The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

Toshiba touts oddball handset that's also a modem

Make calls and get online

Requirements Checklist for Choosing a Cloud Backup and Recovery Service Provider

One of the wackiest handset designs to hit the market since Nokia’s 7380 has been unveiled by Toshiba: the G450. It may look odd, but it also functions as a modem.

Toshiba_G450

Toshiba's G450: is it a phone or a modem? It's both

The dual-keypad handset measures 98 x 36 x 16mm and provides tri-band GSM/GPRS connectivity, with Edge and 3G HSDPA for higher download speeds too.

Toshiba_G450_2

You'll either love or hate its design

Its hidden gem, Toshiba said, is a mini USB port which allows the G450 to be connected to your PC, letting the phone can operate as an HSDPA modem. Quite a few phones let you do this too, usually over a Bluetooth link.

The lack of a camera means you won’t be filling the phone’s 160MB memory up with pictures. Although storage capacity will prove a snag if you’re a music buff and want to store tracks on the phone in any of the several formats it accepts, including MP3 and AAC.

The G450 is expected to be available on Orange in March, for around £150 (€185/$300).

What you need to know about cloud backup

Latest Comments

How do you...

How do you spell "Usability Testing" in Japanese?!?!?

I don't think Toshiba knows either...

It's cute, and looks like it was a nice and inspired design for a design engineering student's final project. But someone should have known better than to actually PRODUCE such an unusable keyboard.

This gets a Paris from me as well, because I rarely have a chance to use her...er, her icon that is.

0
0

Pointless

What a ridiculous handset.

I was trying to imagine sending a text message, it makes that madcap Nokia rotary dialer seem positively inspired.

If I want a HSDPA modem I can buy one without silly buttons for a fraction of the price, and then spend all that money I saved on, say, a real phone?

Paris, because it looks like she designed it.

0
0

More from The Register

Microsoft lures buy-curious vixens, corduroys with a cheap fondle
Surface slab sales latest: Will no one rid Ballmer of these turbulent tabs?
Samsung Galaxy Note 8: Proof the pen is mightier?
Sammy’s iPad Mini killer has a stylus to stab other rivals too
First look: iOS 7 for iPad
No, Apple hasn't released it yet, but that doesn't stop intrepid devs
 breaking news
Curtain drops on Apple Store ahead of WWDC: What lies behind?
Steve Jobs watching from on high. No pressure, lads
 breaking news
Cold, dead hands of Steve Jobs slip from iPhones: The Cult of Ive is upon us
Billionaire biz baron's death clears way for uber-shiny iOS 7
Airbus imagines suitcases that find themselves
Point your mobe at your smalls to track their every move
Surprise! Intel smartphone trounces ARM in power trials
Tests show equal performance while sipping significantly less juice
Samsung plans LTE Advanced version of Galaxy S4
1Gbps download capability could stiffen drooping S4 sales forecasts
Ex-HTC execs launch UK-based smartphone maker Kazam
Startup threatens to 'disrupt status quo' this year