EE has announced the world's first 4G action camera. With just a single press of a button, the 4GEE Action Cam can stream anything live instantly, including private and personal streams to friends and family. It's the first in a range of 4G connected devices EE's planning to launch this year, and it will be available to buy standalone, on shared plans or on PAYG.
Streaming will be broadcast in HD or 720p video using EE's new partner service, Skeegle, but you can also record directly onto an SD card in Full HD. Likewise, you can take 13-megapixel stills from your video footage as well. Alternatively, those after a higher 60fps frame rate can capture footage in standard definition. If your 4G coverage drops out, the camera will fall back on 3G speeds and a lower resolution accordingly.
Weighing just 128g, the camera has a 1/2.3in wide angle fixed focus lens with a focal length of 3.4mm and aperture of f/2.8. It comes with both a ruggedised lightweight case and a fully waterproof case, which can withstand depths of up to 60m. Of course, filming underwater won't produce any sound, as the case blocks off the built-in microphone. It has 4GB of internal storage (2.5GB of which is available), but can take micro SD cards up to 64GB. EE also says its 2,260mAh battery will be able to last for up to three hours of continuous streaming or 4.5 hours of Full HD video recording.
That's not the only product you'll get with the 4GEE Action Cam, though, as it's also being bundled with a viewfinder watch, which you'll be able to use to stop and start recording, capture stills and see exactly what you're shooting. Of course, there will also be a companion app for your phone or tablet, which is compatible with both iOS and Android. This gives users control over camera functions and settings and lets you manage your picture, videos, data usage and top-ups.
Of course, when most action cam owners want to record video in rural areas, EE admits that constant 4G coverage will be a challenge. However, it said ths morning that it was committed to expanding iits 4G coverage in rural areas and plans to invest £500 million in improving connections in hard to reach areas of the UK. It's aiming for 88% of the population to have double speed 4G by 2017, and it will be covering up to 1,500 square miles of the country with low frequency 1MHz spectrum to help improve coverage even further.
The 4GEE Action Cam will be available from 16th June from EE stores as well as Dixons Carphone, Amazon, Selfridges and Jessops. Naturally, it doesn't come cheap, as EE customers with shared 24 month plans will be able to buy one from either £15-per-month with no upfront cost, or £10-per-month with an upfront cost of £99.99.
Pay Monthly customers, on the other hand, don't have any upfront cost and can choose from either £15-per-month for 2GB of data or £20-per-month for 10GB of double-speed 4G data. Meanwhile, Pay As You Go customers can buy one for £299.99 for 30 days, which includes 2GB of data, or £399.99 for 12 months (which also gives you 2GB of data each month). There will also be 30-day passes, 24 hour passes available to top-up with.
