ASUS Malaysia has officially launched its first ever Android tablet with built-in 3G voice-calling functionality – dubbed the Fonepad, in a technical seminar last week on Tuesday, April 9. The seminar was held at JW Marriot, Kuala Lumpur. Mr Tony Lai, Product Manager of ASUSTeK Computer Inc and Mr Prakash Mallya, Country Manager of INTEL Malaysia & Singapore, were present at the seminar.
In the technical seminar, we were given an overview for both the hardware and software (a handful of exclusive ASUS apps) of the Fonepad, as well as seeing the Fonepad and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 went head-to-head. Obviously the Fonepad is the winner. Anyway, we think that users are more interested in finding out how the Fonepad stacks up against ASUS very own built Nexus 7.
As for the design and build, the Intel Atom Z2420-powered (codenamed Lexington) Fonepad is made of smooth, matte aluminium. It has a tactile power button as well as volume buttons on the left. A 3.5mm audio jack and a microUSB slot at the bottom. In addition to that, both the microSD card and sim card slots are hidden inside the tablet. The top part of the back panel can be removed to access the hidden slots.
As for pricing and availability, ASUS Fonepad is competitively-priced at RM 849 apiece for 8GB storage with three-megapixel rear camera model. The tablet has went on sale since last week Friday, April 12, making its first public appearance at PIKOM PC Fair held at KL Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
Fonepad™ with 3G Mobile Data and Voice-Calling
Built-in 3G for fast mobile data and full telephony feature offers 2-in-1 flexibility at a competitive price
Kuala Lumpur (9th April 2013) — ASUS Malaysia today announced Fonepad™, a competitively priced handheld with 3G voice and mobile data for all the features of a smartphone, with the versatility of a 7-inch tablet. Powered by the latest Intel® Atom™ Z2420 processor with Android 4.1, Fonepad™ features a vibrant HD display with IPS technology for wide viewing angles and outstanding clarity.
Beautiful metallic design with Intel® Atom™ performance
ASUS Fonepad™ is ideal for people who value both the voice communication features of a smartphone and the entertainment opportunities afforded by a tablet, but prefer the convenience of carrying just one device.
Fonepad™ is a sleek and compact tablet with a metallic design that can be held comfortably in one hand,thanks to its light and slim profile. Fonepad™ features a perfect balance of performance and energy efficiency, with hardware-accelerated 1080p Full HD video decoding and up to nine hours of battery life.
The 7-inch screen features 10-point multi-touch, and a crisp 1280 x 800 HD resolution for crisp, readable web page text and incredibly detailed photos. IPS technology ensures vibrant color with 178-degree wide viewing angles, and images that are clear and bright, even outdoors.
Built-in 3G formobile data and voice calls
Built-in 3G with HSPA+ mobile data means ASUS Fonepad™ is an always-connected mobile device for seamless web browsing, fast downloads from Google Play Store, and smooth streaming of audio and video. Thanks to its full 3G telephony support, Fonepad™ can also be used for voice calls using the built-in noise-cancelling digital microphone or an optional Bluetooth headset. With just one mobile data plan to pay for, running costs are also much lower than those of a separate smartphone and 3G tablet.
Fonepad™ is availablein 8GB capacities, and has an SD card slot for up to 32GB of additionalstorage. All models feature a front 1.2-megapixel camera for easy video chatand an optional rear 3-megapixel autofocus camera with 720p HD video recording.ASUS SonicMaster audio technology with MaxxAudio 3 processing by Waves ensuresclear, well-rounded sound quality.
Exclusive ASUS apps andaccessories enhance productivity
ASUS Fonepad™ comes with a number of exclusive ASUS productivity apps: Floating App for easy management of running apps and multi-tasking;SuperNote lite for handwritten notes and drawing; and WebStorage Office Online for Microsoft Office-compatible document editing on the move. Fonepad™ users also get 5GB of free lifetime ASUS WebStorage for syncing and sharing data with other devices.
Optional accessories are also available for Fonepad™. Available in four snazzy colors, VersaSleeve 7 is a wrap-around cover with a folding design that both protects Fonepad™, and props up the screen in two different positions for typing and watching video.
SPECIFICATIONS [1]
Operating system
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Processor
Intel® Atom™ Z2420 (1.2GHz) with PowerVR SGX540 GPU
Modem
IMC XMM6265
Display
7-inch HD (1280 x 800) LED-backlit with IPS technology
10-point multi-touch
Cameras
Front: 1.2MP
Rear: 3MP auto-focus with 720p HD video recording
Memory & storage
1GB RAM
8GB storage with microSD card slot (up to 32GB)
Networks
WCDMA 850, 900, 1900, 2100MHz
GSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz
HSPA+ (21Mbit/s download, 5.76Mbit/s upload)
Wireless
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0
Connectivity
Micro-USB port, 3.5mm headphone socket
Sensors
GPS with GLONASS, accelerometer, proximity, ambient light, e-compass
Other
Noise-cancelling digital microphone, speaker, Micro-SIM slot
Battery
Li-polymer 16Wh (4270mAh) for up to 9 hours [2] use
Colors
Titanium Gray / Champagne Gold
Size
196.4 x 120.1 x 10.4mm
Weight
340g
[1] Specifications, content, prices and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications,usage, environment and other factors.
[2] Measured with 720p HD video playback, 100 nits brightness, with Wi-Fi and 3G enabled.
AVAILABILITY & PRICING
ASUS Fonepad™ will be available locally starting 2nd week of April 2013 at the local IT retailers
MSRP = RM 849 for 8GB storage with three-megapixel rear camera model
