ASUS’s first ever Android tablet with built-in 3G voice-calling functionality will first go on sale in Taiwan on March 22. The 7-inch Fonepad tablet made its debut in MWC 2013 last month.
According to the people over GSMInsider, after the launch in Taiwan, the tablet will then hit China and Hong Kong. As for the price tag, the slate will cost TW$8,990 outright. That’s about $300 or RM 940.
To recap on the specs, the Fonepad features a sleek metallic design with a 7-inch HD screen display with 1280 x 800 resolution and IPS technology for wide viewing angles. It is powered by the new Intel Atom Z2420 processor clocked at 1.2 GHz, with 1GB of RAM and two storage options – 8GB or 16GB, expandable with a microSD card slot (up to 32GB). Users also get 5GB of free lifetime ASUS WebStorage.
The slate comes with a 3MP auto focus camera (for selected models only) capable of recording 720p HD video on the back and a 1.2MP front facing camera for video calling. It packs 4270mAh battery, giving users up to 9 hours of battery life.
Other features include 3G, HSPA+, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, Micro-USB port, 3.5mm headphone socket, noise-cancelling digital microphone, speaker and micro-SIM slot. Fonepad runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and comes with a number of exclusive ASUS productivity apps.
Fonepad is available in two colours – Titanium Gray or Champagne Gold. Also, ASUS also offers two new optional accessories for Fonepad – VersaSleeve 7 and Turn Case.
