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2009-02-04T02:41:00.001-08:00

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Review Nokia N81 and Nokia 6085

2009-01-07T17:02:00.001-08:00

Nokia N81 Review

Once again Nokia has set the new standard for stylish, feature loaded mobile phones for entertainment lovers who require maximum features when they use their phones. Its one of their latest releases in their N series of mobile phones and they have named the Nokia N81.

No matter where a phone user is and what ever they are doing they are guaranteed to never be bored with this game and feature packed unit.

Nokia's N series of cell phones are well recognized as solid and sturdy units and the N81 has not deviated from this trend. However; this new N series phone has made a few trade offs in features. For instance phone function in the N81 only has a 2 mega pixel camera in it compared the the 5 mega pixels in the N95 but it does include a a great functioning flash feature as well as state of the art Zyss camera optics.

The trade of though is that the N81 weighs in heavy when it comes to state of the art entertainment features. Some of the new features the N 81 has for gamers is a navigation pad that features a touch wheel that is very similar to the wheel on an iPod and a super brilliant 16.7 million color screen display that offers a clear image and fantastic resolution.

If you are primarily interested in games then you are going to love the way that this newest addition to the Nokia N series supports N-Gage the latest trend in mobile gaming. The N-Gage gaming platform contains the best graphics available in mobile phones today and something that any serious gamer should give close consideration to. As an added bonus, this new game oriented phone from Nokia comes pre loaded with three popular games.

Along with the screen being able to be opertated in both landscape and portrait modes there are also controls on it dedicated exclusively to game use. Of course, the designers of the N81 also had music lovers in mind when they were at work and the results are obvious.

This new phone does not need a memory card, because it comes off the shelf with a whopping 8 GB of memory so there is room to hold all of the songs that you need to record. Also, as well as Bluetooth stereo headphone support this N 81 also includes a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack. Other features that the N81 has for music lovers are an equalizer, FM radio and play list support.

Other features that are crammed into this solid and hefty unit are video calling, Nokia map applications and wireless GPS. So all in all the N81 is a great improvement on other N series phones from Nokia and has built on excellent features that can be found in previous models to give gamers a top notch phone for what they like to do.

Also, this phone is a great handset for someone who is looking for excellent music features as well. One thing that is fairly obvious when the phone is held in the hand is that it is somewhat bulky and has more heft to it then other similar products on the market. There is a good reason for this however and that is that it is designed and built to be a sturdy and durable unit that can hold up to heavy use.

Nokia N81 Preview

Nokia 6085

Nokia 6085 Review - Nokia 6085 is one out of the most popular portfolio of Nokia series of mobile phones. Having an affordable price, Nokia 6085 is designed for easy use, emphasising a modern design with up-to-date technology. It is a quad band phone, working mostly in every part of the world. The simple uncluttered menu structure of the phone is easy to navigate. It has a clear keypad layout, and the elegancy of the phone is brought out by the black soft touch paint detailing, with chrome accents. It is also available in colour choices, including sand gold, royal pink, and seagull silver.

The phone features highly legible, large colour display screen, having 262,000 colours, and 4x digital zoom. With a resolution of 128 x 160 pixels, the display on the cover has a blue light indication of the caller identification, and it displays the battery strength and the time as well.

The Nokia 6085 has a built-in camera, along with a video recorder. It has an internal memory of 4 MB which can be expanded by the help of MicroSD card. The phone features streaming music from its built-in music player, playing MP3, MP4, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+ or WMA formats, and FM Radio. It also has Bluetooth facility and IrDA.

The video and music can be stored in the internal memory of the phone, which can be expanded to 2GB, using the optional hot-swappable MicroSD memory card. The Bluetooth enables the phone to be connected to a PC, for transfer of images, or may be used as a wire-less enhancement with other compatible devices. As regards staying in touch, Nokia 6085 features easy messaging and voice communication. It also supports MMS, Nokia Xpress audio messaging, enhanced email and push to talk, features. The user has the facility to browse the net with XTML browser available in the phone, and with fast data communication feature with EDGE and GPRS, high speed data transmission is can be achieved.

Among the smart features, Nokia 6085 has a voice recorder facility, Java games, VGA Digital Camera, email, and many more. The phone also features speaker phone, voice dialling, and an alarm clock. It offers live chat sessions through instant messaging with compatible phones. Nokia 6085 is a GSM quad band phone, responding to 850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900 Mhz GSM frequency bandwidths. The phone uses a Li-Ion battery, having up to 240 hours of stand-by and up to 5 hours of talk time.

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Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and Motorola ROKR EM30

2008-12-23T23:50:00.001-08:00

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic has just passed through the FCC again, this time packing dual-band UMTS (850/1900MHz) support for North American 3G networks. This version, also known as the NAM variant, will support HSDPA data speeds on both AT&T and Rogers' 3G networks, though neither carrier has stated it will carry the 5800 XpressMusic.

Motorola ROKR EM30

Motorola unleashed its ear for audio with its latest handset, the MOTOROKR EM35, a sliding-style wireless phone designed to enhance the music and talk experience with new CrystalTalk technology and virtual surround sound. The new technology not only amplifies conversations, but also helps reduce background noise, a bonus when it comes to listening to favorite tracks or making calls in noisy public environments. The phone, available later this quarter, sports built-in dual speakers, stereo Bluetooth and a 3.5mm stereo input jack compatible with top-of-the-line headphones.

