Are you are aware of the fact that a cat has nine lives? No, ain’t getting into a discussion if that’s a superstition or not, but that was the first thing that came to my mind when I learnt that even a mobile phone has nine lives i.e nine parts, each of which have different life-cycles. So, in short nine lives here too. The nine important and basic parts of a cell phone can be listed as below:

1.Circuit board
2.The LCD
3.Battery
4.Antenna
5.Keypad
6.Microphone
7.Speaker
8.The Plastic Case
9.Other Accessories (earphones, data cable etc)

Though the average life span of a mobile phone is considered to be 18 months, it can go upto even 3-4 years. So, how does one arrive at this life cycle? It’s some math which takes into account the life-cycles of all these nine parts.

For example, the average life-cycle of a battery is considered to be 400-500 charge cycles i.e around 1-2 years, after which the battery needs to be charged more frequently and eventually dies. However, the lifecycle of the battery can be extended by practicing a few simple yet effective tips such as:

• Unplugging the charger after charging the battery
• Avoid using your mobile phone in extreme temperatures etc.

However, its not mandatory for you to go in for a new mobile phone just because your mobile is 18 months old. Look for a new mobile only if you have another reason as the device can be absolutely fine in some cases even if they are more than 18 months old. And, in case if you wish to sell your mobile, look for some classified websites or websites where you can sell used mobiles.

Give your mobile a new life instead of adding onto the electronic waste which is already piling up.Similar Posts:

• Seidio brings its 3200mAh Extended Battery for Nexus One
• Tips to Increase Battery Life of your Mobile [Basic Phones]
• Earn money by Receiving SMS
• Mobiles May Soon Be Made Available in EMI Schemes!
• Get Orkut Scraps on Mobile for Free!

© How many Life’s does a Mobile Phone have? is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

Of late it has been noticed that Blackberry smart-phones and Blackberry mobile operating system have taken momentum in the market, owing to a large chunk of mobile operating systems’ pie.  In fact, as per reports of surveys by several organizations, Blackberry is the third most loved mobile operating system after Android and iOS.

Well, this Blackberry’s growth phenomenon is not just limited to Canada – the country of its origin or in the United States. Even in India, more than 80% of elite Indian businessmen, bollywood celebs, cricketers and politicians are found using a Blackberry Smartphone. One of the biggest reasons for the popularity of Blackberry mobiles in India is the fact that the Blackberry prices in India is not as prohibitive as that of Apple products while it provides a certain exclusivity as is not too low to be used by the drivers and maids. Mobile operators too, are trying to woo its customers with TV commercials dedicated to Blackberry smart-phones like the Blackberry Boys TVC from Vodafone India and Blackberry Messenger TVC by Airtel.

Here in this post, we’ll take you through the in-and-out of Blackberry smart-phones, the USPs of Blackberry, its pros & cons and brief review of few blackberry phones that would fit best in your pocket and budget.

The Blackberry Benefits:

Listed below are few of the key benefits of blackberry:

• Best messaging system:
  Either it be emails, instant messages or notifications from your social networks like Twitter or Facebook, blackberry pushes all your data onto your phone within seconds. On top of it, Blackberry has something called ‘unified inbox’ that gathers all your emails, instant messages and other notifications in a single inbox. That’s the USP of blackberry phones thus far.
• QWERTY keyboard:
  Believe it or not, blackberry phones have got the best ‘hardware’ QWERTY keyboard making it easy for email and messaging addicts to easily communicate with their peer.
• Blackberry Messenger (BBM):
  Wanna be in touch with your clients, friends or the special one round the clock? Blackberry messenger is something that should help you out. Specialties of BBM over any other instant messenger like Gtalk or AIM is, you can track when did the recipient of the message received and read your message. Smart, isn’t it?Though several other cross-platform instant messaging apps like WhatsApp has cropped up in the market, none of them have managed to beat the popularity and ease of use, of Blackberry messenger yet!
• True Multi-tasking:
  Unlike several other popular mobile OS, Blackberry smart-phones have the capability of true multi-tasking. Implies that you can easily switch between apps without having to close and start over once again!

Disadvantages of Blackberry Phones:

So far we know about the good things of owing a blackberry, lets now discuss some of its cons:

• Fixed monthly Blackberry charges:
  I do agree that you’ll have to pay a fixed monthly charge for accessing emails and using Internet on your mobile device. But, if you are using blackberry services then you’ll have to avail special blackberry plans that cost 4-5x more than what you’ll have to pay for a normal GPRS/EDGE service. Hence, we would suggest you go for Blackberry device only if you are really a messaging freak and wish to stay connected and get your emails pushed to your Blackberry inbox within seconds
• Lack of Multimedia Capabilities:
  If you love using your phone as a multi-media device and often need it for playing games, recording videos or listening to the music, then Blackberry will probably disappoint you a bit, as it lacks capabilities to be used as a robust multi-media device and also doesn’t have as many games as iOS and Android!
• Low Quality Camera:
  There are handsets from manufacturers like Samsung and HTC with cameras ranging from 8 MP to 12 MP but surprisingly the best camera on any Blackberry device yet is a mere 5 MP camera.

Brief Highlights of Available Blackberry Models:

Impressed with the advantages of Blackberry over its disadvantages? Wooed enough to buy a blackberry device? Here you go. We are listing some of the devices that should solve your purpose to stay connected 24X7:

Blackberry Curve:

Blackberry Curve are the basic entry level blackberry phones and comes in 3 GSM models with slight variations among each of them.

