Benq-Siemens IMS-100 , which got a mention on our site a while back, finally gets the FCC nod. Now that the folks at FCC have approved the device, we should expect this interesting piece of innovation to be out soon. The BenQ-Siemens IMS-100 is a bluetooth sound system which in conjunction with a Bluetooth capable mobile handset delivers music wirelessly anywhere, anytime.

The device works with all mobile phones and music devices such as MP3- or CD-players which are compatible with a Bluetooth Hands-free A2D-Profile. The stylish active speakers can also be easily connected with a PC using a Line-In-Cable (included in delivery) or wirelessly via Bluetooth. The Mobile Sound Set can be operated comfortably using your mobile phone. Navigation is done by the mobile phone or the connected device and BenQ promises flawless sound thanks to the onboard bass and stereo upgrading. This is the perfect solution to listen your music without getting into the hassles of all those cumbersome wires. The prices are yet to be determined. We will keep you updated.

The BenQ-Siemens AF51 cell phone is now approved by the FCC, and could hit the US markets soon. We had seen the AF51 cell phone late last year on the Whack.

Boy, this phone took a lot of time to get the FCC's approval. Anyway, this seems to be more of an entry-level phone, with a 65k color display and no MP3 player on-board. It does support MMS, although there's no integrated camera.

Anyway, it's a stylish and slim clamshell, and still sports the Siemens logo. It will be available in Panther Black and Dolphin Grey colors, and weighs just 80 grams. The AF51's saving grace is that it is compatible with GPRS and comes with an integrated WAP/XHTML browser - and it can double up as a data/fax modem.

Apparently, BenQ and Siemens are hard at work on a new phone from their combined kitty: the BenQ-Siemens Oxyon. It's not an oxymoron, thankfully, and has been designed stylishly with a pearly white finish that reminds you of the iPod.

Beneath the smooth exterior lies a full QWERTY keyboard that you can slide out. Boasting an impressive 640x480 pixels (VGA) resolution - something right out of a Japanese cell phone vendor - the phone offers a 3 megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom.

Of course, a digital music player is available as well, and it handles MP3, AAC, WAV and WMA formats. Memory expansion is possible via an SD slot provided on the Oxyon. It would be making a late entry, expected to hit the streets sometime in early 2007.

No word on the pricing yet, but watch this space for more.

Another phone to emerge from the overactive stables of BenQ Siemens in the E81, a full-size UMTS mobile which promises to be the perfect amalgamation of multimedia and business capabilities. However this one unlike other smart phones isn’t bulky and measures just around 99.8 x 46.7 x 16.7 millimeters! The handset includes an 1.3 megapixel camera with LED light and a 1.8 inch TFT color display (262,144 colors). This one too like the current crop of BenQ mobile phones sports a media player for music and videos and supports interchangeable Micro-SD cards.

However as mentioned by us the E81 is just not a entertainment phone and has some pretty decent business applications. There is a built-in organizer which keeps tracks of the user’s important appointments and while making a video call, the recipient of the call can see everything which one wants them to see. Fast data transfers take place via the USB cable, Bluetooth or the SyncStation. This UTMS handset can also be teamed up with various Bluetooth headsets and hands-free solutions for the car, without any hassles.

According to BenQ-Siemens, the E81 is the first of its kind in a mini format to have full UTMS capabilities. Not only has care been taken to make this handset a true workhorse but BenQ has also concentrated on other functions and departments. Take for instance the over all form factor of the E81 which has a very comfortable design .The E81 is a great way to introduce a first time user to the UTMS world and it will be on retail sale in the color “Lucent Black” in Europe from September 2006 and in Asia from October 2006. No word on pricing but for more info visit BenQ

Looks like BenQ has taken a leaf out of Motorola’s notebook by launching a slew of products in just one day! The company has now unveiled its new mobile phone, the BenQ-Siemens E71 which promises to be the right blend of style and performance. The E71 not only looks good but has all those functions which today’s mobile buyer wants and expects. The E71 first has EDGE connectivity which has now become a must in any phones portfolio. Then there is the all important camera and here also the phone doesn’t disappoint with its 1.3 mega pixel camera with 5x zoom. Users will also dig the mobile phone’s music capabilities and this phone also has a MP3 Player with a Micro-SD card slot.

