| Wristwatch phone runs Windows Mobile |
Apr. 17, 2008
Epoq Multimedia has announced a wrist-watch-sized mobile phone that runs Windows Mobile 5.0. The Epoq EGP-WP98B includes a 1.8-inch OLED (organic light emitting diode) screen, quad-band GSM telephony, Bluetooth, WiFi, a 1.3 megapixel camera, and music and video playback capabilities.
(Click here for a larger view of the Epoq EGP-WP98B)
Dimensions and weight of the EGP-WP98B were not released, but as our photo shows, the device is clearly diminutive. Nonetheless, it appears to be a full-fledged smartphone. Epoq cites an unnamed but ARM926-based processor clocked at 266MHz, along with 128MB of RAM. Storage is provided via a Micro SD slot, and a 1GB card is bundled with the phone.
While the device is said to use a Windows Mobile 5.0 core, its 1.8-inch screen obviously does not have room for that operating system's standard user interface. However, its software includes a web browser, calendar, calculator, health manager, unit converter, a voice recorder, and a world clock, reportedly. The device supports MP3 music plus "full-screen" video playback in WMV, AVI, 3GP, and MPEG-4 formats, claims Titan.
Phone functionality includes hands-free operation, SMS group messaging, a 300-contact telephone directory, and quad-band (850/900/1800/1900MHz) GSM. The device also includes Bluetooth, WiFi, and a 1.3 megapixel camera.
Claimed to provide from 100-180 minutes of talk time, and 80-100 hours of standby, the Epoq EGP-WP98B is supplied with two lithium-ion batteries. Owners too young to remember Dick Tracy will not be stuck talking to their hands, since the device will also ship with a Bluetooth headset. It comes with either stainless steel or leather wristbands.
Further information
Daniel Sparrow, CEO of Titan Global Commerce, Epoq's parent company, told WindowsForDevices.com via email that certain specifications of the device could still be subject to change, although he did not specify which. The company hopes to ship the $630 device by May 1, and is taking orders exclusively via the Gadgetcraver website. A page devoted to the Epoq EGP-WP98B appears here.
As a Windows Mobile device, the Epoq EGP-WP98B is not to be confused with earlier "smart watches" that resulted from Microsoft's Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) initiative. SPOT morphed into the .NET Micro Framework, which runs on lower-end processors and doesn't require an MMU (memory management unit).
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