Curve 8520:

This is the entry-level blackberry handset available currently, with basic features such as a 2 MP Camera, dedicated volume rockers and multi-media keys for moving music back and forth. The phone lacks 3G capabilities and reasonably priced at Rs. 8700. Should be best fit for you if you are looking for a cheap blackberry device and do not click lots of pics.  You’ll also have to compromise with 3G features in this phone.

Curve 9330:

Successor to 8520 with minor improvement in functionality and comes with 3G support. Priced at Rs. 14990.

Curve 9360:

Latest entrant in the Blackberry Curve family and has features at par to the Blackberry Bold. Improved camera of 5 MP, high resolution screen, latest Blackberry OS, etc. Basically the specs of Blackberry Curve 9360 are similar to that of Blackberry Bold 2 9870 but the major difference is the keyboard build. Curve models have keys separated from each other whereas bold models have keys that overlap one above another.

Blackberry Bold:

‘Bold’ line of products from Blackberry is usually considered to be slightly on the upper side as compared to Curve. And, as discussed earlier, they are primarily different from Curve range in respect of their keyboard and looks. There are currently 2 models of Bold that are officially produced and marketed by RIM – Bold 9780 and Bold 9900, also called as Bold 3 & Bold 4 respectively.

As you can guess, Blackberry Bold 4 is the successor of Bold 3 and has several improved features like touch capabilities, bigger screen size, latest Blackberry V 7.0 OS. Bold 3 & 4 are priced at Rs. 21,000 and Rs. 30,600 respectively.

Blackberry Torch:

Torch is again the high end Blackberry phone with sliding form factor. They come in 3 versions or models namely Torch 9800, 9810 & 9860 with little variations and upgrades. Price of Blackberry Torch models range from Rs. 24,000 to Rs. 30,000 approximately.

Should you have any other questions relating to blackberry phones, do not hesitate to drop a line below and we’ll be happy to help you out.

Similar Posts:

• RIM launches Blackberry Bold 9780 in India with BB 6.0 OS
• TATA Indicom Introduces Weekly BlackBerry Plans for its Prepaid Subscribers
• Manage your Travel Plans with BlackBerry Travel Application
• Blackberry Messenger Coming Soon on Android and iOS
• Enjoy BlackBerry Data Plans from Rs.99 onwards with Tata Indicom

© Benefits of Blackberry Services and Blackberry Phones in India is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

In this article, we have included the top android phones in the price band of Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000. In this budget, you get handsets with at least android 2.2(froyo), a decent processor and standard features such as Wi-Fi and 3G.

Here is a list of what we consider as currently the top android phones in this price range:

• HTC Explorer:

  The HTC Explorer is the latest phone in this category and has just been released in the Indian market. Its features include Android 2.3, 600Mhz processor, 3.2 inches touchscreen, 3MP camera, 90MB internal memory, 512 MB RAM and exchangeable covers.The pros of this phone are that it is priced relatively less, has the latest android version and has the exclusivity of being a HTC. The negative factors include no camera flash and even lack of a secondary camera(for video calling).Also, the internal memory capacity is not great and the processor is very average, but that’s all what you can get at this price.

  Price: Rs.10,800

• HTC ChaCha:

  

 The HTC ChaCha is a Facebook-centric device and comes with a 2.6inch touchscreen and a QWERTY keypad. Other features include Android 2.3, 800MHz processor, 5MP camera with flash, secondary VGA camera and a 512 MB RAM. The reasons to buy this phone include a great camera, good processor speed, gorilla glass display and an exclusive Facebook button. The cons of this device are that its price is not very attractive and is not for users who would prefer only a touchscreen.

Price: Rs.14,700

• Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini & Pro:

  

The Xperia Mini and Xperia Mini Pro are both very similar android devices from Sony Ericsson. The major differences between them is that the Pro has two additional features, namely a QWERTY keypad and a secondary camera.The common features include Android 2.3, 5MP camera with flash, 3 inch touchscreen, 1Ghz CPU with 320MB storage and 512MB RAM. The major setbacks for these two phones are poor talk time (when compared to the previous HTC phones) and lack of a secondary camera for video calling in the Mini. The plus factors include a powerful CPU and stylish looks for both the devices.

Price: Rs.12,500(Mini) & Rs.15,000(Pro)

• HTC Salsa:

The HTC Salsa is also a Facebook-centric device like the ChaCha. It comes with features such as a 3.4 inch touchscreen, Android 2.3, 5MP camera with flash, secondary front camera, 800Mhz CPU & 512MB RAM. The phone has an enormous talk time of up to 9hrs on 2G and 7hrs 50 min on 3G. It is also nicely integrated with Facebook and has a large touchscreen. The main drawback of this phone is the relatively higher price when compared to the earlier phones, especially when it is comes without a QWERTY keypad.

Price: Rs.14,300

• Spice Mi-410:

In the midst of International handsets, we have included Spice Mi-410 in this article since we were genuinely impressed by the features of this phone. They include a 4.1 inch touchscreen, Android 2.2(Froyo), 1Ghz CPU, Internal memory of 800MB, 512MB RAM, 5MP camera with flash and a secondary camera for video calling. The main drawbacks of this phone are poor talk time, older version of OS, and lack of brand value. The plus points include a fast processor, enormous touchscreen and a low price.

Price: Rs.13,000

• Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830:

The Samsung Galaxy Ace is an iPhone look-alike and is one of the oldest phones in this list. Its main features are Android 2.2(Upgradeable to 2.3), 3.5 inch touchscreen, 5MP camera with flash, 800Mhz processor & Internal memory of 158MB. This device has an excellent talk time of up to 11hrs on 2G network and a reasonable talk time of 6hrs 30min on 3G. Its negatives are a lack of secondary camera and an average display.

