An Android-based smartphone developed for NTT DoCoMo's subscribers by Sharp will make its way to Orange's customers in France, marking the first time an overseas operator rolls out a smartphone from the Japanese operator, the two said on Thursday.
The Sharp Aquos Phone SH80F, or SH-12C as it is known in Japan, has a 4.2-inch screen that can display 3D images without the use of glasses. On the back, the phone also has two 8-megapixel cameras that allow users to create their own 3D content. The phone can also convert images and videos from 2D to 3D in real time.
The SH80F is powered by a 1.4 GHz processor from Qualcomm, and content can be stored on the 2GB internal memory. If that isn't enough; an additional 32GB can be added using a memory card.
The smartphone will be available in France from Oct. 6 for €199 (US$270) with subscription to an Origami package from €59 per month and a €100 cash-back voucher.
Operators are increasingly working together to cut costs, but usually by sharing networks. The Aquos Phone may be the first smartphone Orange and NTT have cooperated on, but the French operator said it looks forward to working on more models in the future.
For Sharp it is also an important launch. In May, the company announced plans to go global with its Android-based smartphones. Sharp is a mainstay of the Japanese mobile phone market, but is more known for its other consumer electronics products in the rest of the world.
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