April 12, 2006
Virgin Mobile Switch_Back by Kyocera
It's definitely not a looker, but Virgin Mobile has just announced the release of the Switch_Back by Kyocera. The Switch_Back sports the following features:
* QWERTY keypad
* internal and external displays
* VGA camera
Via EngadgetMobile.
Infosync reviews the Kyocera Switch_Back from Virgin Mobile and is not that impressed with the phone. However, they find that the VGA camera takes surprisingly sharp pictures: "Back on the plus side, we managed to take some surprisingly sharp pictures with the Switch_Back’s VGA camera. Boasting resolutions ranging from 640 x 480 to 160 x 120 and with an LED flash, a low-light mode, a self timer (three, five, or 10 seconds), five picture frames, a multishot mode, and color tone/white balance settings, our snapshots looked pretty sharp and vivid for a VGA camera, with little in the way of fuzziness or video noise. As usual, you can use your photos as the phone’s wallpaper (although you can’t blow up the image to fill the screen, which is disappointing) and assign them to contacts."
PCMag reviews the Kyocera Switch_Back and finds that the lack of support for IM or email, other than AOL, limits the phone's appeal. About the phone's camera: "The basic VGA camera takes bright, washed-out photos (with a basic flash; no videos), and the phone can store 100 of them in its 13.2MB of available RAM; the only ways to get the photos off the phone are via picture messaging or uploading them to Virgin's online gallery."
From the news release:
This spring, teens with a passion for messaging should look no further than Virgin Mobile's new Switch_Back(TM) handset by Kyocera Wireless. The first wireless handset to include wildly- popular AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) already loaded and ready to run, the Switch_Back combines eye-catching design, advanced technology and affordability to fit the needs of any young person on the go, and will be available exclusively through Virgin Mobile in the U.S.
Weighing in at just over 4 ounces, the sleek and stylish Switch_Back offers great functionality within a compact and trendsetting clamshell casing. Among its most notable features are two vibrant color displays. The first display on the front face of the phone is for voice calls. But by turning the phone sideways and giving its face a quick flip, users reveal the Switch_Back's widescreen -- along with a sizeable QWERTY keypad designed to make emailing, texting, IMing, gaming or browsing online a breeze.
"Switch_Back's sophisticated communications capabilities, along with its refined design and affordable price tag make it the perfect fit for Virgin Mobile customers," said Howard Handler, chief marketing and strategy officer for Virgin Mobile USA. "With this phone, our customers get the total package -- text messaging, IM, the Web and a camera -- all at their fingertips and within their budgets."
"We're excited to continue our winning partnership with Virgin Mobile USA," said Tom Maguire, vice president of global marketing at Kyocera Wireless Corp. "With its cool content, unique look and suite of tools designed around today's mobile lifestyles, the Switch_Back is the ideal constant companion for Virgin Mobile customers. This is going to be a hot handset for 2006."
The new Switch_Back offers much more than good looks and fun features. It also helps Virgin Mobile customers serve the greater good by connecting with the once-isolated community of mimes. Through Switch_Back's keen text capabilities, Virgin Mobile is bridging the gap between man and mime in a dramatic, colorful advertising campaign that showcases the plight of these forgotten, silent artisans. When TV, outdoor and Web spots hit in early May, America will see that it's finally possible to befriend the mime. As
part of the campaign, Virgin Mobile will allow users to Adopt-a-Mime and let the two engage in an ongoing text-based dialogue for months to come.
Don't be fooled by its slim figure. The Switch_Back scores big with innovative features, which include:
-- Large hidden QWERTY keypad
-- Dual display screens - External 65k color 128 X 128; Internal 65k color
128 X 160 widescreen
-- VGA Camera with 32mb memory and five-step digital zoom
-- Integrated speakerphone
-- Superphonic "real-music" ringtones
-- WAP 2.0 Web Browser
-- Integrated loop antenna
-- Scheduler, calculator, alarm and stopwatch
Those looking to get their game on will find hours of distraction with two preloaded demo games: Sexy Poker; and Lemonade Tycoon. Switch_Back users also have access to Virgin Mobile's full suite of high-octane mobile content, called Virgin XL. With Virgin XL, customers download the latest and greatest ringtones, wallpapers, screensavers and games, use the phone to set up a "Rescue Ring" or even identify tracks heard on the radio with Song ID.
The Switch_Back by Kyocera Wireless will be available in April 2006 at over 20,000 retail locations nationwide, including Amazon.com, Best Buy, RadioShack, Rite Aid, Sam Goody, Sprint Stores, Trans World Stores, Target Stores, and select Follett Campus bookstores. The handset will retail for $149.99. Kyocera Wireless also will offer a full suite of Genuine Accessories by Kyocera(TM) to support the phone. Information on these accessories is available at http://store.kyocera-wireless.com.
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Posted by BJ at April 12, 2006 02:37 PM | TrackBack
