BenQ-Siemens goes mythological with the Venus, Hermes, Ulysses, & Cupid

Well, we've got just a taste of what to expect in the very near future from the Euro cellphonefest next week that is 3GSM. BenQ-Siemens apparently has got four (or more) new phones with namesakes of Greek and Roman lineage in the pipeline, clockwise from upper-left: the Venus C3's got external music playback buttons, as you can see, but we don't have any other firm details; the Hermes B is also slanted heavily toward music playback (on the entry level tip) with what appears to be top-facing audio playback buttons; the Ulysses B1 looks way too much like a Nokia 6020, but done right and with 3G; finally, the Cupid slider is more business oriented, apparently honed for ease of use and its simple, sober style. Expect to get some more hard detail on these guys next week.

[Tipster @ Feb 9th 2006 3:35PM]

These phone's actualy looks worth buying. But I think they look a little to much like the competitors Nokia/Sony Ericsson

Sweden's fastest growing technology magazine, will have a review of BenQ's phones in March.
http://www.technologysweden.com

[Kibiyama @ Feb 9th 2006 3:38PM]

Not to be picky, but Venus is a Roman god.

[cuby @ Feb 9th 2006 3:52PM]

the phone of Hermes??? kitaaaaaaa

[weakgeek @ Feb 9th 2006 4:07PM]

I think the Ulysses B1 looks more like the Samsung SGH-Z150 (http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/09/samsung-sgh-z150-9-8mm-thin-nest-3g-phone/) on a fast-food diet with a little extra chrome bling.

I'll take some extra large fries and a diet soda with that, thank you.

[sunz @ Feb 9th 2006 4:07PM]

i'll take the cupid .. but im not sure how it slides?

b

[Oliver @ Feb 9th 2006 4:15PM]

The slider looks like a Nokia N80 and the clamshell looks like the Nokia fashion clamshell from last year (forget the model number).

But they still look nice actually.

[foQ @ Feb 9th 2006 4:24PM]

Some of these are Roman names, not Greek. Here's a Greek to Roman translation:

Odysseus: Ulysses
Aphrodite: Venus
Hermes: (no Roman name)
Eros: Cupid

[Jacob @ Feb 9th 2006 4:37PM]

Nice.

Bah. I really wish Nokia would get off their ass and release some of their GOOD phones into the North American market. (Especially Canada, which has been horribly neglected.)

[gingerrabbit @ Feb 9th 2006 4:41PM]

Hermes: Mercury

[Mic82 @ Feb 9th 2006 4:51PM]

Looks like Nokia phones but uglier. Copycats...

[dp @ Feb 9th 2006 4:59PM]

You mean Ulysses B1 looks like "6030" right???

[Nick @ Feb 9th 2006 5:05PM]

Having never liked Siemens phones, it seems BenQ are doing something right. That Cupid looks badass

[Max @ Feb 9th 2006 6:42PM]

The hermes better cost like $8000 and have a six month waiting list.

[Mike Evans @ Feb 9th 2006 7:41PM]

The new BenQ-Siemens phones look better than anything BenQ or Siemens did seperately, which bodes well for future models. And check out BenQ-Siemens' recent prototypes:

http://mobilementalism.com/2006/01/26/pictures-of-benq-siemens-prototype-concept-phones/

If their next releases are anything like these designs, they really mean business.

[furtim @ Feb 9th 2006 8:04PM]

I briefly considered commenting on the fact that only Hermes was Greek, but thought better of it. (For once.) Glad(?) to see there are others out there as pedantic as I am. ;)

[louise short @ Feb 10th 2006 12:05AM]

Hey sorry to be really picky but venus was a goddess not a god!

[Dr Doom @ Feb 10th 2006 4:31AM]

Very stylish indeed. Should be a bit of a kick in the ass to you naysayers that rubbished the Benq purchase :-)

[Nishi @ Feb 10th 2006 1:11PM]

Anyone know where I can buy one of these?

[Sexy @ Feb 10th 2006 7:54PM]

it looks pretty sleek

[truongn2 @ Feb 11th 2006 3:33AM]

I think BenQ-Siemen is doing a great. Hopefully the Venus is coming out soon, cause that is what I am replacing my NEC L1 for!!!