Samsung today launched the SPH-B5800 in Korea, a terrestrial Digital Media Broadcasting phone that supports Transport Protocol Experts Group (TPEG) feature. TPEG feature is a transportation information service based on terrestrial DMB data broadcasting. Personal Media Players or navigation devices that support the TPEG service have been released in the past, but SPH-B5800 is the first mobile phone to support the TPEG service.

The Samsung SPH-B5800 provides users with traffic information updated every five minutes, as well as information about famous local restaurants and travel guides via terrestrial DMB channels. Existing Global Positioning Systems(GPS) are limited to guiding drivers on a specific route using an embedded map, but Samsung's B5800 shows current traffic conditions as "cleared," "sluggish" or "congested," and guides drivers with the optimal route to their destinations. Users can also compare routes that reflect traffic conditions.

Moreover, unlike GPS in the past, there is no longer a need to access servers: Traffic information received via terrestrial broadcasting can be used to determine routes.

The B5800 supports a feature that allows users to view all channel lists while viewing DMB programs and thus, enables users to easily browse and find desired programs.

Users can also enjoy User Created Contents (UCC) via 'Photo Movie Maker,' which saves picture slides as videos, and can send and receive text messages while playing a MP3. It also includes a 2.0-megapixel camera, a 330,000 word electronic dictionary, 'My Pet' function, file viewer, and audio book.

The B5800 is exquisitely-styled with a thinness of 16.3 mm and it adopts a touch sensor that allows users to easily operate menus with the tip of their fingers. In order to limit errors from pressing the wrong key, frequently used keys located in the center are buttons, while the menu keys located on the sides use a touch sensor.

The B8500 will be released in Korea this month and the price is around $600. A subscription to a telematics service is required to use the TPEG service.

Samsung SPH-B5800 Specifications

- Standard: CDMA 2000 1X EVDO
- Camera: 2.0-Megapixel Camera
- Display: 1.98-inch 262K-Color TFT
- Features: TPEG Service
- Mobile TV (Terrestrial Digital Media Broadcasting)
- MP3, Touch sensor
- Electronic Dictionary/ Audio Book/Photo Movie Maker
- Document Viewer
- Size: 96 x 46.5 x 16.3 mm
- Weight: 95.6 g

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