INQ Mobile Chat 3G And Mini 3G Social Networking Phones Revealed
INQ Mobile are probably best known for their Facebook phone for UK carrier Three, but the company - who are actually owned by Three's parent company – have been working on a couple of new devices to lure in social networkers. The INQ Chat 3G is their first attempt at a QWERTY messaging phone, while the INQ Mini 3G has a more traditional form-factor. Both pack Twitter, Facebook, push-Gmail, Skype and instant-messaging, together with 3G and tethered-modem connectivity.
The INQ Chat 3G has a 2.4-inch QVGA display, GPS, a 3.2-megapixel autofocus camera and measures 114.5 x 61 x 12.8 mm. It also has various homescreen widgets for displaying Twitter and Facebook updates. Meanwhile the smaller INQ Mini 3G measures 102.9 x 45.8 x 12.8 mm and has a 2.4-inch QVGA display and 2-megapixel camera. Both can be expanded to 8GB of storage (from 120MB and 100MB respectively) and have an "active address book" with presence-indicators.
Unfortunately they're missing some common features like 3.5mm headphone jacks, which means that they're probably not the best choice for media devices. Still, iTunes sync support might belie that. No word on pricing, but given the relatively budget cost of their existing device we're expecting the Chat and Mini to be cheap when they arrive in Europe in Q4 2009.
Press Release:
INQ LAUNCHES TWO AFFORDABLE 3G SOCIAL MOBILES WITH TWITTER AND iTUNES MEDIA SYNCNew line-up includes INQ Chat 3G – INQ's first qwerty mobile – and the compact and colourful INQ Mini 3G
INQ brings Twitter, free push Gmail and media sync with PC and Macs to mass market social mobiles
LONDON – August 4, 2009 – Today INQ Mobile took the next step in its mission to bring easy-to-use mobile internet to the mass market with the launch of two new 3G Social Mobiles complete with internet-based Twitter and media sync capabilities.
The new phones offer high-spec functionality without the hefty price tag – shaking up the market by giving operators a unique proposition – a 3G social mobile with the speed, usability and suite of applications capable of driving data usage in the mass market.
The INQ Chat 3G is the company's first qwerty-style phone, while the compact INQ Mini 3G expands the range and provides an entry-level social mobile ideal for the price-sensitive prepay market. They complement the award-winning INQ1.
For the two new phones, Twitter joins the suite of communications applications that INQ has already woven into the heart of its social mobiles: which include Facebook, Skype and Instant Messaging.
Working closely with the Twitter team, INQ has developed an authentic Twitter application for both its new Social Mobiles. After the initial log in, Twitter will be 'always on'. Consumers can send tweets and retweet via the internet rather than using SMS. With the INQ Chat, a specially designed Twitter widget will deliver Twitter updates straight to the home screen.
The INQ Chat 3G was developed in response to consumer and operator demand for a qwerty-style keypad device from INQ. It has a new email client developed by INQ that incorporates free push Gmail – removing a cost for push mail typically borne by operators or passed on to consumers. The INQ Chat 3G comes complete with the expanded suite of INQ applications; Facebook, Skype, email, IM and Twitter.
The INQ Mini 3G is a slimline Social Mobile that offers Twitter, Facebook, IM, Skype and web-based email services like Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail and GMail. It brings the usability that INQ is known for to a new form factor. Like the INQ Chat, the INQ Mini offers impressive capability at a fraction of the price of other application-rich devices.
Both phones have plug and play HSDPA modems enabling high-speed wireless broadband on PCs and Macs.
The INQ Mini 3G and the INQ Chat 3G represent a new design direction for the company; both can be customized with a range of seven coloured backs.
The INQ Chat 3G and INQ Mini 3G applications can be updated over the air – a unique feature essential to keep pace with how online applications change and consumer usage evolves.
