Gigabyte Communications announced a new smartphone that will wrap Windows Mobile 6.5 in a custom "SmartZone" user interface built using Adobe's Flash technology. The "S1200" is just 0.45 inches thick, and offers a 3.1-inch touchscreen display, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and a three megapixel...
Unveiling the S1200 at this week's Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Spain, Gigabyte said the phone will ship with Windows Mobile 6.1 initially, but added that users will receive a free upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5. Either way, the underlying operating system will be wrapped in Gigabyte's own SmartZone user interface (UI), the company says.
SmartZone, pictured at right, was written using Adobe Flash, according to Gigabyte. It apparently replaces the similarly home-grown user interface, Smart Touch II, that Gigabyte employed on previous phones such as its MW702 and MS802.
As the video at the end of this story shows, SmartZone allows the user to access programs and files by swiping their fingers up and down or from side to side. In addition, diagonal strokes may be used to open four most-used applications, the company adds.
The underlying hardware on the S1200 is Qualcomm's MSM7200A, clocked at 528MHz, with 128MB of RAM, 256 of flash storage, and a microSD expansion slot. This is wrapped in a case that measures just 4.15 x 2.05 x 0.45 inches (105.5 x 52 x 11.4mm), and offers a 3.1-inch display with WVGA (800 x 480) resolution.
According to Gigabyte, the phone offers quad-band (850/900/1800/1900MHz) connectivity, and is capable of HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access) and HSUPA (high speed uplink packet access) data mode, where available. The S1200 also offers a three megapixel autofocus camera, 802.11b/g wireless networking, Bluetooth, and GPS, the company says.
Features and specifications listed by Gigabyte for the S1200 include:
Processor -- Qualcomm MSM7200A clocked at 528MHz
Memory -- 128MB of RAM and 256MB of flash storage
Display -- 3.1-inch touchscreen with WVGA (800 x 480) resolution
Camera -- 3 megapixel, with autofocus
Wireless:
WAN -- Quad-band (850/900/1800/1900MHz) GSM, with HSDPA and HSUPA
LAN -- 802.11b/g
PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
GPS
Other I/O -- n/s, but presumably includes USB and headphone jack
Expansion -- microSD slot
Battery type -- 1010mAh, life n/s
Dimensions -- 4.15 x 2.05 x 0.45 inches (105.5 x 52 x 11.4mm)
A demonstration of the S1200's SmartZone user interface Source: Engadget (click to play)
Availability
Gigabyte did not say when it plans to ship the S1200. More information on the phone may be found on the company's website, here.
SmartZone, pictured at right, was written using Adobe Flash, according to Gigabyte. It apparently replaces the similarly home-grown user interface, Smart Touch II, that Gigabyte employed on previous phones such as its MW702 and MS802. 