You'll also boost your music cred thanks to the EM35's robust MOTOMUSIC player, complete with keys to launch and control music on the go. It's easy to navigate through your entire music library by using the handset's FastScroll navigation wheel, which lets you select songs, albums and artists, as well as shuffle selections. Users can also listen to tunes while downloading media from the online music store, the ultimate mobile destination for previewing new music, learning about favorite artists and sharing tracks with friends. The EM35 also supports video and podcast files and features an integrated FM radio that uses a Radio Data System to identify artists and songs right on your screen. You can even manage your mobile music at home on your PC with Windows Media Player.

With a fine selection of features built into the stylish handset, the MOTOROKR EM35 will impress more than just music lovers. The phone also features a 3.1 megapixel camera capable of capturing still and video images. Built-in editing functions also lets you share multimedia content online and via the phone's instant messaging applications. Downloadable applications are also available for monitoring the weather, stocks, breaking news, and sports scores, making the EM35 a leader in audio, entertainment, messaging and talk.

Samsung loses $7.3 million patent suit in China and Palm receives an additional $100 million from Elevation Partners

2008-12-23T23:48:00.005-08:00

Samsung loses $7.3 million patent suit in China

China-based Holley Communication has won a suit against Samsung over dual-mode cell phone patents, resulting in a payout of US$7.3 million. Holley Communications claims that Samsung is infringing on its patents, which cover dual-mode cell phone technology that allows a single phone to work on both CDMA and GSM networks. The suit was filed in China in The Intermediate People's Court of Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang. The $7.3 million is a record for pay-out in the Chinese cellphone industry.

More than 700k cellphones have been sold by Samsung that contain the infringing technology, and the product is still on sale in most markets. Holley officials stated that this pay-out is only the first piece of compensation they would be seeking.

Palm receives an additional $100 million from Elevation Partners

Yesterday Palm Inc. announced that Elevation Partners, a private equity firm co-founded by Bono, the frontman of the band U2, has agreed to invest an additional US$100 million into the company. In return for the investment, Elevation Partners will receive newly issued Series C preferred stock that it can convert into regular Palm shares at a later date.

Palm says that the additional funds will help it maintain financial stability during the current world economic crisis and will allow it to roll out with full force its planned 2009 products, which are rumored to include a new Linux based smartphone OS named Nova.

Nokia's Mail On Ovi available for Series 40 powered cell phones and New cell phone antenna tech to drastically reduce power use

2008-12-23T23:48:00.003-08:00

Nokia's Mail On Ovi available for Series 40 powered cell phones

Nokia has launched a global public beta of its new web mail service, Mail on Ovi. The service is currently only available for select S40-powered feature phones, and can only be setup from the phone.

Nokia announced its Mail on Ovi service a few months ago, pointing to the emerging markets as the motivation since personal computers are not as common in those markets. The Mail on Ovi service is free and offers users up to 1GB of online storage, with integrated junk mail filtering. Oddly, the web-accessible version of Mail on Ovi is not planned to launch until February 2009. Interested users can get more information from Nokia's Beta Labs.

Nokia also recently announced that it is integrating all of its online services with a single sign-on for users. Nokia's online services, such as Share on Ovi, Sync on Ovi, and Files on Ovi, previously required users to keep track of different user names and passwords. The creation and integration of the Nokia Account for users will offer a single sign-on experience.

New cell phone antenna tech to drastically reduce power use

A new wireless antenna technology developed by Atif Shamim, an engineering student at Canada's Carleton University, is claimed to be able to reduce a mobile phone's antenna power consumption by nearly 92%. The key piece of the technology involves disconnecting a cell phone's antenna from the rest of the electronic components in the device.

In order to separate the antenna from the rest of the phone, Shamim's system uses very short range wireless transmitting micro-antennas within the chip design to handle the communications. Shamim says that by insulating the antenna from the rest of the devices that it would normally be wired to, there is no chance for the antenna's transmission power to be drained, thus lowering the overall burden a cell phone places on its battery.

RIM reports solid Q3 financials and Palm posts quarterly loss, talks of new platform

2008-12-23T23:48:00.001-08:00

RIM reports solid Q3 financials

Late yesterday Research In Motion reported its fiscal year Q3 earnings, which fell in line with analysts' expectations. Revenue was up 7.9% from Q2 to US$2.78 billion, and up an impressive 66.3% from the $1.67 billion figure posted at this time last year. RIM states that 81% of this past quarter's revenue came from handset sales, with the remainder coming from software and service fees.

Those revenue figures lead to $477,296 in adjusted net income, translating to a diluted adjusted earnings per share figure of $.83. RIM says that it added 2.6 million new BlackBerry subscribers in the quarter, which marks a 14% increase from the prior quarter and gives RIM a total of roughly 21 million subscribers.

Palm posts quarterly loss, talks of new platform

Yesterday Palm released its Q2 results for its fiscal year 2009 business operations. In addition to the financials, though, Palm's CEO announced that it will officially unveil its next generation Linux based operating system, dubbed Nova, at its press conference at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Palm CES press conference is scheduled to take place on Thursday, January 8th, and BusinessWeek reported earlier in the week that the new Palm Nova OS would be announced at that time. Palm has said that the first products to feature the new platform will be launched in the first half of 2009 and that it will continue to produce Windows Mobile powered smartphones for business users for the foreseeable future.

In terms of its financial performance, Palm posted US$191.6 million in revenue for the quarter. The company moved 599,000 smartphones, which is down 13% from the previous year's figure. Smartphone revenue came in at $171 million, which is down 39% from the prior year.

