MWg touts Atom handset duo

The Mobile and Wireless Group (MWg) has created two new smrtphones: the Atom Life and the Atom V.

MWg's Atom Life...

MWg was created last year when Telefonica O2 ditched its device business in Asia, leaving it to be run by the existing Asian management team and UK online retailer Expansys, which came on board as a private investor.

Both MWg’s touchscreen handsets are based on Windows Mobile 6. The Atom V is equipped with an 520MHz XScale CPU, while the Atom Life sports a slightly more powerful 624MHz XScale processor.

The Atom Life offes tri-band GSM/GPRS and HSDPA 3G connectivity, whereas the Atom V offers either tri- or quad-band GSM/GPRS connectivity, both with HSDPA 3G too. And they have 802.11b/g Wi-Fi.

...and the Atom V

Just a tenth of an inch separates the Atom Life’s 2.7in LCD display from the Atom V’s 2.8in screen, which show images snapped on either phones’ two-megapixel cameras. Although the Atom Life only offers Bluetooth 1.2, while the Atom V has Bluetooth 2.0, the Life adds in infrared IrDA – should you still want to send data to another device that’s within a direct line of sight. A mini USB port’s also found on both handsets.

Integrated GPS is the Atom V’s hidden gem though, thanks to the inclusion of a SiRF Star III chip.

The MWg Atom Life is available online now from Expansys, priced at £300 (€400/$600). Unfortunately, the Atom V is still at the pre-order stage, priced at £360 (€480/$720).