Archos developing Android-based touch phone
updated 01:35 pm EST, Mon February 9, 2009
Archos Android Phone
Archos on Monday leapt into the cellphone business with word that it will release a version of its Internet Media Tablets as a smartphone based on Google's Android operating system. The handset will be based closely on the Archos 5 with the same 5-inch touchscreen but a new, faster ARM Cortex processor from TI that the company believes will supply "PC-like" performance: the tablet will not only support full-screen Flash-based video in the browser but play back HD video offline.
Other aspects are just as ambitious and involve as much as 500GB of video storage, 7 hours of battery life for video, and a continued ability to record video from any source. Internet access should be fast with HSPA providing 7.2Mbps downstream speeds.
Although still in the development stages and without a name, the Android phone and tablet crossover should be available sometime during the summer. Whether or not it will be available in the US isn't clear, though Archos' home country of France is a likely candidate.