Palm posted a net loss of $508.6 million for the quarter, the majority of which, $396.7 million, was attributed to a charge associated with the change in status of some deferred tax assets.

AT&T testing HSPA+ network in Chicago

2008-12-23T23:47:00.003-08:00

AT&T previously confirmed that it would be using LTEfor its 4G network, but is also planning to update its HSDPAnetwork to the faster HSPA+ technology first. An AT&T spokesperson recently confirmed that the carrier has been running trials in Chicago that test upgrades to its HSDPA network that would offer data speeds of 7.2Mbps or more.

AT&T spokesperson Mark Siegel confirmed the tests, but declined to explain what technology was being used to achieve these faster data speeds. HSPA+ not only increases downlink data connection speeds up to 14.4Mbps, but also increases uplink speeds, as well, which enables faster uploading from cell phones.

Samsung r310 and Motorola QA30

2008-12-23T23:47:00.001-08:00

Samsung r310

Samsung launched its new SCH-r310 Byline on MetroPCS today, with support for MetroPCS' ChatLINK PTT(Push-to-Talk) walkie-talkie service. This entry-level clamshell also features a built-in speakerphone and web browser for on-the-go connectivity.

As it lacks a camera, the SCH-r310 Byline could be a good choice for users in high-security jobs, and the built-in Bluetooth makes it easy to use a wireless handsfree headset. The Samsung SCH-r310 Byline is available today online in a striking red color scheme, and will be available in stores on Monday. The phone is priced at US$99.00.

Motorola QA30

The Motorola QA30 Hint was officially announced today. This new messaging phone sports a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and 2.5" landscape oriented QVGA (320x240 pixel) resolution display. The Hint also features EV-DO support for high-speed data transfers and a built-in GPS receiver for navigation.

The Motorola Hint's 2 megapixel camera allows you to snap a quick photo or video, and there is a microSD card slot for extra storage. Bluetooth is also on board, including A2DP support for stereo headphones, as well as a standard 3.5mm audio port for easy music enjoyment.

The Motorola QA30 Hint is set to be available through Alltel on November 28th (Black Friday) for US$99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate.

Sony Ericsson W705 Walkman and Sony Ericsson W760

2008-12-22T18:57:00.001-08:00

Sony Ericsson W705 Walkman

Today Sony Ericsson announced the Q1 2009 availability of its new W705 Walkman music phone. Sporting the same high-quality audio as the company's W980, the W705 features high tech music features such as shake track control, Track ID song identification, SensMe mood playlists, and a built-in FM radio. And thanks to the built-in WiFi support, the W705 is able to download DRM-free music and other items from Sony Ericsson's PlayNow arena service over the air.

The W705 features a large 2.4" QVGA display that is capable of rendering 262k different color shades. The contents of the display will auto-rotate when used with features such as the NetFront web browser. The W705 supports RSS feeds, Microsoft Exchange synchronization, and features a 3.2 megapixel camera that can upload photos to the web using the phone's WiFi connection.

Other highlights from the W705's spec sheet include Bluetooth stereo support, a YouTube video client, and 3D Java gaming with motion sensing controls. The W705 comes equipped with 120MB of built-in storage space that is backed up by an included 4GB Memory Stick M2 card that comes in the box.

The Sony Ericsson W705 is a quad-band GSM/EDGE device that supports high speed HSPA 3G connections on the 900 and 2100MHz frequency bands used in Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world. It will be available in two color schemes: silver and red. No word yet on pricing or which particular markets will see the device on shelves first.

Sony Ericsson W760

Today Sony Ericsson launched the W760 slider on AT&T's high-speed 3G network. The W760 boasts tri-band UMTS (850/1900/2100MHz) support for world-coverage in addition to quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) support as a backup.

The Sony Ericsson W760 also features a built-in GPS receiver and comes with a free 30-day trial of AT&T Navigator GPS navigation service. The full HTML web browser on the W760 allows owners to be constantly connected to the internet, and an internal accelerometer allows for motion-controlled gaming, too.

The Sony Ericsson W760 is priced at $129.99 after a 2-year commitment and mail-in rebate, and is available in red or black from AT&T. A silver color scheme is also available exclusively at RadioShack.

Sony Ericsson TM506 and Sony Ericsson HCB-108

2008-12-22T18:55:00.001-08:00

Sony Ericsson TM506

Sony Ericsson returns to T-Mobile with TM506 3G clamshell

Sony Ericsson HCB-108

Sony Ericsson has launched its new HCB-108 Bluetooth speakerphone today, which offers consumers a wireless, handsfree calling solution. This small speakerphone claims a ground breaking 25 hours of talk time, and a month of standby time before needing a charge.

Measuring only 119mm x 61mm x 14mm (4.7" x 2.4" x .6"), the Sony Ericsson HCB-108 includes a handy visor mount, so you can quickly and easily mount it in whatever vehicle you happen to be driving. This Bluetooth speakerphone is set to be available in Q4 in your choice of black or silver. Pricing information has not yet been announced.

Sony Ericsson MBW-200 Sparkling Allure and Sony Ericsson W960 Walkman

2008-12-21T20:12:00.001-08:00

Sony Ericsson MBW-200 Sparkling Allure

Sony Ericsson has announced the MBW-200, the female version of its MBW-150 Bluetooth watches. Styled specifically for ladies, the MBW-200 is available in three distinct styles: Sparkling Allure, Contemporary Elegance and Evening Classic.

