NTT's Nintendo DS-like mobile

We had a case of deja vu recently when we saw NTT DoCoMo's D800iDS handset. Like the Nintendo DS portable gaming console, the phone comes with dual internal displays, one of which is a touch-sensitive screen that lets you input data via a stylus instead of a conventional keypad. Perhaps as a tiny mark of acknowledgement to Nintendo, the model name sports a "DS", although DoCoMo will tell you it stands for "direct and smooth" and does not have any relation whatsoever to any Nintendo product.

As with most NTT DoCoMo handsets, there are no plans to bring the D800iDS to other parts of Asia when it launches in February. The D800iDS' touch panel also recognizes handwritten input and there is a 1.3-megapixel camera onboard.
Check out the other new DoCoMo phones here.

iPhone accessories out already?

Even though the Apple iPhone will only be launched in the US this June and in Asia come 2008, one vendor has apparently decided to get a jumpstart in the potentially lucrative accessories market. Out soon will be possibly the world's first protective cases for the handset.

Incipio already has three accessories listed for the iPhone on its Web site, among them a black leather flip case, black leather zipper case and black horizontal pouch carrying case. Earlier during Steve Job's keynote speech at Macworld, the Apple head honcho also offered attendees a sneak peek at a pair of headphones and a Bluetooth headset.

If this is a sign of things to come, we can certainly expect a lot more iPhone accessories to be announced closer to its US launch date.

Click here for larger images: 1 / 2 / 3 (Photo credit: Incipio)

Sony Ericsson's "aroma" phone

Why, oh, why don't such phones ship outside Japan? Developed for Japanese mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo, Sony Ericsson has in its stable the SO703i clamshell which it claims can emit a relaxing scent to help distressed users. This is made possible by placing scented sheets on the back panel of the handset. In total, there are nine scent flavors available to choose from, and each one comes with a matching interchangeable cover design.

Other functions on the SO703i are a 2-megapixel camera, microSD card slot and a display featuring RealityMAX, a screen technology based on Sony's Bravia engine. Unfortunately for those of us in Asia, this phone is slated to launch in only Japan. But one can always hope.

Check out the other new DoCoMo phones here.

DoCoMo unveils world's slimmest WCDMA clamshell

Just when you thought the Ultra Edition 11.8 was as skinny as it gets, now DoCoMo has unveiled what seems to be even slimmer. Measuring just 11.4mm thick, the N703iµ (see image) and P703iµ in its recently launched 703i series handsets claim to be the slimmest WCDMA clamshells in the world. Both models feature 1.3-megapixel cameras and microSD expansion cards slots.

Additionally, the N703iµ comes with a "Privacy Angle" function to prevent people nearby from the reading the contents on the screen, while P703iµ sports a stainless steel casing. The two phones, together with most of the other handsets in the 703i series, will be available in Japan come February, said the Japanese mobile services operator.

Check out the other new DoCoMo phones here.

O2 to launch Xda Zinc and Graphite

The handheld maker recently announced that it will be adding two new offerings to its cellular product lineup in February. The Xda Zinc is the company's latest PDA-phone that will feature a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, while the Graphite is a Wi-Fi-enabled smart phone. Both devices will come with 3G connectivity and a second camera for video calls.

The latest announcement seems to be the company's answer to rival Dopod's 838 Pro PDA-phone and 595 smart phone. The two handhelds come almost four months after O2's last product launch of the Xda Stealth handheld.

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