Padfone keyboard dock not available Down Under

ASUS won't sell the Padfone keyboard dock accessory in Australia, it has been discovered.

The company confirmed this morning that the Padfone will launch in Australia on Tuesday 14 August at a cost of $999. However, an optional keyboard dock that extends the battery life of the device won't be available Down Under.

ASUS sells the Padfone keyboard dock as an optional accessory in other markets, with the company claiming it increases the battery life of the product up to nine times.

"There is a specific keyboard dock for the Padfone which also extends battery life however it is not yet available in Australia," an ASUS spokesperson told PC World Australia.

The Padfone is compatible with ASUS' original Eee Pad Transformer (TF101) keyboard dock ($199) but the built-in battery of this accessory isn't compatible with the Padfone and won't charge the device.

"At the moment the keyboard dock for the Transformer is available from Harvey Norman which is 90 per cent compatible with the Padfone and Padfone Station. The ASUS Transformer keyboard dock works with the Padfone, it just does not charge the unit."

The long-awaited Padfone, first announced in May 2011, uses a modular design consisting of an Android smartphone that docks inside a tablet shell, effectively combining a 4.3in smartphone and a 10.1in tablet device.

The Padfone package sold in Australia will include the Padfone, the "Padfone Station" tablet device, a Bluetooth stylus that allows users to answer phone calls when in tablet mode, and a "smart sleeve" case to store the device.

The ASUS Padfone will be available through Harvey Norman retail stores in Australia from Tuesday 14 August for $999.

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