The new phones offer high spec functionality without the hefty price tag, shaking up the market by giving operators a unique proposition; a 3G social mobile with the speed, usability and suite of applications capable of driving data usage in the mass market.
The INQ Chat 3G is the company’s first qwerty style phone, while the compact INQ Mini 3G expands the range and provides an entry level social mobile ideal for the price sensitive prepay market.
For the two new phones, Twitter joins the suite of communications applications that INQ has already woven into the heart of its social mobiles, which include Facebook, Skype and instant messaging.
Working closely with the Twitter team, INQ has developed an authentic Twitter application for both its new Social Mobiles. After the initial log in, Twitter will be always on. Consumers can send tweets and retweet via the internet rather than using SMS. With the INQ Chat 3G, a specially designed Twitter widget will deliver Twitter updates straight to the home screen.
The INQ Chat 3G was developed in response to consumer and operator demand for a qwerty style keypad device from INQ. It has a new email client developed by INQ that incorporates free push Gmail, removing a cost for push mail typically borne by operators or passed on to consumers. The INQ Chat 3G comes complete with the expanded suite of INQ applications; Facebook, Skype, email, IM and Twitter.
The INQ Mini 3G is a slimline Social Mobile that offers Twitter, Facebook, IM, Skype and standard IMAP email services like Hotmail. It brings the usability that INQ is known for to a new form factor. Like the INQ Chat, the INQ Mini 3G offers impressive capability at a fraction of the price of other application rich devices.
Both phones have plug and play HSDPA modems enabling high-speed wireless broadband on PCs and Macs.
Frank Meehan, INQ’s CEO, said: “We build phones that focus specifically on what people want to do most on mobile, and deliver it at a price point that’s easy for consumers and profitable for operators. We have completely broken the vice grip hold that high end smartphones had on great mobile internet experiences, and made them available to everybody.
“With the INQ Chat 3G, we’ve reinvented the qwerty for consumers by creating a fantastic social mobile. With the INQ1, we were blown away by how much consumers were writing just using the standard 12 keys; 30% of them were regularly sending emails. So we know that a keypad will go down a storm.”
INQ Mobile launched in 2008 to give consumers high quality yet affordable mobile internet, and enable carriers to stimulate data usage across their customer base. The company recently released data detailing device usage on UK and Hong Kong networks that show usage patterns typically seen only on high end smartphones. An average of 65% of INQ users use Facebook regularly, 30% use their INQ frequently for email, and Windows Live Messenger activity is three to four times greater than on comparably priced 3G phones. In February 2009, INQ1 won ‘handset of the year’ at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.