Mobile phone manufacturer INQ has just wowed us by launching a new device with a full QWERTY keyboard; something we’re willing to admit we were not expecting.
The exciting new INQ Chat 3G is the brother of the INQ Mini 3G which was launched at the same time, however the Chat makes use of a larger 2.4 inch screen, a better camera, more widgets with improved functionality and of course a fabulous full QWERTY keyboard that we can’t stop admiring.
Currently, thirty percent of INQ1 users are regularly writing email messages on a standard phone keypad, which played a huge part in the company’s decision to finally implement a workable keyboard along with a number of other features.
This is all very exciting although the name is a little bit of a snooze, but we have high hopes that by the time it lands on shelves it will have been given a new handle with a little more jazz to suit its new (for INQ, at least,) design.
The most obvious feature is of course the keyboard, but there is also integration with Facebook and Twitter, something several previous mobile phones released by the manufacturer had sadly lacked.
You might notice that the INQ Chat 3G looks quite a lot like the BlackBerry Curve; in which case you might be happy to know that it doesn’t have a price tag to match. The device will cost somewhere around £110, if rumours are to be believed, (and they usually are,) although if that changes prior to release we will be sure to let you know.
If the price tag does sit at around £110 then this is sure to be a winning device, given the lack of full QWERTY keyboards available on mobile phones in this price bracket. Fingers crossed!
Posts Tagged ‘INQ-Chat-3G’
A Look At The INQ Chat 3G
Monday, November 30th, 2009INQ set to launch new social networking phones
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
INQ have announced two new phones that they have aimed primarily at users of social networking sites. While many phones are now incorporating these services into built in apps or downloadable apps, INQ state they wish to make the use of these services as easy as sending an SMS message.
INQ’s ‘Facebook phone’ the INQ1 was hugely popular and the manufacturer is now trying to built on that by offering the same integration for other online content on their new phones that they offered for Facebook on the former. The two new low-priced handsets will feature apps for Twitter, eBay and Skype as well as Facebook. There will also be full integration with Windows Live and full syncing capability with iTunes and Windows Media Player.
On top of this, both handsets will be able to use their HSDPA and 3G tethering capabilities to allow easy downloading and streaming of online audio and video. Both come with a built-in media player that has some good compatibility although a major let down is that INQ did not think to include a 3.5mm audio jack.
Among other features included are a GPS (in the Chat 3G), and a 3.2 megapixel camera for the Chat 3G and a 2 Megapixel camera for the Mini 3G. INQ had noted that about 30% of INQ1 users made regular use of email despite only having an alphanumeric keypad and so a decision was made to include a full QWERTY keyboard on the Chat 3G in the style of a BlackBerry phone.
The Chat 3G features a 2.2” display and the Mini 3G a slightly larger 2.4” display. While some of the technological specifications may not wow many people compared to the competition, INQ will be one of the first companies to bring features that integrate social networking that are normally reserved for high-end devices to more affordable phones. Both handsets will be released towards the end of the year in the fourth quarter.