Device Arena
Archive for October, 2007
The Nokia N82 is already waiting for its launch and if we go for the rumours the event will take place at the 2nd of November. Mobile Phone Helpdesk already published an articel about the Nokia N82 in May, which was a new rumour back then and no real-life photos were available yet. Photos of a living Nokia N82 are now found and this a good promise for the future. The Nokia N82 will be a good follower of the Nokia N81 and it will probably not reach the shops this year. The Nokia N81 will end up in the shops pretty soon and the sales of this device have to be stimulated before the christmas shoppings.
The Nokia N82 will become a large multimedia bestseller again. The candybar will probably be equipped with the new Ovi network, with which the user can download, for example, Ngage games. Howeverm the Nokia N82 is not entirily focussed on gaming as the Nokia N81 is. The device will mainly sell itself with her functions on the area of photography and network support.
The Nokia N82 will offer a promising 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lense and Xenon flash. With this it will become a good partner of the Nokia N95. Besides this it will be possible to record video fragments with VGA quality and to zoom in up to 20x. At the front of the Nokia N82 an extra VGA camera will be implemented to make video calls.
The Nokia N82 will offer more innovative improvements when compared to the Nokia N81. The device will namely have and integrated GPS receiver and in combination with navigation maps it will be possible to navigate with the device. The device will also become a bestseller on the area of network support. Not only UMTS and HSDPA support is present, WiFi b/g is also one of the possibilities that the Nokia N82 offers. All together there will always be a good internet connection.
The Nokia N82 will have an internal memory of 100 MB, which is expandable with MicroSD and TrasnFlash memorycards. The 16 millioen colours TFT display will offer a perfect view on selfmade material, but when you want to share your photos and videos you can simply connect the device to the television and your material will be projected onto the large screen.
The Nokia N82 is not officially announced yet, but the rumours tell us that this will happen at 2 November. Of course, Mobile Phone Helpdesk will keep you informed on this matter.
Comment (1) »Today, E-ten launched her Glofiish X600, a compact touchscreen smartphone that offers an integrated SirfStar III chipset so the owner of the device can easily use it as a navigation system. The E-ten Glofiish X600 does not offer manu extras when compared to the Glofiish X500+, the only things that have changed is the appearance and the triple-band functionality that has made place for quad-band network support.
With 107 x 58 x 14,7 mm, the X600 can be characterized as handy for a smartphone. The display has a size of 2.8 inch, offers 65.000 colours with a QVGA resolution and is crystalclear and quite large. So, this touchscreen display can be perfectly used to navigate with the full GPS and navigation possibilities.
The E-ten Glofiish X600 is equipped with GPRS and EDGE support, with which the internet and e-mail can be reached. Unfortunately, the candybar is still nog equipped with UMTS and HSDPA support, which would have been good for the dataspeeds. However, the Glofiish X600 is equipped with WiFi b/g support that enables the owner to use a wireless network in order to reach the internet and e-mail on high speeds. The Glofiish X600 also offers stereo bluetooth support and a 2 megapixel camera. Because the device operates on the Windows Mobile 6 system it is possbile to receive and make Microsoft Office files and to use Windows Live Messenger. Furthermore, the Windows Mobile 6 system can easily be expanded with extra programs and can be synchronized with the computer in only seconds.
Handy quick keys at both the front of the device and its sides offer access to the main functions of the E-ten Glofiish X600. Especially with a touchscreen this is very handy because you will not have to use the stylus at all times.
The E-ten Glofiish is expected to reach the shops at the end of November, this to stimulate the sales of the recently launched E-ten Glofiish M800. The full possibilities of the candybar can be read at her specifications page.
Starting today we will try to deliver you information on the latest (and greatest) mobile phones that hit the stores on a weekly basis. This is the first article of this kind and we will consider it experimental since its future depends solely on your interest on the matter. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to comment local availability in stores near you, as well as on carrier-subsidized prices. It’s going to be an intense season as many phone makers make their long-waited handsets available in the months right before Christmas.
