Inbrics Readies 3G, 4G Android MID

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 2/8/2010

Seoul, South Korea - South Korean telecom-equipment maker Inbrics plans late 2010 or early 2011 availability in the U.S. of an Android-based smartphone that's also designed to share content with multiple devices around the house.

The device, which features 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen and slide-from-the-side QWERTY keyboard, will be available in a 3G HSPA version with cellular voice and 4G Mobile WiMAX version that will be VoIP-capable. A later WiMAX version will incorporate GSM or CHMA cellular voice.

The company will target cable companies, landline and wireless phone operators, although it's also considering selling the device unlocked as well, a spokesman said.

Although the device will be finished in March, it might not be available in the U.S. until the end of the year because of the company's focus on selling through a carrier or cable company, the spokesman added.

The device will use Wi-Fi and USB 2.0 to stream content to PCs and other USB-equipped devices, and a docking/charging station will feature HDMI output to a TV display and audio outputs for connection to a stereo system. The intent, Inbrics said, is to make it easy for consumers "to access and share their digital photos, music, movies and more from any device in their home and outside wireless networks."

The 2.4-inch by 5-inch by 0.54-inch M1 will ship with the latest Android OS version available at the time, the company added.

Other features include Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, 480 by 800 touchscreen, GPS, 3-megapixel camera on back, VGA camera on front, 16GB of internal memory and MicroSD card slot. Other features include a proximity sensor that lights up the display when a hand approaches, automatic brightness, and an accelerometer to automatically change the display to landscape or portrait mode when turned to one aide.

Its 1550mAh lithium-ion battery delivers two hours of Wi-Fi Internet use, three hours of video playback and 50 standby hours.

Inbrics, founded in 2006, is a maker of VoIP phones and gateways, WiMAX modems for fixed and mobile use, and other telecom products.