DoCoMo Spring 2007 - SO903iTV by Sony

a late addition to the 903i series, this 'BRAVIA keitai' is Sony's first 1 seg model for DoCoMo and it is also DoCoMo's thinnest 1 seg model. the screen is a plentiful 3 inches and the 1 seg function supports all the usual stuff like programmed recording and 'timeshift' viewing etc.

differing from most of the other phones introduced this time around, as a 903i, you can expect superior functions like full browser, document viewer et al. it seems an encouraging prospect, but this is the second Sony phone announced that takes microSD instead of the memory sticks. the phone is not due to be on sale until june, which to me makes it more of a summer rather than spring model.

Model	SO903iTV
Maker	Sony
Network	DoCoMo - FOMA (W-CDMA)
Display	3 inch WQVGA TFT (240x432)
Camera	2 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	111 x 50 x 19.5 mm
Weight	under 140g
Felica	YES
Other	1 seg, full browser, document viewer
Colours	brilliant red, metal black, pure white

DoCoMo Spring 2007 - D800iDS by Mitsubishi

originally displayed at an industry show back in 2005, this double display model from Mitsubishi has finally made it to the product stage. the traditional keypad area is replaced with a touch panel display. the main menu can be set to 3, 6 or 10 buttons depending on the user. for example the simplest 3 button menu is phone, mail, camera.the phone supports imode and ichannel, but that is just about where it ends. there is no mobile wallet and not even a music player, which really is rare these days. along with a golf game, a mobile version of a Nintendo DS game also comes pre-installed and it is thought that there will be more on the way.

Model	D800iDS
Maker	Mitsubishi
Network	DoCoMo - FOMA (W-CDMA)
Display	2.2 inch QVGA TFT (240x320) touch panel: 2.2 inch QVGA TFT
Camera	1.3 megapixels
External Memory	-
Dimensions - h w d	106 x 49 x 21 mm
Weight	under 122g
Felica	NO
Other	touch panel display, Nintendo DS game
Colours	white, black, silver

DoCoMo Spring 2007 - SO703i by Sony

the main characteristic on this 703i series phone from Sony has to be its Style-Up panel feature. not only can you change the face cover, something that Sony has done occasionally, but you can also insert a scented sheet, to match the cover's colour. for example, the scent to go with the blue cover smells like the sea.

the phone supporst osaifu-keitai, but lacks many other functions including a full browser. i have become a bit sceptical of the companies inserting their TV brand names here and there, so I will leave it up to you to decide whether you notice the BRAVIA technology in the screen. however, one interesting thing that i noticed is that the external memory as announced in DoCoMo's press release is microSD card. as far as i can recall, this is the first time i have seen anything other than Sony's proprietary formats.as you can see above the time and other info 'floats' in the front cover. below is the various exchangeable panels.

Model	SO703i
Maker	Sony
Network	DoCoMo - FOMA (W-CDMA)
Display	2.7 inch WQVGA TFT (240x432)
Camera	2 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	105 x 47 x 18.4 mm
Weight	around 104g
Felica	YES
Other	changeable face plates
Colours	romantic gold, aqua white, misty black Style-Up Panels: marble, gorgeous, twilight, exotic, flow, ocean

DoCoMo Spring 2007 - SH703i by Sharp

the body for this model from Sharp adopts a half metallic design. the top metallic half is for displaying information and the bottom half is for gripping the phone. again it is a fairly advanced phone for a 70xi supporting most of DoCoMo's latest main services apart from roaming.

it is quite compact at 17.9mm and the screen should be decent enough as it uses Sharp's aquos technology. i have added the photo below so you can get more of an idea what the metallic front looks like.

Model	SH703i
Maker	Sharp
Network	DoCoMo - FOMA (W-CDMA)
Display	2.4 inch QVGA ASV (240x320)
Camera	2 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	102 x 49 x 17.9 mm
Weight	around 105g
Felica	YES
Other	full browser
Colours	pink, white, black

DoCoMo Spring 2007 - P703i by Panasonic

like their new handset for au, this model from Panasonic takes the assymetrical approach to the body design. as far as features go, it has been designed with email in mind. the number pad uses what they call 'wave tile key' which according to the press release makes it easy to use, even with long nails.

personally it reminds me a bit of some of the 'kids keitais' around at the moment and looks a bit simple, but with things like 'feel mail' where the phone automatically analyses the contents of your emails and represents it with one of 45 different animations, i think they are aiming for the younger female market.