According to BenQ, great care has been taken when it comes to design and was inspired by ‘naturally fluid forms’ (whatever that means!). The phone sports a novel non-stick coating of the color variant “Dark Silver”, which combats fingerprints which are usually found on metallic finish phones. There is a FM radio too and the battery provides you with up to 400 minutes of listening pleasure via the stereo headset. PC to Mobile transfers can be done easily thanks to the included SyncStation DSC-100 which also moonlights as a charger.

Apart from an 1.3 Megapixel camera, the phone also includes a video recorder which records and plays video sequences in mpeg4 format. BenQ has also equipped the handset with a brilliant QVGA display (262.144 colors, 320 x 240 pixels) and an intuitive interface. The keys are slightly elevated so that users are comfortable using them and some other features found on the phone include a moon calendar, alarm clock and currency calculator, games like Sudoku and “Ice Age 2. The E71 will be available in “Dark Silver” and “Onyx Black” from September 2006 in Europe and Latin America, and from November 2006 in Asia. No word on pricing but for more info head over to BenQ

BenQ Mobile unveiled the BenQ-Siemens EF61 Special Edition phone which is the embodiment of pure femininity. With its harmoniously rounded form, stylish colors and floral patterns, this compact clamshell mobile is the perfect match for the fashion collections that are fresh off the catwalk this summer. The tri-band GSM phone has support for 900/1800/1900MHz networks which boasts a large 1.8-inch TFT LCD screen with resolutions of 128 x 160 that will turns into a discreet hand mirror at the touch of a button, enabling the girls to check one last time her styling before going for a important appointment. BenQ-Siemens EF61 Special Edition touts a 1.3 megapixel camera with 9 consecutive shots capability as well as living picture options. The supported file formats are MP3, AAv and WMA which also comes with 3D surround sound. Bluetooth headset is included in the package as well.An internal 1.5MB built-in memory and expandable Micro-SD cards slot provide sufficient space for many hours of mobile music. While a song is playing, the display shows the text so that she can sing along with her friends. It weights 99 grams with the size of 88 x 46 x 23 mm. No words on the availability or pricing yet.

[via slashphone]

The latest ‘Sport Phone’ come from the stables of BenQ-Siemens and is housed in a durable rubber body. The BenQ M81 has dimensions of 105.3 x 47.5 x 18.4 mm and weighs about 96 grams. One cool feature about the phone is its scratch resistant TFT display that supports a 132 x 176 pixel resolution in 262k colors. This one too sports the now mandatory 1.3 mega pixel camera with flash which also captures videos.

The camera lens is housed under a dust and water protective cover and hey wait the phone also moonlights as a MP3 Player and the onboard 27 MB of internal memory can be extended via Micro-SD cards. Some other features found on the phone include; Bluetooth, Infrared and USB connectivity options, EDGE support, video ring tones, WAP, email, Java, MMS, and SMS. The battery is capable of providing 300 minutes of talk time and 300 hours of standby time. No clue how much will it set you back but the phone will hit the market by August.

The BenQ-Siemens EF91 cell phone has just been approved by the FCC. The EF91 is a HSDPA (high-speed download packet access) phone, a massive 3.2 megapixel camera, good looks and a large 2" display offering 262k colors. The phone has an interesting feature to preserve the battery - via an ambient light sensor. Consumers can also look forward to video phone calls.

MicroSD cards can be stuffed into this device for expanding on the available memory. Pricing and availability of the BenQ-Siemens EF91 should be released soon. Phone details are available at the EF91 product page.

Source: FCC

Ever since BenQ announced the BenQ-Siemens S81 cell phone back in February, I had been eagerly waiting for it. Why? Because the S81 comes in a slim 13mm form factor - and is UMTS compatible! Yes, this is one 3G phone that will definitely go places.

Just in time for the World Cup, the FCC has granted approval for the BenQ S81. Available in black/silver finish, look forward to real-time streaming, video telephony and blazing downloads. The phone even won the iF Product Design Award for 2006.

No word on the pricing yet, but it will be hitting Europe first as far as we can tell. The phone supports microSD cards up to 1GB in capacity and weighs just 99 grams. Compatible with GSM 900/1800/1900MHz and WCDMA 2100MHz networks.

Other features:

BenQ-Siemens recently unveiled their new cell phone, Q-fi BenQ EF71, one of the first mobile phones within BenQ-Siemens´ Q-fi range of music-focused devices. Not compromising on the design like other multifunctional cell phones in the market, this clamshell design phone features a stylish looks with an elegant stellar aluminum casing and not surprisingly it won the prestigious iF-award in 2006.

