Long rumored as the C721, Casio's pivoting EXILIM clamshell is now available to all comers on Verizon. Though the camera goes way up to 5.1 megapixels with autofocus, image stabilization, and a 3x optical zoom, the phone doesn't stray too far from its G'zOne roots -- it's mil-spec 810F compliant for dust, shock, temperature, and water resistance. It also features expandability up to 8GB (something you'll likely need if you're taking advantage of that cam) and compatibility with Verizon's VZ Navigator service. If you really need to be taking pictures in the shower, the pleasure's going to cost you: expect to pay $279.99 on contract after rebate.

Yo, Verizon, we know your secret. We get it. The Exilim-branded C721 from Casio has been handled, it's taken a shower, and it's even made appearances on the carrier's rebate forms. When we first heard of its existence, the Exilim badge coupled with a 5.1 megapixel camera was a clever trick -- but sensors of this resolution get more common by the day, so the only trick that's going to be left in this pivoting clamshell's book by the time Verizon gets around to launching it is going to be the water resistance. That's all well and good, but we feel like we're just being taunted by the fact that some FCC certification lab has been playing with this thing for ages while Verizon network engineers are too concerned with "quality" and "customer satisfaction" to sign off on a half-baked unit. Chop chop, guys!

[Via Phone Scoop]

Japanese carrier KDDI au has now followed Softbank and NTT DoCoMo in pulling the red velvet cover off its summer 2009 devices, and as always, there are some neat tricks in here. From Toshiba, the Biblio is billed as an e-book reader; granted, it's using an LCD instead of an E-Ink display, but it's a doozy at 3.5 inches at 960 x 480. It features 7GB of user-accessible storage on board for books, and also has a slide-out dynamic keyboard that can display a numeric pad in the portrait orientation or full QWERTY in landscape. Moving on, the Sharp Sportio Water Beat -- as its name suggests -- is a waterproof sports-oriented set with advanced calorie and distance tracking (a la Nike+), but you're still never too far from your true destiny as a couch potato thanks to the phone's one-seg reception. Next, the Hitachi Mobile Hi-Vision Cam Wooo is the latest in the multimedia-centric Wooo series, becoming KDDI's first phone capable of 720p video recording at 30fps -- and there's HDMI-out on board for when the time comes to enjoy your footage. Finally, the SH002 is the realization of Sharp's solar phone concept from earlier this year, delivering one minute of talk time for every 10 minutes of charge time. There are other announcements in the mix here -- eight new phones in total -- but those were the killers of the bunch, and as always, this post is about as close as most North Americans will ever get to them.

[Via Engadget Japanese]

Now that we know just how seriously Verizon takes validation, there's no telling when (or if) the C721 will see the light of day, but in the meantime, we've got another view of the phone -- this time with way, way less sexual innuendo. PhoneArena has managed to score a C721 dummy unit, noting that the phone is roughly the same size as the Alias 2 (though it trades the second hinge for a pivot). Happily, they report that the keypad and nav controls are a pleasure to use, but here's the thing: a 5 megapixel cam is becoming less impressive by the day, which means the Exilim isn't getting any more logical. Let's try to push this one on the double, eh, Verizon?

Wanted our attention, Casio? Well, good, because you've definitely got it. This isn't necessarily full disclosure of the phone's existence, but for all practical purposes, this... uh, "promotional video" finally fesses up that the Exilim C721 is coming to Verizon (you can catch a glimpse of the carrier's logo if you look closely -- no, not that closely, you sicko). As you might have gathered, our ladyfriend here is using the phone's 5 megapixel cam to snap some naughty shots for her sweetheart, all from the comfort of a warm shower -- thanks in no small part to the phone's water-resistant characteristics. Still no word on pricing, availability, or a full rundown of specs, so in the meantime we're going to be... you know, looping this looking for details. Catch the video after the break.

[Via Gearlog]

We'd totally expected the long-rumored C721 to bow at CTIA last week (come to think of it, those guys had a pretty weak show all told), but alas, we're still waiting for some sort of confirmation that the thing even exists. The 5 megapixel cameraphone -- which gets blessed with Casio's Exilim branding on account of its relatively serious shooting power -- has now popped up over at BuyWirelessNow under the PCD heading, suggesting that the company will be brokering the deal between Casio and Verizon for the new model as it has done in the past. It's a slightly clearer picture of the phone than we've managed to see in the past, but seriously, it's just five megapixels, guys -- let's get this one out before eight becomes the norm, yeah?

