Infobar A01 by AU KDDI and Sharp - Anyone?

[cheeseus]

This looks like the first KDDI phone that can be truly usable outside of Japan - because of the Global Passport CDMA/GSM radio.
Here are the phone's specs for anyone who doesn't know them:

Screen size: 3.7 inches
Resolution: 960 x 540 pixels (QHD)
Processor: Qualcomm MSM8655 at 1.4 GHz
RAM: 512MB
Built-in memory (ROM): 2 GB (1.1 GB available to the user), expandable up to 32GB (SDHC)
Camera: 8 megapixel CMOS
Wi-Fi: b/g/n
Bluetooth: 3.0
Infrared
Mobile Wallet FeLiCa
One Seg digital TV
Global Passport CDMA / GSM
Measures: Approximately 63 × 118 × 11.8mm
Weight: 113g

I see it's already on sale - two on Ebay (for $700 and $580 auction start price), which I personally find too much as it's also available on Rakuten - from 292 EUR to 350 EUR (average) up to 500+ EUR (highest).

Care to comment?

[klanse]

It's a01 not 01a
I don't think hypersim will works on au phones.
http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...es-be-unlocked
There's no sms. Can you live with that.

[yamanote]

No need for hypersim, they can be soft (or factory?) unlocked (or at least that's what the ebay auctions referred to in the OP suggest).

Is the SMS issue a software or hardware issue?

That said, most people I know use whatsapp or a similar alternative, and since this is an android phone at heart that should install/work fine, so that might not be as large of an issue as it was in the past.

[cheeseus]

@Klanse: model name fixed, thanks!

I've no idea if hypersim is needed or not. Could it be that KDDI have simply made an unlocked phone?

I can live without SMS just fine as long as there is e-mail and internet (wi-fi/gprs) And you can actually send an SMS to someone's telephone number using your email application. On my mobile operator you just need to send an email to [email protected] Sure that should be possible with other and much more advance carriers.

[yamanote]

Can you receive sms via the email client as well though?

[cheeseus]

Can you receive sms via the email client as well though?

Yes, it is possible but now sure how. I think it requires some sort of registration...

But isn't SMS an operator's network's option? I mean, if you're using the Inforbar outside of Japan, just install some Android SMS application, enter your operator's SMS centre number, and there you go!

[yamanote]

That's what I was thinking. SMS isn't possible on, say, the W64S bc you can't sideload an alternative SMS app but with this being based on android...

Sent from my SH-12C using HowardForums

[yamanote]

Just a heads up- there are several used infobars available in multiple places (sofmap being one) for around 39000 yen.

Sent from my SH-12C using HowardForums

[cheeseus]

The User Interface on the InfoBar is really attractive. I hope development continues and we see it on other phones as well (I guess it's an IIDA development, not Sharp's) and it's not just another UI that gets forgotten quickly, e.g. the First ELSE's sPlay.

[yamanote]

Played with a demo model at Yodobashi and the ui is not only cool but also very smooth.

I'd buy one, but not with an unknown unlock status...

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[cheeseus]

Played with a demo model at Yodobashi and the ui is not only cool but also very smooth.

I'd buy one, but not with an unknown unlock status...

Sent from my SH-12C using HowardForums

If we had a CDMA network here in Bulgaria (they were working on it, but plans were dropped last year), and the phone could be unlocked, I'd get one. Too many IFs

[yamanote]

Janpara in Shinjuku has one in red/white for 27k yen (prices sure dropped quickly). Took it out and looked under the hood- there's a sim slot but is clearly marked 'au IC カード' (au ic card). Not sure if that will work with a normal sim, or a hypersim, but asked whether or not it'd work with a docomo sim and they said no (ie it's not factory unlocked).

[klanse]

Edit -sorry wrong thread. :P

[k66473]

I am wondering that without AU simcard, can this phone operate such function like camera, music, game.... or not?

Anyone know?

[patrixl]

Janpara in Shinjuku has one in red/white for 27k yen (prices sure dropped quickly). Took it out and looked under the hood- there's a sim slot but is clearly marked 'au IC カード' (au ic card). Not sure if that will work with a normal sim, or a hypersim, but asked whether or not it'd work with a docomo sim and they said no (ie it's not factory unlocked).

I'm going to test next time I'm out of Japan, but it could be like some Verizon or Sprint world phones with GSM bands - the phone is locked in the US but outside the US, using non-US carriers, is possible and unlocked. Just a pipe dream probably but I'll test regardless with my Digno when I travel ;

I am wondering that without AU simcard, can this phone operate such function like camera, music, game.... or not?

Anyone know?

It's an Android phone, so it probably works. Actually I've never used my AU phone without its SIM card, so now I'm curious.. I'll have to try too one day