Toshiba TG01 Gunning For Apple iPhone

With the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona just weeks away, Toshiba is already causing a stir with word of its first touch-screen smartphone, the Toshiba TG01, a mobile device that is going to battle it out in the trenches against other touch-screen titans like the Apple iPhone 3G, the BlackBerry Storm and the Google Android-based T-Mobile G1.





While the true unveiling won't come until the Mobile World Congress kicks off later this month, Toshiba has given Channelweb.com a sneak peek at the Toshiba TG01, which is available in black or white.





Here are some details and images to whet your appetite.

For performance, the Toshiba TG01 is the first mobile phone to launch with Qualcomm's high-powered Snapdragon processing platform. The 1 GHz processing core can deliver solid power and performance, while also enabling application multitasking and high-resolution video playback. The device also offers ultra low power consumption with dynamic speed adaptation.





The high-powered chipset can support high-definition video, 3-D graphics, mobile TV and an XGA display.

The super-slim Toshiba TG01 packs all of its power into a 0.39-inch thick frame, compared to the iPhone's chunkier 0.48-inch thickness, proving size doesn't always dictate performance.





The device ties in a high-resolution, 4.1-inch wide VGA (800 x 480) touchscreen that offers enhanced viewing and optimum rendering of original movies. It also features color matching, LCD backlight control, color image control and dynamic gamma correction to raise the benchmark of portable video. The TG01 has upgradable SDHC memory of up to 32 GB and supports a wide range of popular video formats.



The TG01 also offers high-speed mobile gaming with its high-resolution W-VGA display and touch-sensitive screen for enhanced playability. The device also offers a 3.2-megapixel camera.

The Toshiba TG01 runs Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, offering up multimedia and Web content. Integration with Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile lets users manage professional and personal e-mail, as well as contacts and calendars.

The custom-designed Toshiba Touch 3-D interface offers users one-touch navigation between different applications. The TG01 also features "innovative gesture operation" which lets users shake the device to activate an incoming call and switch between applications by tilting the phone to the left or to the right.





The interface is intended for one-handed use, with vertical panels that can be swiped through. An accelerometer also allows the device display to rotate and track support can ease Web navigation.

For mobile Internet access, the smartphone ties in Internet Explorer Mobile 6, which ties in full Flash support for a true mobile Internet experience, essentially giving users the same Internet experience they expect from a PC. The browser also offers full support for users to complete Web transactions like online banking and Facebook updates.

The Toshiba TG01 offers a host of connectivity options. Full connectivity is offered to GSM/GPRS/EDGE and 3G HSDPA/HSUPA. The device also adds support for Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi. Integrated GPS and A-GPS lets the device double as a full-fledged satellite navigation system.

The release date and pricing for the Toshiba TG01 have not yet been released. It is expected to be available in Europe this summer, with other locations to follow. More details of the TG01 are expected to be revealed at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona from February 16 to 19.