Philips Consumer Communications (PCC) has kicked off in the local market with the launch of a range of cellphones.
Ian Shore, PCC business unit manager, says the launch follows years of intensive development in which technologies to simplify the cellphone user interface enjoyed top priority in Philips` research facilities.
"We introduced the first voice-dial cellphone almost five years ago," he says, "and followed that up more recently by adding control of the menu structure by voice-command."
PCC unveiled a plethora of new phones at the Cellexpo 2000 at the Computer Faire, with all the new models incorporating dual band (900MHz and 1800MHz) functionality, non-intrusive Vibra (vibration) ringing and voice functionality to differing degrees.
"The cellular market is divided into three clearly defined segments, and these new phones are pitched separately at each of these," notes Shore.
Starting at the high-end, he describes the Xenium family as a compact, 95g, feature-rich product. "The Xenium 929, available now, offers voice dial and voice command. Scheduled for local release in the third quarter of 2000, the Xenium 989 will add a built-in modem, eliminating the need for the normally obligatory PCMCIA card, T9 predictive text software and a newer, more stylish finish in the same compact bundle."
At the mid-tier, PCC showed off its new offering in the form of Ozeo. With similar under-the-skin functionality but longer battery life, it is slightly bulkier (128g). It also includes the built-in modem and T9 Text Input for analysing and predicting words, thereby simplifying SMS text input.
Also on display at Cellexpo 2000 was Philips new entry-level offering. The company says the Savvy Vogue is the first entry-level phone with voice activation and vibration ring (known as Vibra in the trade) in addition to all the features of the original Savvy. Newly designed to appeal to the youth market, it is available in range of colours.
"The new range, from the Savvy Vogue on the low-end through the Ozeo at mid-tier up to the classy Xenium, really puts Philips on the cellular map because, for the first time, we have a range that spans all segments of the market," says Shore.
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