With millions of people accessing social media via mobile phones, 3 said the combination of the handset, its network capability and pricing will democratise access to mobile internet services on an unparalleled level.
INQ brings the Facebook experience to the INQ¹ with one click access and live updates pushed direct to the front screen of the device. Skype, Windows Live Messenger, and Last.fm are integrated into the heart of the phone and a host of other social utilities can be customized by the user.
This makes the device the first ever real time interactive ‘live contact book’ with friends’ online status and Facebook profile pictures displayed against their contact details. In addition, the phone offers integrated RSS feeds, free Skype-to-Skype calling and unlimited free instant messenger capabilities. INQ¹ also allows you to directly upload pictures to your Facebook profile from its 3.2 megapixel camera. For these reasons, INQ refers to the INQ¹ as the first Social Mobile.
INQ¹ will be available free on a contract tariff from £15 per month, offering unlimited free Facebook, Skype, Windows Live Messenger and web access, plus 75 minutes of calls to other networks, unlimited texts, unlimited email and unlimited free 3-to-3 calls. £20 will get users all of the above but with 200 minutes of calls to other networks. INQ¹ will also be available on PAYG at £79.99 with internet packages available from £5 per month.
Frank Meehan, CEO, INQ, said: “The INQ¹ is the first device from INQ with a new take on mobile user experience. It’s about taking the things people love most about the internet and building them into the very heart of the phone. Mobile is still mostly about voice and text for the vast majority of users, but those same people use the internet to communicate every day with Skype, Instant Messaging, Facebook and email. The INQ¹ allows people for the first time to integrate their internet networks into their mobile so now their emails, instant messages and Skype calls are as simple to use as voice and text.
“With our Hutchison Whampoa backing we’ve got the experience of providing compelling mobile internet services to nearly 20 million 3G customers around the world, Meehan added. “This experience has taught us that traditional handset manufacturers just aren’t delivering what customers are demanding and so we’ve had to develop our own, unique device in order to overcome this.”
Kevin Russell, CEO at 3 UK, commented: “3’s own exclusive handsets have already delivered the first unlimited data tariffs, the first free, open Instant Messenger services and the first fully integrated Skype enabled phone. INQ¹ takes these services, and more, to offer a uniquely powerful and competitively priced mass market internet phone. INQ¹ on 3 offers you the most sociable phone on the most sociable network.”