Model	P703i
Maker	Panasonic
Network	DoCoMo - FOMA (W-CDMA)
Display	2.2 inch QVGA TFT (240x320)
Camera	1.3 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	99 x 49 x 21 mm
Weight	around 109g
Felica	YES
Other	feel-mail, dictionary
Colours	ramegura white, hairline black, wavy blue

DoCoMo Spring 2007 - N703iD by NEC

continuing from the N702iD, this is the second phone where NEC and DoCoMo have colloborated with designer Sato Kashiwa. they have managed to make the body flatter and squarer, and at 15.9mm this is the thinnest DoCoMo osaifu-keitai.

it has the same distinctive long sub display on the front and this time improves the music functionality by adding music keys to the side of the phone. apart from the slight difference in compatible services, the software inside the phone is generally the same as N703iu.

Model	N703iD
Maker	NEC
Network	DoCoMo - FOMA (W-CDMA)
Display	2.1 inch QVGA TFT (240x345)
Camera	1.3 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	96 x 48 x 15.9 mm
Weight	around 103g
Felica	YES
Other	specific contents depending on body colour
Colours	yellow, white, navy, pink

DoCoMo Spring 2007 - F703i by Fujitsu

Fujitsu has come up with this 'waterproof music keitai that you can use in the bath'. following DoCoMo's first waterproof handset, the SO902iWP+ from Sony, this clam shell type phone from Fujitsu meets the same waterproof standard which means it can be kept in water at a depth of 1 metre for 30 minutes.

doing well for the usually stripped down 70xi series, this phone has osaifu-keitai (mobile wallet) and is also compatible with the Napster To Go service. as you can see on the photo above, this is yet another phone with illuminations on the front and this time a 'colour therapist' was involved to select relaxing colours and sounds.

Model	F703i
Maker	Fujitsu
Network	DoCoMo - FOMA (W-CDMA)
Display	2.2 inch QVGA TFT (240x320)
Camera	1.3 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	100 x 48 x 17.9 mm
Weight	around 109g
Felica	YES
Other	waterproof, Napster To Go
Colours	snow white, blossom pink, lamp black

DoCoMo Spring 2007 - D703i by Mitsubishi

based on the D702i, Mitsubishi have managed to cut the 10mm mark, with this straight style handset, their (their = Mitsubishi's) thinnest handset at 9.9mm. they also managed to shave 16grams of to weigh in at 83g.

features include 'mode select' where you can change the standby screen etc. between for example business and private life. it also has a key lock function that can be set to a timer, so that is will lock the keys after a fixed time of not pressing any keys.

Model	D703i
Maker	Mitsubishi
Network	DoCoMo - FOMA (W-CDMA)
Display	2.4 inch QVGA TFT (240x320)
Camera	1.3 megapixels
External Memory	none
Dimensions - h w d	130 x 49 x 9.9 mm
Weight	around 83g
Felica	NO
Other	27 patterns of key illuminations
Colours	bright red, frozen white, carbon black

DoCoMo Spring 2007 - P703iu by Panasonic

this keitai from Panasonic joins the N703iu to make up a series within the 703i series. they say this because basically DoCoMo try to standardise the services available on the phones across any one series. and these two handsets announced as the worlds thinnest 3G clam styles at 11.4 mm have somewhat reduced services so hence the classification under the u series.

it has a stainless steel finish with sheet style keypad. there is no osaifu-keitai, no PushTalk and not even support for chaku-uta. the interface has been designed by TOMATO, a designer group based in London.

Model	P703iu
Maker	Panasonic
Network	DoCoMo - FOMA (W-CDMA)
Display	2.2 inch QVGA TFT (240x320)
Camera	1.3 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	103 x 49 x 11.4 mm
Weight	around 98g
Felica	NO
Other	TOMATO designed interface
Colours	graphite black, chrome silver, burgundy red

DoCoMo Spring 2007 - N703iu by NEC

along with the other 'mew' announced simultaneously from Panasonic, this is the worlds thinnest clam type 3G handset. the price you pay for this thinness is a relatively low 1.3 megapixel camera, no mobile-wallet functions and no Push-talk.

it has 7 X 7 illumination LEDs on the back which can display various patterns to notify you of arrived emails, the time, music track numbers, etc.