Price: Rs.13,000

• HTC Wildfire S:

The HTC Wildfire S is an upgrade over the original successful model, Wildfire. Its main features include Android 2.3, 5MP camera with flash, 3.2inch touchscreen, 600Mhz CPU and 512MB RAM. The Talk time of this device is good in the 2G network, but very average in 3G. Also, it lacks a secondary camera and the processor is just basic. The plus points are that you get a decent camera and an overall good phone for that price.

Price: Rs.13,000

• Motorola Fire XT

The Motorola Fire XT is an Android 2.3 device with a 800Mhz CPU, 3.5 inch touchscreen, 5MP camera with flash, secondary VGA camera and a 512 MB RAM. The phone has average call quality and an average battery. Overall, it is a decent device, but the company has not had any great success in smartphones in this price range yet in India.

Price: Rs.12,500

  (All the above prices are approximate)Similar Posts:

• HTC Mozart to be Available in India Soon
• Two New Samsung Galaxy Mini Phones Leaked
• Motorola Glam XT800 – Dual SIM Android Phone to be Launched In India Soon
• HTC Incredible S, Desire S and Wildfire S showcased at MWC
• 4 New Samsung Galaxy Phones in India Soon

© Top Android Phones between Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000 is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

BlackBerry Wireless Headset HS-300:

This amazing Headset with Bluetooth enables users to connect seamlessly and offers features such as one touch calling and automatic volume control. The Bluetooth headset has Multi-function button control features like answer, end, mute and voice dialing. It even comes with automatic volume control and noise cancellation.

Bluetooth Visor Mount Speakerphone VM-605:

This is an Bluetooth enabled, integrated speakerphone which can be used to answer calls or make calls via voice dialing. Another cool feature of this accessory includes the ability to connect with your vehicle’s music system to play audio files from your BlackBerry phone or to make voice calls. In case your phone has a third party location based application, this speakerphone can also provide driving directions by announcing them.

For more details on either of these accessories, you can click here.Similar Posts:

• Facebook 2.0 for Blackberry brings Facebook chat and New UI
• BlackBerry 2.0 Facebook application now available
• BSNL 3G Services to be Launched in Bangalore Tomorrow
• Make Unlimited Free Calls Worldwide using your Computer
• Seidio brings its 3200mAh Extended Battery for Nexus One

© Check out these BlackBerry Genuine Accessories to always stay connected is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

New Features:

• Facebook Places: Through this, users can share details regarding their whereabouts with their friends in Facebook. They can also get directions, to and from Facebook Places by clicking on the map image.
• View ‘Likes’: Check out the names of the friends who have ‘Liked’ your post and get direct direct access to their profile by tapping on their name.
• Facebook Events: BlackBerry 2.0 users can now also view events and birthdays and receive notifications of new invitations. You can also RSVP and write on the event’s Wall.
• Privacy control on status updates: Users can ensure privacy by controlling who can see which update they share. Simply click the lock icon in the lower-right corner of the status publisher to select who to make the status update visible to before posting it.

You can download this application for smartphones from the BlackBerry App World by clicking here.Similar Posts:

• Manage your Travel Plans with BlackBerry Travel Application
• Facebook 2.0 for Blackberry brings Facebook chat and New UI
• Update Facebook Status by Voice With Aircel
• LinkedIn launches app on Snaptu
• Google latitude for iPhone gets Check-in and Google places now in 30 languages

© BlackBerry 2.0 Facebook application now available is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

Details of BlackBerry Data Plans:

• MaiLite plan for Rs 99: In this plan, users can access upto 10 supported e-mail accounts along with BlackBerry Messenger as well as other popular Instant Messaging services.
• BlackBerry Internet Service plan for Rs 199: In this plan, besides the services offered in the above MaiLite plan, users can access social networking and Internet browsing.
• BlackBerry Enterprise Server plan for Rs 599: Here, besides both the above plans, users can get access to corporate data and tight integration with IBM® Lotus® Domino®, Microsoft® Exchange or Novell® GroupWise®.

The standard monthly prices of Rs.299, Rs.399 and Rs.900 respectively will be applicable after the three month promotional period.

Mr. Sukanto Aich, President, Enterprise Business, Tata Teleservices Limited has said,

“BlackBerry is an iconic product with an exceptional service that’s desired by users, and we want to offer greater flexibility and affordability to our existing customers while attracting new BlackBerry customers. We believe this exciting initiative will appeal to all young professionals, students and a broad spectrum of retail customers who are looking for an exceptional experience for messaging, social networking, e-mail and Internet browsing while on the move.”Similar Posts:

• TATA Indicom Introduces Weekly BlackBerry Plans for its Prepaid Subscribers
• TATA Docomo Unlimited Blackberry Plan at Rs 399 for Postpaid and Prepaid
• TATA DoCoMo Users gets Free Access to Social Networking Sites and IM services via Nimbuzz
• TATA DoCoMo Keeps up its Commitment; Introduced Unlimited GPRS Plan!
• Aircel 3G goes Live in Chennai

© Enjoy BlackBerry Data Plans from Rs.99 onwards with Tata Indicom is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

Specifications:

• 2.6 inches capacitive touchscreen with QWERTY keypad
• Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
• 800 MHz CPU
• 512 MB ROM and 512 MB RAM
• Expandable memory of up to 32GB
• 5MP camera with autofocus and LED flash; Secondary VGA camera
• GPRS/EDGE
• 3G/ Wi-Fi
• Battery: 1250 mAh
• Price: Rs. 15, 990

“At HTC, we have always strived to take mobility experience to newer levels and add multi dimensions to our devices. Featuring a dedicated Facebook button and one-touch Facebook access, the HTC ChaCha aims to make it simpler and convenient for its users to share and connect through their favourite social networking site,” said Faisal Siddiqui, Country Manager, HTC India. “We are extremely pleased to launch the HTC ChaCha in India with Tata DOCOMO, and are positive that this social smartphone will garner a favorable response from Indian mobile phone users,” he added.

