Inq - The Social Networking Phone

[dkaile 1,051]

http://www.inqmobile.com/

Alive with your social life. Love staying in touch? With Facebook® for INQ¹, you can see your friends' status updates and profile pics in your address book. Upload photos and message your friends with super fast access to Facebook® on your mobile. Love to chat? Windows Live Messenger has never been easier to use. Even free Skype-to-Skype calls are just a button away. Love music? INQ¹ can update the tracks you play to your profile on Last.fm and show you recommendations for more music and gigs you'll love. All these great applications can be accessed at a touch of a button - Your entire social life is now in your pocket.

Make it your own. Customise your INQ¹ with widgets so you get weather and whatever else you need sent straight to your mobile. Internet addict? Surfing the web is a breeze with the clever new 'auto-landscape' browser rotation and you can get fast speeds on your laptop too with HSPDA – simply plug the clever INQ¹ into your laptop or PC , just like a USB Modem, and get online in seconds.

Want more? INQ¹ also comes with a 3.2 Megapixel camera, large screen, Bluetooth and an MP3 music player. It's the world's first mobile which keeps up with your social life and satisfies your needs in an instant.

Specifications:

INQ1

Battery Performance

* Battery Standby Time: 185 hours

* Battery Talk Time: 255 minutes

Data and Memory

* External Memory Type: Micro SD support up to 4GB

* Memory: 35MB on board

* PC Sync: Yes

Form Factor

* Depth: 14.5mm

* Form Factor: Slider Phone

* Height: 97mm

* Main Screen Resolution: 320x240

* Main Screen Size: 2.2 inches

* Weight: 100 grams

* Width: 46.5mm

Media and Camera

* Camera: 3.2 megapixel

* Camera Flash: No

* Digital Zoom: Yes - 2.5x

* Image Editor: Yes

* Video Camera: Yes

Phone Features

* Bluetooth: Stereo Bluetooth™

* Email: Yes

* FM Radio: No

* Infrared: No

* MP3 Player: Yes

* MP3 Ringtones: Yes

* Mobile TV: Yes

* Network Band: GSM 900/ 1800/ 1900 UMTS 2100

* Operating System: Proprietary

* Polyphonic Ringtone: Yes

* Speaker Phone: Yes

* USB: Yes

* Video Calling: Yes (no front facing camera)

* Video Player: Yes

* Voice Activated Dial: No

* Voice Memo: Yes

* WLAN: No

* GPS: No

* MSN Messenger: Yes

* Yahoo Messenger: No

* Skype: Yes

* Memory Expansion: Yes

* Java: Yes

* Organise: Yes

* PC Sync: Yes

* Email on 3: Yes

Whats in the Box

* INQ1 mobile

* A/C charger

* 1150 mAH battery

* Stereo phf

* CD user guide with PC Sync software

* USB cable

Edited March 21, 2009 by dkaile

[dkaile 1,051]

It would be a wonderful phone for Reliance GSM as soon as it launches 3G; as most of its applications are dependent on 3G network....

[dkaile 1,051]

Cost is only 179$

3 unveils cut price 'Facebook phone'

November 14, 2008

Frustrated that mobile makers refuse to develop strong internet handsets for under $500, 3 parent Hutchison has created its own $179 hyper-connected phone under a new brand, INQ.

Some have dubbed it the "Facebook phone" as it is the first to fully integrate the social network into the phone's address book and message inbox. The 3G handset has also been built around Skype and Windows Live Messenger.

The INQ phone can be bought from 3 for $179 on prepaid or free on a $39 a month two-year plan. It will be available before Christmas.

Frank Meehan, the Australian chief executive picked to run INQ's global operations, said while expensive handsets like the iPhone, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices grabbed headlines, 90 per cent of phones sold were cheap, basic devices.

The trouble for carriers like 3 is that those cheaper phones have appalling, clunky internet features, so they are rarely used for browsing the web, equating to swathes of lost revenue for mobile operators.

And with devices like the iPhone, which 3 does not sell, the high up-front cost for carriers means they have to charge hefty amounts for data plans just to earn a profit.

Announcing its second quarter results, Optus singled out high iPhone subsidies as putting a $44 million dent in its profits for the three months to September 30.

"Frankly, we didn't have anything under $500 that was good enough to push an internet package, so we went to Nokia and Sony Ericsson and tried to get them to do it, couldn't, they weren't ready for it, so we said OK we're going to do this ourselves," Meehan said in an interview.

