If Google has quickly become a key player in the smartphone market, Yahoo Does not expect to be left out and begins to deploy its own strategy in emerging market in Asia. Thus, in partnership with Alcatel, the Internet portal has unveiled the One Touch Internet Mobile Phone.
With a full QWERTY keyboard, a trackpad and a light 2.4-inch screen, the phone incorporates ergonomics of a standard BlackBerry. In terms of functionality, the device is regarded more as an entry-level smartphone. We find a camera with 2 megapixel camera, FM radio, MP3 player and an internal memory of 80 MB which is not compatible 3G terminal and the surfing will be done in EDGE.
Software level, done by integrating its various web services directly. Many mobble based sites will be able to access their Yahoo! Mail or chat on Yahoo Messenger. The address book and calendar are synchronized directly on the phone. Yahoo! Has added other features like voice search on the engine or Social Pulse to read the latest updates to its contacts on different networks community.
In an interview collected by the BBC, Irv Henderson, vice-chairman of the Department Yahoo! Connected Life said that in some Asian countries "we record most of queries on mobile devices than on PCs. Although the Net One Touch is not 3G compatible", he added that the sites have been optimized and the firm expects an improvement in network infrastructure by 12-18 months.
The One Touch Net will be sold for less than $100. It will be available during the third quarter, first in India and Indonesia.
