Siemens SK65 – the first mobile phone with complete e-mail management and a revolutionary design

August 2, 2004

Today at the London Stock Exchange, Siemens Information and Communication Mobile (Siemens mobile) launches the ultimate, high performance business phone – the SK65. The first mobile phone to offer complete e-mail, calendar and corporate data access capabilities through the BlackBerry Built-In™ licensing program, the tri-band SK65 allows business professionals to stay in control of their inbox whilst on the move. With a classic design and high quality finish, including an ingenious turn action x2type (cross-to-type) full-sized keyboard, the SK65 is creating a new form factor category, uniquely tailored for functionality as well as style.

A pioneer in the future of mobile phone communication, the SK65 brings messaging and information to the business professional’s fingertips with e-mail push based on BlackBerry Built-In™ technology from Research In Motion (RIM). The tri-band handset allows seamless wireless communication with e-mail tools such as MS Outlook™ or Lotus Notes™ ensuring instant synchronization of e-mails and maximizing hours spent traveling or between meetings for busy professionals.

The SK65’s premium design provides the definitive solution for combining technological advances with ease of use, through its unique and innovative x2type keyboard (cross-to-type) full-sized keyboard. Opened with a turned action, the full-sized 37-key keyboard is an essential part of the design enabling quick and easy e-mail composition, yet folding away discreetly when not in use. Elegantly finished in “Black Silver”, the Siemens SK65 also supports its commitment to classic, iconic design.

The SK65 features 64MB memory for managing large amounts of data, with up to 30MB free, for storing personal information such as e-mails, ring tones and java applications. Additional features include: a large 132 x 176 pixel TFT screen with 64k colors, a fully featured address book with room of up to 2000 entries and new Siemens Mobile Phone Manager PC software.

Thorsten Heins, President of Mobile Phones within Siemens mobile, commented: “The SK65 is an ingenious all-in-one solution for business professionals that need to stay in control and informed wherever they travel. With a full set of messaging features it means you have more flexibility about where and when you work. Additionally, we have designed the SK65 to offer a contemporary, yet timeless design for professionals who expect outstanding quality in looks and performance.”

The SK65 has different variants to suit corporate business and small office/home office needs. The standard version will be available allowing manual transfer of e-mail messages from an e-mail account to the SK65.

For mobile professionals of small and medium offices without a corporate e-mail infrastructure, the SK65 will be available with BlackBerry Web Client™ services. This allows the automatic transfer of POP3 or IMAP4 e-mails straight to the SK65. Finally, for company executives working with a corporate e-mail server inbox, the SK65 with BlackBerry Enterprise Server™ support allows e-mails and information from MS exchange/ Lotus Domino systems to be accessed behind corporate firewalls. This variant will be available with fully secure Triple DES encrypted instant e-mail access and calendar entry transfer whilst using the SK65 on the move.

Additionally, the Siemens SK65 supports the Mobile Data Service (MDS) feature of BlackBerry Enterprise Server allowing employees remote access to corporate data such as intranet web pages, specific programmes and databases. Siemens is also working closely with SAP to bring SAP Solutions for Mobile Business applications on SK65 to further increase business efficiency for joint customers.

Also unique to the standard variant of the SK65 is the new Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) feature, which will be introduced in the fourth quarter of 2004 to the standard variant. PoC enables users to send a voice message to a number of recipients at the touch of a button, providing a convenient alternative to text-based messaging. It combines the flexibility of mobile messaging with the ease of use of voice, allowing users to set up meetings or make announcements to groups of contacts.

The existence of a GPRS based data communication infrastructure provides flexibility for business professionals to access the most advanced data services anytime, anywhere, from their wireless devices. The Push-to-Talk functionality of the SK65 handset allows walkie-talkie like communication or hands-free access between network phones – users can hear the caller’s voice from a loudspeaker on the handset, just as if it were a walkie-talkie.

Weighing 144g, the SK65 has six hours talk time and up to 250 hours standby time. In addition, the cutting-edge functionality of the Bluetooth wireless technology complements the SK65 with benefits for the user: convenient usage of Headset Bluetooth or quick and speedy mobile connection in the car without the use of a wire. The Siemens Car Kit Bluetooth also has an external display which shows personal address book data or important calls.

In addition there is a broad range of Siemens Original Accessories to further complement the SK65. Besides the Car Kit Bluetooth, there is the fixed installed Car Kit Comfort or the flexible Car Kit Portable as convenient in-car solutions. Moreover there is the elaborate designed Headset Purestyle or the standard Headset with activation key. Various chargers, a SyncStation and data cables, a spare battery and a practical leather holster are also available.

The phone will be available in Europe, Middle East and Latin America from November 2004. Other regions will follow shortly afterwards.

More product information for consumer: http://www.siemens-mobile.com/sk65

The original press release can be found here.