or business name, along with the option to browse by category.

Weather – View five-day forecasts for a location right from the home screen (multiple city views available).

The Verizon Hub has added features that make it the go-to consumer electronics device in the kitchen: a full-screen calculator, intercom and handset paging, a variety of screensavers and custom slideshows for customizing when the base is in an idle state, wallpapers, plus time and date shown on the home screen with a shortcut to the calendar. Family members can use call logs to view missed, incoming and outgoing calls, look up contact information with reverse number lookup, call control for managing popular calling features and settings, and message status to get alerts for new calls, voicemails and messages.

Voice Features
The new Verizon Hub reaches beyond plain old voice, but families still need a reliable way to make and receive calls at home. With a Verizon Digital Voice plan, Verizon Hub customers get unlimited calling to numbers in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, as well as American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands, plus access to many features available on traditional home phones or phone service. The Verizon Digital Voice plan includes call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID, caller ID with name, caller ID block, incoming and international call block, anonymous call rejection, remote access to voicemail, 10-number speed dial, and three-way calling.

In addition, the Verizon Hub offers a variety of advanced options and features for voice calls:

10-Digit Dialing – The Verizon Hub uses standard American 10-digit dialing behavior so the “1” will not have to be dialed in order to make domestic calls. For international calls, customers will dial 011 before the country code and number.

Back-Up Number – Allows customers to designate an alternate number (e.g. wireless or office number) where calls would be automatically forwarded in the event of a power outage or failure of the broadband connection.

Call Logs – Lists the caller’s telephone number, date, time of day, physical location, and duration of every incoming, outgoing and missed call made during the current billing cycle; allows customers to quickly scan calls to determine which are domestic or international.

Contacts – Create a personalized address book by storing contact information for friends, family and businesses. The contact list entries are synchronized between the Verizon Hub, additional Verizon Hub handsets and the Verizon Hub Web management site for easy access.

Do Not Disturb – Using two separate menu options, customers can either send all calls directly to voicemail or receive calls only from those they have identified as an “accepted” caller (all other calls will receive a Do Not Disturb message and be rejected).

Return Call (*69) – Quickly return any incoming call, even if the customer didn’t answer the call.

Simultaneous Ring – Incoming calls can ring on up to three unique phone numbers plus the Verizon Hub number, and the first phone that’s answered connects to the caller.

Visual Voice Mail – Subscribers can view voicemails in their voicemail box, plus delete, reply and forward their voicemail messages without having to listen to prior messages or voice instructions. Customers can view Visual Voice Mail from both the Verizon Hub and from the Verizon Hub Web management site.

Pricing and Availability
To get and use the Verizon Hub, potential customers need:

911 service in the location they plan to use the Verizon Hub (virtually the entire nation);

A home broadband connection of any sort – from Verizon or any telecommunications or cable company;

A wireless router in the home;

Verizon Wireless service;

Verizon Digital Voice plan: $34.99 a month for unlimited calling in the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories and Canada, and unlimited messaging to and from Verizon Wireless phones with Unlimited Messaging.

The Verizon Hub costs $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a two-year agreement; additional cordless handsets, which can be used throughout the home, will be available for $79.99 each. For customers who do not have a wireless router, Verizon Wireless will also offer one for $69.99.

For more information on the Verizon Hub, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hub.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

President Obama’s super-secret Blackberry cost $3,300!

Vincent Nguyen — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:22:49 +0000

Just because you’re one of the most power person in the world does not mean that you can use whatever phone you want. So will President Obama get to keep his Blackberry? The short answer is “maybe” pending approval from NSA. CNN contacted NSA inquiring whether the agency will approve the super-secret $3,300 Blackberry and was directed to the White House which wouldn’t say which device the President has.

What makes this Blackberry so special? Well, for starters, it’s one of the most expensive Blackberry in existence and on top of that, it’s not available for normal folks like you and I. Pres. Obama’s Blackberry, is actually two Blackberry devices in one, made by General Dynamic. It’s unclassified PDA that can go out to the Internet to sites like Weather.com or check flights, and with a click of a red button, the device switches over to a classified website granting access to secret emails or secret websites. Making phone calls comes in two modes; non-secret and secret mode with a click of the red background and it’s a top-secret phone.

