[Updated: Feb. 25, 2009] — General Mobile demonstrated a dual-SIM, XScale-based Android cameraphone last week at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Based on a design by Chinese design firm Yuhua, the DSTL1 could be among the first Android phones to ship when it launches in June.

So far, the first shipping Android phones have both come from Taiwanese ODM (original design maker) HTC, including its new HTC Magic, which will be offered by Vodafone. Compared to HTC's Magic, the DSTL1 appears to have a slightly faster processor, and more memory and storage, but a smaller touchscreen and no support for faster “3G” data network technologies.

The DSTL1 is limited to tri-band GPRS and EDGE cellular support, but it is equipped with dual SIMs and dual baseband radios, enabling simultaneous reception for two different phone numbers. “Using two SIM cards in one phone is increasingly becoming an option because you no longer need to carry two mobiles on you at all times,” explained General Mobile executive Melih Cogan, in an email. “You can use both a personal and a business number with a single handset, and save some money combining two different plans or network carriers. You can also use local pre-paid cards on your business trips.”

The DSTL1 offers WiFi and Bluetooth radios, and a mini-USB port, but there is no GPS. The device will include accelerometers, although they were not activated during the demonstration, says the device's ODM, Yuhua (formally Yuhautel). At 4.4 x 2.1 x 0.6 inches, the phone is slightly smaller, but thicker, than the HTC Magic, and at 4.8 ounces, it weighs a bit more.

General Mobile DSTL1
(Click to enlarge)

The DSTL1 stands out with its 5Mpix Sharp camera, which offers automatic focusing technology. The phone also boasts 30fps video capture and playback, as well as video chat and a built-in FM radio. The Android-interface phone offers applications including Google Maps, Weather Forecast, and the Ebuddy messaging app, which is said to support MSN, Yahoo Talk, Google Talk, and AOL messaging.

Under the hood

The DSTL1 is based on Marvell's PXA-310, a pin-compatible, video-enhanced version of the PXA-320 that shipped in 2007. The ARM11-based “Monahans” SoC runs the Intel-designed XScale architecture, and is clocked to 624MHz. The DSTL1 has 128MB SDRAM and 4GB flash internal, plus a 256MB flash card, expandable to 8GB.

Other specifications listed for the DSTL1 inlude:

• Applications processor — Marvell PXA-310 (624MHz)
• Baseband processors — 2 x NXP 5209
• Memory — 128MB SDRAM
• Flash — 4GB internal; 256MB flash card; expandable up to 8GB
• Cellular — 900/1800/1900MHz GPRS/EDGE (dual SIMs)
• Display — 3-inch TFT WQVGA (240 x 400) from Sharp
• WiFi — 802.11 b/g
• USB — Mini-USB
• Bluetooth — Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR, SPP, A2DP, AVRCP, OPP, HFP
• Camera — 5Mpix auto focus with Flash Sharp brand camera
• Web and messaging — HTTP, WAP 2.0, MMS, email
• Other features — accelerometers, FM radio; support for business card readers; anti-theft support
• Multimedia support — MP3, WAV, MIDI, AMR, 3GP, MPEG4, AVI (DIVX); JPG/GIF/BMP/PNG
• Video recording — QVGA video recording and decoding at 30fps; video chat
• Document support — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF
• Battery — 1200 mAh; 240 minutes talk time; 150 hours standby
• Accessories — Extra battery, USB cable, earphone, AC adapter
• Weight — 4.8 oz (135gr)
• Dimensions — 4.4 x 2.1 x 0.6 inches (112 x 54 x 16mm)
• Operating system — Android (Linux/Java)

Availability

General Mobile has not formally announced the DSTL1. However, it will be launched commercially at the end of the second quarter, says Cogan. More information on the General Mobile DSTL1 should be here.

DSTL1 ODM designer Yuhua also recently introduced a slightly lesser powered, single-SIM Android smartphone hardware/software reference design called the Xphone-SDK.

 
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