SoftBank PHOTOS 920SC photo-centric device

A few months back SoftBank issued a preview for their upcoming devices, the PHOTOS 920SC included. Now that the device is super close to being released, we thought it deserved some attention. The 920SC features two cameras; a 5 MP camera for photos, and a 3 MP CMOS for video conferencing. Along with the dual cameras comes the goodies you would expect with a photo-centric device, including a Xenon flash, 3x optical zoom, auto focus, and face recognition.
Besides the photo features, the 920SC will offer a 2.4" display, a microSD (max. 2 GB) slot, and support for W-CDMA and tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900). The 920SC makes its official drop tomorrow in Japan.


With the intense quarrel between Qualcomm and Nokia, who could have expected that Nokia would file a FCC application for a phone featuring CDMA support? Apparently, the feud is cooling down, since this recently revealed FCC shows that Nokia definitely has plans for a CDMA/EV-DO device in the works. The device, stated as model RM-347, doesn't really have any specs to speak of, and the FCC diagram makes the device resemble more of a taser than a phone. At least it's a sign that the end to the Qualcomm vs. Nokia days could be upon us.



UTStarcom had a few surprises up their sleeves at CES, including this TXT 8010 which was previously unannounced. The full-QWERTY device features a 2.2" display, dual-band CDMA support with BREW, a VGA camera, and MicroSD removable memory. UTStarcom is also the only booth at CES which is showing a full array of AWS-enabled devices, which planned to be used by T-Mobile when they launch their stateside 3G network.

Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft, has made a statement saying that the software giant has no plans on offering a rival to the iPhone, and will further focus on their Windows Mobile software. While some of you might have been wanting to see a Zune Phone, this is a smart decision on Gates' part. Microsoft's game is software, not hardware. Apple will always have the upper hand over Microsoft as far as the hardware business goes. With the massive amount of Windows Mobile phones on the loose, Microsoft surely has their hands full on the phone front.