Probably the most exciting of all was the news of Nokia N95 8GB Edition that starts shipping. It comes dressed in black and has undergone several changes. The main one of course is the thrilling memory capacity of 8GB. The screen has also grown up from the 2.6″ of the original to 2.8″ in the new edition. The display still supports QVGA resolution and visualizes up to 16M colors. Nokia N95 8GB is powered by 1200 mAh Li-Ion battery as opposed to the rather modest 950 mAh in the original Nokia N95 - hopefully the new battery will be able to deal better with the phone’s energy needs. The weak battery was probably the most criticized feature of the original N95 model. The higher capacity battery on the other side has resulted in removing the lens cover. Finally, another significant change in the smartphone’s hardware has been made - the RAM is now double the size of the original to improve user experience with the browser or with multiple applications running in the background. Nokia N95 8GB’s expected retail price is EUR 560 (USD 780) before taxes or subsidies. Currently, it can be found online for around EUR 570 (USD 810).
LG KU990 Viewty
The next to go on our Market Update for week 43 is the LG KU990 Viewty. Stylishly reminiscent of the glossy LG KE850 Prada phone, it features full touch-control interface and a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with xenon flash. The LG KU990 Viewty has a large 3″ 262K color TFT touchscreen display with a 240 x 400 pixels resolution and boasts a 5 megapixel camera with Schneider-Kreuznach optics, image stabilization and xenon flash, yet capable of shooting quality video clips with up to 120 fps. It is up to the user to choose from shooting in auto focus or manual focus mode with ISO sensitivity of up to ISO 800. The LG KU990 is also equipped with a secondary VGA camera for making video calls as the device features HSDPA 3.6 Mbps. Storing images, tracks, clips or files is easy with the onboard 100 MB memory, expandable up to 2GB through the microSD memory card slot. Music fans will enjoy the music player and FM radio, while in the same time you will be able to watch DivX videos on the large 3″ display. The LG KU990 connectivity capabilities include Bluetooth 1.2 with A2DP support and USB 2.0 High-speed. You can check our in-depth review. Currently, it can be found online for around EUR 420 (USD 600).
UTStarcom Personal Communications, a division of UTStarcom announced the availability of the CDM8630. With large, easy-to-read on screen type; a distinct, clearly labeled keypad; ten one-touch speed dialing entries; and a special “In Case of Emergency” directory of emergency contacts, the CDM8630 makes mobile communications simple and easy for older adults. Recently earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, the CDM8630 will be distributed to various CDMA carriers in North America, and is currently available through Verizon Wireless as the Coupe. The CDM8630 is currently being exhibited at CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment at the UTStarcom Personal Communications booth.
“The CDM8630 was specifically developed with senior-aged consumers in mind, meeting their needs for a reliable mobile phone that’s easy to use,” said Philip Christopher, President of UTStarcom Personal Communications. “This cell phone brings mobile communications and peace of mind to older consumers and their families.”
The clamshell-style CDM8630 incorporates many functions that fit the lifestyle of senior consumers. The handset’s two-inch 262 Color TFT (176 x 220) main display screen features an easy-to-use menu with large fonts. An additional one-inch monochrome STN (96 x 96) external display is designed for easy viewing of incoming calls, alerts, digital clock, battery life and signal strength.
The dual-band (800/1900 MHz CDMA) CDM8630 has a special one-touch 911 button for emergencies and has a special “In Case of Emergency” menu where users can store their emergency contacts and personal information for easy access. The handset is e911 supported. A special speed dial feature lets CDM8630 users designate up to ten numbers for one-touch calling. The phone is designed with a built-in speakerphone and is equipped with advanced voice activated-dialing making it simple to communicate with friends and family hands-free. Text messaging on the CDM8630 is also easier with its large keypad and fonts as well as T9(R) predictive text capability.
Weighing only 3.3 ounces and measuring 3.8″ (h) x 1.8″ (w) x 0.8″ (d), the CDM8630 is light to carry yet has a solid and compact form factor. The unique handset is designed with a clearly visible, bright red charger jack located on the right hand side of the device so mature consumers will have no trouble recharging it. The CDM8630 comes with a Lithium Ion 920 mAh battery that lasts up to 221 minutes of talk-time, and 229 hours on stand-by.
Additional features include enhanced phone book (up to 500 entries), vibrating alert mode and TTY/TTD capable.
Nokia E61i and E65 will be available in two new colors from now on. The most profitable ones seem to have been pink and purple over the past period, which gives great reason for the fact that these handsets give up Titanium Black for trying them out.
While the year-by-year popular colors change, pink never seems to lose its charm. Purple has been the main trend over the past months, with handset sales boosting over the change in design. It’s a major difference, especially when compared to the old plain, black color that the two mobile phones came in. It’s a move from an official business look to one capable of best revealing the user’s personality.