INQ is also introducing seamless media syncing between its devices and PCs or Macs. The software, powered by doubleTwist, syncs music from iTunes and WMP straight to your INQ mobile and, unlike most other sync solutions, doesn't require the customer to give up using their favourite media player on their computer. The new mobiles from INQ will also be able to sync video and photos.
INQ's ground-breaking platform was built from the ground up for the mobile internet and offers unprecedented integration throughout the handset. Popular internet applications are not simply bolted on (as they are with proprietary systems which are primarily voice and text) – but embedded within the underlying software, delivering benefits such as native messaging and an address book that consolidates phone contacts with those from relevant applications.
This allows INQ to remove many of the cumbersome steps that have made using these services on ordinary mobiles frustrating or time-consuming. INQ phones multi-task, so key applications like Facebook, Skype, IM and email are 'always on' and accessible with one click from the home screen; a log-in to any application is required only once.
Frank Meehan, INQ's CEO, said: "We build phones that focus specifically on what people want to do most on mobile, and deliver it at a price point that's easy for consumers and profitable for operators. We have completely broken the vice grip hold that high end smartphones had on great mobile internet experiences, and made them available to everybody."
"With the INQ Chat 3G, we've reinvented the qwerty for consumers by creating a fantastic social mobile. With the INQ1, we were blown away by how much consumers were writing just using the standard 12 keys – 30% of them were regularly sending emails. So we know that a keypad will go down a storm."
INQ Mobile launched in 2008 to give consumers high-quality yet affordable mobile internet, and enable carriers to stimulate data usage across their customer base. The company recently released data detailing device usage on UK and Hong Kong networks that show usage patterns typically seen only on high-end smartphones. An average of 65% of INQ users use Facebook regularly, 30% use their INQ frequently for email, and Windows Live Messenger activity is three to four times greater than on comparably priced 3G phones. In February 2009, INQ1 won 'handset of the year' at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
The INQ Chat 3G and INQ Mini 3G will be available in Q4 2009.
- Ends -
Notes to editors
INQ Chat 3G specifications include:
114.5mm x 61.0mm x 12.8mm
Widgets automatically push Twitter and Facebook updates to the home screen
Active address book is presence-enabled showing live status from all your contacts, letting you chose how to contact them
Built-in plug and play HSDPA modem to give your PC wireless broadband access
2.4" QVGA TFT landscape display
3.2 megapixel auto focus camera
Built-in GPS
120MB memory, (expandable to 8GB)
Brew 4.0 and Java MIDP 2.0 for application development multitasking supported by dedicated Switcher hard key
Download support
Audio: AMR, AAC, AAC+, E-AAC+(Audio only), MIDI, MP3, wav
Video: MPEG4, H.263, H.264
Streaming
Audio: AMR, AAC, AAC+, EAAC+(Audio only)
Video: MPEG4, H.263, H.264
INQ Mini 3G specifications include:
102.9mm x 45.8mm x 12.8mm
Active address book is presence-enabled showing live status from all your contacts, letting you chose how to contact them
Built-in plug and play HSDPA modem to give your PC wireless broadband access
2.2" QVGA TFT landscape display
2.0 megapixel camera
100Mb user memory (expandable to 8GB)
Brew 4.0 and Java MIDP 2.0 for application development multitasking supported by dedicated Switcher hard key
Download support
Audio: AMR, AAC, AAC+, E-AAC+(Audio only), MIDI, MP3, wav
Video: MPEG4, H.263, H.264
Streaming
Audio: AMR, AAC, AAC+, EAAC+(Audio only)
Video: MPEG4, H.263, H.264
About INQ Mobile
INQ Mobile, a standalone company wholly owned by Hutchison Whampoa Limited, is pioneering the development of Social Mobiles. The company was founded to address a growing need among operators across the world for advanced mobile internet handsets for the mass market that drive data revenue, minimize subsidies and minimize network load. INQ draws on the strengths of its parent company, which made an early investment in global 3G networks. For more information visit: www.inqmobile.com or follow us on Twitter @inqmobile.