HTC ChaCha can also be bought with the bundle offer of TATA DOCOMO, though which 3G prepaid customers can avail 3GB free data valid for a period of 90 days and 1GB free data is offered free each month to postpaid customers across all 3G circles valid for 90 days. All 3G customers will also get 3 hour of free Mobile TV that includes data access charges valid for 90 days.

Tata DOCOMO 2G prepaid customers can avail 3GB free data and 300 Tata to Tata local calling valid for a period of 90 days whereas 1GB free data and 100 minutes Tata to Tata calling is offered free each month for 3 months to postpaid customers across all 2G circles.Similar Posts:

• TATA Docomo 3G Tariff and Plans in India
• Tata DoCoMo launches new GPRS plans for Prepaid customers
• TATA Docomo Unlimited Blackberry Plan at Rs 399 for Postpaid and Prepaid
• TATA DoCoMo Keeps up its Commitment; Introduced Unlimited GPRS Plan!
• Enjoy BlackBerry Data Plans from Rs.99 onwards with Tata Indicom

© Facebook device HTC ChaCha launched in India for Rs.15,990 is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

Highlights of TATA Docomo Endless Music service:

• Listen and download unlimited songs, from a range of collections, for a daily rental of just Rs. 2/day using endless music service
• With an additional rental of Rs. 1 per day, you can also download and set unlimited caller tunes.
• Dial IVR code 59090 (toll-free) to activate service
• Service will auto-renew every 24 hours until you place a request to deactivate it

Here is what Mr. Rishi Mohan Malhotra, Head VAS, Tata DOCOMO had to say during the launch of endless music service:

Through this service Tata DOCOMO aims at changing the way music is consumed and reinvent the ways our customers experience music every day. With the launch of Endless Music service, Tata DOCOMO customers can access best of the music content.

Similar Posts:

• TATA Docomo Call Me Tunes Codes, Charges, Activation and Deactivation Procedure
• Uninor launches ‘Unlimited Music’ Service for Just Rs.2.50 Per Day
• Uninor Caller Tune Codes, Activation, Deactivation Procedure & Tariff
• TATA Docomo My Song Details, Activation & Deactivation Procedures
• TATA DoCoMo Keeps up its Commitment; Introduced Unlimited GPRS Plan!

© Listen Unlimited Songs on TATA Docomo with ‘Endless Music’ Service is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

If there’s one thing that is spreading faster than a wildfire (not HTC Wildfire!), it’s a Smart Phone. People who do not have one, are planning to get one and those who already have a smart phone, are considering an upgrade. However before you open your wallet to get your dream phone, you should ensure that the phone you are going to buy is the one you truly need.

(Image credit: GetPCMemory.com)

Actual need for a Smart Phone:

Not all smart phones are same. Different phones serve different purpose like:

• Business and communication
• Browsing
• Gaming
• Multimedia

You need to be very sure about the most critical function that your phone will serve. Let’s say that you want a phone which will help you do lots of messaging on the go and keep you up to date with your emails and tweets, then you need a phone with a full Qwerty keypad or a Blackberry. On the other hand if you need a phone for gaming or watching movies, a phone with large display is a must. If you are configuration nut or a geek, then perhaps Android is a better choice than an iPhone. If you need a phone with great camera and video recording then something like Nokia N8 will be better than the others.

Bottom line: Just don’t buy a phone because your friend has it or it looks good. Buy a phone which suits you and will fit your need the best.

Screen Size, Resolution and Type:

If you are going for a smart phone with large display and touch screen you should know about screen sizes, resolutions and display types. Screen sizes for touch screen phones start from 2.8 inches and go all the way up 5 inches. While a larger display is always considered better, you should also make sure that the phone fits well in your hand and pocket. There is no point in having a phone which is uncomfortable in use. You should also check out the resolution of the display. Two phones can have the same screen size but different resolution. Always go for a phone with higher resolution.

Apart from this other display properties that you should be aware of, are:

• AMOLED display: Much better than the LCD displays. They are brighter, render sharper images and also are thinner and lighter. They are the future of displays.
• Gorilla Glass Display: Gorilla Glass displays are tougher than normal displays. They are scratch resistant and less prone to breakage.
• Capacitive vs. Resistive Touch: Capacitive touch screens are much better than resistive ones. They are more responsive, accurate and easy to use.  If your phone only has a touch screen input, always go for capacitive touch screen phones.

Physical QWERTY vs. On Screen Keyboard:

If you message a lot, a lack of physical QWERTY keypad can be a real pain. While it may look fashionable to have phones with large display and touch screen with no physical keyboard, they are of little use when you need a phone on the go for messaging and emailing.

Processor Speed and RAM:

Higher the processor speed, better the phone is a common misconception. While a faster process is better at crunching programs faster, it is also a battery hog. Generally phones, with fast processors, drain phone battery faster. So go for a faster processor only if you really need one. If you are using phone for normal programs, apps and communication a decent processor speed is good enough. But gaming and multimedia crunching requires faster processors.  When it comes to RAM, more is always better. More RAM means a faster and more responsive device.

OS (Buy the one you need):

Following are the major Smartphone OS available, each one with its own set of pros and cons.