The Sparkling Allure style features a rose gold rim with crystal décor stones and rose gold hands with white fill on the face. The strap is white crocodile leather with a rose gold clasp. The Contemporary Elegance edition features a stainless steel band with a white face, while the Evening Classic sports a black leather band with a black face, perfect for any situation.

The Sony Ericsson MBW-200 wristwatches feature a small monochrome OLED display and connect to your cell phone via Bluetooth. The watch is then able to display your incoming caller ID, as well as alert you to new text messages, emails, and even calendar alarms. A row of dedicated music playback keys also allow the watch to function as a remote control for your music-centric cell phone.

The MBW-200 is designed to only work with Sony Ericsson cell phones, though 3rd parties have developed applications that allow the watches to interface with Windows Mobile and Symbian-powered smartphones, as well. Pricing information for the Sony Ericsson MBW-200 was not released, though availability is planned for Q4 2008.

Sony Ericsson W960 Walkman

Sony Ericsson decided that the 2008 Mobile World Congress was a perfect event to let loose the new W980 Walkman clamshell. This sleek handset features dedicated music keys on the front, as well as a generous color display, offering a complete music experience without opening the handset.

The W980's FM transmitter will allow it to conveniently broadcast tunes to any available FM frequency, perfect for use in your car or at home with any FM radio. 8GB of internal memory and Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support for stereo headsets also help make the W980 an impressive music device.

Other features include a 3.2 megapixel camera with video recording and support for Sony Ericsson's PlayNow music store and SensMe mood options. The Access NetFront full HTML web browser is also included, as well as an accelerometer that allows the screen to automatically re-orient when you rotate the phone.

The W980 sports quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) and is planned to be available in Q3 2008. No pricing information has been released yet.

Samsung SCH-i770 and Samsung SCH-i910 Omnia

2008-12-17T16:27:00.001-08:00

Samsung SCH-i770

Verizon has officially announced the Samsung SCH-i770 Saga, a Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional-powered block shaped smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard. The Saga's 2.6" QVGA (240x320 pixels) touchscreen display should make it easy to interact with.

The Samsung Saga also packs a punch in connectivity with its dual-band CDMA (800/1900MHz) support, as well as quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) support for world travelers. WiFi is also on board for high-speed data transfers. The Samsung Saga's 2 megapixel camera includes NightShot technology for enhanced performance in low-light situations. A microSD card slot is also on-board for extra storage options.

The Samsung SCH-i770 Saga smartphone is set to be available in Verizon Wireless stores on December 1st, priced at $199.99 with a 2-year commitment and after a mail-in rebate.

Samsung SCH-i910 Omnia

Today Samsung launched the SCH-i910 Omnia for Verizon Wireless. This new Omnia is basically a CDMA version of the original i900 that has received a few additional tweaks when it comes to the user interface. The new Omnia supports both WiFi and EV-DO Rev A^(INFO) high-speed 3G data for fast web browsing and downloads.

In terms of updates, the Omnia features the same widget based TouchWiz home screen as the original, but instead offers a different alternative Today screen layout that we find much more usable than the widget version. The biggest UI change, though, is the addition of finger scrolling to the base level Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional user experience. This means that there is even less of a reason to use a stylus than before, since there's no need to grab narrow scroll bars to navigate through lists of email messages or programs.

A number of Verizon specific features have been added to the new i910 Omnia as well. The i910 Omnia works with Verizon's VZ Navigator GPS navigation app as well as with the company's Visual Voicemail offering. The new Omnia also ships with an integrated AIM, MSN, and Yahoo! instant messaging client. The included VZAppZone application makes it easy for users to buy new graphics, ringers, and applications, too.

Holdover features from the original Omnia include the 5 megapixel autofocus camera with face detection and smile detection modes, and the 3.2" 400x240 pixel touchscreen display (which has improved haptic feedback over the original). Automatic screen rotation is still on the device, but now features a number of different screen transition effects that can be used. For those that prefer their mobile movies to be viewed in the best quality possible, the Omnia's DivX video support is going to be key.

In general we like the updates and added features, making the i910 Omnia for Verizon even better than the original - a device we liked very much. It weighs 118.2g (4.2oz) and measures up at 112mm x 61mm x 13mm (4.4" x 2.4" x .5") in size. Samsung claims that the i910 Omnia's battery is capable of over 5.5 hours of talk time or about 19 days of standby time. While real world use can vary greatly, we've found the battery in the Omnia to be pretty solid all around.

Verizon is offering the Omnia for US$199.99 after a $70 mail-in rebate when purchased with a new service contract.

Samsung S3030 Tobi and Samsung SGH-a867 Eternity.

2008-12-17T16:23:00.001-08:00

Samsung S3030 Tobi

Today Samsung introduced the S3030 Tobi, a new phone for pre-teens and the young at heart with a focus on fun and safety. The new Tobi features a graphical user interface that Samsung says the likes of which have never been used on a phone before. The company doesn't go into much detail, but does say that the phones make use of animated on-screen characters from one of three built-in themes: monster, snowman, ocean.

In terms of safety features, the Tobi features SOS call, SOS message, and fake call functions. In attempting to be safe for the environment, the Tobi is made of recycled materials and bio-plastics and makes use of non-toxic paints and non-allergenic materials.

Adding to the fun are the user changeable rear covers and a special clear rear cover sleeve that let's users customize the phone with their own photos. The S3030 Tobi will be available in 6 colors and will launch initially in the UK and Italy this month, with the rest of Europe as well as the CIS and China seeing the device within a year.