Nokia E65 and Nokia E61i support email and business voice, as well as other productivity and leisure time solutions. Moreover, they operate across different continents using the quadband GSM and 3G network frequencies, which provide fast broadband data connectivity with 3G WCDMA and WLAN.
Nokia E65 is a slim slider which contains the mobile business capabilities of a Nokia Eseries device, all packed in an extremely elegant design. The phone provides easy access to the most frequently used applications with the help of the One Touch keys on the front cover. Nokia E61i supports corporate mobile email solutions such as Nokia Intellisync Wireless Email, Good Mobile Messaging, Mail for Exchange, Seven Mobile Mail and BlackBerry Connect and most popular consumer email solutions. Aside from that, it also features a high quality 2 megapixel camera and a music player.
Both handsets look to provide best email solutions for their user and also respond to their evolved communication needs. The new colors should get the attention of a special kind of audience, one that looks for the fashionable side of mobile phones above anything else, although the two devices are capable of providing pretty high end features.
Alcatel-Lucent and RIM Announce Strategic Agreement for the Distribution of BlackBerry Smartphones in China
Posted by VlAD @ 09:28 pmAlcatel-Lucent and Research In Motion (RIM) announced that the companies have expanded their partnership with the signing of a strategic agreement for the distribution of BlackBerry® smartphones in China. The first smartphone offered to Chinese enterprise customers through this agreement will be the 8700 model.
The announcement coincides with the first shipment of smartphones to distribution networks in China and availability for Chinese enterprise customers in key markets is expected to begin later this year. Alcatel-Lucent achieved certification of the 8700 model for the Chinese market through partnership with TCL Communications, a major mobile device manufacturer in China that holds the Alcatel brand for mobile handsets. RIM and TCL Communications are showcasing BlackBerry smartphones at the PT EXPO COMM CHINA 2007 show in Beijing this week.
“This strategic partnership perfectly matches Alcatel-Lucent’s global presence and strength in the Chinese market with the global awareness and popularity of RIM’s BlackBerry brand,” said Frederic Rose, President of Alcatel Shanghai Bell and President of Alcatel-Lucent’s Asia Pacific activities. “This agreement strengthens the distribution frame agreement that Alcatel-Lucent and RIM signed last year covering Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia and now extends to China.”
“Following our launch of the BlackBerry service with China Mobile, we are very pleased to now enter this smartphone distribution agreement with Alcatel-Lucent and Alcatel Shanghai Bell. Our partnership with Alcatel-Lucent has been very productive in other regions and has been key in our progress to import smartphones into the Chinese market,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO of Research In Motion. “The BlackBerry platform offers robust and unmatched benefits for enterprise customers that wish to enhance mobile productivity and competitive advantage. We look forward to building on the early interest and momentum we are experiencing in China with both multinational and domestic corporations.”
RIM continues to expand its global distribution and the industry-leading BlackBerry solution is now available from over 300 carriers around the world.
We waited, and waited, and waited — no announcement from AT&T yet — but we secured a Pantech Duo, live and in the flesh! First off, the device is really small. The keyboard is worlds better than the Helio Ocean, and while it might not be fair to compare it to the Ocean, it is more or less the same concept. 3G on here is such a pleasure, and while we’re not talking about Windows Mobile 6 Professional, Standard works just fine for this little handset. Battery life is a concern, especially with a 3G radio, but since we just got it we don’t have a real gage on battery performance. Voice quality and sound quality sounded crisp and clear as well. Final note: if you saw the Pantech Duo dummy display unit, you’ll notice the device slide out both ways simultaneously. Not the case on the real unit because of the spring mechanism. Not too bad for a device we called out a year ago, right?
AOL Debuts Extensive Array of New Mobile Services at CTIA Show
Posted by VlAD @ 08:11 pmAOL launched a collection of mobile services designed to create rich mobile experiences that take customization, ease-of-use and experience-sharing to a new level. These products leverage many of AOL‘s strongest assets including AIM, AOL Mail, AOL Search, MapQuest, AOL CityGuide, Moviefone and Winamp.
