A uniquely designed smartphone with two screens has been launched in some European nations. The YotaPhone sells for €499 ($680) in select countries including Russia, Austria, France, Spain and Germany.
Yota announced its unique dual-screen Android-based smartphone almost a year ago, but has since kept mum about its availability, until now. Just last month, the Russian phone maker Yota, revealed that its first smartphone will be ready for users in time for Christmas. Besides a vague launch date and brief specifications, the company did not say much about the YotaPhone. But now, it seems Yota has finally decided to break the ice to give the audience a better look at its unique smartphone.
Yota is well-known for its modems and routers but the YotaPhone marks the beginning of a new change in the company's interest. The St Petersburg-based tech company also provides 4G mobile broadband services in the country. With the new smartphone, Yota aims at putting an end to battery drainage problems without losing high-end specifications.
The YotaPhone is powered by a 1.7 GHz dual-core Krait processor, backed by 2GB RAM and 32GB storage. The smartphone sports 4.3-inch displays on both sides, with the main screen fitted with a 720p LCD display. The other side of the phone screen is an e-ink display, which according to the company will boost battery life. The back-screen can display images, maps, notifications without waking up the phone. Moreover, the YotaPhone sports a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with 1080p video recording at 30fps and 1-megapixel shooter on the front, according to Yota. It runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly bean and packs 1,800 mAh battery.
"The typical user picks up and activates their smartphone more than 150 times a day," said Yota Devices chief executive Vlad Martynov, according to BBC News. "Why? Because users worry that messages or information they need or want are hidden behind their phone's black screen. This is a huge distraction and can impede meaningful interaction with our friends, families and colleagues."
Although the U.S. and U.K. do not figure in the initial launch countries, but the company plans to launch YotaPhone across 20 countries by the end of this fiscal year. Currently, the YotaPhone is available for purchase in Europe for €499 (approx. $680) in select countries including Russia, Austria, France, Spain and Germany.