Model	N703iu
Maker	NEC
Network	DoCoMo - FOMA (W-CDMA)
Display	2.3 inch QVGA TFT (240x345)
Camera	1.3 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	103 x 49 x 11.4 mm
Weight	around 90g
Felica	NO
Other	7 X 7 illumination display
Colours	red, green, brown

DoCoMo 2007 spring models announced

SoftBank are going to announce their spring models tomorrow (25th) so I thought that I had better get a move on and at least start my articles covering DoCoMo's announcement from last week.

the phones included 8 new models from the 703i series, a lightweight version of the 90Xi series; the D800iDS, a double screen keitai which although surely can't derive its name directly from the Nintendo handheld game machine comes with NintendoDS software pre-installed; and finally the SO903iTV, another 1 seg model addition to the 903i series.
above and below, in order: SO903iTV from Sony, D800iDS by Mitsubishi, N703u (read italic u as mew) from NEC, P703iu by Panasonic, D703i from Mitsubishi, F703i by Fujitsu, N703iD from NEC, P703i by Panasonic, SH703i from Sharp, SO703i by Sony.you can read the official english press release here.

au 2007 spring - W51S by Sony

the last few models from sony have included the slide style, the clam style and the most recent W44S was of course the slightly unusual 'dual open' style. this time Sony have returned to the staple style in Japan - the clam style. again aimed at style concious females, there is illuminations under the textured front of the slim body.

as you can see below, it is not just random lights, but they also have icons that light up to tell you when you get a email etc. other than that, you will be able to play ATRAC formatted music, and if you really go in for propriety stuff, you can use up to a 4GB memory stick duo.

Model	W51S
Maker	Sony
Network	au - CDMA 1X WIN
Display	2.7 inch QVGA (240x320)
Camera	2.01 megapixels
External Memory	memory stick duo, memory stick PRO duo
Dimensions - h w d	105 x 48 x 19.3 mm
Weight	115g
Felica	YES
Other	illuminations, full browser
Colours	lattice black, flowerette pink, lustre beige

au 2007 spring - W51P by Panasonic

i was looking forward to the first 'P' for au in over five years ever since they announced that they would return to relaeasing an au model over six months ago. unfortunately, as their first ever WIN handset, they have realeased a keitai aimed at females in their 20's.

it does of course have the signature one-push open button on the side. you can see clearer on the photo below, but the front of the phone is an asymmetrical (or unsymmetric as Japanese like to say!) design with a sub-display and camera on the right and a floral pattern and two illuminating areas on the left. nice! (the sarcasm arises from my disappointment in the first au P)

Model	W51P
Maker	Panasonic
Network	au - CDMA 1X WIN
Display	2.6 inch Wide QVGA (240x400)
Camera	2.07 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	102 x 50 x 21 mm
Weight	123g
Felica	YES
Other	illuminations on front, full browser
Colours	clematis white, lupinus pink, carranza brown

au 2007 spring - W51T by Toshiba

Toshiba have announced two au models for spring. the W52T is a high-end model and the W51T pictured above is more of a mid-range model. it keeps the 1 seg and digital radio of the high-end model in a compact body. i read claims that this will be the phone that will popularise/spread the use of 1 seg on mobile phones.

you get Sony earphones in the box, and other notable functions of this double-hinged model is full browser and PC document browser, a well stocked dictionary and a not too shabby 3.24 megapixel camera.

Model	W51T
Maker	Toshiba
Network	au - CDMA 1X WIN
Display	2.6 inch QVGA (240x320)
Camera	3.24 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	103 x 51 x 21 mm
Weight	142g
Felica	NO
Other	1 seg, digital radio, PC document viewer
Colours	gracious orange, tranquil white, dynamic silver

au 2007 spring - W51H by Hitachi

it has long been one of Fujitsu's trademark features over at Docomo, and one that i always liked, so i am glad to the finger print sensor finally coming to au on this Hitachi handset, the first for me to write up so far that doesn't have 1seg.

it is a double-hinged model and the finger print sensor actually doubles as a four way scroll pad for use in the PC site viewer, PC document viewer and EZ Navi-walk functions. of course the finger print sensor can also be used to lock the Felica (osaifu-keitai) functions of the phone.

