Communications Briefs

Staff On Jan 26 2004 - 8:00am

LG Adds Flash

LAS VEGAS— LG's first camera phone with flash will be the VX-7000, an 800/1,900MHz clamshell equipped with BREW and 640 by 480-pixel screen, a spokesman said at CES. It will be available from Verizon in March. Another new phone, the 5225, is due soon from Sprint. It will be the first clamshell phone with internal antenna from Sprint and from LG. The company plans to offer a CDMA 1X-network PTT (push-to-talk) phone late this year or early next, he noted.

AT&T Takes Two

SAN DIEGO— AT&T Wireless has picked up two new 850/1,900MHz GSM phones from Siemens. The C61, available from the carrier in mid-February for $49.99 with two-year contract, is targeted to young consumers. It features color display, selectable polyphonic ring tones, optional clip-on covers, embedded games and the ability to assign different ring tones, images and pictures to incoming callers. Talk time is up to 270 minutes, and standby time is up to 250 hours. The A56i became available as a prepaid phone in mid-January at a suggested $89. The phone is equipped with selectable polyphonic ring tones and games and is capable of downloading others. It delivers up to 300 minutes of talk time or 150 hours of standby.