Tech bytes: U.S. Order Launches Cheaper Screen Phone

U.S. Order Inc. and Colonial Data Technologies Corp. last week introduced a new low-priced screen phone.

The phone, called the Telesmart 4000, offers the same advanced features as many more high-priced phones, but costs less than $200 wholesale.

Colonial Data makes the phones and distributes them to telecommunications companies. U.S. Order markets the phones and applications through financial institutions, and plans to start selling through retailers by late next year.

Using the phone, customers can send electronic mail over the Internet, send text messages to pagers, shop from catalogues, use the most up-to-date forms of caller identification, and access bank accounts and pay bills. The phone also features a magnetic stripe reader that can be used in card applications for banking and shopping.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER