The Audiovox SMT 5600 is a tri-band (GSM 850/1800/1900) phone with integrated Bluetooth, infrared, VGA camera, and Windows Media Player 10.
(Click here for larger image)The device measures 4.25 x 1.81 x 0.63 inches, and weighs in at 3.6 oz. Its CMOS VGA-resolution camera boasts low-light capabilities, 4x digital zoom, and camcorder functionality. A mini-SD slot provides additional storage for video clips, music, and other data. Storage consists of 64MB of internal flash memory, based on an M-Systems Mobile DiskOnChip. Its software platform is Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition for Smartphones.
Cingular claims that the SMT 5600 is the "first and only mobile phone" to be certified under Microsoft's PlaysForSure logo program, which verifies compatibility with a wide variety of online services such as MSN Music and Napster. Additionally, when AT&T introduced the 5600 last fall, the device was touted as the first phone to support Windows Media Player 10, with the capability of providing "seamless transfer" of media from a PC running Windows XP.
Cingular says it expects the SMT 5600 to be especially appealing to businesses because it reduces the expense of a mobile workforce by eliminating the need for both a PDA and wireless phone. Additional business-oriented features include over-the-air synchronization of PIM functions, and up to nine email boses supporting POP3 and IMAP4 mail. The device also supports the .NET Compact Framework, enabling enterprises to mobilize existing Microsoft-based applications, according to the company.
Various sources report that the SMT 5600 is one of several essentially identical rebranded devices made by Taiwanese ODM (original design manufacturer) HTC, under the codename "Typhoon." The
Orange SPV 500 is reportedly also based on Typhoon.
The Audiovox SMT 5600 is available now in "select markets" for around $200 with a two-year voice and data service contract, according to Cingular.
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