Pantech today announced plans for the launch of two new models, the IM-8600 5 mega-pixel camera phone and the IM-8700 F2F ('face-to-face') telephony handset, in Korea.

The IM-8600 is a rotating clamshell 5 mega-pixel camera phone with revolutionary Meca Shutter camera technology from Pantech, which controls the amount of light used during the photographic process, allowing users to avail of a far sharper, more defined quality of picture. 

The IM-8700 F2F telephony handset is a major step forward, in making real time, high quality video communication by phone a reality. It features an exceptional 10 frames per second (fps) imaging speed, with a sizeable 2.2 inch screen, allowing users to have a faster, more interactive communications experience with other callers, without any interruption of the conversation. 

Sung-Kyu Lee, President & CEO, Pantech Co., Ltd., said: "Handset users in Korea are consistently demanding, in the quality of features and design that they want in their phones. In purely technological terms, the phones represent a new era in the type of high resolution camera phone and face to face video telephony that we can offer to consumers".

Along with the radical Meca Shutter functionality, the IM-8600 phone provides picture quality akin to a digital camera and has a 2.0 inch QVGA TFT LCD, auto focus and close-up functions which enhance the resolution of the captured images for users.

In addition, the 30 fps imaging speed allows the users to record clear, high quality moving pictures, which can be appreciated on the big screen. The compressed video on demand (VOD) functionality allows users to benefit from a higher image definition when they enjoy moving pictures, at a more affordable price. Although it contains an extraordinary array of features, the IM-8600 is noticeably smaller than other 5 mega-pixel handsets.

Both the IM-8600 and the IM-8700 will be marketed in Korea under Pantech's SKY brand. A final unique selling point of interest is that the two phones are silver nano finished for antibacterial purposes, for the well being of the users.  

IM-8600 features include:

• Rotating clamshell, IMT-2000
• 99 x 48.5 x 26.4mm, 132.09g (with Standard battery)
• Talk time 180.3 min/Standby 200 hours (with Standard battery)
• 5 Mega Pixel camera with internal flash
• Auto focus & close up function with half stop shutter & Meca Shutter
• 2.0" QVGA 260K Color TFT LCD
• VOD/MOD(Live screen, music video, jukebox, karaoke, TV), MP3 player
• SPAM SMS filtering, Moneta(mobile banking) services