While this new device addressed a lot of the security concerns, we’ll have to see how this plays out. I’m left with questions like does it have a self or manual destruct button in the event of loss or being stolen? There was no mention of finger print scan for access. We’ll stay on top of this and get back with you as soon as we hear more. For now, enjoy CNN’s inside look at the device.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Sprint takes a gamble with a $50 unlimited plan

Staff Editor — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:32:43 +0000

We all know Sprint has taken a few big hits recently and needs more than good ideas to pull out of its slump. These days it is a rare find to get an unlimited wireless plan from a major name in the mobile phone industry. Sprint has just managed to change that by offing a new unlimited $50 wireless plan – via Boost Mobile.

Such stiff competition can force other mobile providers to change their entire plan pricing in order to be competitive. Boost Mobile is the Sprint brand that offers prepaid wireless services for those who cannot be tied down to a contract. Doing really well they had 3.9 million customers at the end of September. Last year Sprint offered unlimited calling options in the $100 range and it was a success, maybe not the huge serge that was expected, but it certainly did not fail.

Even though the prices for wireless contract options have stayed about the same, the prepaid market pricing has been steadily declining. Boost Mobile plans to market this new price point very heavily and even reach out to those who currently have contract agreements. The $50 package includes unlimited, voice, text and wireless Internet access. Most contractual agreements do not offer text and Internet in the unlimited pricing, only minutes. Below are charts outlining the monthly expenses and running totals for each plan price.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

BlueBerry, about as blatant a rip-off as you’ll ever find

Shawn Farner — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:50:34 +0000

A quick glance at this device and you might think, “Hey, no big deal. That’s a BlackBerry Bold.” Upon closer inspection, you’ll discover that this is not at all a Research In Motion built phone, but instead, a convincing rip-off. Behold – the BlueBerry.

The BlueBerry emulates the Bold look pretty well, though it seems that some buttons are either misplaced or omitted altogether. There’s also no trackball – just a silver button in its place. The phone has a QVGA display, a microSD slot and spots for two SIM cards. Yep, it looks just like a BlackBerry Bold – don’t expect it to do any cool BlackBerry stuff, though.

This beauty will cost you $164.99 and is available from China Grabber, amongst other shady knock-off phone dealers. We’ll let you know if we hear about any more feature-packed BlueBerry devices in the works.

[via Engadget]

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

CES 2009: VTech LS6245 trying to bring back landlines

Staff Editor — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:15:53 +0000

We know that people are widely giving up their landlines for mobile phones these days, but we happened upon a cordless phone that was just too beautiful to pass up. The VTech LS6245 is the first cordless phone for 2009 that features the DECT 6.0 technology complete with Bluetooth capabilities.

Something about having touch-sensitive buttons on a cordless phone just seems so right to me. All of VTech’s cordless phone systems cost less than $100. Using two Bluetooth connectivity to connect multiple handsets enables the LS6245 to perform like a two-line communication tool. With DECT technology you can expect the LS6245 to provide high-functionality with superior sound quality and range from anywhere in your home.

This cordless phone looks amazing with the touch-sensitive buttons accompanied by a large reverse LCD and white backlighting. As part of VTech’s commitment to using renewable energy and aiming toward having zero waste, VTech’s DECT products are Energy Star(R)-certified.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Newber brings call transfers to the iPhone

Staff Editor — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:10:25 +0000

Newber is a new iPhone application that allows users to transfer calls to a landline for instances such as the phone dying. This application acts as a second business line for those who really get a lot of use out of their phones.

Using GPS this application can determine the pre-programmed number that you are closest to and transfer the call to that number, or if you would like you may also choose another number from the list.