Now mobile users will have access to a redesigned and highly customizable AOL.com WAP portal for mobile phones offering new mobile versions of AOL® Search and AOL® Mail, best-in-class services, such as MapQuest® and Moviefone®, and vastly expanded content in the areas of shopping, music, news and entertainment. In addition, those attending the CTIA show will be able to view an early version of AOL® MyMobile, new downloadable software which features an easy-to-use interface that can be specifically tailored to users‘ needs.
Further, AOL is expanding AIM functionality for mobile devices with a new text message-based AIM® short code service and an exciting new GPS-enabled widget called AIM® Buddy Finder. New enhancements to Winamp Remote offer more ways for users to enjoy and share their media and playlists on their cell phones.
“We‘ve listened to our users and are giving them more ways to tailor the AOL mobile experience just for them,” said Scott Falconer, Executive Vice President, AOL Mobile. “These new products reflect our commitment to being the mobile leader in offering users more engaging, easier to use, customized mobile experiences on their most personal of devices, their cell phones.”
New offerings announced today include:
AOL.com WAP Portal
AOL has introduced the new AOL.com mobile web portal, available at http://aol.com1 on WAP-enabled phones. This enhanced mobile destination offers intelligent device detection functionality to give users the best experience for their individual mobile phone. Users will also find a rich array of services and channels to enjoy with more content upfront, reducing the number of clicks. New and enhanced features include:
- AOL® Mobile Search: The new AOL Mobile Search was designed for on-the-go mobile users looking for immediate answers, not just a list of links. With a minimum number of clicks, AOL Mobile Search provides more relevant search results, pulling content from across the online and mobile web as well as from Moviefone, MapQuest and AOL® CityGuide. Users can quickly find local business listings, maps and directions, weather, stock quotes and even mobile-specific content, like ringtones.
Word on the streets is that we could see that amazing smartphone stateside sometime soon. The rumor states that Verizon might be the carrier of the “Croix” that the Jesus-Phone gets nailed to, that was a bad pun, I’m going to hell for that one.
Furthermore, the phone is supposed to be getting fitted with the necessary CDMA and EV-DO chipsets instead of the HSPA and GSM that it has now. Everything else, including the 3MP cam, touch interface, and sliding keyboard would stay.
With Vodafone and Verizon getting all cute and snuggly together over in the corner, it could happen. I wouldn’t expect such a move until the hype from the Voyager goes down though.
Wireless subscribers of Sprint Nextel Corp. may no longer have to buy a new phone if they jump to a new carrier.
As part of a proposed class-action settlement, the Reston, Va.-based provider, with operational headquarters in Overland Park, Kan., has agreed to provide departing Sprint PCS customers with the code necessary to unlock their phones’ software.
That would allow the phones to operate on any network using code division multiple access technology, or CDMA. Competitors using that technology include Verizon Wireless and Alltel Corp., although the Sprint handset would still have to meet those networks’ technical standards to work.
The codes won’t work for Sprint’s Nextel-branded phones, which use iDEN technology, and don’t allow switching to AT&T or T-Mobile, which use global system for mobile communication, or GSM, technology.
Sprint made the offer as part of the proposed settlement of a California class-action lawsuit, filed last year, accusing the company of anticompetitive practices.
The plaintiffs claimed the software “lock” forced customers wanting to switch carriers to have to buy a new phone, throwing up a barrier to competition. A similar lawsuit was filed in Palm Beach County, Fla., and is covered by the proposed settlement.
On Oct. 2, an Alameda County Superior Court judge gave the settlement his preliminary approval. A final approval hearing hasn’t yet been scheduled, said Sprint Nextel spokesman Matt Sullivan.
“We believe this settlement is fair and reasonable,” Sullivan said, adding that the company denies wrongdoing and settled the suit “so we can continue to focus on our business.”
Sprint doesn’t expect to pay any financial damages as part of the settlement, other than possible legal fees, Sullivan said.
Sprint said it will share the unlocking code with all current and former subscribers once their phones are deactivated and their bills are paid. The company also will add information about the locking software and how to obtain the unlocking codes in the list of terms and conditions of service given to new customers, and instruct its customer service representatives on how to connect a non-Sprint phone to the Sprint network.
The settlement covers customers who bought a Sprint phone between Aug. 28, 1999, and July 16, 2007.
T-Mobile is facing a similar class-action lawsuit in California. Users of the iPhone, which is locked to the AT&T network, filed two separate lawsuits last week against the carrier and Apple Inc., claiming its use restrictions and a software upgrade that disables unlocked iPhones constituted unfair business practices.