Samsung unveils world's first GSM Wi-Fi phone

• Posted: Wednesday, July 19, 2006
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• Author: pradhana
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• Filed under: Smartphone, Wi-Fi

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has just released its first commercial mobile handset that can switch between cellular and wireless LAN networks.

The SGH-P200 combines GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), including all types of high speed communication: GSM/GPRS/EDGE, with 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and supports both voice and data calls, the South Korean cell phone maker said. It expects users to make calls over Wi-Fi at home or in cafes and switch to the cell phone network where no wireless LAN coverage exists.

It is the world's first commercial mobile phone to which UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access)technology is applied. UMA is a next-generation fixed-mobile convergence technology standard which allows for seamless handover between cellular networks and fixed IP networks (hot spots). Handsets with UMA technology allow free voice and data communication both in mobile and fixed modes.

The UMA phone thus has far greater mobility, compared to existing WiFi phones that can be used in a limited manner, only in hot spot areas. For instance, with the UMA phone, high-speed large-capacity data communication or VoIP is possible though WiFi in places installed with hot spots such as at home and schools and in places without WiFi, the cellular network is used instead.

Features of the slider-type handset include a 1.3 megapixel camera, MPEG4/H.263 video player, MP3/AAC/AAC+ music player, document viewer, multimedia messaging system (MMS), MP3 and file viewer functions. and PictBridge printing. The handset measures 95 millimeters by 44mm by 22.5mm and weighs 95 grams.

It is available now in Italy and will be launch in other European countries soon, Samsung said. Pricing information was not available.

Source: Samsung unveils GSM Wi-Fi phone

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