As the world’s two billionth mobile phone user was connected last month, mobile technology continues to play a pivotal role in today’s society. Hannah Tattersall takes a look at some of the phones and phone gadgets that feature in our mobile culture.
1) BeoCom2
If you’ve just spent an exorbitant amount of money paying off your mobile phone bill, it might be time to reinvest in the good old landline. Those design superstars, Bang and Olufsen, have created the messiah of all sexy handsets with the BeoCom 2. The lightweight design is crafted from a single piece of aluminium and modelled on the curve of a human face, and is designed to, well, look good.
Features:
• One base station controls up to eight handsets
• Authentic voice reproduction and sound quality
• Desk or wall-mounted
Product: BeoCom 2
RRP: $1,370 (complete package); $1,140 (handset and charger)
www.bang-olufsen.com.au
2) IP Phone
While it may look like any other handset, Panasonic’s new KX-NT265 IP phone offers a little more in the bells and whistle department, thanks to its IP capabilities. So for customers with existing KX-TDA100/200 and KX-TDA600 systems, it means you can now migrate to IP telephony without the need for retraining.
Features:
• Eight programmable keys
• Hands-free speakerphone
• Headset capabilities
• Ethernet port
Product: Panasonic KX-NT265 IP handset
RRP: $411.00
www.panasonic.com.au
3) Mobile Charger
If you’ve ever been caught out with a dead phone battery, sans phone charger, Charge2go may be well worth a look. Using a standard AA battery to regenerate a completely flat mobile phone to up to two hours of talk time, this mobile charger is about the size of a lipstick, and is available in four colours.
Features:
• Four different connectors
• Compatibility with Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Siemens and Sony Ericsson mobile phones
• Bluetooth compatibility
Product: Charge2go
RRP: $45
www.officeworks.com.au
4) Samsung D600
For a phone that can view documents, print wirelessly, connect to your TV for videos and photo presentations, and make phone calls, take a peek at the Samsung D600. Equipped with a two-megapixel camera, it supports Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Acrobat, HTML and plain text formats. When the handset is connected to your computer, all you need do is drag and drop the files using the supplied PC software. Also featuring a five-centimetre, high-resolution screen, the D600 is ideal for both business and pleasure.
Features:
• Quad Band GSM handset
• 73MB memory and external TransFlash memory
• 60 minutes video
• Bluetooth enabled, with Bluetooth stereo headset
Product: Samsung D600
RRP: $780
www.samsung.com.au/mobile
5) Nokia E61
The sleek design of the Nokia E61 is ideal for business users and IT managers who regularly spend time out of the office. Its multi-tasking abilities enable you to send and receive emails while talking on the phone, and enables businesses to mobilise their work applications by combining 3G and WLAN with advanced voice services and email applications.
Features:
• USB 2.0 compatible
• Doubles as a handy modem for laptop users
• Bluetooth and infrared connectivity options
• Supports the most common features of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel (Microsoft Office 97, 2000, XP and 2003)
Product: Nokia E61
RRP: $729
www.nokia.com.au
6) Mobile Desk Phone Stand
With all this talk about phone talk, how ‘bout a phone stand for the office? The Sony Ericsson silver CDS-60 Mobile Phone Desk Stand is an ideal size for wedging between your keyboard and morning coffee. The clever little thing also has the capacity to transfer files to your computer and handle your calls. Users are able to connect a charger, a USB cable and a portable handsfree all with the one device.
Features:
• Fast connection
• Fast port system connector
• USB for connecting to computer
• Compatibility with Sony Ericsson W550i, Z520i, W800i and K750i
Product: Sony Ericsson CDS-60 Mobile Phone Desk Stand
RRP: $32
www.mrgadget.com.au
