Vodafone outs Webbox for TV-based Opera web browsing
updated 02:50 pm EST, Fri February 11, 2011
Vodafone Webbox brings browsing on TVs
Vodafone has just introduced its Webbox product, which is a keyboard that brings the ability to browse to Internet to users' TVs. It connects via a wired RCA connection and uses Opera Mini 5.1 to supply a web link. Coming from a phone carrier, it also supports built-in SMS and e-mail messaging, along with an FM radio, photo gallery and a music player.
The keyboard connects to Vodafone's GSM/EDGE network, though the carrier says this should be quick enough thanks to Opera's 90 percent compression of most websites. Bookmarks are preloaded for weather, news, social networks, games, some apps and a dictionary.
The Webbox will ship to emerging markets first, arriving in South Africa next week before shipping to other regions throughout 2011. The Webbox is bundled with a 2GB SD card and data is purchased on prepaid SIM cards, with a small credit included. It will cost the equivalent of $102. The Webbox will be shown at the Mobile World Congress show next week.
