This could very well be an unfounded rumor, but Japanese tech blog Juggly is reporting that Fujitsu is working on a new dual boot phone.  Called LOOX F-07c, the planned handset can dual boot into Symbian and Windows 7.

Now, I can understand the interest in Windows 7.  Having a full desktop OS in a handheld device with all those full-featured applications will be sweet.  Pairing it with Symbian, though, is a bit more curious decision, given how much crap Nokia's soon-to-be-phased-out platform has gotten in recent times.  Do note that this is slated for Japan, where a modified version of Symbian has gained popularity as a standard OS for feature phones.

The Fujitsu LOOX F-07c is a horizontal slider form factor smartphone measuring 125 x 61 x 19.8 mm.  Reported details include a large 4-inch touchscreen display (with a 1,024 x 600 resolution), a comfy-looking four-row QWERTY keyboard, an Intel Atom processor, a 32GB SSD for storage and an optional HDMI cradle.

According to the source, going from Symbian to Windows 7 can be done "in a single action."  We're not sure if that means you can have both running at the same time, with either one available for switching at the mere push of a button -- sounds pretty ambitious to me.

Neither Fujitsu nor the rumored carrier for the device, Docomo, have confirmed the phone's existence.  They're supposed to be targeting a summer release for the LOOX F-07c, though, and I have to admit -- it would be nice to see something like this in the wild.

[Juggly via Asiajin]

Cell phone form factors haven't really changed all that much the past few years.  That's why the Fujitsu F-04B (also called  the Separate Keitai) is bound to get people to notice.   Instead of flipping or sliding the phone to get to the keyboard, you're supposed to pull it out of its hiding place (your pocket, purse, bag or...oh crap...you dropped it in the aquarium) and attach it to the body.

It comes with two main parts, a touchscreen slate that can be used independently and a keyboard unit.  The former sports a 3.4-inch display, a 12.2 megapixel camera (which is, apparently, a standard for high-end phones in Japan), built-in accelerator, Blu-ray recorder connectivity and dual TV tuners.  We're not sure if it comes bundled with two keyboard units (there's one numeric and one QWERTY on the product photos) or if you have to choose one.

No magical tech is employed for the connection between the modules.  They use Bluetooth to communicate with each other and magnets to physically lock the parts.  The keyboards comes with an earpiece and a mic, allowing you to use it during calls, instead of the touchscreen slate.  Battery life is rated at 8.3 hours of talk time.

Will this hit it big in Japan?  We're not sure.  As far as we know, clamshells are still the preferred form factor of the consumer market over there.  I have to admit, though, detachable physical keyboards do sound neat for a touchscreen handset.

First shown off as a concept at the CEATEC exhibition in 2008, the Fujitsu F-04B has not only been manufactured, it's been priced (around $660) and slated for release (either March or April).  It will come under wireless carrier NTT Docomo.

[via Mobile Crunch]