iRiver hits on iPhone

The widely popular PMP manufacturer iRiver has reported their plans to enter the cell phone market with their first GSM phone, showcasing a prototype of ala-iPhone-device with a full touchscreen navigation.

The iRiver GSM phone doesn't have a particular name as of yet and is due for the end of 2008. The iRiver phone runs on Linux-based user interface and has a large 3-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels. There is no keypad and the navigation and text input is done solely by tapping on the large screen - just like on iPhone. But the similarities with Apple's divine creation don't end here.

iRiver GSM phone photos from CES

The credit for the photos goes to pcmag.com

The user interface of the iRiver phone is strikingly familiar with the Apple iPhone one - the unlocking slider, the phone application, the icons structure and the icon graphics themselves, as well as the media player is suspiciously identical to the iPhone. Other features found in the iRiver phone are the 2 megapixel camera (being capable of shooting video though), 4GB on-board memory, build-in GPS, mobile TV, as well as an Adobe Flash player for watching YouTube on-the-go.

Typical for a prototype, the iRiver's GSM phone software is an early beta version and not yet fully functional. It is not yet clear whether all the current specifications will see their implementation in the retail version of the phone. The most important ones are probably the Wi-Fi and 3G support.

Frankly, we doubt this phone will ever hit the market in this outfit, as the user interface clearly infringes several Apple iPhone patents. Raising the Apple's lawyers gang is the last thing anyone would like to mess with.

The iRiver GSM phone is expected first in Europe with the price still unknown.