Android-based Innocomm Shark tunes into Taiwanese TV, makes us want to move here (video)
And you wonder why the cabbies here are so addicted to mobile TV. Innocomm's latest -- hailed as the first Android 3.5G smartphone with Telegent's mobile TV solution -- was on-hand here at Computex, and while the Shark didn't look too special at first glance, it actually proved to be a mighty respectable phone after we opened our mind and gave it a few precious moments of our lives. The handset itself manages to boast an impressive WVGA (800 x 480) 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen, and there's an 8 megapixel camera around back to accompany the 3.5G connectivity, inbuilt WiFi and analog TV tuner. We found the device to be running Android 2.1, and for all intents and purposes, it hummed along like a clock. Touchscreen response was top notch, and the TV application loaded and closed with nary a hitch. Innocomm plans to ship the thing worldwide in the coming weeks, though users in need of a digital receiver will have to wait for a future model. Have a look at us presumably getting cursed at by a daytime drama queen just past the break. %Gallery-94388%
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Innocomm Delivers First Android 3.5G Smartphone with Telegent Mobile TV
Shark model targets growing smartphone market with low-price, high-end entry
TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- At Computex Taipei 2010 today, Telegent Systems, the company that makes television mobile, and Innocomm, a Taiwan-based provider of broadband wireless solutions, announced the introduction of the first 3.5G touchscreen smartphone based on the Android operating system to incorporate Telegent mobile TV technology.
The Innocomm Shark, which features a 3.2 inch WVGA (800x480) display, capacitive touchscreen, 8 megapixel autofocus camera, 3.5G connectivity, Wi-Fi and analog TV, is designed to address the growing interest in feature-rich touchscreen smartphones while entering the category at a price significantly lower than current comparable models. According to Gartner Dataquest, the smartphone market is expected to grow by nearly 50% in 2010 and 2011, outperforming basic handset growth over the next five years.
Innocomm is among a growing number of mobile device developers to build in Telegent's free-to-air mobile TV technology as a competitive differentiator. The Shark's analog TV feature provides consumers with mobile access to the same free-to-air television programming that they view on conventional TV sets, delivering ready access to news, sports and other preferred programming while on the go. The handset's large, high quality display combined with touchscreen controls allows for a high quality viewing experience. The model also incorporates the ability to record TV clips to a microSD card. Innocomm plans to add digital TV capability to future models.
"We expect the phone's price and feature profile to appeal to operators seeking to add 3.5G Android smartphones to their portfolio and to leverage 3G as a strategic growth platform," said Paul Wang, President at Innocomm. "The combination of analog TV with Android's feature-rich platform allows us to deliver both operator and consumer extraordinary value in markets in Asia, Latin America and parts of Europe."
Telegent has shipped more than 80 million mobile TV receivers since it first introduced its mobile TV solutions in mid-2007. The company will demonstrate its latest solutions for mobile devices at this week's event, June 1 – 5, at the Grand Hyatt Taipei, suites #1032 and 1033.
"Innocomm is well known for its quality and innovative designs," said Samuel Sheng, president and chief executive officer. "Innocomm's new model will provide carriers who are leveraging analog TV as a strategic differentiator to deliver a compelling offering in the high end smartphone category."
About Telegent Systems, Inc.
Telegent Systems is a fabless semiconductor company that enables the reception of live, free-to-air analog and digital broadcast television in mobile handsets and other portable consumer devices. Telegent's television-on-a-chip solutions solve the long-standing technical challenges that have precluded mobile reception of analog broadcast TV, enabling manufacturers and operators to benefit from the convergence of broadcast TV with mobile and portable devices. Telegent's products are the most widely sold broadcast television solutions for mobile handsets in the world. For more information, visit www.telegent.com.
About Innocomm Mobile Technology Corporation
Innocomm is headquartered in the Science Based Industrial Park in HsinChu, Taiwan. Innocomm has more than 450 combined years of experience in mobile phone development for Tier-1 brands such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson and LG. The company strives to be the leading broadband wireless provider in terms of quality, performance and time-to-market. Current products include both Android 3.5G mobile phones and high speed 3.5G modem embedded modules. For more information, visit www.innocomm.com.
