NTT DoCoMo demos waterproof phone, separable handset
updated 05:50 pm EDT, Fri April 3, 2009
NTT DoCoMo CTIA demos
Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo demonstrated several devices at the CTIA expo, including the F-01A waterproof clamshell, a phone for kids and a handset with a separable screen. The F-01A, produced by Fujitsu, is claimed to enable submersion down to three feet for a duration of 30 minutes. The device offers a 3.5-inch touchscreen and a 5.2-megapixel camera, with support for GSM and W-CDMA networks.
The company also showed a childrens' phone with safety features to protect against abduction. If the user senses trouble, pulling a ring on the back of the handset sends out a piercing panic alarm. E-mail and SMS messages are sent out to the parents or other emergency contacts, with GPS information indicating the spot where the notification was sent. The phone is also waterproof to protect against accidental submersion.
A separable phone allows users to remove the screen from the keypad for watching videos or playing games. The keypad section can also be left in a pocket while headphones are plugged into the screen section for music playback, or text messages can be sent using the screen as the keypad is used to talk on the phone.
The devices are currently only available in Japan.
