14 DAY TRIAL // Japanese carrier SoftBank has just announced the launch of the world's first Android smartphone, the Aquos Hybrid 007SH.
Manufactured by Sharp, the device features a swivel form factor, which means that users will be able to rotate its main display and close it with the large screen on the outside.
The phone comes with a secondary 0.7-inch OLED screen and a 3.4-inch WVGA multi-touch display, which is also 3D compatible and supports up to 854 x 480 pixels resolutions.
Sharp's Hybrid 007SH boasts an incredible 16-megapixel photo snapper with 720p video recording mode, as well as 3D photo and 3D video mode.
Furthermore, the phone runs Google's Android 2.3 Gingerbread platform and has been IPX5/IPX7 certified, which means it features a waterproof body.
The clamshell is also said to feature digital TV tuner, integrated GPS, IrDa and HDMI-out, Blu-ray recorder connectivity, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, and Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP and EDR support.
It measures 113 x 51.8 x 19.3mm and weighs 140g (battery included). According to the phone's specs sheet, the Aquos Hybrid 007SH features microSD card support for memory expansion (up to 32 GB) and is shipped with a 2GB memory card in the sales package.
Unfortunately, those interested in purchasing the newly announced clamshell should know that the Hybrid 007SH will only be available in Japan via SoftBank.
Even though the clamshell form factor is not that popular among Android smartphone users, it appears that the Japanese have a thing for this kind of handsets.
It's also common fact that the Asian mobile phone market is more advanced technologically, with companies like Sharp, Pantech, Fujitsu and other that successfully managed to keep up the pace imposed by HTC, Samsung or LG.
No additional information regarding the phone's price tag and release date has been disclosed yet, but SoftBank should launch the clamshell in the next few weeks.
