Benq has used embedded Linux and a Trolltech phone software stack to build a UMTS (3G) mobile phone with integrated GPS, 2 Megapixel camera, and 2.2-inch QVGA LCD. The Benq-Siemens SXG75 opens the door to a variety of location-aware services, and is widely available in Europe, according to Benq.
                                 
Although Siemens is the world's 21st-largest company, according to Fortune's Global 500, it struggled in the mobile phone market, according to research firm Gartner, selling fewer phones in 2005 than in 2004 despite a booming market.

Siemens in June sold its mobile phone operations to Taiwanese ODM (original design manufacturer) BenQ, which has also licensed the rights to use the Siemens name for a year, and the Siemens-BenQ name for five years. Nevertheless, Siemens last month joined the OSDL, stating its intention to contribute to a working group devoted to mobile handsets, as well as to one devoted to carrier class infrastructure equipment.

The SXG75 is the first Siemens-branded phone to support UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system), a 3G (third-generation) technology that provides multiple QoS (quality of service) levels on top of W-CDMA (wideband code division multiple access) cellular radio technology. UMTS is sometimes known as 3GSM, and marketed as a successor to 2.5G technologies such as GSM (global system for mobile communications), with which UMTS phones are typically backwards-compatible.

UMTS provides theoretical data access rates up to 1,920Kbps, although in Japan, where the technology is most widespread, actual rates of 384Kbps are reported (additionally, in Japan, UMTS is already being superceded by HDSPA, which will offer theoretical data rates up to 3Mbps).

GPS, location-aware services

Besides being the first Siemens UMTS phone, the SXG75 is also the first Siemens phone to incorporate a GPS receiver. In addition to normal GPS, the phone also supports A-GPS (assisted GPS), where available. A-GPS is a carrier service that handles some triangulation math on the carrier side, in order to speed up location-fixing, especially in urban canyons and other places with compromised satellite line-of-sight.

With its built-in GPS receiver, the SXG75 can serve as a navigation device, similar to in-car navigation systems, many of which are based on Linux. The user first downloads maps, restaurant tips, and other region-specific information from a carrier network offering map download services. Thereafter, the phone can provide travel directions visually and/or audibly, using text-to-speech technology. A car kit with dashboard mount is optionally available.

Peripatetic users may also appreciate currency conversion software, and translation software said to support English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Other features

The SXG75 includes a 2.2-inch "normally black," high-contrast QVGA (320x240) TFT (thin-film transistor) display supporting 262K colors, and has a 2 megapixel camera that can capture both stills and video. Photo- and video-editing software is included, and the phone can also be used to download and watch video content, Benq says.

When operating under UMTS networks, the SXG75 supports videocalls, Benq says, through a secondary CIF-resolution (352 x 288) camera located on the phone's face, just above the display screen.

The SXG75 additionally sports a variety of music features, including support for RDS radio. It also has a built-in MP3 player, and is optionally available with a cradle equipped with battery-powered stereo speakers (pictured at right).

The SXG75 has 128 MB of internal memory, including 64 MB devoted to user file storage. Storage can be expanded through the addition of reduced-size MMC cards.

Specifications are following:   

·          Communications -- tri-band EGSM 900 / GSM 1800 / GSM 1900, W-CDMA 2100
·          Interfaces -- USB, IrDA, Bluetooth
·          Calling features:
·          Voice dial/command, hands-free talking, redial list, list of calls received/missed, date and time stamp for missed calls, softkey programmable, call wait/call hold, conference call, call forward, display call timer and cost, keypad lock, silent alert (vibration)
·          Size -- 4.4 x 2.1 x 0.8 inches (111.5 x 53 x 20mm)
·          Weight -- 4.8 ounces (134 grams)
·          Battery:
1,000mAh lithium-ion battery
Up to 400 hours UMTS or GSM standby
Up to 360 min. GSM talk time, or 300 min. UMTS talk time
·          Available in white or black
·          Software features
Interface based on Trolltech Qtopia Phone Edition
MMS (multimedia messaging)
SMS (short message service) client with T9 input prediction
EMS (enhanced message service)
Email client supports POP3, IMAP4, SMTP
Mobile Internet access -- WAP 2.0, XHTML browser
Multimedia player
·          Video formats: MPEG 4, Real Video 8/9, h.264, h.263
·          Audio formats: MP3, AAC, AAC+, AAC++, WAV, MIDI, Real audio 8/9, AMR-NB
Camcorder supports up to 15fps
Java environment for user applications
·          Addressbook with 250 names, Outlook synchronization, digital voice recorder, organizer, reminder list, alarm, stopwatch, countdown timer, calculator, screensave