Coincidentally this application was submitted to Apple back on October 15th with no word on availability or even an approval. If you are interested in trying it out now you can head over toMynewber.com to sign up for a beta test.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Xlink Bluetooth Wireless Gateway

Staff Editor — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:52:50 +0000

Xlink allows users to transfer calls from their mobile phone to any phone in the house. This service works with any Bluetooth capable phone. Pair up to any three devices that will also shoot over any caller information straight to the home phone.

Say you’re at home and your phone rings but you would like to speak on your home phone rather than being stuck to a wall charger with a dead phone. Now you can just transfer any call to your home phone and pick it up from there. This replaces the need for several other services provided by your mobile provider.

Frankly, for $79.99 it seems a bargain. XLink also sell the BTTN gateway, which can connect to up to three cellphones plus a landline (or VoIP line), for $109.99.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

XLink BT Cellular Bluetooth Gateway: bargain way to dump your landline

iRiver’s WAVE-HOME wants to be your all-in-one communications hub

Shawn Farner — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:09:56 +0000

iRiver will be briefing the CES crowd in a few short hours, but we thought we’d take an early look at one of the new products they’ve brought to the show. The WAVE-HOME is not an easy device to categorize other than to say this – iRiver wants it to do a lot for you.

Dubbed an “all-in-one solution”, the WAVE-HOME features a 7 inch screen, built-in speakers and comes with a handset that acts as both a VOIP phone and a remote control. The device also has a built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam. So what all is the WAVE-HOME capable of?

VOIP
web surfing
video chat
SMS/MMS
taking photos
displaying photos, videos
playing music files, FM radio
widgets (weather, news, traffic, etc.)

As you can see, iRiver is really positioning the WAVE-HOME as a “do everything” multimedia and communications center. They want this sucker sitting on your desk at the office or on the coffee table in the living room. It sounds cool so far and we can’t wait to see it in action.

We’re going to try and get some hands-on time with the device a little later on today. We’ll update afterwards with more information, and, hopefully, a price range and release date.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

CES 2009: INQ1 integrates social networking into your contacts list

Staff Editor — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:29:51 +0000

Today at CES we got the chance to play around with the new social networking based INQ1 handset. This phone takes all of your social networking fronts such as Facebook, Skype, Windows Live Messenger and MySpace and fully integrates them with the phone so there is no need to download a single application.

With the INQ1 you can snap a picture with the 3.2-megapixel camera and with a single touch of a button have it uploaded to your Facebook page. Social status is integrated directly into your contacts list providing you with the online status, current status and updates for that specific contact Facebook, Skype and Windows Live Messenger. One click from this menu and you can either send them a message or see their profile.

This 3G-enabled phone has Bluetooth, A2DP and USB 2.0 connectivity. The battery provides a very specific 329 hours of standby time and 324 minutes of talk time depending on applications. There is 50MB of internal memory and you will get a 1GB memory card in the box, which can be upgraded to 4GB if you so choose. This device has a 2.2-inch QVGA screen that looks very good on this small 97 X 47.6 X 14.4 handset. Te INQ1 is currently available in Europe with plans to launch in the US in the near future.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

Japanese ATMs get cellular signal interference to prevent fraud

Staff Editor — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:19:49 +0000

Japan has begun installing signal jammers at various ATMs in an effort to prevent the ongoing fraud problems. Back in October, Japan police made nationwide efforts to prevent citizens, especially senior citizens, from an outbreak of various telephone scams.

The fraud attempts targeted the elderly who were instructed by phone to withdraw money from the bank. During the withdrawal, the con artist told victims to bring a mobile phone in order to receive continuous instructions. Eventually police stationed themselves at ATMs and questioned people who were using cell phones. Mobile phone signal jammers have been installed at 4 unmanned locations in the Tokyo area thus far.

The devices are installed on the ceiling, emitting cellular signal interference waves. People standing at a safe distance behind the customer at the ATM should not be affected by the 1-2 meter sphere being emitted by the jammer. The bank will slowly phase in these mobile phone signal jammers at all of their ATM locations. The Japan Ministry of Public Management must issue a cell phone blocking license before these units may be legally installed. Some medical facilities and music venues in Japan currently have these devices installed.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear