Tech Shout!

Pantech Group, Korean handset manufacturers have just announced the launch of the Pantech IM-U160 handset, which is a terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) handset. What is really great about the Pantech IM-U160 is that the handset can used as a portable T.V, due to its wide LCD screen.

The Pantech IM-U160 handset sports a 2.6-inch wide QVGA LCD screen. This ensures mobile phone users a very rich and visually enhanced T.V viewing experience. The QVGA LCD screen also features an aspect ratio of 15:9. This enables Pantech IM-U160 users to enjoy a similar visual experience as one in a movie theatre. When compared with other mobile phones, which have just 4:3 screen ratios, Pantech’s IM-U160 terrestrial handset seems to be a good option.

The Pantech IM-U160 handset also sports a touch sensor keypad, which is located on its upper slide. This definitely allows for easy and speedy navigation. Besides, the touch sensor keypad also vibrates when its surface is touched. This offers a very unique feel to the whole phone.

When one uses the stereo earphones that accompany the Pantech IM-U160, it will be noticed that they serve a double purpose. The accompanying stereo earphones besides serving the usual audio purpose can also be used to function the TV’s antenna, or for that matter a separate antenna as well. The stereo earphones can also be combined with the handset if needed.

The Pantech IM-U160 mobile phone features a large internal memory of up to 184MB. This can further be expanded with an external Micro SD card. Users can thus make full use of the phone;s multimedia capabilities.

Other great features of the Pantech IM-U160 handset include a 2 Mega pixel camera with Auto Focus, allowing it to deliver high-quality images. Then there the PictBridge function for images as well as the indispensable MP3 player.

Man Gi Kim, the spokesman for Pantech Group, said, “With the release of such a handset, offering a truly portable TV viewing experience, we will be on the right track to take the lead in the Korean terrestrial DMB market, a market rapidly growing up since the service was launched in January 2006.”

The features of the Pantech IM-U160 are noted below:

Terrestrial DMB phone

2.6″ wide 260K QVGA LCD

Dimensions: 99 x 49.6 x 18.8 mm / weight: 118g

Multi-tasking functionality

2 MP CMOS camera with Auto Focus

MP3 Player

64 polyphonic ringtones

User memory capacity: up to 184 MB

External memory card slot provided

Touch sensor keypad

Electronic dictionary

Document viewer

GPS

The new Pantech IM-U160 terrestrial DMB phone has been launched in Korea this week under the Pantech’s SKY brand. It will soon be supplied to all the major wireless operators in Korea, which include SK Telecom, LG Telecom and KTF.