The seamlessly integrated music keys is quiet evident from the very first glance at the phone. The phone houses a dual display and features a brilliant 262k internal display, which affords optical pleasure while a white OLED external display underlines the sleek and elegant look of the phone. This music phone can pretty much play songs of all formats from MP3, WMA to AAC and also houses a 10-band equalizer which enables music lovers to customize their listening experiences. It also comes with a 2-Mega-pixel camera with a special night mode function with which you can capture beautiful images even under low light conditions. Also the exchangeable Micro-SD-cards offer sufficient storage space for many hours of music and for other applications as well. On the connectivity though it comes with USB2.0 and also battery can easily be recharged on the go via USB connection to a laptop.

The BenQ EF71 will be available in Asia from July 2006 and in Europe from September 2006 in the color “Stellar Aluminum”. For more scoop Check here

Via Infosyncworld

The BenQ-Siemens EL71 Slider Phone is now getting closer to the market, thanks to the FCC's seal of approval for this sleek device. Called the mobile entertainer, the EL71 sports quick-access keys to the integrated digital music player on the front of the device.

The EL71 supports microSD cards for expanding available memory. With a brilliant QVGA (240x320 pixel resolution) display, it offers 262k colors. A 1.3 megapixel cam is thrown in for fun. It can play MP3/AAC/AAC+ audio files.

Check out full details on the EL71 product page. No pricing out yet.

Let's face it: in the near future, if you make a mobile phone without audio playback capabilities, you won't exactly be selling like hot cakes. Which is why BenQ, under the BenQ-Siemens brand, has the new EF51 music cell phone, recently approved for the USA.

My first impression is that it's wider than most phones, possibly because of the screen. Oh, and surprise, surprise - the screen is square-shaped. The front houses quick-access music keys for play/pause, forward/rewind and volume control, and interestingly, this is a flip keypad which opens out to reveal full-blown keypad behind it.

The BenQ-Siemens EF51 supports microSD memory cards, so go ahead and burn those songs. Bluetooth connectivity is provided for compatible handsfree kits as well as setting up your own PAN. One of the cool features on this phone is that during MP3 playback, it displays a graphic equalizer.

A megapixel camera is provided as well, capable of taking photos at 1280x960 pixel resolution. Niceties include multi-shots and self-timer, as well as a USB data sync cable. Pricing has not been announced yet, but we expect details about the BenQ-Siemens EF51 soon on BenQ's website.

BenQ Mobile, the new business division of the BenQ Corporation, launches the BenQ-Siemens C81 at CebIT 2006. It is an exceedingly elegant multimedia mobile which suffices the full spectrum of communication requirement and also fulfils the needs of the young generation, who wants the modern multimedia on move.

It reveals a built-in multimedia player which supports videos and music of various formats like : MP3, AAC, AAC+ and AAC++. These works are clearly sorted according to artist, title, album and music category and in general this is only associated with MP3 players. It contains top-class loudspeaker along with real audio speakers and a stereo headset and so it ensures the best sound quality. So music lovers can enjoy music on there way home, office to relax and even while writing an MMS or email. While dowloading the favorite songs directly from a music portal onto the mobile, EDGE networks technology guarantees super-fast data transfer (depending on availability).

Exciting news for the music lovers: The BenQ-Siemens E61 offers music entertainment with style. It contains all the features that music lover’s desire. They can listen to music anytime and anywhere. The new business division of BenQ Corporation, BenQ Mobile launched this at CeBit 2006. It has unique in wedge shape and also feels exceedingly good to hold. It's orange and silver color scheme is so eye-catching. So it is unusual in design and a remarkable feast for the both the eye and the ear.

The music function operation is made simpler by the dedicated buttons at the mobile’s top. So the users can just use those buttons conveniently to listen to there favorite music. The music player on the BenQ-Siemens E61 replays MP3 and other format songs for up to 10 hours. In case users like to sing, then sing along to your favorite song as another great feature is that the lyrics of your favorite songs gets displayed on the 1.8 inch TFT mobile’s color screen. Feel the pleasant sound experience as it is supplied with high-quality loudspeakers and the stereo headset. Beside this the sound can be adjusted to suit individual’s taste using the 6-band equalizer on the BenQ-Siemens E61. Now the question might arise that how does music get onto the mobile? It is simple, fast and effortless to download the required files from a PC with an optional USB DCA-130 data cable via BenQ Qsyncer software. Moreover the latest sounds and photos can be exchanged with friends and colleagues via MMS. There is an interchangable MiniSD cards having storage capacity up to 1GB, so users can store a sufficient amount of personal music. Not only music, it is also having an exquisite design detail, as its designers have placed a little record around the eye of the integrated VGA camera with 2x/4x digital zoom camera on the rear of the mobile phone. Users, who are playful nature can enjoy on the move with the preinstalled mobile games “Hi Kevin” and “Twin.”

