Sagem Binder eReader Hits Europe: Touchscreen, 3G & WiFi For €199

Sagem Wireless has launched a new ereader, the Binder, smaller than the average paperback but still packing 3G and WiFi connectivity.  Built around a 6-inch Sipix e-paper display, the Sagem Binder has a capacitive touchscreen and 2GB of internal storage.

In fact, it measures just 152 x 123 x 10.7 mm and weighs under 240g.  It has a microSD card slot (up to 32GB cards supported) and can load TXT, Epub, PDF, HTML, JPEG, PNG, BMP and MP3 files.

So far the Binder is available in France, priced at €199 ($275) with free 3G access from carrier SFR, as the FNAC FnacBook; it'll launch with Telecom Italia in Italy, as the eBook, come November.  No word on a release in the rest of Europe or the US at this stage.

Press Release:

Sagem Wireless Launches Ultra-Light eReader

Pocket-sized Binder eReader combines full wireless connectivity with award winning design

Paris, 28 October 2010 – Sagem Wireless, the leader in the design and development of customised connected devices and services, today announced the launch and commercial availability of Binder – an ultra-light eReader. Delivered to customers as a white-labelled product, the eReader can be ordered today from FNAC, the leading French retailer, as the "FnacBook" and in November through Telecom Italia as part of its digital publishing and eBook project.

eReader

The Binder measures just 152mm x 123mm x 10.7mm, making it smaller than an average paperback book – but with memory capable of storing over 12,000 non-illustrated books. It combines e-paper technology together with embedded 3G and WiFi connectivity to create an eReader that delivers a true "library in your pocket" user experience.

The Binder marries award winning ergonomic design with a capacitive touch screen to deliver a crisp display and contrast in an easy to grip form factor. The full 3G and WiFi connectivity enables the user to receive on-demand the latest magazines and newspapers direct to the device. Supporting all the major text, image and music file formats and Adobe DRM protection, the Binder enables the user to easily switch between their home screen, books, news and other content using the tab-based shortcut buttons.

"The eReader market has developed quickly but until now has been plagued by a simple trade-off – do you want a smaller form factor and less features, or a fully connected experience but with a device that is no longer pocket-sized?" said Jérôme Nadel, EVP Marketing & User Experience, Sagem Wireless. "By focusing on the user experience and using the latest technology, we have developed a device that solves this conundrum. The Binder product combines 3G and WiFi with a feature-rich experience to deliver a true connected lifestyle device."

In contrast to other lightweight eReader devices, the pocket-sized Binder supports eBook and MP3 formats, full note taking capabilities using the virtual keyboard, up to 16GB of memory, and a long battery life equivalent to over 8000 page turns. The Binder's sleek and usable design has been recognised by the Observeur du Design, an annual exhibition organised by the Agency for the Promotion of Industrial Creation, as one of the 150 most outstanding product designs of 2010.

FNAC is retailing the FnacBook at €199 complete with WiFi and free 3G from mobile operator SFR. For more information on the FnacBook, visit http://www.fnac.com/Guides/High-Tech/fnacbook/. For more information on Telecom Italia's eBook project, visit http://ebook.telecomitalia.com/.

Product Specifications:

Size: 152mm x 123mm x 10.7mm

Weight: <240g

Memory: 2GB internal flash; up to 16GB microSD

Screen: 6" Sipix ePaper with capacitive touch and Accelerometer automatic screen rotation

Connectivity: GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, HSDPA, WiFi, USB 2.0

Multimedia: Text formats (TXT, Epub, PDF, HTML), picture formats (JPEG, PNG, BMP) and music formats (MP3) including full playlist support