Nokia unveils its first i-mode phone in Singapore

Finnish phone maker Nokia and mobile operator StarHub have jointly announced the launch of an i-mode version of the popular N70 handset in Singapore. According to the joint press release issued today, this is the first time Nokia is launching an i-mode phone in Singapore. More importantly, Singapore is also the first market to release the N70 i-mode handset.

"Users who are more accustomed to the Nokia user interface can now experience StarHub's easy-to-use suite of i-mode services with Nokia N70," said Goh Li-Li, assistant vice president of i-mode Services at StarHub. Other than the i-mode application platform and a new silver-black exterior casing, the new N70 comes with the same features as the original N70. The price of the new N70 handset is expected to range from S$288 (US$192.73) to S$488 (US$326.57), depending on the mobile subscription plan, and will be available from June 24.

Unfortunately, StarHub has confirmed that users of the non-i-mode N70 will not be able to upgrade the firmware to activate i-mode in their handsets. The mobile operator has told CNET Asia that customers can expect more i-mode-enabled terminals from other manufacturers such as Sony Ericsson and Motorola in the second half of 2006. We are guessing the handsets to be the new Sony Ericsson K610im as well as the i-mode versions of the Motorola L6 and L7. (click here for a larger image.)

CommunicAsia2006 coverage kicks off!

Get ready for gameplay of a different sort this week at the Singapore Expo where mobile vendors play ball with each other and vie for superiority in the sport of oneupmanship, from design talents to designer models.

CNET Asia staffers are, of course, giving up sleep and soccer to bring you the news, musings and hot announcements off the showfloor of Asia's annual infocomm and media tradeshow. This year, we'll not only be updating our readers with the latest handsets being showcased by major phone vendors at the fair, our intrepid scribes will be blogging on the accessories, solutions and other cool gear being brandished at the booths, besides bringing you photos and Webcasts of the event.

As always, keep watching this space for updates. Or go straight to our CommunicAsia2006 Special Coverage to keep ahead on the news.

Motorola signs on Beckham as global brand ambassador

Expect to see football superstar David Beckham carrying the latest Motorola phones at this year's World Cup as he signs a three-year endorsement deal with the US-based handset maker to promote its cellular products in Asia. The collaboration will kick off with Beckham participating in advertising and retail activities across the region.

According to Motorola's press release, the endorsement deal will include the use of exclusive Beckham content such as screensavers and video clips in its mobile handsets. The England soccer captain will also be involved in Motorola campaigns such as the (MOTO)RED mobile created to help fight AIDS in Africa. (Click for the large image here.)

Pantech delivers its smallest clamshell yet

The obsession with miniaturizing tech continues with Pantech launching what it claims is the world's smallest camera clamshell. First announced in April, the Pantech C300 is a featherweight 70.9g and petite 68 x 43 x 19mm when closed. It was recently introduced exclusively to Cingular customers in the US for US$119.99. Korean compatriot Samsung, meanwhile, claims the title for world's slimmest camera-phone with its SGH-X820.

There's, of course, a tradeoff with such diminutive dimensions. The C300 sports a VGA camera with 4x digital zoom and photolight, although Pantech has attempted to make up for the shortfall with a 1.5-inch 262K-color internal display. Also onboard are MP3 ringtones, instant messenging, email and photo caller ID. There are no indications on whether the phone will ever see light of day in Asia.

Is that a Chocolate in my Samsung?

If you find Samsung's SGH-E900 terribly familiar, that's because its buttonless navigation panel and sleek design bring to mind LG's hugely popular Chocolate KG800 handset with its LED touch keypad. The SGH-E900, first showcased at CeBIT 2006 in March, is Samsung's answer to the former.

In a head-to-head, we'd say the Chocolate has first-to-market advantage and is probably the thinner and sexier of the two. However, the SGH-E900 has a beefed-up feature set that includes a 2-megapixel camera and expandable miniSD slot. Function or form? You decide.

Samsung has yet to confirm the E900's availability in Asia, outside of Korea, or pricing details.

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