[Via Phone Arena]

While Android is sure enjoying the spotlight underneath that HTC Magic display, the LiMo Foundation is quietly building an army to rule the mobile realm once and for all. Dramatics aside, the Linux consortium did manage to secure another six members here at Mobile World Congress including Telefónica SA, Aromasoft Corporation, Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications, Marvell Semiconductor, Opera Software ASA, and Swisscom. Of course, all these formalities really mean nothing if the group can't manage to get a reputable handset out the door, so for now, we'll say "congrats" and "hurry up, why don'tcha?"

We've had bits and pieces of this for days now, but it's finally starting to come together. Right in the midst of the year's craziest cellphone show, Verizon Wireless has outed its latest rebate form, which sheds some overly legitimate light on four presumably forthcoming handsets. Casio's Exilim C721, which we've already seen pictured, should arrive mighty soon alongside the LG Versa, Nokia 7205 Intrigue and Samsung's Smooth. Obviously, there's no definitive ship dates and prices listed, but considering that the offers are valid from February 15th through March 28th, we'd say your wild imagination can probably handle it from here.

[Via phoneArena]

Remember that funky Casio we spotted in the FCC around two months ago? Even if not (we're guessing you said "no"), we're betting that real, bona fide images will stick to your memory cells a lot better than some low-rate sketch. Word on the street has it that the cameraphone will arrive with a 5.1 megapixel shooter and a WVGA rotating display, and it seems that all signs are pointing to a near term release of the outfit's Exilim C721. Your guess is as good as ours on pricing, but you can hit up the read link for a few more looks.

So KDDI's latest lineup of new phones features the usual array of 8.1 megapixel cameras, wide VGA displays, one-seg TV tuners, and teleporters, but one particular handset stood out: Hitachi's Wooo H001. The dual-hinge flip's claim to fame -- well, besides the bizarre color scheme -- has to be the stereoscopic IPS display that presumably uses the same parallax barrier method shown off by the carrier late last year. The phone will happily serve up 3D-ified versions of various UI elements and mobile TV content, and when you start to get woozy (or Wooozy, as it were), just flip a switch and you're back to the reassuring flatness you're used to. It'll launch in three colors in April, and naturally, you'll have to be in Japan to get it.

[Via Akihabara News]

We had an inkling that Casio and Verizon were up to something when we caught an Exilim-branded phone working its way through the FCC, and it looks like that hunch was right-on -- check out this hot snap of an Exilim NX9250 that just turned up. We're told that the chubby-looking handset features a 5.1 megapixel camera (right, Exilim) and "possibly" a WVGA screen, and those hinges suggest a swivel-flip design -- too bad it doesn't look as slick as that W63CA we were secretly hoping for. We'll see what this one looks like all dolled up -- we've got a feeling we'll find out soon enough. One more shot after the break.

Yeah, you read that correctly. Now shipping with a front speaker. If you'll have a look at the original version (after the break) and compare the front to the image you see above, it's easy to spot the difference. With no rhyme, reason or official announcement, Casio has apparently started shipping VZW a refreshed version of the rough and tough G'zOne Boulder. According to the owner of this here mobile, the model number now sits at C711ORXB, though the significance of that is anyone's guess. We know, your "old" Boulder now feels totally inadequate -- shame a simple software update can't bring it up to speed.

[Via phoneArena]

If you want a Casio and you're in the US, you've had one option over the past couple years -- the rugged but low-function G'zOne line -- and you could have it on any carrier you liked, as long as it was Verizon. The Verizon thing might still be the case, but we're encouraged to see an Exilim-branded device pass through the FCC with CDMA and EV-DO Rev. A that isn't one of the known Japanese domestic market models. Slapping "Exilim" on a phone is Casio's way of saying that they're stuffing some serious photographic power into the thing, so we can probably expect a 5-megapixel (or higher) sensor, presumably with autofocus and all the trimmings. Thanks, FCC; as usual, you guys are our Santa 52 weeks a year.

[Via Phone Scoop]

As Japan's CDMA big dog, KDDI au holds a unique spot in the market -- but if you think that means they're light on offerings against the more popular HSPA models supported by NTT DoCoMo and Softbank, you'd be dead wrong. The carrier's latest lineup includes a monster camera-cum-phone-cum-camera from Casio, an AQUOS-branded Sharp that's just about big enough to replace your television (not really though), and updates of older models that are still high-tech enough to make most of us look like neanderthals.