No word yet on pricing. Samsung will be launching a website dedicated to the Tobi in the near future at tobi.samsungmobile.com. The site was not yet live as of the time this story was written.

Samsung SGH-a867 Eternity

AT&T and Samsung look to forever with the SGH-a867 Eternity, a candybar cell phone with a large 3.2" touchscreen display and Samsung's TouchWiz user interface. TouchWiz allows the user to customize the homescreen by dragging and dropping icons wherever they please, for the ultimate in personalization.

The Samsung Eternity sports quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) support paired with dual-band UMTS (850/1900MHz) support for AT&T's high-speed 3G network. The Eternity also features AT&T's MediaFLO-powered Mobile TV in addition to Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support for stereo headsets.

The Samsung Eternity's 3 megapixel camera is paired with a microSD card slot, so you'll have plenty of options for extra storage, and the camera can also record video clips.

The Samsung SGH-a867 Eternity is available now from AT&T, priced at $149.99 after a 2-year commitment and mail-in rebate.

Samsung SCH-u810 Reknown and Samsung SGH-A777

2008-12-17T16:18:00.001-08:00

Samsung SCH-u810 Reknown

Verizon has launched the Samsung SCH-u810 Renown, which features not only EV-DO support on its 800/1900MHz CDMA network, but also includes quad-band GSM support for world travelling abilities. This stylish clamshell cell phone also features visual voicemail support, which lets users easily browse through voicemail messages on the Renown's display.

The Samsung Renown packs a 2 megapixel camera with NightShot for improved quality in low-light situations. Bluetooth with A2DP support for stereo headsets is also on board, in addition to a microSD card slot for extra storage.

The Samsung SCH-u810 Renown is planned to be available from Verizon Wireless's online shop and telesales on November 19th, and in stores on December 1st. The Renown will be priced at $179.99 after a 2-year commitment and mail-in rebate.

Samsung SGH-A777

AT&T has quietly added the Samsung SGH-A777 to its lineup, sporting a 1.3 megapixel camera and microSD card slot. This stylish slider also packs quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) support, in addition to dual-band UMTS (850/1900MHz) with HSDPA for high-speed data transfers.

The Samsung SGH-A777 for AT&T offers support for AT&T's Video Share feature, which allows callers to share live video while on a phone call. The small 880mAh battery is estimated to offer up to 3 hours of talk time, and over 10 days of standby time.

The Samsung SGH-A777 is available now from AT&T, priced at $79.99 after a 2-year commitment and $50 mail-in rebate. This slider is available in your choice of red or blue color schemes.

Samsung Gravity and Samsung T919 Behold

2008-12-17T16:14:00.001-08:00

Samsung Gravity

Today T-Mobile announced the Samsung Gravity, a candybar cell phone with a convenient slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The Gravity also sports a microSD card slot for storage expansion and Bluetooth with A2DP support for stereo headsets, which should add up to a decent portable music experience.

The Samsung Gravity's 1.3 megapixel camera also records video, which should allow it to capture plenty of great moments, while support for T-Mobile's MyFaves service helps you keep in touch with your friends and family.

The Samsung Gravity is expected to be available on November 17th, priced at $49.99 with a new 2-year commitment. Two color schemes, white with aqua accents and grey with lime accents, will be available.

Samsung T919 Behold

T-Mobile and Samsung today announced the Samsung SGH-T919 Behold, a full-touchscreen cell phone that uses Samsung's TouchWiz user interface. TouchWiz allows users to drag-and-drop applications to the home screen of their cell phone, for a perfectly customized experience.

The Samsung Behold also packs a punch with its 5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and video record. A built-in GPS receiver works with TeleNav GPS Navigator and the built-in accelerometer allows the phone to intelligently switch between portrait and landscape modes. Quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) support in addition to WiFi and dual-band UMTS (1700/2100MHz) support will offer super-fast data transfer speeds, too.

The Samsung Behold features an on-screen QWERTY keyboard with haptic feedback for convenient text input, and will be available on November 10th in your choice of brushed espresso or light rose finish. Pricing is expected to be $149.99 with a 2-year commitment.

Samsung SCH-r800 Delve and Samsung SGH-a767 Propel

2008-12-17T16:10:00.001-08:00

Samsung SCH-r800 Delve

Samsung and Alltel have announced the Samsung SCH-r800 Delve, a new full touchscreen cell phone with a 2 megapixel camera. The Delve uses Samsung's TouchWiz user interface on its 3" 240x400 pixel resolution touchscreen to offer a friendly user experience. The TouchWiz user interface allows users to drag-and-drop widgets onto a special home screen, for the ultimate in personalization.

The Samsung Delve features a standard 3.5mm headset port in addition to Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support for stereo headsets. The music features are enhanced with a microSD card slot, so you can store hundreds of MP3s for mobile entertainment.

The Samsung Delve supports Alltel's high-speed EV-DO network, for super-fast data speeds, but the svelte 12.7mm (.5") thick phone should still slip easily into your pocket. The Samsung SCH-r800 Delve is available today for pre-order, priced at $199.99 after a 2-year commitment and $100 mail-in rebate. The phone is set to be available in stores and online on November 7th.

Samsung SGH-a767 Propel

AT&T and Samsung announced the Propel today, a slender QWERTY slider cell phone with plenty of great features. The Samsung Propel's 2.2" display is set in landscape mode, which should make web browsing and snapping photos a great user experience.

