14 DAY TRIAL // Disney Mobile, the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) founded back in June2006, has recently announced that it will launch its first Android device. Even though the company decided to pull the plug on its handset business in the United States in 2007, it re-opened in March 2008, but in Japan.
In the U.S., the company operated on Sprint's CDMA network, but is now functioning as an MVNO in Japan, and apparently, it had some success thanks to its large fan base for its cartoon characters.
It looks like the information about the phone's specs are pretty scarce, but rumors say that this might be a Disney-branded version of the Sharp 003SH Galapagos.
The only information appearing on the phone's page points to the fact that the device will run on the Android 2.2 Froyo platform out-of-the-box and it will be powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor.
As a reminder, Sharp's 003SH Galapagos comes with a Parallax Barrier 3D 3.8-inch WVGA screen and 9.6-megapixel monster camera capable of recording in 720p.
Other key features of the Sharp 003SH Galapagos smartphone include: 400 MB of internal memory, microSD card for memory expansion (up to 32GB), Wi-Fi connectivity and GPS with A-GPS support.
In addition, Disney Mobile's Android phone will be bundled with content such as an exclusive email address (@disney.ne.jp), wallpapers, special widgets, Disney apps, as well as a special case.
Release date and price tag are unknown for the moment, but the phone is rumored to be launched along with Sharp's 003SH Galapagos, which is expected to be available in mid-February.
Disney Japan hasn't revealed too much at this point, but if the rumors are true and this is indeed a Disney-branded version of the Sharp 003SH Galapagos, then Japanese Android fans are in for a nice surprise for Valentine's Day.