Retro Form + Techno Function = HiPhone (not iPhone)

It's a phone! It's a music & video player! It's NOT an iPhone, but the HiPhone F320 has a few other things going for it, not the least being its quirky, retro, phone dial wheel style.





HiPhone has earned a somewhat dubious reputation for its business model: achieving success by imitating Apple's iPhone, right down to the name. With the F320, however, the company is finally showing a new face that owes no apologies to Steve Jobs' world-beating products.





What strikes one immediately is the oddly retro "dial" HiPhone has placed below the touchscreen. Those of a certain age (or who enjoy watching old movies) will recall the rotary dial telephones that quickly faded from the telecommunications scene once touchtone was introduced back in the 1960s. While the F320's dial isn't rotary, the curious positioning of the function buttons where an iPod Nano's clickwheel would be adds an appealing retro touch.





HiPhone's F320 offers the user a host of features that may not measure up to the iPhone but should still satisfy all but the most rabid phone freaks - and, it's worldwide compatible with support for support GSM 850,900, 1800 & 1900 Mhz and (sez HiPhone) compatibility with  ATT and T-mobile in the US. Here's the rundown on the F320's features:

• 2 gigs of memory

• 2.6 inch touchscreen

• 1.3MP camera with video recorder

• MP3/MP4 player functions

• MSN / QQ easy sign in

• Bluetooth

• FM radio

• Built-in long life battery 

• Choice of metallic colors

HiPhone's F320 Quad Band Dual Standby phone measures 100 x 49 x 7mm (4in x 2in by about 1/4in) and weighs 97 grams (3.42 ounces). China Grabber is offering it for just $99 each, stated to be $70 off the retail price. (via PMP Today and Techgadgets)