Samsung SCH-W559 touts vibrating VibeTonz touchscreen

Although Immersion's VibeTonz technology has been integrated into various Samsung handsets in the past, the shakin' technology was previously limited to ring tone and gaming enhancements. Today, however, Samsung is launching the keypad-less SCH-W559, which is the self-proclaimed "world's first" handset to utilize the VibeTonz system as a means of tactile feedback. The unit's QVGA touchscreen is meant to be a hands-on experience, and whether you use a stylus or the tips of your finger, the phone will provide a vibrating cue, which can be adjusted and customized within the phone's software, whenever you touch a virtual button. Immersion claims that its technology allows the on-screen buttons to feel more like "mechanical keys" rather than just a sheet of plastic. The device will be launching solely on China Unicom initially, will support both CDMA / GSM networks, and will feature a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, handwriting recognition capability, and audio / video playback functions to boot. Of course, users will be able to pimp out their ringtones with integrated buzzing, and while we're not sure how much Samsung plans on charging for the rumbler, we can't wait for it to start shaking things up here on American soil.

[Thanks, Peter S.]

[Chris Anderson @ Jan 17th 2007 5:16PM]

Alpine has something similar starting in their IVA-D300 line of flip-out LCD DVD players.... they've had TouchSense for years now, it's interesting to see that it's being carried over into the mobile phone area....

[Eli @ Jan 17th 2007 5:21PM]

Heh, I just got a Samsung phone with VibeTonz yesterday (SCH-870). Though not that useful, it's a very cool technology that's fun to show to friends.

[J @ Jan 17th 2007 5:30PM]

Eli, can you describe it, or post a video of what it's like? It sounds cool.

[Eli @ Jan 17th 2007 5:39PM]

Well, my phone doesn't have nearly as good a use for VibeTonz as this thing. The phone vibrates to the beat of specific ringtones, but with extremely precise timing and speed. It's very hard to explain, and a video won't help, as it is a tactile thing, but it's kind of like the motor is the bass of the song, but with vibrations.

[Mobi Fin @ Jan 17th 2007 5:39PM]

Strangely missing from iPhone - wonder if Apple is going to steal it?

Maybe on the next Zune???

[ben @ Jan 17th 2007 6:37PM]

Well the iPhone has vibration, so I can only assume that Apple could do this through the software before June.

[Xinyu @ Jan 17th 2007 6:14PM]

The feature to clean your face while you talk on the phone is also strangely missing from iPhone, maybe on the next Zune?

[Ellianth @ Jan 17th 2007 8:49PM]

Well the iPhone has a cleaning cloth, so I can only assume that Apple could do this through the hardware before June.

[Chris Little @ Jan 17th 2007 8:47PM]

This is awesome.... I hate tapping away on clear plastic and never knowing whether I inputed the key correctly. Now I'll be able to dial without looking at the phone.

I don't think that the iPhone will have this because I think that this company Immersion owns a lot of IP in this area. Apple should license their tech.

[bruckwine @ Jan 17th 2007 8:51PM]

Apple missed a beat here...and i'm sure Samsung will be ready to sue any copying ala Apple!

[asif @ Jan 17th 2007 9:01PM]

Isn't this that little company who sued Sony over the rumble in the dualshock controllers and won?

Boy, I hope that Apple doesn't try to steal any technology....

[v_dogg @ Jan 17th 2007 9:49PM]

great now my phone will freakin rumble everytime im trying to do something, just like wii menu

[rufus @ Jan 18th 2007 2:16AM]

i have this on my 8125 with a little program found at xda-developers.com called vibratekeys. search and ye shall receive.. all pocket pc phones work

[amit @ Feb 15th 2007 6:46AM]

this vib. feature and the iPhone's swiping feature were already there in a phone manufactured by a swidish company "NEO NODE", both of the are actually a copy of this phone ...

[abu @ Apr 14th 2007 5:18PM]

This is the first phone which i touch & feels that whats the feeling of pressing a button.its seem real.........i dont know whats the meaning of real here.........I have heard that it is the first with a haptic-feedback touchscreen. In addition to the vibrating actuator, it contains software from a company called Immersion that orchestrates the actuator’s movements down to the millisecond. The two-millimeter chip costs manufacturers 10 cents, so it and the software could become standard in phones ......this is the highest phone tech i have ever seen & also sumsungs best......http://www.4engr.com