"All of the vendors have spent billions on going after the iPhone, so what you've got is this huge range of very high-end devices but nothing good for the 90 per cent of the market that can't afford it ... the only thing they've bothered to innovate is the camera."

Pitched as an internet communications device rather than a multimedia-rich iPod replacement, the INQ phone's strength is in its software, even though a 3.2 megapixel camera and MP3 player are built in.

Meehan's team has spent two and a half years designing the software so that Facebook, Skype, Windows Live Messenger and email are integrated into the device from the ground up and optimised to run on the 2.2-inch screen.

Users simply have to sign in to those services once and from then on they are always connected, with notifications of new messages popping up along the top of the phone. Scrolling through the applications is achieved by pushing a single button on the side.

"It's making it really simple and really always on and it's in the background - the customer doesn't have to remember to start anything up," Meehan said.

Warren Chaisatien, research director at communications market research company Telsyte, said the INQ phone would fill a void in the market as a recent study had shown there were no competent smartphones at the $200-$300 price point.

"As people migrate from a regular phone or a 'dumb' phone to a smartphone for the first time, there's no offering in the Australian market that accommodates those users," Chaisatien said.

When a contact is added to the phone's address book, as well as the usual details there is room for their Skype, Windows Live Messenger and Facebook accounts. The phone can be set to automatically grab the latest profile photo and status update from the contact's Facebook account, which are displayed against their contact details.

All of the above services are integrated into a single message inbox. Making a call or sending an SMS is as simple as placing a Skype call or sending a Facebook message.

Unlike the iPhone, BlackBerry and Android phones, there will be no app store for INQ devices, so users are largely limited to the four apps that come pre-installed on the phone and those found on the Planet 3 portal.

The portal contains quick links to mobile-optimised sites such as eBay, YouTube and MySpace.

There are also several widgets users can add to the phone's main screen including Yahoo! Weather, Google Search, a world clock and RSS feeds for up-to-the-minute news.

Meehan said the INQ range would be expanded to four or five devices next year, but he was "not interested in the slightest in competing with the BlackBerrys and the iPhones".

Indeed, while the INQ phone has a web browser, it's not as slick or effective at surfing the open web as the iPhone, which displays web pages as they appear on a PC. With INQ, internet communication is best done through the integrated apps.

Nigel Dews, CEO of 3, said: "If you compare it to an N95 or a G1 [Google phone] you'll be disappointed, but that's a completely different price league."

Edited March 21, 2009 by dkaile

[dkaile 1,051]

This is the type of plan and phone we need in India on 3G; My cousin is using it in australia and its available either on 249AU$ at one go (Rs. 8700/=) or FREE with a 29AU$ per month plan for 24 months (Rs. 1000/- p.m.) which gives 1GB of 3G data free... and skype to skype calls are free on this phone...

That should be the future of 3G in India.... not the crappy luttoo plans we are foreseeing...

Edited March 21, 2009 by dkaile

[dkaile 1,051]

Simple multitasking and handset navigation

Easy access to your favourite things: Switcher gives you instant access to Facebook, Messenger, Skype and other services via a scrollable carousel of icons on the INQ¹ home screen. No more trawling through menus to find things you need. And if you run a new application, Switcher adds another icon.

No more shutting-down or logging out: with INQ¹ there’s no need to log out of Facebook or Skype. You can move between running applications using the Switcher. Start an email, make a quick call or check out your favourite website, all without closing anything. Whatever you’re doing on the INQ¹, a quick press of the Switcher key helps you find your way to the next task.

See what’s recently updated: Switcher icons for Facebook, Messenger and Skype change when something new happens. Like new messages, friend requests, or updates to your Facebook newsfeed. Even the idle screen works to keep you informed.

Great on-board camera

Snap and share: the INQ¹ comes with a 3.2 megapixel camera - perfect for your party pics or holiday snaps. And there’s no need to wait to share them with your friends: Just point, snap and send your photos straight to your Facebook profile.

Clear menus - if you ever need them

Easy navigation: bright simple menu labels and colour co-ordinated zones make finding your way around the INQ¹ a breeze

Media player with Last.fm built in

Take your music with you: play music you’ve downloaded or added to your INQ¹ anywhere you go. Now you can login to Last.fm and ScrobbleTM your music too (sending information about the music you listen to straight to your Last.fm music page, so friends can see what you’re into). See Last.fm charts in your INQ¹ media player too.

See who’s calling you

Visual caller ID: the INQ¹ shows you who’s calling before you answer. Your friends’ latest Facebook, Messenger or Skype photo appears on screen when they call you. If they change their look, INQ¹ updates automatically - you don’t need to do a thing.