The Samsung Propel features a 1.3 megapixel camera with video recording and a microSD card slot for holding onto all of your photos. Bluetooth 2.0 is on board, with A2DP support for wireless stereo headsets. The phone supports AT&T Mobile Music, which allows users to download tracks from Napster ToGo or eMusic directly to the handset.

AT&T's Samsung Propel is planned to be available in late October in blue, green, red, or white with red accents. Pricing is set at US$79.99, with a 2-year commitment and mail-in rebate.

Samsung SGH-i907 Epix and Samsung SCH-u650.

2008-12-17T15:55:00.001-08:00

Samsung SGH-i907 Epix

Today Samsung and AT&T officially announced the SGH-i907 Epix, a QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen equipped smartphone running the Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system. The Epix is based very heavily on the SGH-i780 that is available in other parts of the world, and features the same optical joystick controller that is found on that device as well as on the i900 Omnia.

The Epix is a true world traveller of a smartphone thanks to its 850, 1900, and 2100MHz UMTS/HSDPA high-speed 3G support, which is backed up by quad-band GSM/EDGE support for non-3G markets. The Epix features a 320x320 pixel touchscreen display that is flush mounted with the front of the phone. It measures 2.5" across diagonally. The Epix also packs a 1800mAh battery into its half inch thick body.

Other features on the business oriented Epix include a 2 megapixel camera, AT&T Video Share support, WiFi, and a built-in MobiTV client. Bluetooth 2.0 is also available, and the built-in aGPS module means that AT&T Navigator can be used for navigational chores. Like other Windows Mobile 6.1 devices, the Epix supports push email, over the air synchronization of contacts, calendar appointments, and tasks, as well as threaded SMS.

The i907 Epix comes with 256MB of internal storage, which can be augmented with a microSDHC card of up to 32GB in size. There is also about 150MB of RAM for internal applications to run in. The Epix measures 117mm x 61mm x 13mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 0.5") and weighs a reasonable 129g (4.4oz). Its battery should be good for up to 7 hours of talk time or 14 days of standby time.

The Epix is available starting today for US$99.99 after rebate when purchased with a new two year agreement.

Samsung SCH-u650

Today Samsung and Verizon announced the availability of the Samsung SCH-u650 Sway on Verizon's network. The Sway is a slim silver slider style handset with a 2.2" 262k color display, and it features a 2 megapixel digital camera as well as a music player that is compatible with regular MP3 files and Verizon's V CAST Music with Rhapsody service (which requires a PC for loading music).

Other features of note on the Samsung Sway include mobile instant messaging support, the ability to send both text and picture messages, and Bluetooth wireless capability. The Bluetooth system includes the A2DP stereo profile, which means that users can enjoy the music they have loaded on the Sway without the normal tangle of wires by using a set of Bluetooth headphones (not included). Lastly, the Sway supports microSD memory cards for additional storage room. Verizon claims that the device is compatible with cards as large as 8GB in capacity.

The u650 Sway measures up at 105.4mm x 49.8mm x 12.0mm (4.15" x 1.96" x 0.47") in size and weighs 101g (3.6oz). Samsung claims that the Sway's battery should be good for up to 4.5 hours of talk time or 13 days of standby time.

The Samsung SCH-u650 Sway is available online from Verizon Wireless today for US$69.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate, when purchased with a two-year agreement. It will be available in Verizon Wireless retail stores on October 14th.

Nokia 5220 XpressMusic and Nokia N97.

2008-12-17T15:51:00.001-08:00

Nokia 5220 XpressMusic

This morning, Nokia announced the 5220 XpressMusic handset, featuring a unique asymmetrical design and rhythmic lights that flash to the beat of the music. The handset will be available in black with your choice of red, blue, or green accents.

Sporting tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900MHz or 850/1800/1900MHz), the 5220 XpressMusic features a 2 megapixel camera with flash and video recording to help users capture life's moments. The microSD card slot, dedicated music playback keys, and standard 3.5mm audio jack allow the 5220 XpressMusic to function as an MP3 player, as well. At just 10.7mm (.4") thin, this fashionable handset is sure to gain attention.

The 5220 XpressMusic is planned to be available in Q3 2008, priced at EUR160 (US$253) before taxes and subsidies.

Nokia N97

Today in Barcelona at the Nokia World 2009 event, Nokia unveiled the next generation of its Nseries smartphones in the form of the touchscreen equipped N97. The S60 5th Edition equipped N97 is the first Nokia device to be announced that features both a touchscreen and a full QWERTY keyboard, and is also the first Nokia handset to feature the sideways slider form factor made popular by HTC with its line of Windows Mobile smartphones.

The new N97 is the device that Nokia has chosen to use to feature its new suite of apps and services, such as Nokia Maps 3.0, which now features satellite imagery and topographical maps and works with the N97's built-in A-GPS unit. The N97 will also be aware of its user's "social location", sharing location information with approved friends and family as well as taking advantage of the built-in electronic compass for simple pedestrian navigation directions. The new apps should look quite impressive on the N97's 3.5", 640x360 pixel resistive touchscreen^(INFO) display. The home screen, which is completely customizable with live-data widgets, also takes advantage of the large display.

The sliding mechanism that reveals the QWERTY keyboard moves in an arc that leaves the display at a 35 degree angle to the keyboard, making for easy viewing both while entering text on the 3 row QWERTY keyboard or when watching 30fps video content. Inside the N97 is packed an impressive 32GB of built-in storage space that can be augmented with a microSD memory card of up to 16GB in size - for a possible total of 48GB of storage space.

Nokia 2608 and Nokia 6260.

