SEOUL, November 28, 2005: Pantech – South Korea’s second biggest mobile phone manufacturer – today announced plans for the launch of two new models, the IM-8600 5 mega-pixel camera phone and the IM-8700 F2F (‘face-to-face’) telephony handset, in Korea. The launch is part of Pantech’s strategy to reinforce its status as the technology leader in the mobile communications sector, in Korea and globally.
The IM-8600 is a rotating clamshell 5 mega-pixel camera phone with revolutionary Meca Shutter camera technology from Pantech, which controls the amount of light used during the photographic process, allowing users to avail of a far sharper, more defined quality of picture.
The IM-8700 F2F telephony handset is a major step forward, in making real time, high quality video communication by phone a reality. It features an exceptional 10 frames per second (fps) imaging speed, with a sizeable 2.2 inch screen, allowing users to have a faster, more interactive communications experience with other callers, without any interruption of the conversation.
Sung-Kyu Lee, President & CEO, Pantech Co., Ltd., said: “Handset users in Korea are consistently demanding, in the quality of features and design that they want in their phones. In purely technological terms, the phones represent a new era in the type of high resolution camera phone and face to face video telephony that we can offer to consumers”.
“These new phones will strengthen our presence in the premium handset market, in Korea and globally. The new applications we develop for camera phones and F2F telephony handsets will ultimately be rolled out to mobile phone users across all of our regional markets,” said Mr. Lee.
Along with the radical Meca Shutter functionality, the IM-8600 phone provides picture quality akin to a digital camera and has a 2.0 inch QVGA TFT LCD, auto focus and close-up functions which enhance the resolution of the captured images for users.
In addition, the 30 fps imaging speed allows the users to record clear, high quality moving pictures, which can be appreciated on the big screen. The compressed video on demand (VOD) functionality allows users to benefit from a higher image definition when they enjoy moving pictures, at a more affordable price. Although it contains an extraordinary array of features, the IM-8600 is noticeably smaller than other 5 mega-pixel handsets.
The IM-8700 incorporates a 2.2 inch 260K QVGA TFT Main LCD, to facilitate the quality of the video interaction between callers. The handset also includes a fun, easy to use Auto Rotary Telephony function that recognizes the user’s location. When calls are received, the 2 mega-pixel camera or earpiece automatically faces towards the user for convenience.
Both the IM-8600 and the IM-8700 will be marketed in Korea under Pantech’s SKY brand. A final unique selling point of interest is that the two phones are silver nano finished for antibacterial purposes, for the well being of the users.
Pantech has underlined its status as a leader in the global mobile communications sector with the introduction of a range of new, cutting edge handsets in recent months. The company is committed to the ongoing regeneration of its product range in order to consolidate its leadership across a range of key global markets.
IM-8600 features include:
? Rotating clamshell, IMT-2000
? 99 x 48.5 x 26.4mm, 132.09g (with Standard battery)
? Talk time 180.3 min/Standby 200 hours (with Standard battery)
? 5 Mega Pixel camera with internal flash
? Auto focus & close up function with half stop shutter & Meca Shutter
? 2.0″ QVGA 260K Color TFT LCD
? VOD/MOD(Live screen, music video, jukebox, karaoke, TV), MP3 player
? SPAM SMS filtering, Moneta(mobile banking) services
IM-8700 features include:
? Slider type phone, F2F telephony function
? 111 x 50 x 25.2mm, 146 g
? Talk time 156 min/Standby 218 hours
? 2Mega Pixel Camera with internal flash
? Live screen, music video, jukebox, karaoke, movie & TV
? IrDA for phone book, animation, melody, images, etc
? VOD/MOD(Live screen, music video, jukebox, karaoke, TV), MP3 player
? SPAM SMS filtering, Moneta(mobile banking) services
Pricing & availability:
The IM-8600 and the IM-8700 handsets will retail at approximately USD700 and USD600 respectively and will be launched in Korea this month.
About Pantech:
Pantech, through its affiliates – Pantech Co., Ltd., Pantech&Curitel Communications, Inc. and Pantech C&I Inc – is ranked second in the South Korean domestic market and marked as the seventh largest mobile handset manufacturer in the world. Pantech is also recognized as one of the world’s fastest growing providers of mobile communications solutions. Pantech has been responsible for a number of breakthrough innovations in the mobile technology sector, including the introduction in 2004 of the world’s first fingerprint recognition camera phone, as well as award winning camcorder and MP3 phones.
In May 2005, Pantech affiliate Pantech&Curitel Communications, Inc. announced the acquisition of SK Teletech Co., Ltd., the fourth largest handset manufacturer in the Korean market. SK Teletech was originally the handset-manufacturing arm of SK Telecom, number one mobile network operator in Korea. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, Pantech and SK Telecom plan to collaborate in joint research and development initiatives and will work together in the global expansion of their respective businesses into overseas markets, The SKY brand, marketed by SK Teletech, is the most popular premium handset brand in Korea. In August 2005, to facilitate the goal of Pantech becoming one of the world’s top five mobile handset brands, Pantech Co. and SK Teletech were merged under the Pantech organization. Pantech collectively has about 5,000 employees and a total of 20 regional sales offices worldwide. For more information on Pantech, please visit www.pantech.com or www.curitel.com/english.
