NTT DoCoMo has announced the "Radiden," a cross between a mobile phone and a radio. It's the world's first handset to feature an integrated AM/FM/TV tuner, and uses a "Dual Front Design."

NTT DoCoMo Group announced on the 29th that they have developed a mova mobile phone called the "RADIDEN" that features the world's first integrated AM/FM/TV tuner. It is Open Price, but estimates are at around 10,000 yen. The handset is created by Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications.

This model is the first mobile phone to feature an integrated tri-band tuner. According to Sony Ericsson, it is also the first time a mobile phone will feature an AM tuner. The name "RADIDEN" comes from a combination of "radio" and "denwa" (meaning phone). It does not contain a function to display the video portion of TV signals, so reception is limited to audio signals from TV.

Although the included earphone is monoaural, by connecting stereo earphones (not included), FM stereo broadcasts can be listened to.

The phone uses what is called a "Dual Front Design," where one side is for mobile phone, and the other side for radio functions. The radio side features 7 individual buttons for choosing stations as well as an LCD. Sony Ericsson says it features the same functionality offered by a portable radio. Also, because the mobile phone buttons feature white characters and the radio buttons amber characters, it is easy to distinguish the two.

Power for the radio and mobile phone can also be controlled independently, so that even when the phone portion is turned off, radio can still be listened to. Although the radio side features an integrated speaker, it has no integrated antenna and can thus only receive AM broadcasts -- to be able to receive FM or TV signals, users will need to connect the included AC adapter or a pair of earphones.

The tuner was jointly developed between Sony and Sony Ericsson, which reportedly features crisp audio quality. Also, the company has divided Japan into 15 different areas; the radio stations that can be received in each area have been preset, so the users don't need to spend time tuning the unit and setting up their presets.

Also, the unit features the ability to use mail or i-Mode while listening to radio/TV. A monoaural earphone-mic with switch is included, where the switch allows users to easily answer and hang up calls should they come in whilst they are listening to the radio.

The main display is a 1.9" TFT LCD with a resolution of 160 x 128 dots, and it is capable of displaying 65,636 colors. The radio subdisplay measures 16.7 x 23.1mm (H x W), and is a monochrome TN LCD.

The continuous listening time of AM radio is about 20 hours, 14 hours for FM radio, and 13 hours for TV. The continuous talk time is about 120 minutes, and continuous idle time 320 hours. The external dimensions of the phone are 117 x 49 x 20mm (H x W x T), and it weighs roughly 122g.

Events allowing users to test drive the RADIDEN will be held at the Sony Showroom in Ginza's Sony building, at SonyStyle in Odaiba's Media Age, and at the SonyStyle store in Umeda Osaka from August 30th.

Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050829/docomo.htm

Press Release:
http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/info/news_release/page/20050829.html

Product Information (DoCoMo):
http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/product/concept_model/radiden/index.html

Product Information (Sony Ericsson):
http://www.sonyericsson.co.jp/product/docomo/radiden/index.html