Sharp's WS011SH: nothing like Microsoft's leak, but still cool

So the Sharp device we thought Microsoft had accidentally leaked a day early yesterday actually looks nothing -- and we mean nothing -- like the actual handset, though what they ended up unveiling is still crazy cool. The Sharp WS011SH Advanced/W-ZERO3 [es], which we believe may be the most complicated name for a phone ever conceived, is the latest in a line of Windows Mobile-sportin' phones for Japan's Willcom; like its predecessors, the WS011SH doesn't disappoint, packing in Windows Mobile 6 Classic, numeric and slide-out QWERTY keypads, a 3-inch wide VGA display, WiFi, and 256MB of onboard storage with microSD expansion. And, oh yeah, it's only 50mm wide and 17.9mm thick. Willcom customers: we hate you (not really, it's just our extreme jealousy talking).

[Via the::unwired]

[dhomas Posted Jun 7th 2007 1:14PM]

Ummm... So this device is not a phone? Being that it runs Windows Mobile Classic would indicate that it is a plain PDA. Seems like a waste of a numeric keypad...

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 7th 2007 2:14PM]

Dhomas, if you had read the linked translation of the Japanese press release, you would have realized that it can make and receive calls as well. I am not sure whether this use VoIP or something else, though.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 8th 2007 9:37PM]

It does make calls, I don't understand where is the confusion, the clearest evidence is the dial/hang up keys, and the mic below the alphanumeric keypad, what else can that be for?

it runs on PHS network, just like the rest of the W-ZERO3 series which can all make voice calls. WM6 classic does not support VOIP that's it, don't freak out.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 7th 2007 1:37PM]

sweet

[dhomas Posted Jun 7th 2007 2:22PM]

Thanks, Martey. I was being a little sarcastic. It doesn't always translate too well online.

I realize that the device does make phone calls (on the PHS network), but if it is a Windows Mobile "Classic" device, then it should be a PDA only, as per Microsoft's designation of this platform. The Windows Mobile Professional (formerly know as Pocket PC phone edition) platform is for PDAs with phone functionality.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 7th 2007 3:10PM]

so the leaked picture was completely wrong, but the leaked specifications were completely right. i was trying to trace where those specs came from, couldn't find it, just popped out of nowhere from your source, but not your source's source (itMedia japan?)

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 7th 2007 7:51PM]

more details:

http://gigazine.net/index.php?/news/comments/20070607_advanced_wzero3es/
http://k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/34882.html
http://blog.willcomnews.com/images/xw-addon.jpg

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 7th 2007 9:53PM]

I'm so glad I live in China. There's actually a PHS network here (run by the landline carrier here), and as soon as I figure out how all those other people get Willcom phones onto the network, I'm getting one of these. What makes the deal sweeter is that the local PHS carrier offers unlimited calling for, like, $12.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 8th 2007 1:58PM]

Another Samsung COPYCAT, except it has a sliding keyboard draw.