FCC has just approved BenQ-Siemens EF81 cell phone! The BenQ EF81 is a cool-looking clamshell phone, with a stylish keypad and dual displays. The EF81 offers quick access to applications like the media player and camera on the front of the device with dedicated buttons.

Best part? It's a 3G phone as well! Other features include Bluetooth, integrated e-mail client, and support for fun stuff like MMS. The phone supports handsfree profile with Bluetooth which is useful - believe me, I know the advantages of a Bluetooth handsfree kit.

Memory expansion is possible using a MicroSD memory card. The EF81 also has a USB interface to sync data with your PC. The phone also features voice-activated dialing which is convenient. The integrated Media Player supports MP3 and AAC playback.

It's not known when exactly the BenQ EF81 will hit the markets, but more info should be available soon from the EF81 product page.

BenQ Mobile launches the ultra-slim BenQ-Siemens EL71 slider phone with metal casing and QVGA display at CeBIT 2006. BenQ Mobile is the new business division of the BenQ Corporation. It catches attention for it's exquisite design with it's clear lines and timeless elegance. Beautiful design is always being the most important criteria while buying a mobile phone and EL71 is not only look sophisticated but also feels exceedingly good to touch. It is being observed in recent pan-European survey [1], every eight person buys a mobile based on it's design. Further every fourth retail customer spontaneously selects different model considering it's design, so design always is a decisive factors and EL71 fulfils the dream of many users.

This finest quality of a mobile is 16.5 mm thick, perfectly placed with solid, real metal casing in brushed aluminum and magnesium. To make the operation simpler and user-friendly the ergonomic design of the keypad is integrated with the ProSLIDE semi-automatic slider mechanism. So with a slight push, the top and the underside of the mobile phone glides slowly apart. It is rounded off by the brilliant 2-inch QVGA display which glows in 262,144 colors and produces excellent quality in text and photo replay. So it's high grade display allows the user to read perfectly in all light (inside or outdoors). Moreover users can avail coSpontaneous photo enjoyment on the move by using the combined 1.3 megapixel digital camera with improved LED photolight and a video function for shooting and replaying short movie sequences. It is also having a music player for MP3 and AAC+ music files on board. Beyond this by using the Music Cable IHM-100, which is avaiable as an original accessory, the mobile has to be connected to any hi-fi system and a party can be enjoyed with its top quality sound. There is enough storage space provided for all the multimedia content on microSD cards and it can be simply plugged into a slot on the mobile phone. For users security it provides the Car Kit Bluetooth SIM HKW-720, which provides ultimate safety and flexibility when making calls in the car. Many of the orginal accessories like stylish Headset Bluetooth clip (EU/UK) HHB-130/131 (available from 2006), which allows user to connect wirelessly via Bluetooth and lets users hands free while talking over phone is avaialble in complement with BenQ Siemens EL71.

It contains an interchangeable microSD cards which provides sufficient space for countless hours of music on up to 1GB of memory. Optimum sound quality is guaranteed by the Headset Stereo HHS-190 (available as an original accessory). Using the innovative 3D sound, users can listen to music with friends. In case users like to sing, then sing along to your favorite song as another great feature is that the lyrics of your favorite songs gets displayed on the large color display. It also provides various types of Bluetooth multiplayer games to prevent boredom. Any other information like party, urgent meetings is well informed via SMS and MMS. Using practical Bluetooth accessories like the Headset Bluetooth HHB-100 calls can be made without cables, which are more convenient.

The BenQ-Siemens CL71 Slider mobile, is a slim 17.8 mm semi-automatic mobile with extensive multimedia features. The new business division of BenQ Corporation, BenQ Mobile has just launched it in time for CEBIT 2006. It has a great elegant look and catches the eye when the phone glides upwards automatically to expose the silver-colored keypad underside. Moreover the slider is designed in such a way that when it is closed the camera on the mobile is hidden, which provides protection for the lens.

