KDDI Corp. has launched the "W41T," a mobile phone with a 4GB 0.85-inch hard disk drive (HDD). The phone can store up to about 2,000 tunes.
KDDI fell behind Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. of South Korea in commercializing HDD equipped mobile phones. In September 2004, Samsung released the "SPH-V5400" that was promoted as "the world's first mobile phone with a built-in HDD." It is equipped with a 1.5GB HDD. In October 2005, the company also launched the "SPH-V7900" model with a 3GB built-in HDD. The HDDs used in these Samsung phones are the 1-inch type.
According to a survey by KDDI, the "N91," a mobile phone unveiled on April 27, 2005 by Nokia Corp. of Finland, was also equipped with a 0.85-inch HDD. At the time, Nokia announced that the phone "was slated for launch within 2005." KDDI pointed out that the "W41T is expected to come on the market sooner since Nokia has not yet started to sell the N91."
Meanwhile, the W41T uses Bluetooth capability to enable users to listen to music in a handsfree manner on earphones (manufactured by Kaga Electronics Co., Ltd.) and from a speaker system (by Yamaha Corp.), both sold separately, that can be connected wirelessly to the mobile phone.
Takahiro Kikuchi, Nikkei Electronics
Nikkei Electronics Asia magazine is available each month free of charge to engineers, managers and other qualified readers.
Nikkei Electronics |
Nikkei Monozukuri |
Nikkei Microdevices |
Nikkei Automotive Technology |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The magazine for electronics designers and managers. | Design You Won't Regret - How to Reduce the Risk of Accidents | The most comprehensive technical journal for makers and users of LSIs and LCDs. | The comprehensive automotive technology magazine. |
Copyright © 1995-2009 Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
All editorial content and graphics on this Web site may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the copyright owner.
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009