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The Lenovo OPhone has been an Android in-the-works for it seems like forever. Well… what seems like forever will end next month (according to PCWorld) as the phone is rumored to be launching in China under the name Lenovo O1 OPhone. A promotional website for the phone surely gives the impression of an imminent launch, but unfortunately Google Translate can’t convert flash based foreign language sites to English.
The concept of the OPhone is a good one because it piggybacks an already great product – the iPhone. But the naming conventions don’t quite seem to lineup. The iPhone is called an iPhone no matter what version it is, then distinguishing the difference between iPhone’s using the version name: iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3G S, etc…
On the other hand, Lenovo already seems to be calling this one phone many different things. For example, the web domain is at www.ophone001.com – this has two problems (1) everywhere else this phone is shown as just the O1 and here it has a double OO1… and (2) those are not letter O in the domain they are #0 in the domain, but everything else makes you think the OPhone would be letter O and number 1.
For example, tell me this doesn’t look like a letter O smack dab on the promo site landing page:
In some places it is shown as the OPhone O1 and on others as the O1 Ophone. And in other places the word OPhone is minimized completely as they push the name Lenovo Mobile O1, making you think it should only be called O1.
*sigh*
I’m stickler for details like this but when it comes down to it – the name doesn’t matter. What matters is that the phone kicks butt and works well. Will it? That is a completely different question.
As China Mobile prepares to launch the O1 Ophone, rival China Unicom is in talks with Apple to acquire the Apple iPhone. The two companies use different 3G technology, with China Mobile’s TD-SCDMA standard being less popular and offering less coverage than its competitor.
China Mobile hopes their Open Mobile Platform, the proprietary version of Android on which the O1 Ophone is based, attracts customers to their 3G network. Ultimately only time will tell if that happens. Personally, I think the Chinese love the concept of Android but the success of the OPhone will be determined by how open the Open Mobile System actually is.
If any Chinese-speaking Android’s want to weigh in on the matter, the comments, contact us form and tip us form are at your disposal!
I don’t know about any of this, but I’d definitely like to take that girl in the O out for some coffee.
I Second that motion!!
Ayy Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi phandroid dude, I try to translate some information to english about the Lenovo O1 on that website. I’m a Taiwanese, excuse my poor english please.
Hardware
3.5″ HVGA wide screen
624MHz CPU
8G/16G Internal storage
5MP auto-focus camera
multiple sensors(position, ambient light, gravity)
GPS, digital TV, Wi-fi(include WAPI function)
1500/2000mAh changeable battery
Software
unique screen locker.
3D transiting screen effect and themes.
combine WAP and WEB surfing experience in one browser.
support diversified mainstream widget application, more apps can be downloaded from Mobile Market only on China Mobile subscriber.
extensible antenna brings more stable digital TV signal.
In my opinion, although it’s almost include all the functions people needed, however it still has long way to go to be mature.
I just left Shanghai after living there for 2 years. Believe me, no one needs a new 3G standard. Everyone has been asking for 3G connectivity in China, and what did we get? TD-SCDMA. TD phones suck (that’s what how the abbreviate the ridiculously-long name). All the phones which support TD are mediocre. When I was in Shanghai, I looked into getting a TD phone since it was the only 3G network available. Since this is a proprietary network, it meant my Sony Ericsson P1i wouldn’t work on it (would work as 2G, but not as 3G), and that a new phone was needed. What brands offer TD phones? There’s a sea of Chinese-brand TD phones, which look horrible, or at least only look good, but have terrible UIs. The only known brand names with TD phones are Samsung, Dopod (HTC’s sub-brand for China) and Lenovo (which isn’t really known for making good phones). How are these phones? One Samsung has a 208 MHz processor, Dopod and Samsung also have WinMo phones (Chinese only), not to mention that the Dopod has yesteryear’s TouchFlo. Don’t believe that the phones suck? Check them out your self at the below link. You’ll see a band in the center of the page with scrolling phones. Click on a phone for more details and a larger picture:
http://www.chinamobile.com/brand/G3/index.htm
ah, Chinese Android Phone.
The thing that gets me excited about it would be the possible onslaught of Chinese language IME that is really lacking on the Market place.
I don’t like their main advertising concept though.
anyways: here’s the translation for the hardware specs
3.5″ HVGA
624Mhz processor, 8GB/16GB Internal Storage
5MP Auto Focus Camera
“Multi-Sensor” (literal translation) [positioning, ambient light, gravity]
Supports GPS, Digital TV, wifi ready
removable battery (1500mAh/2000mAh)
Digital TV: saw this on the presentation vidz too.
looks really like RealVideo (streaming)
The detailed description indicated that the phone will have an internal antennae for Digital TV reception.
The interface is similar to LG for it’s 3D rotatioin from screen to screen.
aside from the main site
http://youwin.newwebpick.com/o1/
(for cover design contest)
this seems to tell us that lenovo might be launching this for to the larger international platform soon as well.
(site is for 5 different languages: hosted by MIRO; the division company for lenovo mobile)
oh, i missed out the comments on the advertising concept~
this darn phone is not waterproof~~~ do not be misled by the images in the photo gallery.
The chinese equivalent of facebook ends with a ‘001.com’ too. Think of it as a serial number for the site rather than having anything to do with the phone model name. Probably just couldn’t get ophone.com
You can translate the O1 specs and other info. using One Hour Translation (http://www.OneHourTranslation.com) the service is not free but is using human translators ….
wow im excited!
Go to the bottom right corner, the second button from the right is the video that goes through most of the major features. The video demo should be straight forward for people who do not understand Chinese.
By the way, the picture you posted at the top said:
Lenovo o1 cellphone
First ever ophone cellphone
Well i think apple’s iphone should be the product of this era. Now they come up with beautifull slim table. Have a look here http://www.domesticutilities.com/apple.htm
Its coming out next month
Comment in reply for Raymanism’s comment above. TD doesn’t have anything to do with 3G. TD stands for Time-Division there are currently CDMA which is Code-Division-Multiple- Access and Time Division Multiple Access in some instances the U.S even uses both standards depending on company or carrier. TD-SCDMA is the newest standard coming out now and in some ways better than what the U.S. uses today. China is way ahead of the game, but don’t take my word for it check out TDMA and CDMA in a search.
HI..I WANT LIKE IT.. I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PRICE IF THIS…..AND FROM WHERE I CAN PURCHASE THIS IN NEW DELHI ( INDIA )