The guys over at The Inquirer have word that Vodafone KK (recently bought by Softbank) have launched a 3G handset with a VGA-resoltuon screen in Japan.

The 904SH is made for Vodafone by Sharp. By contrast, the best colour screen handsets have previously only boasted QVGA (Quarter VGA).

So the 904SH has a screen with four times better resolution than its competitors. The phone appears to be something of a bargain as it will typically cost Japanese subscribers £120 ($210).

It offers a range of advanced features such as a 3.2 megapixel camera; a Motion Control Sensor (for playing 3D games), and a Face Recognition function that authenticates handset owners by sensing their facial characteristics.

The phone also includes bluetooth, and parental control features.