CES 2008: iRiver shows off a prototype GPS phone
Everyone and his dog seems to be showing off GPS phones at CES this year. Now iRiver has jumped on the bandwagon by showing off a prototype of a new iRiver GPS phone that they expect to release by the end of 2008.
This will be the first mobile phone that iRiver have released, and they're an unexpected entrant in what must be the most competitive of all hi-tech markets. However, having had great success in the MP3 and Personal Media Player markets, they clearly know what they're doing, both from a technological perspective, and, just as importantly, a design and marketing perspective.
They've got a tough fight on their hands, but they should be able to build a niche for themselves.
More details of the iRiver GPS phone after the jump.
iRiver's new phone will feature a whopping 3" screen, and will feature a touchscreen interface very similar to something called the iPhone. However, it's exact specification is very much in the air at the moment.
It will have around 4GB of storage, and will feature iRiver's MP3 technology (which has always been good, and so should be able to compete effectively with Sony Ericsson's Walkman phones, not to mention some other music phone technology by a company called Apple).
It could also come with GPS, and Wi-Fi, or it might not - the company still hasn't decided yet. However, it will definitely feature some form of high speed connectivity.
"It would be ridiculous for the phone to be 2G or 2.5G at this time," said iRiver spokesman Owen Kwon. Kwon added that the phone will be "more affordable" than the iPhone. It will also be unlocked as well, which will be good news for people who don't to be tied to a particular network, but which will also make the phone pretty expensive.
I can't see such a phone selling by the bucketload, but iRiver should be able to carve out a nice little niche for themselves in the same way they did in the hugely overcrowded MP3 market.
[Source: PCMag, Slashphone]
