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KDDI will release five new au smartphone models for summer in late May.
All models are equipped with the Android 4.0 operating system. In addition, three of the five models are WiMAX-compatible and support the +WiMAX service, which allows Wi-Fi tethering for high-speed Internet access.
The five au smartphones in the new lineup are: the AQUOS PHONE SERIE ISW16SH, a user-friendly model loaded with advanced functions, which is the world's first with built-in NFC and FeliCa functions; the ARROWS Z ISW13F, which is the first au smartphone with a quad-core CPU, enabling multi-tab browsing, rich gaming capabilities, and fast, smooth video playback; the URBANO PROGRESSO, which features the stylish design of the URBANO series and is the world's first to incorporate Smart Sonic Receiver technology; the AQUOS PHONE SL IS15SH, a user-friendly model for first-time smartphone users, which has the operational feel of a conventional mobile phone; and the AQUOS PHONE CL IS17SH, which features an always-on memory LCD that shows the time and missed calls. All models also support Japan-specific functions such as infrared communications, 1Seg, Osaifu-Keitai and e-mail (~@ezweb.ne.jp), and they are resistant to water and dust.
In addition, these au smartphone models are compatible with au widget services, which can deliver information such as friends' status updates, the latest news, etc. to the home screen on Android smartphones, and they support new emoji recognized between Japanese telecommunications carriers. These features contribute to a new smartphone lifestyle for customers and achieve smooth communication with other carriers' mobile phones and PHS handsets.
© Japan Today
11 Comments
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gaijintraveller
Do they also feature rip-off roaming charges if you leave them turned on in another country regardless of whether you use them or not?
Naturally, they are all locked so that you cannot change the SIM to a local one when you go to a foreign country.
I was recently told by an au shop that the waterproof feature on all their new models explains why the ring tone is so quiet that you will not hear it if the phone is in your back pocket and the alarm will not wake you if you are sleeping.
What is Smart Sonic Receiver technology? Does anyone need or even want it? Are there any Smat Sonic Transmissions to receive?
nisegaijin
Stay away from ARROWS Z ISW13F! This has a very power hungry Nvidia Chip and relatively small battery. Previous Arrows smartphone ISW11F while looked good on paper was a complete failure. It had number of component and sowftware issues and tiny battery which didn't last half a day. Sharp phones are not that grate either, but AQUOS PHONE SERIE ISW16SH has potential. It comes with a energy efficient Snapdragon S4 CPU and a very large battery. If it can delivery light interface it might be a winner.
Not mentioned here is an HTC phone which comes out today. Brilliant design and reputation of durability and high perfomance speak for themselves. This time they have added saifu keitai so Japanese consumer should be satisfied. It does however come short in 2 areas: screen is not HD (this may save a bit of battery life) and it doesn't have 3.5G Win High Speed, which provides 9.2mBs in areas where Wimax isn't available. It crawles along with Iphone4S at 3.6 mBs which is unsatisfactory.
So this summer winner is... docomo. with their rich collection and stunning Samsung Galaxy 3, which also comes with saifu keitai, I see users throwing their towels and jumping ships. Unless KDDI acts fast!
Thomas Anderson
HTC J looks the best (released today).
nath
Wonder who will bring out the HTC ONE? The Wimax feature is great, when it works. AU seriously needs to roll out and amp up their Wimax coverage area. The phones, yes, they have the Wimax capability, which is rendered useless if the provider doesn't"t actually have the infrastructure to provide the service.
nath
Scratch the first part of what I previously wrote. The HTC J is apparently the HTC ONE S that has been slightly modified (probably to render any Android custom ROMs useless in the Japanese version, similar to what they did for my HTC EVO). Wish they kept the same setup as overseas. Android development in Japan is greatly hindered by constantly releasing the same models with different software.
JustAGoodOleBoy
AU's network speeds and bandwidth are a joke. Regularly I can't get vidoes to play properly at all on my IS03 over AU's network. If I have a WiFi connection no problem at all. Same video using the same App my wife can play without issue over Softbank's network on her phone. That's just wrong. If it weren't for AU's coverage breadth in the countryside I'd drop them like a bad habit.
Elbuda Mexicano
I am happy with my I Phone, but hey if others want to buy these AU etc..fine by me.
Thomas Anderson
You say slightly modified... I'd say greatly improved. It has an SD card slot, WiMAX, 1-seg, waterproofing, NFC, etc. Granted they've modified the software, but still...
nisegaijin
@JustAGoodOleBoy
It's your IS03 that's the problem. AU has actually really good and stable network. I had that piece of crap for few months, and to this day I am shocked that that phone was allowed to be released and that there were no class action law suits against sharp! What a piece of crap.
I went to yahoo actions and got an brand new experia IS11S and everything just started working. IS03 is connected at CDMA2000 rate, which is 3.6 mbs. Unfortunately HTC J is limited to that speed outside Wimax area. IS11S, and improved IS12S, and most other phones connect over Win High Speed, which is 9.2mbs. Youbute and all works fine.
BTW, Iphone 4S is CDMA2000 as well.
gurudaimon
5 is beter than 20
JustAGoodOleBoy
@nisegaijin