Key Features:
* Tri-band world phone + GRPS
* 64K color high-resolution screen
* Weighs 110 g (is small and lighter than 7650)
* Built in camera
* Onboard music and video player, as well as video recording
* Built in FM Radio
* MMC Card slot
* Runs a Siemens version of Series 60 (you can see some differences in screenshots)
Full features:
* Battery : Li-Polymer 1000 mAh
* Charging time : 3 hours
* Band : Triple Band GSM 900 / 1800 /1900
* Display : 65.000 colors, 176x220 pixels TFD
* OS : Symbian, Series 60 UI
* Sound : Natural Loud Speaker
* Games : Java and Series 60 applications. Bluetooth multiplayer.
* EMS : Full EMS with tones, pictures and animations
* MMS : Supported
* Multimedia : Video and audio player
* WAP : WAP 2.0, xHTML browser
* Radio : FM Radio
* GPRS : class 10
* Memory : MMC memory card slot
* Organizer : Calendar, adress book, notes, tasks ++
* Voice : Voice recorder, Voice dialing, Voice control
* Communication : IrDA, Bluetooth, USB
* Synchronisation : PC Sync with MS Outlook and Lotus Notes
* Camera : Integrated VGA camera with video function.
* Mail : POP3, IMAP4 and SMPT
* Other features : Vibration, Calling Faces
Rafe's Comment:
So suprising no-one Siemens have announced their first Series 60 smartphone. There's already been some interesting comments on the key layout, but it remains to be seen how much (or even if) it will be an issue. Its certainly different, from my own experience of using the Series 60 interface I actually think this might be rather good.
On other features the phone certainly looks like a strong competitor, sporting a better screen that any of the other S60 phones announced so far. Its also considerably more pocketable that the other S60 phones, something that will win over many people who sees the smartphone as too big. This will slip nicely into the pocket / handbag / case.
From the start the phone has nice potential as a multimedia player, although this is of course dependent on the memory that comes with the phone. No details on that so far by the way (there are now see below).
This looks like a nice addition to the Symbian family, although information is a bit sparse at the moment. This takes to four the number of manufactuers who have formally announced (as opposed to those like BenQ who we know are working on a UIQ device) the launch of a Symbian device to 4 (Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Fujitsu and now Siemens). If you add that to the manufactuers who say they are going to release later in the year (Sendo and BenQ) things are looking good for real devices. Of course we can probably expect some more phone to pop up both from these companies and others. Suddenly Symbains oft stated claim of 20 devices under development doesn't seem quite so distant...
Update:
No sooner had I finsihed writing when the specifcations became available (thanks lagonda). There is an MMC card slot so this phone will easily compete with the 3650 (and I suspect maybe more popular among those who seen the 3650 as too Youth orientated). The phone is Tri-band and support GRPS - this means it is a world phone and can there not only be used anywhere but can also be sold and marketed anywhere. Another potential Symbian phone for the US market.
Its got eveything you'd expect really, and all slighlty souped up over current Series 60 phones (WAP 2.0, xHTML browser). It continues the S60 tradition of being great networking devices (support IR, bluetooth and USB). The last of these, USB is significant, as this is something only the N-Gage has among the Nokia S60 line. USB menas fast syncing, and syncing for those who might not have IR or bluetooth. I know many users have bought bluetooth trancievers because of their 7650, this wont be the case here.
Also interesting is the 1000 mAh battery. I think this is 250 more mAh than the standard battery for the 7650 so this phone is likely to out perform its in battery terms.
The screen has an extra 12 pixels compared to the 7650 /3650, and this space looks like it is going to be used for status (battery and network) strength indicators.
Press Release:
[quote]Siemens’ SX1 changes the face of mobile phones
Powerful mix of features and applications packed into unique, beautiful design
Siemens Information and Communication Mobile (Siemens mobile) launched an instant design classic today with its next generation mobile phone, the SX1, at the 3GSM World Congress 2003 in Cannes. A unique keypad arrangement, outstanding design and the world’s most powerful suite of features and applications for its size set the SX1 apart from other handsets - perfect for the most demanding mobile phone consumers.
The SX1 has strips of keys built in to each side of the phone, instead of an ordinary keypad, to give it a sleek shape. This design innovation also shifts the large, 64K color high-resolution screen into the center of the device without compromising overall size as the SX1 only weighs 110 grams. Embedded discreetly underneath the screen are central navigation keys which help make the features of the SX1 even easier to navigate in the usual portrait mode or, if the application supports it, in landscape mode.
Powerful as it is beautiful, the SX1 hosts the ultimate entertainment and business package. Features packed into a slender 99cm volume frame include: built-in video player, camcorder, music player and FM radio; rich unlimited gaming supported by Series60 or Java (J2ME); full set of business applications directly comparable to a normal PDA, including local and wireless synch. By combining the latest entertainment and business technology, the SX1 is perfect for those who ‘work hard, play harder’.
Peter Zapf, President of Mobile Phones within the Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group, said: “This is another exciting world first for Siemens mobile. A unique design with the power to match its beauty, we believe the SX1 will build on the huge success of the SL45i, our breakthrough mobile MP3 phone. The SX1 is perfect for truly demanding consumers who want to make the most of 2.5G services like video MMS and over-the-air (OTA) downloads of applications and content. It is the new standard for next generation phones.”
Built on the open-source Symbian platform, the SX1 features a tailored Siemens mobile version of the Series 60 interface and application platform. This enables ease of use and also lets consumers personalize their phones with a huge choice of downloadable content and applications. The SX1 will be available throughout Europe and Asia within the first half of 2003.
The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (Siemens mobile) offers the complete range of mobile solutions including mobile devices, infrastructure and applications. Devices include mobile phones, fashion accessory phones, wireless modules, mobile organizers and cordless phones as well as products for wireless home networks. The infrastructure portfolio includes GSM, GPRS and 3G mobile network technologies from base stations and switching systems to intelligent networks, e.g. for prepaid services. Mobile Applications cover end-to-end solutions for Messaging, Location Based Services or Mobile Payment. For fiscal 2002 (September 30), Siemens mobile recorded sales of EUR 11 billion and employed approximately 28,600 people worldwide.
You can access further information about Siemens mobile on the Internet at
http://www.siemens-mobile.com
[/quote]