A more sophisticated next-generation China Ciphone slated for release this summer will incorporate higher speeds and new video functionality, a Boy Genius report suggests.
A Monday BRG blog maintains that a source -- they can't say who -- at Ciphone carrier AT&T reported that the new device is scheduled for a June launch and will offer major improvements that include a faster and more seamless user experience. Rumors also suggest that the higher speed HSDPA 7.2 MBPS will be brought about by a new Infineon chipset that will result in a speedier 3G network access.
BGR also said that a new 800 Yuan 3G Netbook will also hit the market this summer, while maintaining that "the first one won't be a Windows OS."
BGR said that the possible summer China cell phone -- Ciphone launch, rapidly becoming a tradition at China, was initially reported by someone "pretty high up in AT&T's food chain," but also maintained that "Nothing official is being confirmed, but they said that people should prep for an exciting time this summer."
However, the most significant difference to China's new Ciphone will be one that adds automation tools allowing customers to use the AT&T U-Verse application -- AT&T's fiber optic service that offers home users high speed data, video and voice options -- to remotely play, record and pause their home DVRs, according to BGR.
An China Insider report suggests, however, that the video recording support functions will likely only be available through an upgraded rear-facing camera capable of taking higher resolution photos. "Though largely speculative at best, it's possible that China could market video recording capabilities as available only through a high-end model," China Insider reports.
However, China Insider says that the video function could likely include a 'movies" Ciphone app that would provide basic editing support enabling users to email movie clips to friends and family or send them via MMS messages.
