Leading developer and licensor of touch feedback technology, Immersion Corporation has announced the first touchscreen-based mobile phone in the world to use their VibeTonz System, the Samsung SCH-W559.

Instead of the traditional keypad used in most mobile phones, the Samsung SCH-W559 uses its large 260k color QVGA LCD touchscreen for text input through on-screen buttons. Aside from that it also includes Immersion Corporation's VibeTonz vibration technology.

According to Immersion, when the users press the graphical on-screen controls, they will receive 'confirming tactile cues'. One of five feedback profiles for these cues can be selected for use. Due to the tactile cues, the buttons displayed on screen will feel more like mechanical keys.

"We believe that market conditions are almost ripe for an explosion in touchscreen phones, and that by 2012 as many as 40% of mobile phones could be using some form of touch sensitive technology," said Stuart Robinson, director of the Handset Component Technologies service at global research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics. "The integration of any technology that improves ease of use will be important for market adoption, and Immersion's VibeTonz technology certainly fits that description."

The CDMA and GSM mobile phone features a 1.3 megapixel camera, audio and video playback capabilities, Bluetooth for connectivity and handwriting recognition. With the help of the VibeTonz system, the phone also provides vibration tracks synchronized with eight pre-loaded ringtones.

The Samsung SCH-W559 is available on China Unicom but there is no information regarding its price so far.