New video mobile hits the High Street

2 November 2003 21:42 GMT / By PRESS RELEASE

3, the UK's first video-mobile network, today announced it is selling a new video mobile from NEC. The new device, the NEC e808Y, is the fourth video mobile to become available on 3.

The NEC e808Y is the first of a number of new video mobiles that will be available on 3's network over the next six months. The handset includes two built-in cameras, for video calls and capturing video and still images, it sports a full QWERTY keyboard and email client, a large (46 x 57mm) 65,536 colour screen, and 16 channel polyphonic ring tunes, for distinctive quality alerts. The new video mobile's screen offers 40% more viewing area than the popular e606 and is designed to offer unrivaled access to 3's unique services and compelling content.

3 allows customers to make live video calls, and watch highlights of Premiership football matches, download film clips, comedy, entertainment clips and ITN news bulletins to their phones; use them to send and receive e-mail when on the move; and to find their nearest local services such as cash-points and restaurants.

3's messaging services include SMS, MMS, video messaging and email. The NEC e808Y has a full QWERTY keyboard making emailing and texting easy, as it can cut time spent button tapping by over two thirds.

3 services are on sale in over 2,000 shops nationwide - from ‘stores within stores' in Superdrug shops, to third party retailers such as Carphone Warehouse, Phones4U and Dixons Group.

Gareth Jones, COO of 3 UK commented, “We believe it's important to offer our customers a choice of video mobiles and the e808Y is the latest model, we will continue to expand our range of video mobiles throughout the year. Services such as video messaging, email and video news bulletins are proving incredibly popular and we've seen clear demand among certain customers for larger screens and a full keyboard for faster texting. We continue to bring to market the latest handsets and most compelling new content and services. Combine this with unbeatable value on voice, and 3 really does have something for everyone.”

“The e808Y is an important milestone in the continued development of video mobile services in Europe,” said Tony Hutson, Director, NEC UK. “Handset choice is vital in driving the take up of 3G. Each mobile device customer has different tastes, and we're extending our portfolio to cater for this diversity.”

The introduction of the e808Y builds on NEC's formidable global handset pedigree. The company is one of the leading suppliers of 2.5G and 3G mobile devices, and delivered the world's first 3G devices to NTT DoCoMo in Japan. In Europe, NEC is already supplying two video mobile models to 3, the e606 and e808N/e808S (which comes in two colours: champagne gold and black). NEC is the only manufacturer in Europe with handsets in the market that support live video calls.

Features

Video calling

Video and photo messaging

Video download

Media player (audio and video)

Email

'Qwerty' keypad for easy text messaging

Large screen

Game play supported by JAVATM

Text and audio messaging

Calendar and contacts

Large internal memory

USB connectivity

Multi-tasking (make calls whilst using other 3 services)

Specifications

Battery life (approx*):

Standby: 70 hrs

Talk time: 201 mins

Video call: 101 mins

Weight: less than 200g

Volume: less than 195cc

Screen: 47x57 mm

more than 65000 colours

132x162 screen resolution

Memory: 64MB (internal)

Built-in camera with two-stage zoom

NB. When outside 3's video network, the device supports voice calls and SMS only

*Dependent on network conditions.

The e808Y can save up to 500 contacts in memory, each of which includes name, up to four telephone numbers and three e-mail addresses. It can store up to thirty 16-channel polyphonic ring tunes and allows customers to personalise the handset by allocating individual ring tunes and photographs to identify incoming callers.

The device can be connected to a PC via a USB cable. Additional features include vibrate alert, calendar function, calculator with currency converter, and stereo headset.

Full tags

Phones, Mobile phones, 3G, NEC