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        Windows Mobile phone has two slide-out keyboards

        Jonathan Angel | Date: Jul 20, 2009 | Comments: 1


        The U.K. carrier O2 announced a Windows Mobile 6.1 phone that features two slide-out keyboards. The "XDA Venn" (left) runs Windows Mobile 6.1, and provides worldwide 3G operation, HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access), a 2.4-inch QVGA (320x240) display, and a two megapixel camera, says O2.



        (Click here for a larger view of O2's XDA Venn

        AT&T's Pantech Duo
        (Click image to enlarge)
        The new XDA Venn appears to be very similar to the Pantech-manufactured         Matrix Pro, introduced by AT&T in the U.S. last February and designed as a successor to the Pantech Duo (right), offered by AT&T since 2007. Like the Venn, these earlier phones have numeric keypads that can be pulled down from below, and QWERTY keyboards that slide out from the side.

        Like its AT&T predecessors, but unlike most of today's Windows phones, the XDA Venn apparently does not include wireless networking. However, the device does include quad-band GSM and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA, along with Bluetooth 2.0, according to O2.

        The Venn also has integrated GPS, a two megapixel camera with 4X digital zoom, speakerphone capabilities, and voice dialing. According to O2, the Matrix Pro uses a 528MHz Qualcomm MSM7201A processor, with an undisclosed amount of RAM, 256MB of flash storage, and a microSD expansion slot. Since it does not have a touchscreen, the phone runs the Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard operating system, with an "intuitive sliding panel interface" and threaded SMS.

        Finally, the Venn includes a 1320mAH battery that is said to offer up to three hours of talk time, and a standby time of up to 10.5 days.

        Features and specifications listed by AT&T for the Matrix Pro include:
        • Processor -- 528MHz Qualcomm MSM7201A
        • Memory -- 256GB of flash storage; RAM n/s
        • Display -- 2.4 inch QVGA (320 x 240) display
        • Camera -- Two megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom
        • Keys -- Dual keyboards, with 12-key numeric keypad and full QWERTY keyboard
        • Wireless:
          • WWAN -- Quad-band GSM and tri-band HSPDA/HSUPA (frequencies not specified)
          • WPAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
          • GPS
        • Other I/O:
          • USB port
          • 2.5mm headphone jack with included 3.5mm adaptor
        • Expansion -- microSD slot, for up to 32Gb flash
        • Battery type/life -- 1320mAh, rated for five hours talk time and 250 hours standby
        • Dimensions -- 4.17 x 2.0 x 0.85 inches (106 x 50.8 x 21.6mm)
        • Weight -- 4.3 oz (121g)
        Further information

        O2 did not release pricing or availability for the XDA Venn, but the device appears to be available now. More information may be found on the company's website, here.


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