2008-12-17T15:46:00.001-08:00

Nokia 2608

Today, Nokia announced a colorful new addition to its CDMA line-up. Literally. The Nokia 2608, their latest flip phone, comes in three stylish, racing-striped designs: fuchsia with a pink stripe, silver with a green stripe, or black with a blue stripe. Its glossy, shiny exterior is recommended for those that crave style.

The 2608, the cheapest phone in Nokia's CDMA portfolio, offers a variety of features. You'll have freedom to record memos on a voice recorder, talk with colleagues on a speaker phone, listen to tunes on an FM radio, or beam business cards to new acquaintances. It will be available in Q1 2009 in select markets outside of the United States. More information is available at Nokia's web site.

Nokia 6260

Today Nokia unveiled its 6260 Slide, a featurephone that uses Nokia's new S40 6th Edition user interface. The 6260 Slide packs in the features, starting with a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss optics and dual-LED flash.

The Nokia 6260 Slide also features quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) support, in addition to UMTS (900/1900/2100MHz) with HSUPA support for ultra-high-speed data transfers. The 6260 Slide also offers WiFi for even faster data speeds. The internal GPS receiver allows the Nokia 6260 Slide to function as a GPS navigation device, and TV-out functionality should make it simple to share your pictures and videos with others.

The Nokia 6260 Slide is planned to be available in Q1 2009, priced at EUR299 (US$389) before taxes and subsidies.

Nokia N96 and Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

2008-12-17T15:40:00.001-08:00

Nokia N96

The Nokia N96 was revealed today at the 2008 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, and proudly hails as the most feature packed smartphone announced to date. While the Nokia N96 follows the dual-sliding N95 in terms of basic form factor, it adds a pair of gaming keys to the multimedia cluster on extra slide panel that can be used for N-Gage games. A 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and Carl Zeiss lenses is accentuated by a dual LED flash that can also function as a video recording light.

This smartphone is based on the Symbian S60 3rd Edition operation system, with Feature Pack 2, and sports a DVB-H digital TV receiver and innovative kickstand for watching video on the handset's beautiful 2.8" QVGA display. There are connection options aplenty, including quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) and dual-band WCDMA (900/2100MHz) as well as WiFi and support for HSDPA for high speed data connections.

A built-in GPS receiver works with the new Nokia Maps 2.0, preloaded on the N96, to keep you on the right path. Nokia's updated Share Online enables the N96 to automatically geotag your photos and upload them to Flickr or Share on Ovi so that the world can see where you travel. 16GB of internal flash memory and a microSD memory card slot with support for cards up to 16GB mean you'll never run out of space for photos, music, and games.

The N96 makes it easy to share your media with friends via a TV-Out cable and UPnP support. This slider smartphone is expected to start shipping in Q3 2008 with pricing set at 550EUR (US$802) before taxes and subsidies.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

Today Nokia unwrapped its first touchscreen-equipped S60 smartphone, the 5800 XpressMusic, at an event in London. The 5800 XpressMusic, long known as the "Tube" on the rumor mills, is the first smartphone to feature Nokia's new S60 5th Edition user interface, which adds support for touchscreen displays to the platform. The 5800 XpressMusic breaks the ice with a large 3.2" touchscreen display that is capable of showing 16 million colors at 640x360 pixel resolution. A built-in accelerometer handles automatic screen rotation activation.

The 5800 XpressMusic also features a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and Carl Zeiss optics. A newly designed suite of image and video editing tools is also on board, alongside the microSD card slot and an 8GB microSD card that is included in the sales package. The 5800 XpressMusic sports a 3.5mm audio port that supports standard wired stereo headphones as well as the 5800 XpressMusic's TV-out capabilities. The device also comes equipped with a pair of stereo speakers built-in that one Nokia rep described as "quite powerful."

There will be three different configurations of the 5800 XpressMusic available. All three support quad-band GSM/EDGE, while two of the versions also support 3G connectivity; one supporting HSDPA on the 900 and 2100MHz bands, the other on the 850 and 1900MHz bands. WiFi is also included for even higher-speed data transfers. A GPS receiver is built-in, as is Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support for stereo headsets, which should allow for a great music experience. The 5800 XpressMusic also ships with a handy desktop stand for enjoying your videos comfortably.

Technorati Tags: Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

Nokia 1661, 1662 and Nokia 1202, 1203

2008-12-17T15:34:00.001-08:00

Nokia 1661, 1662

Today Nokia unveiled its cheapest color screen cell phone ever, the Nokia 1661. This small candybar cell phone comes in at the entry-level of the market, and features an FM radio built-in and a flashlight, which could definitely come in handy.

The Nokia 1661 features dual-band GSM (900/1800MHz) support, and will be available as the 1662 with dual-band GSM (850/1900MHz), too. The 1661 is set to be available in Q1 2009, with pricing at EUR30 (US$38) before taxes and subsidies. Both models will be available in either black or grey color schemes.

Nokia 1202, 1203

Today Nokia unveiled its most affordable cell phone ever, the Nokia 1202. Extremely light on features, the 1202 manages to squeeze a built-in flashlight and dust-resistant keypad into its small 105.3mm x 45mm x 13.1mm (4.1" x 1.8" x .5") frame.

The Nokia 1202 features dual-band GSM (900/1800MHz) support. A version with dual-band GSM (850/1900MHz), called the 1203, will also be available. Both models should be available in Q1 2009, priced at a rock-bottom EUR25 (US$32) before taxes and subsidies.

