Finnish smart phone vendor Benefon this week unveiled its Benefon Q smart
phone, the first device based on Microsoft’s Mobile Explorer platform.
The phone incorporates a microbrowser that supports both Wireless Application Protocol
(WAP) and HTML content; most smart phones support only WAP. It has a built-in e-mail
client that supports standard e-mail protocols. In addition, the company claims the 89-gram
device is one of the smallest GSM phones ever made.
The phone was introduced at the GSM World Congress in Cannes, France. In its
announcement, the company strongly supported the new Microsoft smart phone platform.
“Benefon shares Microsoft’s vision of the mobile Internet, based on industry standards like
HTML and WAP,” said Jorma U. Nieminen, president of Benefon.
The company says it is targeting the phone at what it calls “contemporary nomads” and will
be available this summer. The company gave no pricing information.