Alcatel shows E801 budget music phone

French electronics maker Alcatel recently revealed its OT-E801 cellphone. Made to appeal to more cost-conscious music listeners, the E801 sheds common secondary features such as Bluetooth or cameras in exchange for thorough music support. Alcatel's latest phone has dedicated music controls along the left edge and a microSD slot preloaded with a 128MB card that can hold approximately 50 MP3 songs, according to the company. The slot can support as much as a 2GB card for more demanding listeners. An additional benefit of its minimalist focus is battery life, Alcatel says, as the E801 can handle a full 10 hours of continuous talk time and 250 hours of standby. It currently ships in Britain for £40 ($76) with pre-paid phone service. No word has been given yet of its North American release.