Fujitsu and NTT DoCoMo have launched a compact water-resistant smartphone, the docomo F-12C, designed for both convenience and functionality. The HSPA 14.4 Mbps device features "human-centric technology" for improved readability, audibility and ease of use. Designed with luxury luggage brand GLOBE-TROTTER, the smartphone runs Android OS 2.3 and boasts a lightweight, compact body.

Fujitsu today announced that its new docomo F-12C Smartphone will be available from NTT DOCOMO, Inc. beginning August 7, 2011, in Japan.

F-12C features "human-centric technology" that has been cultivated by Fujitsu during the development of its previous mobile phones and delivers the ultimate level of convenience. In addition, as the smartphone has been built to Japanese specifications, it offers fine-tuned usability.

F-12C has been designed in collaboration with the luxury luggage brand GLOBE-TROTTER, a purveyor to the British Royal Family, creating a smartphone with polished user-friendliness and a universal style design. The smartphone, is equipped with the latest Android™ OS 2.3 release and boasts a lightweight, compact body that fits comfortably in the palm of the user's hand. It also features IPX5/8 water-resistant(1) technology, pioneered by Fujitsu.

Background

Amidst the rapid market shift to smartphones, Fujitsu has developed F-12C as its first smartphone handset to incorporate "human-centric technology," which enables the same easy-to-read, easy-to-hear, and easy-to-use functionality that Fujitsu has built into its previous mobile phones for user-convenience.

In terms of viewability, the F-12C features a high-luminance, high-definition screen that is easy to look at in both bright and dark places, as well as an exterior coating that is resistant to fingerprints and stains. Furthermore, the smartphone employs a universal font with superior readability.

To make the handset easier to hear, F-12C is equipped with cutting-edge audio technology that employs specially-developed digital sound processing. The smartphone is packed with high-performance audio features, including "Super HAKKIRI VOICE (extra-clear voice) 3" which enhances the clarity of the caller's voice in noisy or crowded places, "PITTARI VOICE (exact voice)" which identifies the user's situation and adjusts the smartphone's audio accordingly, and a voice balance feature that makes the smartphone easier to hear.

With regard to its easy-to-use functionality, Fujitsu has enhanced F-12C's touchscreen accuracy and software performance to enable easy operations. Through high-speed touch feedback technology, the intensity and pattern of the smartphone's feedback vibrations can be adjusted based on the manner or place in which it is being operated. In addition, Fujitsu's proprietary "NX!input powered by ATOK" text input system gives users even greater control over how they input text.
F-12C's design has been developed in collaboration with GLOBE-TROTTER, a purveyor to the British Royal Family that boasts a company history of over 100 years. By fusing GLOBE-TROTTER's universal and original artistic design—which across the ages has gained the admiration of quality-conscious fashion icons and celebrities throughout the world—with the user-convenient concept behind F-12C, Fujitsu has created a simple and easy-to-use smartphone with timeless appeal.

The smartphone is available in two color variations: Black and Rose Gold.

Product Features
Allows users to enjoy a convenient, smartphone-enabled lifestyle through Fujitsu's "human-centric technology"

To fully leverage the possibilities of a user-friendly smartphone design, particularly in the areas of readability, ease-of-use, and audibility, F-12C leverages a wide range of technologies from Fujitsu's proprietarily-developed "human-centric engine" to sense the user's movements and environment, and then adjust the settings of different features to provide support accordingly.

(1) Readability

Beginning with the smartphone's high-luminance and high-definition screen, which reduces light reflection, F-12C is thoroughly equipped with a wide range of features that make the handset easy to view, including an image processing engine that enables high-resolution videos to be looked at, as well as a universal design font with superior readability.

(2) Ease-of-use

With enhanced touchscreen accuracy and software performance, the smartphone allows for easily-maneuverable operations. In addition to easy-to-understand operations that leverage high-speed touch feedback technology—which enables the intensity and pattern of the phone's feedback vibrations to be adjusted based on the manner or place in which it is being operated—Fujitsu's proprietary "NX!input powered by ATOK" text input system allows users to select the text input method that best meets their needs. Users can choose between numeric-keypad input, QWERTY input, and handwritten input.

