With Mobile World Congress on in Spain, companies have been busy showing the world what they’re doing to make the world of telecommunications just that much better, and Asus is doing its part by announcing two products with similar, albeit reversed, names.
The first of these products is an update to one we’ve looked at in the past.
Not sure if you needed both a phone and a tablet? Have no fear, an update to the Asus PadFone is here.
The latest version, now called “PadFone Infinity” brings the phone up to a 5 inch Full HD display, and throws in innards comprising of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, 4G LTE connectivity, 13 megapixel camera, and the very latest version of Android, version 4.2 (Jelly Bean).
“PadFone Infinity is the latest evolution of our PadFone line,” Asus Chairman Jonney Shih. “It combines incredible design with an uncompromised user experience derived from our design thinking philosophy.”
Like the previous model, the PadFone will also be paired up with a pad, or what most people know as a tablet. The back of this pad will feature a slot where you can plug your phone into and the tablet will take advantage of everything the phone has to offer, including the files you have on there, 4G connection, and your apps.
Neither pricing or availability has been announced for this, though overseas, Asus is launching the PadFone Infinity duo for 999 Euros, so don’t expect it to be cheap.
Meanwhile, the second device Asus is talking up is a reversal of terms, while being something many people seem to want.
Quite a few people have emailed us and left comments on our news articles asking for a 7 inch tablet that can also make phone calls, and that’s exactly what Asus plans to offer in the Fonepad.
“It is ideal to have a larger screen with entertainment, social media and other online activities now playing an increasingly important part in our mobile lifestyles,” said Mr. Shih. “The incorporation of 3G mobile data with full telephony support, makes the Fonepad the perfect combination of a tablet and phone in one single device.”
The seven inch Fonepad isn’t just “another 7 inch tablet,” because while it runs Android, it does so on an Intel processor.
Taking advantage of an Intel Atom processor, Asus is likely looking to get some strong battery life, while also offering some decent power inside too.
Support for 3G is offered, and while other tablets have this strictly for mobile web browsing, the Asus Fonepad will let you make phone calls. Seriously.
Like the PadFone, pricing and availability has yet to be announced for Australia, though with an expected cost of 219 Euros for the Fonepad, we expect it shouldn’t be more than $399 when it does land locally.
