Panasonic unveils 4 new phone models

Japanese phone maker Panasonic Mobile Communications Co. Ltd. recently launched the latest jewels in its new range of mobile phones.

The new handsets – G51 E/M, G70, X66 and X70 – are just the kind of devices that will drive more users to ultra compact-sized phones that not only boast of style but functionality as well.

With the big consumer demand for small-form factor mobile handsets, these new models will definitely give the competition a run for their money. Apart from their rich and advanced features, all four units have elegant designs and are easy to use.

"These four new models are the first of 12 phones which we will introduce in the Philippines this year. We aim to expand our business by 40 percent in 2004 versus 30 percent in 2003. Our company was able to increase sales by 200 percent in 2003 with two well-accepted models in the market – the GD55 and GD88," said Hiroshi Otani, Panasonic Philippines’ director for system sales, during the recent launch at the Manila Peninsula.

The G51E is a color tri-band phone, while the G51M is a GPRS-compliant phone, each costing P9,990 (for open line).

The G70 is specially created for female buyers with features that include a circular clamshell, a handy mirror display acting as a real powder compact, and a color display made of 4,096 colors. Panasonic added biorhythm as a standard feature which shows a graphic presentation of the physiological and physical status of its user. The unit also has a speakerphone, EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service) and GPRS, and is priced at P13,490.

The X66 camera compact shell unit, weighing only 78 grams, goes one step further by incorporating color and high quality sound into a tiny package.

The 92-gram X70, priced at P23,490, has Bluetooth and offers a beautiful finish and solid build. A vertical LCD which displays the time during standby adorns the bivalve’s exterior, while the camera lens lies near the hinge. It is perfect for users who value style but want sophisticated messaging capabilities and a quality colorful display. Other features of the X70 include triband, a polyphonic melody composer, photolight and voice recording.

Panasonic announced that it will invest P500 million to expand its handset production plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna this year.

At present, the manufacturing facility has a capacity for 500,000 mobile phones per month, 98 percent of which are exported.

Eighty percent of the exports go to Asia, Panasonic’s major market, and 18 percent to the United States and Canada.

The company has four manufacturing plants around the world. The Philippine plant caters to Asia, Oceania, Middle East and the US.