Panasonic Unveils International 3G Cell Phone

Panasonic Mobile Communications is unveiling its first Wideband Code Division Multiple Access cell phone for the international market, the company says.

A prototype of the handset, called the Z800, was on show at the PT/Expo Comm China 2004 telecommunications exhibition in Beijing, according to a company statement. Launch plans for the handset were not announced.

Panasonic Mobile Communications, a subsidiary of Japan’s Matsushita Electric Industrial, has been producing WCDMA handsets for the Japanese domestic market since NTT DoCoMo launched its 3G service in 2001. Panasonic was one of two handset makers to initially offer cell phones for the service, and the Z800 resembles stylewise its Japan launch model, the P2101V. Panasonic has subsequently developed three further WCDMA handsets and two PC Card data modems for NTT DoCoMo’s service. The Z800 draws on this technology base, the company said.

There are more cool toys out there than there are money to buy ‘em :(.