Reception / Signal and Battery Life:

These are important factors that you should consider while buying any phone. Quality of reception, signal strength and battery life can vary a lot from model to model. However good a phone may be, it becomes a big pain if it has a poor battery life or if it cannot catch weak signal. Before you zero in on any particular model, check out these parameters from your friends who may have used this device or from the online reviews.

Availability of Apps / App Store:

Apps make a smart phone smarter. There are tons of apps and games available at each of the OS app stores. If you are of the type who loves to try out various apps and games you should stick to Apple or Android only. While the quality of Apps for Apple iOS is definitely much better than all other OS, most of the high quality apps there are paid apps. On the other hand, Android app store has many apps that are. Apart from Apple and Android all other OS have only limited apps. If you just need good basic apps (example: Twitter, Skype, Facebook etc) then they are available for all OS.

Where to buy it from:

Once you have decided what phone to buy, next question is, from where? Always check out for prices from multiple places or stores before buying. From our experience we can say that prices can vary from few hundreds to couple of thousands from store to store. Buying a mobile online is also a good option as you can get a good deal or discount (via coupons) from the online stores. Here’s a guide to check cheapest price of any mobile.

Warranty / Terms and Conditions:

Always check out with the seller/store about the warranty. There are few stores which sell these mobiles considerably cheaper but with seller’s warranty (and not manufacturer’s warranty). Always buy a phone with manufacturer’s warranty. Also check out if the service center for your phone is available in your city. Generally popular brands like Nokia and Samsung have service centers even in smaller towns, while service centers for companies like HTC, Motorola and BlackBerry etc are only limited to top cities.Similar Posts:

• Review of Samsung Galaxy 3 Phone
• Samsung Galaxy 3 V/s HTC Wildfire; Comparison, Price & Pics
• How to Find Cheapest Price of a Mobile Phone
• Micromax A60 V/s Samsung Galaxy 5; Price and Detailed Comparison
• Google Nexus S V/s Apple iPhone 4; Detailed Comparison and Price

© [Tip] Things you should know Before Buying a Smart Phone is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

The Bling 2 is also quite a glamorous device as it has a Swarovski Zirconia in the front and also comes with a white leather carry case enclosed with a compact mirror and special pouch to keep your lip gloss for the ladies.

Features of Micromax Bling 2 A55:

• Android 2.2 Froyo OS
• 2.8 inch multi touch capacitive touch screen
• 3MP camera
• 600MHz CPU
• Internal memory of 150MB; expandable upto 32GB
• GPS
• WiFi
• 3G
• 3.5mm audio jack
• Micromax app store
• Battery : 1000 mAh Li-ion

The Bling 2 also has some other preloaded apps such as Whatsapp messenger, Saavn- Music on Demand, Mosho- Mobile shopping, Mundu Live TV (1 month free trial) and MiRoamer- Mobile radio.

The phone is priced at around Rs.9,000 and will be giving competition to the likes of Samsung Galaxy Pop.Similar Posts:

• Micromax A60 V/s Samsung Galaxy 5; Price and Detailed Comparison
• Top 5 Cheapest Android phones available in India
• Samsung’s Entry-Level Android Phone – Galaxy Mini POP Available for Pre-Order in India
• Samsung Galaxy i899 with Reliance CDMA, India’s First CDMA Android Phone
• Android Froyo based Huawei Ideos to be Released in India; Priced Below Rs.8000

© Micromax launches entry-level Android phone – Bling 2 is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

The 16GB version of the iPhone 4 will be priced at Rs.34,500 and the 32GB will be available for Rs.40,900. Aircel is offering many plans for both prepaid and postpaid users and is also offering the facility to recover the complete upfront cost of the iPhone, in monthly credits on their service plan over a period of 24 months.

Mr. Sandip Das, Director, Aircel, has said,

“We are very proud to bring iPhone 4 to Aircel customers in India. We always endeavour to bring to our consumers a world class experience and offer the best in innovation and service. With a robust roll out of Aircel ’s 3G services in 13 circles across India, the launch of iPhone 4 will allow our consumers to truly savour the 3G experience. With our incredible new price plans, we aim to make iPhone more affordable than ever.”

The iPhone 4 has some amazing features such as iOS 4, 5MP camera with LED flash, Retina display, HD video recording and capability to download thousands of applications from Apple’s application store.

The iPhone 4 will also give the Samsung Galaxy S2, which was launched earlier today, some really tough competition.Similar Posts:

• Aircel 3G goes Live in Chennai
• Apple iPhone 4 announced with iOS4
• Android Smartphone HTC Incredible S launched in India
• Airtel 3G Services LIVE in Chennai & Coimbatore
• Airtel Launches HTC phone with 3G Capabilities for Rs 9990 only

© iPhone 4 to finally be launched in India by Aircel on May 27th is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

With WP Mango, users get Internet Explorer 9 with hardware-accelerated graphics and support for HTML5.

Microsoft has not announced all the 500 new features, however are a few which were unveiled:

• Multitasking, which allows users to switch between applications and get back to recent apps by pressing and holding the back key.
• Improved and more personalized Live Tiles, through which users can access individual and group contacts from the home screen.
• Threads which let you switch between text, Facebook chat and Windows Live Messenger within the same conversation.
• Deeper social network integration with Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
• Better support for voice-to-text and text-to-voice, thereby enabling hands-free messaging.
• Multiple email accounts can be combined and linked to a single inbox.
• Local Scout, which helps in locating nearby restaurants, shopping and activities in an easy-to-use guide.
• App Connect, through which apps are connected to search results and deepening their integration with Windows Phone Hubs, including Music and Video and Pictures, Mango allows apps to be surfaced when and where they make sense.
• Improved Bing search through Bing Vision, Music Search and Voice.

Similar Posts:

• Windows 7 Mobile OS
• HTC to Introduce Windows 7 Based Phone in India with HTC HD 7
• Windows Market Place is Now Live for Developers
• Nokia N8 Will Enhance Mobile Experience with Symbian ^3
• Search iPhone and Android Apps with Google Mobile Search

© Windows Phone Mango officially announced by Microsoft is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

Vodafone customers purchasing the device will be getting complimentary 1Gb of free 3G data usage every month for a period of 6 months.

Specs of Samsung Galaxy S2:

• 4.3″ Super AMOLED Plus screen
• Android 2.3 Gingerbread based OS
• 1.2 Ghz Dual Core Samsung Orion processor
• 16 GB internal storage (expandable upto 32 GB)
• Gyroscope, Accelometer, GPS support
• 8 MP rear and 2 MP front facing camera
• 1650 mAh batter with upto 7 hours of talk-time
• NFC (Near Field Communication) chip embedded

Mobile Gyaan Verdict:

Considering the hardware build, features, processing speed and the latest Android – Ginger bread based operating system, this device for a price tag of Rs. 32890 definitely seems a worthy purchase!Similar Posts:

• Samsung Galaxy Tab: Android based 7” Phone cum Tablet; Specifications, Video, Release Date & more
• Samsung Google Nexus S available for pre-order in Flipkart
• HTC Incredible S, Desire S and Wildfire S showcased at MWC
• Top Android Phones between Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000
• LG launches Optimus One in India for Rs 13500

© Samsung Galaxy S2 Launched in India; Reasonably Priced at Rs. 32890 is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

Other key features of this device include Mp3 player, Stereo FM radio, 3.5mm audio jack, dedicated music keys, torchlight and an expandable memory of upto 16GB with a 2GB card included in the package.

The Nokia X1-01 also has a 1320 mAh Li-Ion battery with an excellent standby time of 43 days and music playback of 36hrs.It even has a very impressive and loud speaker at the back and also comes in 5 colors being Red, Ocean Blue, Orange, Dark Grey and white.

This phone will be available later during this quarter in India, China, Eurasia, South-East Asia/Pacific region, the Middle East, Africa, and Brazil.

The price of Nokia X1-01 will be around Rs.2200 and it seems perfect for music lovers on a budget.

Nokia has even announced that it will launch another device along with the X1-01, being the C2-00. This device was announced in June 2010 and comes with features such as a VGA camera and a series 40 Operating system.It will be priced at around Rs.3000.Similar Posts:

• Nokia Launches X1-00 Cheapest Music Phone
• Nokia Announced 2 New Handsets – Nokia X2-01 and C2-01
• Now Nokia Music is a part of OVI
• Nokia Launches Gold Edition of its Popular Device -N97 Mini; Priced at $850
• Want an Android Phone with a 14MP Camera? Check out the Altek A14 Leo

© Nokia announces Budget Music Phone – X1-01; Will soon launch C2-00 is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

MAXX Mobile, a fast growing Indian handset manufacturer, has launched a new gaming phone, namely MAXX GLO MX388. This device has exciting features such as dedicated gaming buttons and 250 preloaded games.Some of the preloaded games include Super Mario, Pacman, Race, Trojan and Battle City.

Other key features of MAXX GLO MX388 include a 1.3MP camera, MP3/MP4 player, Bluetooth, JAVA, FM Radio, 3 changeable A-cover shells, 800 mAh battery and Expandable memory of upto 8GB with a 2GB card free.

The phone will be available in Mumbai first, followed by other cities in India. The MAXX GLO MX388  is priced at around Rs.2360 and it seems like a good deal for a budget gaming device.

Ajjay Agarwal, Chairman & Managing Director, MAXX Group says,

“Gaming has developed at a rapid rate in India and we expect significant growth in the coming years. The tech-savvy Indian youth are now demanding entertainment at their fingertips even when on the move. We would like to take advantage of this trend by reaching out to the Indian youth with yet another cost-effective mobile phone that promises to satisfy their craving for mobile gaming.”Similar Posts:

• Sony Ericsson PlayStation Phone – Xperia Play Launched Worldwide
• Virgin Mobile now in GSM with Attractive Tariffs
• RIM launches Blackberry Bold 9780 in India with BB 6.0 OS
• 5 Samsung Phones including Galaxy S and Ace getting Android Gingerbread
• Five Most Addictive Games for Nokia Touch Phones

© MAXX Launches Budget Gaming Phone – GLO MX388 is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

BlackBerry Travel, an application which helps users in travel management is now in India. This app was announced about 3 months back and provides BlackBerry smart phone users with an all-in-one integrated tool to plan, book, manage and share travel activities quickly and easily.

This application offers good synchronization through integration of travel itineraries and flight status updates with the calendar and even push notifications. Whenever a new itinerary arrives in the users e-mail, it is automatically updated into this travel application.This app even provides push notifications about changes in the flight status and other information.

Certain other tools which come along with this application includes Currency converters, Hotel booking, Weather forecasts and Local search engine.

The BlackBerry Travel App also features a web component that allows users to book flights and car rentals, as well as print and edit itineraries, from their computer.

BlackBerry smartphone users can even share their travel information with family and friends through LinkedIn or by e-mail, directly from the application itself.

The BlackBerry Travel app will be available as a beta download today from the Test Center category on BlackBerry App World (www.blackberry.com/appworld). The app is free and works on select BlackBerry smartphones running the BlackBerry  5 OS (Device Software) or higher.

A few devices which support BlackBerry Travel include BlackBerry Bold, Curve, Storm and Torch series of smartphones.Similar Posts:

• BlackBerry 2.0 Facebook application now available
• Facebook 2.0 for Blackberry brings Facebook chat and New UI
• Qik helps you Stream and Share your Videos Live from your Mobile
• Blackberry Messenger Coming Soon on Android and iOS
• Nokia Unveils Black N82

© Manage your Travel Plans with BlackBerry Travel Application is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

A few of these phones such as Galaxy Ace/Fit/Gio/Pop were launched in India just last month.

The upgrade to Android 2.3 will start with Galaxy S in the UK and Nordic countries from mid-May, and then be gradually rolled out to other European markets, North America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East Asia, Africa and rest of the world.

Features of Gingerbread over Froyo:

• Faster Performance: The CPU consumption rate for Multimedia content will be much lower and it will also support better 3D graphics thereby making mobile gaming much more enjoyable.
• Better User Interface: Improve usability through faster access and improved copy-and-paste functionality.

The update will be available through Samsung Kies software from the computer.

Once this update is available in India, even entry-level phones like Samsung Galaxy Pop and Fit will also be having Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

[Editor's note: Because of some personal problems, we could not keep the blog updated for about a month. Now onwards, you can expect some Mobile 'Gyaan' on a daily basis.]Similar Posts:

• HTC Wildfire to soon get Android 2.2 Froyo update
• Samsung Galaxy S V/s Google Nexus S; Detailed Comparison and Price
• Samsung’s Entry-Level Android Phone – Galaxy Mini POP Available for Pre-Order in India
• Samsung Galaxy Tab: Android based 7” Phone cum Tablet; Specifications, Video, Release Date & more
• Samsung Galaxy 3 V/s HTC Wildfire; Comparison, Price & Pics

© 5 Samsung Phones including Galaxy S and Ace getting Android Gingerbread is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

During the launch Ajay Sharma, Country Head, HTC India, said

HTC developed the HTC Sense experience to bring cutting-edge innovation to our customers in simple and natural ways that just make sense – this is what the HTC Desire S represents best.

Specs of HTC Desire S:

• Android OS 2.3 (Gingerbread)
• 1GHz Snapdragon MSM8255 processor
• 5MP camera with autofocus and LED flash
• Secondary VGA camera in the front
• 3.7-inch WVGA display
• HTC Sense UI
• RAM 768MB and ROM 1.1GB
• Expandable memory of up to 32GB
• 1450 mAh battery
• 3G HSDPA 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
• Wi-Fi b/g/n
• GPS with A-GPS support

The Desire S comes with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) OS and will soon be retailing in India for Rs.25,490.Similar Posts:

• HTC Incredible S, Desire S and Wildfire S showcased at MWC
• Android Smartphone HTC Incredible S launched in India
• HTC Mozart to be Available in India Soon
• OliveSmart V-S300 – First Android 2.3 Phone in India
• Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 – Detailed Specs and Official Pictures

© HTC Launches Gingerbread based Desire S in India for Rs.25,490 is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

India is one of the first few countries to get the NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor based LG Optimus 2X. The Optimus Black, besides having a NOVA display, is also one of the thinnest smart phones in the world with a thickness of just 9.2mm.

According to Mr.Vishal Chopra, Business Head, Mobile Communication, LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd,

Smart phones have marked the beginning of a new era and undoubtedly 2011 will be the year of smart phones in India. India market is already witnessing a huge demand for these futuristic devices and this demand will tremendously grow in coming years.

Specifications of LG Optimus 2X:

• 4.0 inch TFT capacitive touch screen
• 1 GHz Dual Core NVIDIA Tegra 2 Processor
• Android 2.2 Froyo OS (upgradable to v2.3)
• 8MP camera with LED flash
• 1.3MP secondary camera
• Internal memory of 8GB
• Expandable memory via MicroSD up to 32GB

Specifications of LG Optimus Black:

• 4-inch NOVA display
• 5MP camera with autofocus and LED flash
• 2MP secondary camera
• Android 2.2 Froyo OS (upgradable to v2.3)
• TI OMAP 3630 1 GHz processor
• Internal memory of 2GB
• Expandable memory via MicroSD up to 32GB

Both these high-end devices will soon be available in retail stores across India.The LG Optimus 2X will cost around Rs.30,000 and the Optimus Black will cost around Rs.27,000. So, let us know if you are interested in any of these two super phones.Similar Posts:

• LG Unveils World’s Fastest & Dual Core Smart Phone – LG Optimus 2X
• LG launches Optimus One in India for Rs 13500
• LG Optimus One V/s HTC Wildfire; Price, Detailed Comparison & more
• Samsung Galaxy S V/s Google Nexus S; Detailed Comparison and Price
• Google Nexus One V/s Google Nexus S; Price and Comparison

© LG launches Optimus 2X and Optimus Black in India is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.

Contents inside the Package

• Nokia X3-02 Handset
• 860 mAh BL-4S Li-Ion Battery
• Nokia Compact Charger AC-8
• Nokia Stereo Headset WH-102
• 2GB (Micro SD) Memory Card
• OVI suit DVD
• Micro USB cable.
• User guide

These contents may differ based on your region.

Specs of X3-02

• 2.4 inch, 240 x 320 pixel, 256K color TFT resistive touchscreen.
• 3G HSDPA – 10.2 Mbps, HSUPA – 2 Mbps, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, USB On-the-go support.
• 50 MB internal memory, expandable up to 16GB with micro SD.
• 5 MP camera
• Stereo FM radio with RDS
• 860 mAh battery.

Hardware / Design

This phone is slim with just 9.6mm thickness and easy to grip with both hands while typing and weighs 78 g. Due to its slim design this phone fits even into a tight jeans pocket.

The phone has a three row keypad instead of a four rows. On the first row there is call and end call button and Messaging and Music shortcut keys in between them. The last row keys are moved to right side which needs getting used to while typing 0 or spaces. There are no option or navi keys. Touch screen is used for navigating through menu and options.

There is a volume rocker on the left side of the phone and a lock / unlock button next to that. There is no camera button which is a disappointment .

On the top there is a 3.5mm audio jack , Micro USB connector slot which can even charge the phone when connected to a PC, charger connector. At the bottom there is a large speaker grill.

The back side of the phone has a metal back cover that comes out when the two locks at the bottom sides are pressed together. After removing the back cover you can see the 860 mAh battery and two slots, one for the memory card and one for the SIM card. 5MP camera at the back is just above the back cover.

Home Screen

After pressing the lock button and unlock on the screen it takes you to the home screen that is highly customizable. Just a long press on the home screen lets you personalize the home screen with widgets like clock, Radio and music, Mail, Shortcut bar,WLAN etc.

The Number of home widgets are limited to 4. There is a ‘Go to’ short cut on the left menu which opens into a grid view that lets you select the shortcuts. This is limited to 9 which shows icons of the shortcuts along with the name under that.

Just click the personalize view on the top and select the shortcut to be replaced. There is also home screen settings option next to that.

Contacts and Messaging

The contacts show the names in the contact list with images. There are also options to set speed dial for contacts, sync your contacts with you OVI account, contact groups, copy or move contact from phone memory to SIM card.

There is a messaging shortcut key next to call button which can be accessed even when you are doing some other thing which takes you into it. This lets you write a new message or takes you to inbox that is in the conversational view. Conversation, lists the messages based on contacts. You can also change that to normal inbox from the options.

Inside messaging there is Mail and Chat apps. There are various mail options to choose from, like Ovi Mail, Yahoo mail, Gmail, Hotmail etc. This also lets you choose the connectivity options via Wi-fi or mobile data. You can set it as do not ask to choose the default.

You can also set the how mail should load for each mail setup from the account settings like manual update, fast and very fast that loads automatically. The time span for mail alerts and signatures could also be set for each accounts. This does not use push email, so it takes some time for you to get notifications.

Chat services like Gtalk, Yahoo messenger, OVI and MSN are also available. The chats are categorized as conversations, online and offline.

You can hide the chat service so that it runs on the background and notifies you with alert message and tone for new chat messages. Your current status is also visible on home screen notification bar on the top.

Music, Video Player and Radio

The Music player looks like the one you see in other S40 handsets that shows all songs, based on artists, genres and option to create playlist.

The playback is good in the headset and loud enough while playing with the loudspeaker and headphones.

The album arts are shown in the background while playing the music. There are options like shuffle, repeat, equalizer that are common. There is also option to play the music via Bluetooth headset.

It plays 3GPP, MPEG-4 and WMV video formats.

The Radio with RDS auto tunes the radio stations. The stations could also be set manually by selecting the frequency.

The shortcut key for music next to messaging key controls both music and radio. This does not open music player or radio but only shows few option like play/ pause and skip to next or previous tracks / radio stations.

Connectivity and Browser

This phone has 3G that lets download and browse at greater speeds. This doesn’t have a front camera so you can’t make video calls.

There is Wi-Fi which lets you scan and store the Wi-Fi networks near you. This lets you use Wi-Fi instead of mobile data connection when you use applications.

There is Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP that lets you stream music and transfer files to other devices.

The Browser is the normal S40 browser that loads the page with the navigation and zoom features. It’s hard to browser whole web page in such a small screen so better use Opera Mini which is pre-installed.

There is OVI store which looks awesome in this phone with lots of features and there is also OVI browser that you can download from OVI store. It has Facebook, You-tube and other social networking shortcuts optimized for the phone.

Camera

This has a 5 MP camera which gives good pictures at 1944 x 2592 pixels. This has 4x digital zoom (use volume keys) . There is also landscape format for capturing images. Other camera features include self timer and effects. Since there is no flash, image looks average in low lighting conditions.

The video quality is average at 640 x 480 pixels. There is photo gallery with the option to view pictures even in the timeline mode.

Checkout the sample images from its 5MP camera

Other basic features include Calendar, Alarm clock, Calculator, Converter and pre-installed games like Hip Hop Tournament, Climate Mission.

Sync with OVI lets you sync contacts, calendar and notes to your account online. Download Snaptu from OVI store and Foursquare from Nokia Beta labs that comes in handy.

Pros

• Sleek and light design
• Good camera
• 3G and Wi-fi connectivity
• Great Music playback on headphone and loudspeaker.
• Email and Chat features

Cons

• Limited app support and no multitasking with S40 OS
• No camera Button
• Average battery life
• Bit Costly

Mobile Gyaan Verdict:

X3-02 is for those who is looking for a phone with good music, camera and messaging. Battery life is average, that lasts for 1.5 days on heavy usage with always on Wi-Fi and data and 2.5 days for normal usage. The phone is sleek and packed with features, but the small screen and S40 OS makes it hard to utilize all those features. Also the price could have been priced a bit less.

The current market price for the phone is Rs 8,400 and comes in three colors petrol blue, white silver and dark grey.Similar Posts:

• Screen Snap for S60 5th edition; Helps you Capture Screen of your Phone
• Nokia Announces 3 new Social Networking Handsets
• Review – Nokia X2-01: Messaging and Social Networking on the Go
• Nokia announces Budget Music Phone – X1-01; Will soon launch C2-00
• Cheapest 3G Mobile Phone – Nokia 2730 Classic

© Review – Nokia X3-02 : Sleek Phone Packed with Features is originally published on Mobile Gyaan.