Model	W51H
Maker	Hitachi
Network	au - CDMA 1X WIN
Display	2.9 inch Wide QVGA (480x800)
Camera	2.07 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	106 x 50 x 22 mm
Weight	142g
Felica	YES
Other	finger print sensor, PC document viewer
Colours	premium red, innocent white, prestige silver

au 2007 spring - W51K by Kyocera

for me Kyocera one of the more surprisingly popular makers for au recently. this is their first attempt at a 1seg handset and it doesn't go without some nice little features. it is the lightest of the 1seg phones at 131g and is only 20mm thick. i wish that some of the other makers would follow their lead in putting out some thinner phones.

i think the double hinged feature is convenient, especially if you are going to be watching some tv. this keitai is also quite unique by placing what they call 'front media keys' near the hinge part of the phone. when the screen is facing out the markings beside the buttons coincide with tv controls (ie. changing channel etc.) but when the screen is tucked away, the marking beside the same buttons will coincide with music controls. also as you can see in the photo below, the phone sits diagonally in its cradle so that you can watch tv while it is in there. the cradle just so happens to include a sub-woofer speaker but i wouldn't get rid of you tv just yet.

Model	W51K
Maker	Kyocera
Network	au - CDMA 1X WIN
Display	2.7 inch Wide QVGA (240x400)
Camera	2.01 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	103 x 50 x 20 mm
Weight	131g
Felica	YES
Other	1 seg, sony earphones
Colours	mirror orange, cyano blue, metal silver

au 2007 spring - W51SA by Sanyo

again leaving behing the design of the previous model, the W43SA, Sanyo has come up with its first slide type handset since the W31SA II back in September of 2005. compared with this seasons other au slide type model, the W52T from Toshiba, this keitai is a little more basic on the features front.

it has a useful 1GB of internal memory and also a function that i like - a FM radio transmitter. minuses include only traditional 4:3 aspect of TV viewing and that horizontal viewing in the full internet browser is not possible. i would also like to apologise that the information in the table below may not be 100% correct. the green colour is either glass or grass. from the katakana alone you can't tell, but looking at the photos, i am goin to go with grass!

Model	W51SA
Maker	Sanyo
Network	au - CDMA 1X WIN
Display	2.6 inch QVGA (240x320)
Camera	1.99 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	105 x 51 x 21 mm
Weight	146g
Felica	YES
Other	1seg, 1GB internal memory
Colours	grass green, ivory white, modern black

au 2007 spring - W51CA by Casio

leaving the W43CA behind, the W51CA returns to the two hinge design of the W41CA, a big hit in early 2006. in pretty much the same size they have managed to squeeze in 1seg digital terrestrial tv functionality. it manages to stand out from the rest of the pack with 5 and 1/2 hours of TV viewing battery life.

it supports the clever 'timeshift' technology that records the TV when you get an incoming call, but at 2 minutes, you better not talk for too long. the highly popular (with the Japanese) penguin characters make a return and a nice addition is a inbuilt dictionary. i still like my W41CA, but one year down the road, the addition of 1seg and not much else to shout about will probably not be enough to keep my in the Casio camp when it comes to picking my next phone.

Model	W51CA
Maker	Casio
Network	au - CDMA 1X WIN
Display	2.6 inch WideQVGA (240x400)
Camera	2.07 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	105 x 50 x 22 mm
Weight	135g
Felica	YES
Other	1seg, Final Fantasy game pre-installed
Colours	bloom pink, cashmere white, satin dark

au 2007 spring - W51SH by Sharp

Sharps first au model last autumn/winter was quite mediocre so it is at least nice to see that this second model has at least caught up with the 'AQUOS keitai' which is already out for SoftBank and Docomo. the handset itself is very similar to that of the other networks with the distinctive 'cycloid' hinging style.

as well as 1seg which you can output to your TV, the W51SH can also pick up digital radio, but unfortunately for Sharp looking at the rest of au's spring lineup 1seg isn't just quite the special feature that it used to be and with no Felica (mobile wallet) and not many other features worth mentioning, this turns out to be quite a boring phone.

