23rd February , 2004

ASIA : Sharp Corporation announces that it will commence shipment of its new GX30 mobile phone with built-in megapixel CCD camera and color LCD to the world's largest mobile community, the Vodafone Group (head office: Newbury, UK; Chief Executive: Arun Sarin).

The GX30 is the first mobile phone in the European market*1 to be equipped with a megapixel CCD camera. The new model will be released by Vodafone operators around the world starting March 2004.

Since October 2002, Sharp has released a series of camera-equipped mobile phones with color LCDs to support the growing Vodafone live!*2 service. These models, which enable users to take, view, send, and enjoy high-quality images, have earned Sharp high praise in the mobile phone market.

The new GX30 is a high-end mobile phone—the first in the European market to be equipped with a megapixel CCD camera (approx. three times more pixels than its predecessor model*3, the GX20). Other features include a large, 260,000-color QVGA-resolution System LCD*4 (approx. four times more color than its previous model*3) and an SD Memory Card slot for large-capacity data storage. These advanced specifications give users a higher level of quality for taking and viewing images.

By using its experience in developing high-value-added mobile phones for the Japanese market, utilizing unique devices such as LCD and flash memory, and applying miniaturization and user interface technologies, Sharp will continue to provide new products and services for the European and other international mobile phone markets.

Major Features
1. Built-in megapixel CCD camera Equipped with a megapixel CCD camera that provides the European market's highest level of image quality and resolution and a digital zoom (up to 7X) that lets you easily take high-quality still images and video anytime, anywhere.
Editing features include photo frames and stamps for creativity and fun.

2. Large 2.2-inch color LCD The 2.2-inch, 260,000-color, QVGA System LCD*4 uses CG-Silicon technology, which provides excellent high-resolution, high-quality still images and video.

3. Vodafone live! compatible Equipped with a WAP*5 browser and compatible with SMS*6 (Short Message Service) and MMS*7 (Multimedia Messaging Service), the GX30 can make full use of Vodafone live! services.
Sending still images and video*8 lets you expand your range of visual communications.

4. JavaTM-ready, FM sound, and 40-chord ringtone melodies Enjoy new kinds of mobile entertainment by downloading games, software, and 40-chord ringtone melodies*8.

5. Built-in MP3 player Play back MP3-format music transferred from a PC via SD Memory Cards.

6. SD Memory Card slot An SD Memory Card slot allows for data storage and easy data transfer with a PC (an 8 MB card is included).
Save high-capacity data, such as still images and video, onto an SD Memory Card or to the handset's internal memory.

*1 As of February 20, 2004.
*2 Vodafone and Vodafone live! are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vodafone Group Plc.
*3 Sharp's GX20 (Effective pixel count: 310,000; displayable colors: 65,536)
*4 The System LCD uses CG-Silicon (Continuous Grain Silicon) technology, which was developed jointly by Sharp and Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
*5 WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) is a communications standard that allows handheld wireless devices to access the Internet.
*6 SMS (Short Message Service) is a service that enables users to send/receive text messages using GSM mobile phones.
*7 MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) is a multimedia messaging service for GSM phones that enables users to transmit not only text but also color graphics and music files simultaneously.
*8 The sending of photos and other still images and the downloading of content depend on the network services of each country.

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