All your messages delivered to the same inbox

One inbox for all messages: Your text and picture messages are delivered to your inbox, so why not your Facebook, Messenger and Skype messages too? INQ¹ brings all your messages together, along with your email. Checking who’s trying to reach you has just got easier.

All your web and mobile contacts in one place

All your contacts in one place: INQ¹ help you keep up with friends on Facebook, Windows Live Messenger and Skype, just like you do by phone and text. Your INQ¹ prompts you to add friends on each service to your contacts list. If ‘Mike Brown’ on Facebook is the same ‘Mike Brown’ on Skype, simply merge them.

More ways to communicate from the contacts list: with so many services built into the INQ¹, you can choose exactly how to reach your friends. INQ¹ knows which services your friends use, and makes it easy for you to contact them.

Contacts brought to life: INQ¹ shows what your friends are up to right now. Facebook, Skype and Messenger icons show which services they are using - Skype and Messenger presence indicators show who’s available right now. INQ1 even grabs profile pics and status message, and adds them to your contacts list.

Important information finds you

A snapshot of things you need: a set of handy widgets - including weather forecast, web search and world clock - add some useful information to your Home screen. Add a feed from your favourite website (if it supports RSS*)

*(RSS = Really Simple Syndication: a method of extracting text updates from websites)

Click to see more: widgets bring you the headlines to keep you informed. If you need more, select the widget you want and click to visit the website which provides that widget’s information.

Facebook like there’s no tomorrow

Facebook for INQ is built right into the heart of the INQ¹. Facebook friends show up in the INQ¹ contacts list. Messages, pokes and requests drop in the phone’s inbox. Keep up with every conversation, wherever you are.

Keep track of your Facebook friends: see their latest photo and status, or message, post or poke them all directly from the phone’s contacts list. Staying connected never felt easier.

Share photos creatively: INQ¹ sends photos from your camera straight to Facebook. Receive a call from a Facebook friend and the INQ¹ displays their latest Facebook profile picture. So if you friends have a new look, you’ll know before you speak to them.

Facebook messages in your inbox: all Facebook messages, pokes and requests are delivered to the INQ¹ inbox, so you can see who’s trying to reach you - and who wants to be your friend - while you’re checking your texts.

All the latest updates: your Facebook newsfeed updates automatically on INQ¹, so you know what your friends are up to, see their latest photos and find out who’s friends with who.

Truly instant messaging

With INQ¹ chatting on Windows Live Messenger is as easy as sending a text message. INQ¹ shows you which Messenger friends are online, and notifies you whenever you receive new messages - whatever you’re doing.

Friends’ online status in your contacts list: the INQ¹ address book displays a ‘presence’ icon letting you know who’s online right now. Chat with friends straight from your contacts list.

Chat messages in your inbox: your text and picture messages are in your inbox, so why not your Messenger chats too? Now if someone’s trying to contact you, there’s only one place you need to look.

Notifications and updates: you’ll see a pop-up notification whenever a new message arrives. If you can’t check the message straight away, the Messenger icon on the INQ¹ home screen shows you a new message is waiting, when you’re ready to view it.

Set your online status: update your status to let your Messenger friends know when you’re available - and when you’re busy. You can even choose to appear offline if you don’t want to be disturbed. Chat messages are still delivered to the INQ¹ so you can choose when to read them, and when to respond.

Call Skype users anywhere in the world

See who’s around: add your Skype friends to the contacts list, and you’ll see who’s available by the colour of their Skype icon (green = ‘call me’!). Call or chat with friends on Skype straight from the contacts list - just like making a phone call.

Choose when Skype friends call you: set your Skype status with the INQ¹, letting friends know when you’re free to chat. You can appear ‘Online’, ‘Away’ or ‘Invisible’, or set a ‘Do Not Disturb’ flag. Add a Mood Message to let friends know what you’re up to.

Notifications and updates: pop-up alerts tell you if friends are trying to reach you, or when new Skype friends want to connect to you. If you’re too busy now, you can check messages later. The Skype icon on the INQ¹ home screen reminds you there are messages waiting.

Email on the go

All your email pushed to you: immediate access to all your email - no need to wait. INQ¹ supports most web based email services, including Hotmail, Google Mail and Yahoo! Mail. It’s also compatible with work email services such as Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino too.

Notifications keep you up to date: with INQ¹ you can choose to be notified when new emails arrive. Quickly read and respond (or dismiss), and return to what you were doing.