INQ Chat 3G

INQ Chat 3G
Manufacturer INQ
Slogan "Social media baked in"
Compatible networks GPRS, EDGE, HSPDA
Availability by country December 2009
Predecessor INQ1
Successor INQ Cloud Touch
Related INQ, INQ1, INQ Mini 3G
Form factor Candybar
Dimensions 114.5 x 61 x 12.8 mm
Weight 122g
Operating system INQ System1, based upon Qualcomm's BREW
Memory 175.6 megabytes
Removable storage microSD/microSDHC, up to 4 GB
Battery 1500mAh Li-ion Polymer
Data inputs Qwerty keypad
Display 2.4" TFT LCD, 256k colours
Rear camera 3.2 megapixels with autofocus
Connectivity Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, mini-USB v2.0

The INQ Chat 3G (occasionally dropping the '3G' to be called the INQ Chat) is a fully featured, 3G enabled "Candy Bar" smartphone created by the British manufacturer INQ, designed to easily interface with popular social media applications.

Dubbed the 'Twitter phone', the INQ Chat 3G features integrated Twitter, Facebook, Skype and Windows Live Messenger applications. The phone sports a full QWERTY keypad, a 3.2-megapixel camera and a 2.4-inch screen. The phone was launched alongside the INQ Mini 3G - both of which succeed the hugely successful INQ1.

History

The BREW device was announced on 4 August 2009, and developed in response to consumer demand for a full QWERTY keypad layout device from INQ. The phone debuted on 30 November 2009 in Italy,[1] with a Sweden launch shortly after on 7 December 2009.[2] The INQ Chat 3G had a simultaneous UK and Hong Kong launch, on 11 December,[3] 2009. It was later released in Singapore on 22 December 2009,[4] and in India on 16 March 2010.[5] The mobile phone has also been released in Australia on 2 July[6] and in Canada on 27 July.[7]

Appearance

The phone features a red and black colour scheme, a full QWERTY keypad, a 2.4" QVGA TFT LCD screen, a mini-USB port, volume control buttons and a Switcher button (to switch between applications).

Artwork

INQ's packaging and instruction manual style is unique. The packaging the phone comes in is laden with artwork from various artists, and there is no manual as such, instead a set of 'Help Cards'. Each help card focusses on a particular part of the phone - for example Contacts, E-mail or Twitter - on one side, and then on the other side one of the many artworks selected by INQ. In their words: "We have collaborated with illustrators we love to turn our packaging and help cards into objects to cherish, not chuck."

Along with this, all of the artworks are included as images on the phone and can set as the wallpaper or screensaver if desired. The artwork use on the Chat 3G's box is by Matt Huynh. The artwork for all of INQ's phones can be seen here, along with an introduction to "INQ+Art", brief descriptions of each artist, their artwork and which phone it was used for. (Note: some artists have had more than one of their pieces used, and on multiple phones).

Battery Covers

Like the Mini 3G, the INQ Chat 3G's battery covers are interchangeable with other colours. The default is the red battery cover, but black, pink and yellow battery covers can be purchased at participating stores of the default network in the respective countries. In Canada, phones bought on Telus receive, two battery covers, a solid color and an artwork cover - feature either the artwork by Paul Vizzari or one of the pieces of artwork by Matt Huynh (different from the one use on the phone's box); both artworks feature on the back of the help cards.

Battery Covers Red Yellow Pink Black Artwork Artwork
Image INQ Chat 3G - red cover INQ Chat 3G - yellow cover INQ Chat 3G - pink cover INQ Chat 3G - black cover INQ Chat 3G - Paul Vizzari cove INQ Chat 3G - Matt Huynh cover
Notes Default colour. This is branded by the network the phone is locked to. This one is branded on the Three network. Available for purchase separately from the phone. Artwork by Paul Vizzari, specially commissioned by Telus in Canada Artwork by Matt Huynh, specially commissioned by Telus in Canada

On the reverse of all of the battery covers is a maze, and the Latin phrase "Audaces Fortuna Iuvat", meaning "fortune favours the brave", all leading to a mysterious secret embedded within the phone.

Features

Software

General

Applications

Applications include, but are not limited to:

Social Networking

The Chat 3G, as with all INQ phones, is built for social-networking, and it is highly integrated into the phone:

Hardware

Feature Specification
Screen 2.4" QVGA, 256k colours, 320x240 pixels
Band Tri, GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Yes, with enhanced '3.5G', HSDPA. (2100)
Size 114.5 x 61 x 12.8 mm
Weight 122 g
Internal Memory 175.6mb
Camera 3.2megapixel, 2048x1536 pixels with autofocus
Memory card slot Yes, microSD/microSDHC
Bluetooth Yes, 2.0 + EDR; supports most profiles, including A2DP for stereo audio and control and DUN to use phone as a modem for internet tethering from other devices.
GPS Yes
Wi-Fi No
Infrared No
Data cable support Yes, USB 2.0 via mini USB port
FM Radio No
Battery 1500 mAh, Ion-Polymer
Talk time 588 minutes
Standby time 355 hours

Carriers

INQ is owned by Hutchison Whampoa, which own Hutchison 3G; because of this the phone is usually carried on the 3 network where possible. INQ have adopted a style whereby they launch their phones on one network in that country. There are exceptions (i.e. Australia & Canada), but these are where the networks are commercially linked.

The INQ Chat 3G is currently carried on the following networks:

References

  1. ↑ Ciao Italia! INQ Chat 3G now on sale | INQ Blog
  2. ↑ INQ Chat 3G Available in Sweden | INQ Blog
  3. ↑ INQ Chat 3G has arrived in the UK and Hong Kong | INQ Blog
  4. ↑ INQ Chat 3G now in Singapore | INQ Blog
  5. ↑ INQ now in India | INQ Blog
  6. ↑ @INQMobile on Twitter
  7. ↑ New Brunswick Business Journal - Smartphone maker INQ launches new phone
  8. ↑ 3 Denmark, INQ Chat 3G Specification

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, October 02, 2013. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.