Hitachi Wooo W63H

It looks like pretty much any other Japanese flip, but the W63H probably has just about the most gorgeous screen we'll never see. Why? Turns out this sucker packs 3.1 inches of wide VGA OLED bliss, which explains why it's using the same Wooo branding as Hitachi's line of HDTVs. The phone is also capable of smoothing out one-seg's standard 15fps frame rate to 30fps, features a 5-megapixel camera, and has 600MB of storage space on board. It's available in Garnet Orange (pictured), Sapphire Black, and Opal White.



Casio EXILIM W63CA

Let's jump right into the big guns, shall we? The W63CA matches the W63H's 3.1-inch WVGA OLED display, but ups the imaging ante with a massive 8.1-megapixel (well, 8.09-megapixel, technically) camera that features face-detecting autofocus -- and it's still 1.5mm thinner than the W53CA it replaces. At 17.4mm, it's not setting any records, granted -- but every little bit helps. This one can be had in Shine Pink, Ice White, Titanium Gold, and Metal Green.



Sharp AQUOS W64SH

If 3.1 inches isn't quite enough screen for you, step right on up to the AQUOS-branded W64SH from Sharp, offering a full 3.5-inches of wide VGA action with a high-contrast LED backlight -- all told, the largest display ever offered on a KDDI phone. You still make off with a 5.2-megapixel camera, 740MB of onboard memory, and global roaming capability, too. Earth Green, Mars Red, and Galaxy Black (get the theme?) are your color options here.



Toshiba W65T

If you tend to roll with the slider crowd and the mighty W64SH is just a little more phone than you need, we might recommend the W65T, Toshiba's entry with a 3.2-megapixel cam, 2.8-inch OLED display (REGZA branded, natch), and a motion sensor that doubles as a pedometer / calorie counter. It can be had in Live Pink, Fresh White, Splash Blue, or Jet Black.



Kyocera W65K

Even the especially uninteresting phones in the lineup manage to stay interesting by doing things like, say, varying the style of the keypad between colors. Depending on whether you choose the W65K in Clair White, Fleur Pink, or Luxe Silver, you'll get a different texture of shell and a totally different look to the keypad -- techy for white, stylish for pink, and sans for silver. Oh, and the whole package is waterproof, which seems to be a popular differentiator on a few models in Japan. Otherwise, though, you're getting stuck with a 2-megapixel camera and a mere 100MB of memory, so you'd better seriously take advantage of that waterproofness with an occasional toilet or bathtub accident. And if you're curious just how waterproof it is, well, "the unit will retain its functionality as a phone even if blasted with water projected at all angles through 6.3mm nozzles at a flow rate of approximately 12.5 liters/minute for more than 3 minutes from a distance of approximately 3 meters." So there you have it.



Sony Ericsson W64S

It kinda irks us that Sony Ericsson can make beautiful CDMA devices for Japan but won't bother to ship a few to the US, where CDMA carriers have been Sony Ericsson-less for years -- but that's just the way the cookie crumbles, we suppose. The W64S offers a 3.2-megapixel camera, 2.7-inch display, GSM global roaming, and "30 different patterns of illumination" on the stylized face. Grab it in Diamond Pink, Snow White, Lattice Black, or Mist Blue.



Panasonic W62P

KDDI pulls no punches with the W62P -- it's a "fashion accessory" more than it is a monster of Japanese technology, but for some buyers, we're sure that's quite alright. Panasonic's latest flip clocks in at just 12.9mm and offers a 2-megapixel cam, 2.9-inch primary display, and automatic opening with the push of a button (a feature we'd like to see on more flips around the world, actually). It comes in your choice of Candide Pink, Charmant Gold, and Intelligent Purple.



Toshiba W64T

Borrowing cues from the W62P, the W64T is billed as a "cosmetic phone that sparkles with elegance." Translation: "more show than go." The funky face is accompanied by a 3.2-megapixel cam, 2.8-inch WQVGA display, and the usual array of features like one-seg tuning, navigation, Osaifu-Keitai for NFC payments, and downloadable fonts. Scoop this one up in Shining Pink, Shining Turquoise, or -- you guessed it -- Shining White.



Sony Ericsson Full Change re

This is the same re that we saw from the summer collection, they've just added more colors to the palette. Sony Ericsson's fashion-friendly flip is now available in Glossy White, Clean Green, Blooming Pink, Active Orange, Sleek Silver, Deep Red, Lustrous Blue, Silky Lavender (pictured), Mat Black, and Luminous Gold, plus a special James Bond Quantum of Solace edition to tie into the movie's release, which Sony sponsors.