April 1, 2008 at 16:29Mail.Ru will release a phone under its own brand
Portal Mail.Ru announced plans to release a branded mobile phone with preinstalled software from Mail.Ru. The project was called the working name Mailofon. The appearance of a new model on the market is planned in the first quarter of 2009.
The mobile phone will combine a wide range of communication capabilities and high-speed mobile Internet access. The device is equipped with two cameras, one of which is designed for video conferencing, a GPS navigator and a WiFi adapter, supports 3G networks, and is also equipped with a special software module that provides continuous Internet connection in GSM networks.
The name of the partner company Mail.Ru, which undertook the creation of the hardware, is still a secret, but it is known that this is one of the world's leading manufacturers of mobile phones. The first 3D models and even prototypes of the future device have already been created. Currently, about $ 15 million has been invested in the project.
The appearance of the Maylofon, developed in collaboration with designers of the company Kidrobot, specializing in the production of designer toys, will not leave users indifferent. Each device will be accompanied by six “skins” (interchangeable panels) of the original design, developed on the basis of studying the preferences of users of Blog.Mail.Ru, who also have the ability to change the design of their diary on the web.
In the future, do-it-yourself clean panels with special markers for painting will go on sale and Mail.Ru users will have the opportunity to create their own, custom skins. The company plans to hold competitions for the best removable panel design among young designers.
However, the main highlight of the new phone will be not the eccentric appearance, but the unique software developed by the company. According to the creators, it will combine the advantages of social networks on the Internet and cellular networks, allowing you to determine the location of an object with an accuracy of 50 meters.
One of the well-known services is mobile dating, which will allow you to find the object that is suitable for the given parameters in the maximum geographical accessibility and literally go “closer” with it using a GPS navigator. The mobile module for the social network MyMir.BIZ.Ru will allow not only to find out the current location of close friends, but also carry out a geographical search of former friends from school, university, work colleagues and neighbors with whom life has separated the user for a long time.
The decision to create your own model of mobile device was made in connection with the course of Mail.Ru to maximize the "mobilization" of portal services. Currently, Mail, Search, a social search service are already functioning on the mobile portal wap.mail.ru Answers, Videos, Blogs, Music, Poster, My World social network, Dating, Weather, Horoscopes, Postcards, Chats and Games. In addition, there is a mobile version of the instant messenger program Mail.Ru Agent.
Mail.Ru plans to support its loyal users: negotiations are being held with mobile network operators on preferential rates for users accessing the portal’s mobile services from Mailofon. Perhaps, at the initial stage, Mail.Ru will fully pay for mobile Internet traffic for users of its device.
“The Maylophone will become perhaps the first precedent in the Russian market when a company, initially focused on business on the Web, is working on creating a mobile device adapted to its services,” commented Dmitry Grishin, CEO of Mail.Ru. With the release of the new device, Mail.Ru users will not only be able to be online regardless of their location, but will also receive an innovative device with unique functionality. ”
The mobile phone will combine a wide range of communication capabilities and high-speed mobile Internet access. The device is equipped with two cameras, one of which is designed for video conferencing, a GPS navigator and a WiFi adapter, supports 3G networks, and is also equipped with a special software module that provides continuous Internet connection in GSM networks.
The name of the partner company Mail.Ru, which undertook the creation of the hardware, is still a secret, but it is known that this is one of the world's leading manufacturers of mobile phones. The first 3D models and even prototypes of the future device have already been created. Currently, about $ 15 million has been invested in the project.
The appearance of the Maylofon, developed in collaboration with designers of the company Kidrobot, specializing in the production of designer toys, will not leave users indifferent. Each device will be accompanied by six “skins” (interchangeable panels) of the original design, developed on the basis of studying the preferences of users of Blog.Mail.Ru, who also have the ability to change the design of their diary on the web.
In the future, do-it-yourself clean panels with special markers for painting will go on sale and Mail.Ru users will have the opportunity to create their own, custom skins. The company plans to hold competitions for the best removable panel design among young designers.
However, the main highlight of the new phone will be not the eccentric appearance, but the unique software developed by the company. According to the creators, it will combine the advantages of social networks on the Internet and cellular networks, allowing you to determine the location of an object with an accuracy of 50 meters.
One of the well-known services is mobile dating, which will allow you to find the object that is suitable for the given parameters in the maximum geographical accessibility and literally go “closer” with it using a GPS navigator. The mobile module for the social network MyMir.BIZ.Ru will allow not only to find out the current location of close friends, but also carry out a geographical search of former friends from school, university, work colleagues and neighbors with whom life has separated the user for a long time.
The decision to create your own model of mobile device was made in connection with the course of Mail.Ru to maximize the "mobilization" of portal services. Currently, Mail, Search, a social search service are already functioning on the mobile portal wap.mail.ru Answers, Videos, Blogs, Music, Poster, My World social network, Dating, Weather, Horoscopes, Postcards, Chats and Games. In addition, there is a mobile version of the instant messenger program Mail.Ru Agent.
Mail.Ru plans to support its loyal users: negotiations are being held with mobile network operators on preferential rates for users accessing the portal’s mobile services from Mailofon. Perhaps, at the initial stage, Mail.Ru will fully pay for mobile Internet traffic for users of its device.
“The Maylophone will become perhaps the first precedent in the Russian market when a company, initially focused on business on the Web, is working on creating a mobile device adapted to its services,” commented Dmitry Grishin, CEO of Mail.Ru. With the release of the new device, Mail.Ru users will not only be able to be online regardless of their location, but will also receive an innovative device with unique functionality. ”