Softbank announces new winter, spring handsets

Japanese telecoms provider Softbank on Tuesday announced an upcoming lineup of handsets, including revealing that it will launch an Android-powered smartphone by the spring of 2010. The device will use a 3.7-inch OLED and be powered by Qualcomm's 1GHz Snapdragon CPU but has received few other details. Otherwise, Snapdragon is already found or to be found in a number of other smartphones from various manufacturers.

This includes the dynapocket X02T, a Toshiba-built version of the TG01 that runs on Windows Mobile 6.5 and uses the same 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU as the future Android device; it's also known as a Japanese rebadging of the European TG02. Other specs, including a 4.1-inch touchscreen and a 3.2-megapixel camera are carried over.

The Windows Mobile 6.5-powered X01SC from Samsung is one of the first Japanese Windows Mobile devices and appears based on the Intrepid. It has a full QWERTY keyboard and a 2.4-inch screen with a 320x240 resolution. A 528MHz Qualcomm CPU does processing duty. Otherwise, there is built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

The Panasonic-built 941P handset will be a multimedia and gaming handset, shipping with a 1Seg TV tuner and Final Fantasy IV. More traditional features include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a GPS sensor. An 8.1-megapixel camera is present as well. E-book and video on demand services fill out its features.

Sharp's AQUOS 941SH has a 4-inch touchscreen with a half XGA resolution along with an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus. The device will otherwise sport Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, a 1Seg TV tuner and 220MB of internal memory. Softbank's VOD service and e-book store will also be accessible.

The related AQUOS 940SH, or Shot, is equipped with a 12.1-megapixel camera with autofocus, a touch-to-focus feature on its screen and a unique burst mode that is said to capture 100 320x240 photos in the space of a few seconds. It otherwise shares features with the 941SH.

The handsets will be released in Japan between November and March, though prices have not been announced. [via Impress]

Softbank Android teaser

Softbank X01SC

Softbank 941P

Softbank 941SH

Softbank 940SH

Softbank X02T

By Electronista Staff