Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2008/01/17/mwg_zinc_ii/

MWg unveils the Zinc II smartphone

Another element to its range

By James Sherwood

Posted in Personal Tech, 17th January 2008 10:21 GMT

The Mobile and Wireless Group (MWg) - formerly O2's Asian handset business - is really pushing its name in the smartphone market, creating yet another Windows Mobile-based handset: the Zinc II.

mwg_zinc

MWg's Zinc II: GPS, HSDPA and a two-megapixel camera

Based on version 6.1 Pro of the OS, the Zinc II offers quad-band GSM and HSDPA 3G connectivity. Behind its sleek façade, there's also a Samsung 500MHz processor and 258MB of Flash memory.

Text is entered onto the handset via a thumb-operated Qwerty keypad that slides out sideways from behind its 2.8in touchscreen. There’s a two-megapixel camera around the back and, should you get lost on the way back from the pub, a SiRF Starr III chip for GPS navigation will help guide you home - provided you're sober enough to operate it...

Alternatively, you can just use the Zinc II to check your emails until your mates arrive in the pub because 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi’s thrown in. Bluetooth 2.0 is onboard too.

Online retailer Expansys, which is a private investor in MWg, expects the Zinc II to cost around £400 (€490/$600) – but its website still lists the phone as "coming soon". So, watch this space.