November 30, 2009, 2:02 PM — AT&T will sell new phone called the LG eXpo, which has a removable PowerPoint projector.
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AT&T says the eXpo is the world's first 1Ghz smartphone. The Phone runs Windows Mobile 6.5. It has a 3.2-inch, 800 x 480 touch display; full slide-out QWERTY keyboard; 5-megapixel camera with flash and video support; built-in GPS and a MicroSD slot. The phone's security is protected with a fingerprint scanner. The phone will support AT&T's 7.2Mbps HSPA technology, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The Texas Instruments projector part weighs 1.8 ounces. It can put up a picture as big as 40-inches across from a distance of up to eight feet away.
Unfortunately, the phone will become available December 7 only in a few select cities: Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami. The phone will cost $199 after a mail in rebate with a two year contract, and the projector costs an additional $179.
The idea of a cell phone with a built-in project sounds great. But that's not really what this is. The removable projector adds a massive, awkward and bulky chunk of hardware to the back. The effect is not altogether different from using Super Glue to affix a pocket projector to a cell phone.
Still, the LG eXpo is still more professional and elegant than using a cell phone and a pocket project. And it sounds like a great phone, too. Even the keyboard looks better than average.
I don't see this phone going mainstream. But I can think of a lot of business people who would love using it.
