Samsung has launched a Windows Mobile 6.0 phone supporting China's domestic 3G standard, TD-SCDMA (time-division synchronous code-division multiple access). The SGH-i688 avails users of a "Wireless Olympic Works" (WOW) network, said to offer real-time schedules, results, weather information, email, and instant messaging to Olympic officials.

TD-SCDMA is China's homegrown 3G standard, promulgated since 2004. China Mobile -- the country's largest carrier, and the one leading the TD-SCDMA rollout -- reportedly said in July that the system has just 52,000 users. However, TD-SCDMA has now been made available in all Olympic venues except Hong Kong, including Beijing, Shanghai, Qinhuangdao and Shenyang, according to a variety of sources.

To promote TD-SCDMA, Samsung, the "official Olympic sponsor for wireless communications equipment," stepped up to the plate with several devices, including its Windows Mobile-based phone, the SGH-i688. The device has been handed out to approximately 2,000 "VIPs," including Olympic officials, Samsung says.

According to Samsung, the handsets have been customized to access a Wireless Olympic Works (WOW) network, developed in conjunction with integrator Atos Origin. WOW is said to provide realtime schedules, results, weather information, email, and instant messaging to Olympic officials. The system also marks China's first implementation of PTT (push to talk) walkie-talkie functionality on a cellular network, the company says.

While Samsung provided relatively few details of the SGH-i688 itself -- its processor and RAM complement are unannounced, for example -- the device features a 2.8-inch touchscreen display and a Chinese edition of Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional. It can recognize Chinese characters drawn on screen, and provides "haptic" vibratory feedback in response to inputs, according to the company.

Additional SGH-i688 features are said to include an autofocus camera with flash, both TD-SCDMA and GSM connectivity, and an FM receiver that is capable of recording programs.

Source:windowsfordevices