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Unphased by Apples iPhone, Neonode release their N2, a strong competitor in the mobile phone touch screen war from a company with a history of touch screen design dating back to 2004.

Back in 2004, a small handset named the N1 was released form a company called Neonode. Only readily available to European customers, not much was heard from the handset, which led to it becoming buried amongst other handsets of its time. What is unusual is that this mobile phone had something unique about it, something which only now is rearing its head to the world. Touch screen technology.

The N1 had a built-in camera, but with the added bonus of having a touch-screen (176x220 touch-screen display, 260k color, 2.2" diagonal size) which allowed users to interact with their phone without using a keypad. It was based on MS Windows CE.NET v4.1 with a proprietary program running as the main interface. The specification of the N1 seems pretty basic now compared to recent phone releases, but in 2004, this phone should have been a main focus point in the mobile world, what happened?

In 2005, Neonode recreated the N1, and announced the N1m. The N1m was an improved version of the N1 tiny Windows smartphone. Upgrades included a 1MP digital camera and GSM Tri-Band (900 + 1800 + 1900

MHz), but no Bluetooth. Still a rare phone, not many people took a shine to the handset, maybe due to the lack of common features in other phones such as Bluetooth.

Due to the lack of interest, Neonode was shadowed by rival mobile firms, and not much was heard from the company. Their web site took down all specifications of the N1 and N1m, and didn’t seem likely to release any other mobile products, until the recent announcement of the N2, a revamped version of the N1.

The N2 has an on-screen keyboard which allows ease of use with one hand; you just sweep over and tap the screen to access the different features. When you want to call or send an SMS you enter the numbers and letters directly on-screen.

This is made possible because of Neonode’s patented screen technology with light beams forming an invisible grid over the screen and the location of your finger is detected when the beams are crossed.  Neonode N2 is also an open platform, which means that you can download all the additional applications and features you want your device to have.

With Neonode WRR you can also record and fill your Neonode N2 with music from radio channels on the web.

Everything lacking in the previous versions of the N1 and N1m have now been implemented into the N2, including the much loved Bluetooth. The phone offers an MP3 player, a 2,0” (176x220 pixels) colour display and a 2 Mega pixel fixed focus camera with video recording

Neonode, Swedish developers of mobile phones was founded in 2001. Their mobile devices where based on patented technologies which enable a unique design and user interface. The devices are also based on an open and upgradeable platform which minimizes the need of constantly updating the hardware. Sound familiar?  The touch screen NEO1973 has also been dubbed as the developer’s mobile phone, allowing users to download and create applications to fully customize their mobile phone.  

Although only small, the N2 has proven it has what it takes to compete in the touch screen war. Not only has it been a touch screen device since 2004, it also boasts a patented technology which they aren’t afraid to share with the public. The iPhone definitely wins on looks, but being an Apple product, this was a pretty obvious win.

If the NEO1973 takes off and receives more media advertising, and the N2 wow’s its audience at the 3GSM World Congress 2007, they will most likely go head to head in the touch screen war, but in a category of their own, the ‘developers touch’.

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