The 1202 will be available in your choice of midnight black or violet blue, while the 1203 will only come in a silver gray color scheme.

Technorati Tags: Nokia 1202,1203

Nokia 5130 XpressMusic and Nokia 7100 Supernova

2008-12-17T15:26:00.001-08:00

Nokia 5130 XpressMusic

Today Nokia rocked out with the 5130 XpressMusic, an entry-level music device. Packing a microSD card slot, dedicated music playback keys, and a standard 3.5mm audio port, the 5130 XpressMusic is poised to be a really popular cell phone.

The Nokia 5130 XpressMusic also features a 2 megapixel camera and support for Nokia's Share on Ovi, which allows you to upload your photos straight to the internet, directly from your phone. The newly announced Mail on Ovi service is also offered on the 5130 XpressMusic, allowing users to instantly setup and use email on their phone without the need for a personal computer

The Nokia 5130 XpressMusic is set to be available in Q1 2009, priced at EUR90 (US$115) before taxes and subsidies.

Nokia 7100 Supernova

The Nokia 7100 Supernova was announced today, joining the ranks of the existing Supernova cell phones from Nokia. The 7100 packs a 1.3 megapixel camera and a built-in FM radio, for mobile entertainment wherever you are.

The Nokia 7100 Supernova also features support for the recently announced Mail on Ovi service, which allows users to create and manage a personal email account right from their cell phone. Share on Ovi is also supported out of the box, so that users can immediately upload their photos and videos straight to Nokia's Share on Ovi media site.

The Nokia 7100 Supernova is expected to be available in Q4 2008, priced at EUR75 (US$96) before taxes and subsidies.

Nokia E63 and Nokia 2605 Mirage

2008-12-15T16:03:00.001-08:00

Nokia E63

Nokia has announced the latest addition to its Eseries family, the E63. Featuring a design that is similar to that of the popular E71, the E63 sports a 2 megapixel camera with LED flash in addition to a microSD card slot for extra storage. The QWERTY keyboard has been redesigned with a smaller space bar and extra character keys, as well.

The Nokia E63 is also the first smartphone in Nokia's Eseries product line to feature a standard 3.5mm audio port, allowing you to use your own headphones without needing an adapter.

For those keeping score, the things that the E63 loses in comparison to the more expensive E71 are: it is thicker, it lacks GPS and HSDPA data, the camera is 2 megapixel fixed focus, and the body is made of plastic instead of the E71's metal.

The Nokia E63 is expected to begin shipping within the next few weeks, priced at EUR199 (US$250) before taxes and subsidies, and is available in a red or blue color scheme.

Nokia 2605 Mirage

Nokia and Verizon have just launched the Nokia 2605 Mirage clamshell cell phone, bringing its user-changeable Xpress-on covers for the simplest of customization options. The 2605 Mirage also features a VGA-resolution camera with a dedicated camera shutter button and several photo options.

The Nokia 2605 Mirage supports Verizon's VZ Navigator GPS navigation service, as well as the Chaperone Parent/Child tracking service. Bluetooth is also on board, for wireless handsfree headset use. The Nokia 2605 Mirage is available today on Verizon's website, priced at $49.99 after a 2-year commitment and $50 mail-in rebate.

Technorati Теги: Nokia 2605 Mirage

China Mobile Starts TD-SCDMA 3G Trial with 20k Phones, 5k Data Cards

2008-03-31T14:07:00.003-07:00

The Associated Press is reporting that China Mobile, the largest mobile carrier in China, said today that it was launching its first 3G trial using China's own state sponsored TD-SCDMA technology. TD-SCDMA has been somewhat controversial over the years since it was developed by China, in part, in an effort to avoid paying royalties to companies such as U.S. firm Qualcomm. While the Chinese government backed off of its initial plan of allowing Chinese carriers to only use its "home grown" technology, it has since said that carriers are free to choose from TD-SCDMA, CDMA2000 (ie. EV-DO), and UMTS, though many feel that the carriers are being pressured to use TD-SCDMA none the less.

The new trial will run in a total of 8 Chinese cities, and will involve 20,000 3G handsets as well as 5,000 3G data cards. The company did not say how long the trial would run, but the Chinese government has stated in the past that it will have a working 3G network in time for the Summer Olympics in Beijing this August.

Technorati Теги: China Mobile

Samsung SGH-a827 Access TV Phone for AT&T

2008-03-31T14:07:00.001-07:00

Samsung has announced its first MediaFLO TV compatible GSM phone for AT&T, the Samsung SGH-a827 Access. The Access will be one of two devices that will be part of AT&T's Mobile TV launch in May of this year.

Unlike most candybar feature phones on the market, the Access sports a landscape oriented, 2.3" screen to better suit the television programming that it is intended to display. On top of that, Samsung claims that the Access will offer 'exceptional' Mobile TV reception without the need for an external whip antenna. Even Samsung's own SCH-u620 MediaFLO handset for Verizon Wireless requires an external antenna.

On top of the Mobile TV functionality, the SGH-a827 Access will also offer users typical functionality like Bluetooth stereo wireless support, stereo speakers, and a 1.3 megapixel camera. A microSD card slot is on-board for additional storage, and the Access will support features such as Video Share as well as IM and mobile email.

The Samsung Access is a world capable cell phone thanks to its quad-band (850/900/1800/1900MHz) GSM support and 850/1900MHz 3G capability. The Samsung Access goes on sale in May, though no pricing information has been released yet.

Technorati Теги: Samsung,MediaFLO TV,Samsung SGH-a827 Access