THE CUTTING EDGE/TECHNOLOGY NEWS : MORE ON TECH : Ericsson Phone Among Smallest of Its Kind

Ericsson, the third-largest maker of mobile phones, introduced one of the smallest cell phones that can access the Internet. The company said the R320 will be available early next year and will incorporate the so-called Wireless Application Protocol, which enables users to view Internet content through the small screen of the phone. Meanwhile, No. 1 Nokia said it plans to have its WAP-compatible phone available for sale by the end of this month. The 7110 was initially intended to reach retailers in the second quarter but faced delays in developing the technology for commercial use.

The R320 is just a little more than a half-inch thick and weighs 3 1/2 ounces, making it thinner and lighter than Nokia’s 7110, which would be the first WAP-compatible phone in the world when it hits store shelves.

The new Ericsson phone will work both on the 900 and 1800 systems of the world’s most popular digital cellular phone system, the global system for mobile telecommunication, or GSM.