Event: Let's Simply Share – Huawei MediaPad Sneak Peek

Event: Let's Simply Share – Huawei MediaPad Sneak Peek

To most Filipino consumers today, the name Huawei is associated with mobile broadband devices, specifically Smart's SmartBRO 3G USB modems and Pocket WiFi portable 3G routers. For most of the company's history, it has been an OEM or Original Equipment Manufacturer for telecommunications companies like Smart, providing network infrastructure, systems and of course, subscriber devices. They have been very successful in this business, explains Mr. Al Dimapilis, Terminal Marketing Manager for Huawei Philippines, at their special event in the cozy confines of the SALA Bistro in Greenbelt 3. In fact, 45 out of the top 50 telecommunications providers in the world rely on Huawei. They believe, therefore, that it is time for them to go past their corporate clients and enter the consumer space directly. So far, they have come out with their IDEOS line of Android smartphones. Now they take it a step further with the introduction of the Huawei MediaPad.

The presentation continued with Mr. Zack Zhangxiang (Huawei Device Group Head) and Ms. Didi Zhao (Mobile Broadband Product Manager for SEA) discussing the finer points of the new mobile device. The Huawei MediaPad is a 7-inch tablet that runs (what appears to be the stock version) Google's Android 3.2 "Honeycomb" operating system. It features a dual-core, 1.2GHz Qualcomm CPU, and 8GB of internal stoarge, which, as usual, is expandable via microSD memory card. It has two cameras, a rear one with 5-megapixel resolution, and a 1.3-megapixel one in front. Its 7-inch display is an IPS-type LCD which is capable of displaying full HD (1920 x 1080) video.

After the presentation, a couple questions were raised, including the MediaPad's availability, SRP, and its upgradeability to the just-released Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich." The Huawei executives responded saying that the MediaPad will be available in November but declined to say the exact SRP. They did hint that it would be around the range of PhP 20,000. As for Android 4.0, it is currently too early to say when but given Huawei's close ties with Google, it should be possible. The MediaPad also incorporates Huawei's latest mobile broadband technology, supporting HSPA+, which allows for maximum download speeds of 14.4Mbps. We got to play around with the MediaPad for a few minutes, and you can check out our photos and first impressions below. For more information, please visit www.huaweidevice.com.