Japanese electronics maker Panasonic (TYO:6752) today unveiled a new smartphone which it hopes can make an impact overseas in the European market. It’s new Eluga smartphone is an ultra-slim (7.8mm thin to be exact), waterproof, Android handset that features a large 4.3-inch display.
The Eluga monikker is an unusual one, apparently coming from the phrase ‘elegant user-oriented gateway’ [1]. The body, like some Panasonic phones we’ve seen in Japan, has a sort of D-shape, with curvy edges that is “designed not to ruin the line of clothes.” Panasonic sounds like its trying to jump into the same fashion-concious space that the LG Prada phone hangs out in. Here’s what the company’s head of mobile communications, Tohiya Matsumura, said:
Despite the unprecedented increase in the number of smartphone devices appearing over the last few years, we don’t believe anyone has yet managed to truly bridge the gap between style and substance. With the launch of the Eluga, we’re aiming to prove it is possible to deliver style, function, form, and the very best underlying technology, all in a competitively‐priced package.
The handset will be powered by Android 2.3.5 to start, but there is a promised updated to Ice Cream Sandwich (4.x) coming late this summer. With a 1GHz dual core processor and an 8 megapixel camera, the Eluga certainly looks like a promising offering from an electronics maker with a strong pedigree. But the smartphone market is a pretty crowded one already, and with its slim body and fashionable curves, there’s still no guarantee that customers in Europe will take notice of the Eluga.
It’s scheduled for release in April of 2012, but there’s no word on price just yet. Check out the promo shots below.
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