The BenQ-Siemens CL71 has Bluetooth and MMS throughout, which user can use to exchange photos, videos and music. The snapshots can be viewed unswervingly on the top-class 2-inch TFT display in 262,144 colors with 176 x 220 pixel picture definition. So special moments can be captured in pictures and can be shared with loved ones using its 1.3 megapixel zoom camera (3x digital zoom permits). Moreover when there is a requirement of taking many photos in quick succession might be for any occasion like birthday party, wedding etc., this compact mobile works like a mini camcorder. These sanpshots and video clips can be viewed later using its brilliant high resolution display. Thanks to IPS display technology, which brings excellent perfection for the wide viewing angles. Music lovers can enjoy music with its built-in MP3 player and an FM radio integrated in the stereo headset which are supplied with the mobile ensure acoustic variety, while internal phone memory (24 MB) can be extended with interchangeable microSD cards provides sufficient storage space for the multimedia content. It is also very smart in battery use, just by activating a hot-key on the side of the mobile casing, it can be switched directly into power-save mode. So it provides uninterrupted multimedia enjoyment for a long time.

Moreover this hot-key allows the mobile user to keep the keypad locked and unlocked, and so there is no chance of inadvertant activation of the mobile and so no misuse. It also comes along with original Bluetooth accessories like Bluetooth headsets and hands-free for wireless mobile convenience.

BenQ Mobile promises to provide the user the best multimedia-rich devices to enhance customer’s daily lives. The Benq CL71 will be available in the market in Q2, 2006 and it prices will be fixed locally. Users can view more details at www.benqmobile.com. Oh yeah also this phone won the prestigous “iF Design Award For 2006”.

HSDPA (High Speed Download Packet Access) technology is the next Big Thing and the mobile industry is concentrating all its energies on it. BenQ Mobile being one such company as seen with the launch of their new phone the BenQ-Siemens EF91.

HSDPA technology results in faster mobile data transfer while downloads like music and media would be available 5 times faster than UMTS transmissions. Another astonishing feature of the EF91 is that it allows videos to be viewed directly on the net on the 2 inch LCD display. If all this wasn’t enough the EF91 boasts of a superlative 3D surround sound system which will please the toughest of the audiophiles

The EF91 promises to take mobiles one step further and boasts a high-quality 3.2 mega pixel camera with auto focus, digital zoom, photo light and camcorder function too. Video calls are a pleasure too thanks to the shudder-free images. Well all these great features don’t mean that the phone looks like a turkey. Infact the BenQ-Siemens EF91 is a highly stylized phone with just the right curves. It has an expandable memory too and one can use the interchangeable microSD memory cards to store as much as data one desires.

No word on pricing but it will be available around 2006 sometime.

Ah, Monday morning - bright and early - and FCC has already blessed the BenQ-Siemens S68 phone. A tri-band GSM phone, the S68 has a nice looking keypad (I hope they aren't as hard to use as they look to be) with 5-way Navi ring.

A premium phone, it is just 13mm thick and features brushed aluminum and soft back cover for added comfort when you hold it in your hand. The S68 offers a 1.8" screen at 132x176 pixel resolution and 262k colors which is impressive.

Thanks to Bluetooth, you can conveniently sync data between the phone and Outlook or Lotus Notes on your PC. The dual speaker system increases audio quality as well.

Targeted for a release this month end, more info about the S68 is available from BenQ-Siemens' S68 product page. A FCC Rep said: "We didn't want 3GSM to have all the fun this week".

BenQ-Siemens seems to be a great believer in the ancient divine, if their latest range of cell phones is anything to go by. The new phones are being named as Venus, Hermes, Ulysses, and Cupid! The phones will be on display at the 3GSM World Congress. We don't yet have full details about the phones, but here is what we do now.

The Venus C3 sports a clamshell design and has a taste for music. It's got dedicated MP3 keys on the front cover and FM capability. The Ulysses B1 has a clean and elegant design and is supposed to be a 3G multi-functional phone. The Hermes B is the cutest among the bunch, but is an entry-level music phone. The Cupid is a slide-phone design and is meant for the business professional. More details as we come across them.

(via Phone Arena)

More photos @ Phone Mag

BenQ-Siemens is now shipping the BenQ-Siemens SXG75 across Europe, it is the first GPS phone that runs on Linux handset from a major brand name to go into widespread distribution.

This model slots in a variety of features like an integrated GPS, a RDS radio and 3G connectivity. It has 2 cameras one as usual on the back and one on the front of the phone these are high quality 2 Megapixel cameras. I don’t understand why they have it on the front may be it is for the purpose of video conferencing. The high-resolution, 2.2-inch display renders vivid image quality for the real experience of video and images in the phone.

