More Digifriends WiMAX MID US launch details
Yesterday I broke the news about the Digifriends WiMAX MID heading to the US, and today I have more information to share directly from Digifriends USA.
According to Project Supervisor Peter Kim, the only thing standing between our hands and the modular MID is for "WiMAX service providers/carriers throughout the country to fully launch their services." This, of course, makes it difficult to set and then stick to a firm release date. Ideally, he said, they "are hoping and planning for sales starting later this year or early next year." With Sprint having just pushed back its XOHM rollout and no firm contract in place yet, it goes without saying that Digifriends’ timeline should be taken as optimistic estimation.
I asked Peter to confirm the specs originally revealed at CES, currently duplicated on the Digifriends USA "work in progress" website, and seen below.
| CPU: |
1.2GHz Intel Silverthorne (Poulsbo US15 chipset) |
| RAM: | 1GB DDR2 SDRAM (533MHz) |
| OS: | Windows Vista, Windows XP, Linux |
| Storage: | 30GB to 60GB (1.3" HDD) |
| Display: | 4.8” touchscreen (1024 x 600) |
| Wireless: | 802.16e mobile WiMAX (2.3 to 2.5GHz), WiBro (KT) 802.11b/g wi-fi, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR, terrestrial DMB (DVB-H, 1-Seg) |
| Camera: | 0.3-megapixel front, 2-megapixel rear |
| Front Side: | Optical mouse with button, left/right mouse buttons, LED indicators, Windows touch button support |
| Interface (Side): | USB, miniUSB, power button, camera shutter, audio/mic/tv-out/vga-out (14-pin connection) |
| Size: | 6.30" x 3.46" x 0.71" |
| Accessories (Optional): |
QWERTY keyboard (includes extension battery), GPS navigation, stand (includes battery charger), hi-fi stereo speaker, UCC editor, Dual LCD |
Of the impressive specs, he said:
We are currently in contact with service providers and have left the option open to modify our products to fit the needs of each carrier. As a result, some of the specs may have been (or may be in the future) changed or modified but have not been updated in print.
In other words, then, it may be unwise to hold your breath until Digifriends releases a MID with these exact specifications. The reason the preliminary details were distributed at CES and why they’re still listed on the "temporary" website is so that the company can get "as much product interest feedback as possible." They’ve set up a message board to accept feedback and possibly field questions, so if you have anything to say about what is known/planned for the MID so far, have your say now while Digifriends is definitely listening. You can also drop your comments below.
I should be getting product updates as they unfold, as well as a review unit when it becomes available, so this isn’t the last you’ll see of the Digifriends WiMAX MID at Pocketables.
