The handset will also be compatible with other networks around the globe.

Oct 2, 2006 10:00 GMT  ·  By

The NTT DoCoMo Japanese mobile phone carrier has announced that its networks are now compatible with networks across the globe, so all people can now enjoy a previously only available in Japan cell phone or can use their own when in travel through the country of the rising sun.

The newest addition to their mobile phone line-up is the Sharp 801SH, a gadget-like cell phone, that has the capability to block access to private data as the phone book, text messages, and even the phone itself, with the help of the face recognition technology implemented by Sharp.

I suppose that people which go through frequent esthetic surgery procedures or use too much make-up (I had to say it :) ) will not be very enthusiastic about this phone, because nobody wants a phone that can say to you "Go change your face back if you want to use me again! I don't like you this way!".

Seriously speaking, this is a pretty cool device, one that is capable of working on W-CDMA and GSM type networks and, most importantly and probably, is compatible with your own carrier, a thing not very usual for the phones you can buy in Japan. It also features a 2.4 inch 262k colors 480x640 pixels resolution VGA display, microSD expansion memory card slot with support for cards that go up to 1 gigabyte, dual 2 megapixel digital cameras with video recording support and video conferencing support, integrated music player, Bluetooth connectivity, xHTML browser and a special dedicated key for the Yahoo Japan mobile services, all crammed in a pack measuring 50mm x 100mm x 21mm and with a weight of 71 grams.

The phone will be available for now in Japan, at a price that is still unknown and will come in six colors.