(3) Audibility

F-12C's advanced audio technology enables a wide range of features that make the handset easier to hear, including "Super HAKKIRI VOICE (extra-clear voice) 3," which enhances the clarity of the caller's voice in noisy or crowded places, and "PITTARI VOICE (exact voice)," which adjusts the phone's audio to the proper volume based on the user's body movements when walking or running. As well, the smartphone is equipped with a voice balance feature that automatically accentuates the high-pitched portions of the sound of the other person's voice, making it easier to hear.

2. Includes NX!comfort UI, an intuitive, confusion-free user interface
F-12C employs a proprietary Fujitsu user interface that is designed to be sensitive to and intuitive for users. The interface is filled with easy-to-use innovations, such as a status bar drop-down feature that makes pulling up the status screen simple, a touch helper function that features a ripple-like animation, and a slide navigation feature that displays arrows on the left and right of the home screen for a set period of time.

3. Speech-operated voice feature enables easy access to smartphone functions
By speaking the names of the applications or settings that the user wants to access into the voice receiver of the F-12C, users can easily launch the respective screens. The function is compatible with different kinds of voices and accents, making it quick and easy to use, particularly when the user has difficulties locating specific applications or settings.
For example, in composing an e-mail message, the user can just tell the smartphone that they want to send a text to a certain recipient. The smartphone will automatically load the e-mail screen with the recipient's name already entered into the address box, making the process very convenient.

4. High-spec and high-resolution 8.1 megapixel camera

• High-resolution image-processing engine and sensor

By combining the 8.1 megapixel Exmor® for mobile CMOS sensor, which creates high-definition images, with the high-resolution Milbeaut® Mobile image-processing engine that enables high-speed continuous photography, the smartphone is capable of reproducing high-quality images.

• High-sensitivity capture mode

This feature is convenient for capturing bright photos in places where there may be insufficient light such as indoors and dark locations.

• Automatic scene recognition mode, including QR code scanning capabilities

The camera's settings automatically adjust to the scenario in which the user is shooting to capture beautiful, context-specific photos.
5. Equipped with a plethora of functions, including tethering support, water-resistance, and infrared communications

• Tethering

The smartphone is equipped with Wi-Fi access point functionality, enabling it to also be used as a wireless LAN router. Even when on-the-go, by turning the F-12C into a wireless access point (base station), users can connect up to five Wi-Fi devices, such as portable gaming devices and PCs, to the Internet.

• Infrared communications

In similar fashion to i-mode mobile phones, data can be easily exchanged between devices using infrared communications. Supported data includes profile information, address book information, and still photographs.

• Osaifu-keitai®

Wallet feature for mobile phones that manages electronic money and coupons.

• Water-resistance

With IPX5/8 water-resistance, users can utilize the smartphone in environments where there is water, at ease.

Product Specifications
Size: 119 x 60 x 9.8 mm (10.5 mm at thickest point)
Weight: 107 g
Continuous Standby Time:
450 hours in FOMA 3G
290 hours in GSM
Continuous Talk Time:
320 minutes in FOMA 3G
350 minutes in GSM
Main Display: 3.7" color LCD WVGA (480 x 800 pixels)
Camera: 8.1 megapixel effective resolution, CMOS sensor (external camera)
Colors: Black, Rose Gold
Compatibility with Key Services
sp-mode mail, FOMA® High-Speed (14Mbps), Voice Courier, docomo market, BeeTV
Glossary and Notes
1 IPX5/8 water-resistant:

The IPX5 designation indicates that the mobile phone can normally function after being sprayed with water from a nozzle with a diameter of 6.3 mm at a rate of 12.5 liters per minute from a distance of approximately 3m for a period of at least 3 minutes. The IPX8 designation, in the case of the F-12C, indicates that the mobile phone functions normally after being immersed in room-temperature tap water to a depth of 1.5 m for 30 minutes.

About Fujitsu

Fujitsu is a leading provider of information and communication technology (ICT)-based business solutions for the global marketplace. With approximately 170,000 employees supporting customers in over 100 countries, Fujitsu combines a worldwide corps of systems and services experts with highly reliable computing and communications products and advanced microelectronics to deliver added value to customers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.5 trillion yen (US$55 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011. For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com.