Users can choose to store media in the 64 MB of non-volatile memory of the SXG75 or on RS-MMC cards, while business users will be pleased to find a comprehensive messaging suite with e-mail as well as PIM synchronization with desktops.

Also the Emails, MMS and Instant Messaging bring variety to mobile communication, while Bluetooth ensures wireless convenience.
With an average talk time up to 6 hours and 400 hours of standby time makes it ideal for users who demand a lot from there phone.
It is available for a retail price of €375 EUR.

Via Plam Addict

What would you think of a mobile phone that wins an international product design award even before it's put up for sale? Would you eagerly wait in anticipation to buy it? If you answered "YES," then the new BenQ-Siemens S88 is for you. Announced at today's press conference in Berlin, Germany, the S88 completes the new product line-up from BenQ Mobile.

The S88 oozes multimedia from every angle. It's got an integrated 2 megapixel camera with auto-focus and 16x digital zoom, virtual 3D surround sound, a LED photolight for taking pictures under low-light conditions and MPEG-4 video support. The unique feature of the S88 is that you hold the phone in a horizontal position to take photographs - just like a digital camera. You can touch-up the photographs using the built-in photo editor - a useless feature in my opinion. The phone supports PictBridge, which means you can directly send the image to a photo printer. The integrated music player can play MP3s including the memory-saving AAC+ and AMR formats.

The unit's display is a 2.0-inch Active Matrix OLED (262,144 colors, 176 x 220 pixels). The S88 has 16MB of onboard memory. Expansion is via a Micro-SD slot. There's no 3G connectivity (unlike the EF81). You need to be satisfied with tri-band GSM with GPRS.

The BenQ-Siemens S88 will be on retail sale from the first quarter of 2006. Prices will be available locally.

Manufacturer website: BenQ Siemens

Product website: BenQ-Siemens S88

The BenQ-Siemens S68 is another of the new products from BenQ Mobile, which were unveiled at today's press conference in Berlin, Germany. If the BenQ-Siemens EF81 can be called slim at 16mm, then the S68 should be called slimmer, because it's just 13mm thick! Amazing. It has everything that a decent mobile phone should have. As BenQ says, "The S68 is slim but fully loaded."

The BenQ-Siemens S68 is positioned as a premium mobile. It's exteriors are made of brushed aluminium in the front (in a matt shimmering finish) and a black soft-touch material on the back. This mobile phone has been designed keeping voice telephony at the forefront. I like it. It has tri-band GSM capability, a dual speaker system, an integrated handsfree function, 64-tone ringtones, 8MB of onboard memory, and Bluetooth and USB for connectivity. More importantly, there's NO camera. The 1.8 inch, 132 x 176 pixels, and 262,144 color display has been designed for maximum visibility in any condition. The dictation feature on the phone lets you save short voice clips and send them across via MMS.

The BenQ-Siemens S68 will be available in “Brushed Aluminum” from the end of February 2006 onward. Prices will be available locally. It's a refreshing phone in the crowded market. I would go do far as to predict its success.

Manufacturer website: BenQ-Siemens

Product website: BenQ-Siemens S68

BenQ mobile unveiled today its new consumer brand "BenQ-Siemens" to a world-wide audience in Berlin, Germany. BenQ Mobile is now the industry's second dual-name mobile handset maker. At the press conference, BenQ announced the new high-end BenQ-Siemens EF81 mobile phone. "UMTS IN THE SMALLEST OF SPACES," is how BenQ describes this mobile phone.

The BenQ-Siemens EF81, the flagship for the new product line comes in a slim (just 16mm thick!) clamshell design. It turns out to be one cool phone. It's shell is made of high-class magnesium, stainless steel, and aluminium. You can actually feel these materials when you touch the phone because of their differences in heat absorption! In addition, especially hardened sapphire glass prevents scratches on the external display. The EF81 can survive anything thrown at it.

The BenQ-Siemens EF81 has got a 2 megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom, 64MB of internal memory + a Micro-SD card slot for up to 1 GB of memory, dual 262K color display, and tri-band GSM and UMTS capability. The external display is a 1.3-inch, QQVGA quality (120 x 160 pixels) that also functions as a viewfinder for the camera. The internal display is a 2.2-inch QVGA quality (240 x 320 pixels). The phone supports video telephony. Other connectivity options include Bluetooth and USB.

The BenQ-Siemens EF81 will be on retail sale from March 2006 in the color “Titanium Silver.” Prices will be available locally. A highly desirable item to own.

Manufacturer website: BenQ-Siemens

Product website: BenQ-Siemens EF81