Sharp Corp. on Wednesday unveiled a multimedia phone that boasts e-mail and Internet browsing functions in addition to standard telephone and fax functions.
The Multimedia Phone NC-10, which comes with a 7.7-inch liquid-crystal display, will hit Japanese stores on October 15. It will sell for 150,000 yen. "This product is targeted at people who don't have a computer but wish to enjoy the Internet and e-mail easily," said Tokuyuki Shirasuka, deputy general manager of Sharp's Information Systems Group.
Various personal data such as telephone numbers and addresses as well as e-mail messages can be input using a special pen to write on the phone's display, the firm said.
Users can also set the phone to automatically call an Internet provider and download e-mail messages and up to five Internet home pages at regular periods, enabling them to check information without connecting to the Internet, the company said.