23/06/2006
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilephones/0,39051199,39260541p,00.htm

Just as some people have started writing Qool Labs off for the lack of handset presence in the market, the Singapore-based company recently unveiled a surprise at the CommunicAsia tradeshow. Its latest Windows Mobile 5.0-based PDA-phone, the QDA Icon, comes with a 4-megapixel camera. That's almost two times the resolution of the current 2-megapixel cameras found on the O2 XDA Atom or Dopod 818Pro, and the highest we've seen so far on a handheld. But that's not all. The Icon is also one of the first PDA-phones to employ a CCD sensor which promises better image quality than the standard CMOS offerings.

Editors' note: Qool Labs has confirmed that there was an error in its CommunicAsia2006 brochure for the QDA Icon. It does not come with wireless LAN connectivity. We have since removed it from the story and specification listings.

Viewed through the window showcase, the Icon looked rather sleek with its slim and uncluttered design. Its phone function buttons, located below the 2.4-inch QVGA display, which resemble the laser-etched keypad on Motorola's Razr phones, add to the whole stylish appearance. Five touchscreen shortcut buttons line the bottom of the display for easy access to some of the common handheld functions.

Music lovers will be pleased to know that the Icon will feature A2DP support in its Bluetooth profile. This means the handheld can be paired with a pair of Bluetooth stereo headsets for audio playback.

According to the brochure, the Icon will also come with onboard video player as well as camera flash light. It will be available in two colors: Black and silver-black. Other detailed specifications remain sketchy at this point in time, though Qool Labs has stated the Icon to be released later this year.