Model	W51SH
Maker	Sharp
Network	au - CDMA 1X WIN
Display	3.0 inch WideQVGA (240x400)
Camera	2.03 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	109 x 50 x 23 mm
Weight	136g
Felica	NO
Other	1seg, TV outpu
Colours	ocean blue, starly silver, aurora pink

au 2007 spring - W52T by Toshiba

one article that i read hit it close to the mark when they say that this slide type handset from Toshiba 'nearly has it all'; 1seg, digital radio, Bluetooth, Felica, 1GB of internal memory, a 3.2 megapixel camera and a 3 inch WVGA display.

one thing it lacks, even on Toshiba's own 2006 winter model, is compaibility with highspeed EV-DO Rev.A which means no TV calling, but that is fine with me. the only thing that i would like to see on it but isn't is a PC document viewer. also there was a correction on IT media +D that unlike they originally stated, you can't use the PC Site Viewer (ie. full browser) with a sideways view, which would have been nice. but all in all, i think this is a worthy candidate for my next phone.

Model	W52T
Maker	Toshiba
Network	au - CDMA 1X WIN
Display	3.0 inch QVGA (480x800)
Camera	3.24 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	111 x 51 x 22 mm
Weight	152g
Felica	YES
Other	1seg, digital radio, Bluetooth, 1GB internal memory
Colours	black, purple, copper

au 2007 spring - MEDIA SKIN by au Design Project

first announced as a concept model back in November of last year, this, the sixth model in the au Design Project series is designed by Tokujin Yoshioka.

rather than clam shell type it is 'flip type' as it is only a small cover over the number pad that flips down. au claim that it is the worlds first 260,000 colour OEL display.

Model	MEDIA SKIN (W52K)
Maker	au Design Project (Kyocera)
Network	au - CDMA 1X WIN
Display	2.4 inch QVGA (240x320)
Camera	1.31 megapixels
External Memory	microSD card
Dimensions - h w d	110 x 50 x 13.1 mm
Weight	105g
Felica	YES
Other	1seg, 260,000 colour OEL display
Colours	orange, black, white

au 2007 spring models announced

on the same day last week, 16th January 2007, au and Docomo each announced 10 new models for their spring lineup. reading some of the keitai news sites, it seems that au may be putting many of their models on sale by end of February and so i decided to cover au first.

the big news is that 7 of the 10 are one-seg models, and so if like myself, up until now you were not all that fussed about selecting a handset capable of picking up digital tv, in future you are more than likely to end up with this function regardless.
in order of the photo above, they are 'MEDIA SKIN' from au design project, W52T by Toshiba, 'AQUOS keitai' W51SH from Sharp, W51CA by Casio, W51SA from Sanyo, W51K by Kyocera, W51H from Hitachi, W51T by Toshiba, W51P from Panasonic and W51S by Sony.

the return of Panasonic to au, the au version of the 'Aquos-keitai', and the W41CA follow-up model W51CA are some of the models grabbing the headlines. (well at least the headlines of the keitai news sites.) below are the phones in the same order but opened.

will the iPhone ever make it to Japan?

so my last post of 2006 was about cheap iPods with your SoftBank mobile, and my first of 2007 is about the iPhone. but will the iPhone ever reach the Japanese market?

it is hard to miss the fact that Apple finally anounced the iPhone. but as the phone announced today is a GSM phone, it means that it will not be compatible with the Japanese networks in its current condition.

but i don't believe for a moment that Steve Jobs is going to miss out on such a lucrative market just because of small technicality like that.

it was interesting to see that SoftBank President Masayoshi Son was in the crowd at the Macworld Keynote. when Steve Jobs came to meet him in Tokyo way back last year I am sure they discussed more than just the cheap iPods with a SoftBank contract campaign.

I am an au user myself, but I would love to see the iPhone on the SoftBank network in order to bring a bit of healthy competition to the market.