The Motorola i776 : Back to the Old School

Leaked pictures and details have emerged concering a new phone from Motorola, the i776.

Motorola have decided include an aerial on the i776, which makes it looks rather prehistoric.

The phone itself is aimed at the mid-range customers , but one has to wonder whether "spoilt" consumers will accept an aerial after all this time.

Motorola i776 Features:

Built-in GPS receiver.
3.5 hours of talk time and 84 hours of Standby Time.
600 contact capacity.
Built-in Bluetooth.
i776 can be used as wireless modem due to its miniUSB port.
Flip style

No Launch date has been confirmed, but the phone is most likely to appear on Pay as you Go Tariffs.

Source

Sony Ericsson TM506 Handset to Support T-Mobile’s AWS Spectrum

Sony Ericsson has confirmed that its upcoming TM506 will support T-Mobiles AMS (Advanced Wireless Spectrum) 17000 Band.

The phone was already confirmed as a tri-band phone GSM/GRPS / EDGE and dual-band UMTS/DSDPA phone , but now the phone will also supports the new t-mobile MWS standard.

The additional features of the TM506 include a 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth and a micro SD slot.

The TM506 is due to be released in the first week of September, with the price still be announced.

Source

HTC introduces the S740

HTC Corp announced the introduction of the HTC S740, a slim, compact, and stylish smartphone that provides the perfect combination of a traditional 12-key phone design with HTC’s signature sliding QWERTY keyboard for optimal messaging. The HTC S740 will be available across Europe from September 2008.

The S740 is designed to offer the most flexible and efficient messaging experience on the market. From the design of its 12-key keypad (ideal for super fast one hand messaging) and full QWERTY keyboard (perfect for those who prefer a two handed messaging experience) both input capabilities ensure efficient and accurate typing, as well as support for POP3, IMAP and Exchange push email. Instant messaging (IM) and SMS can also be accessed through the familiar 12-key interface on the front of the phone.

The HTC S740 features the fastest mobile broadband capabilities with a maximum download speed of 7.2 Mbps, up to 18 times faster than 3G. This true mobile broadband experience allows users to leverage the mobile Internet in a variety of ways including browsing to a favourite website, using Google Maps to find a restaurant for lunch and catching up to the minute news, blog posts and video podcasts with the integrated RSS reader.

The S740 follows the sleek design of HTC’s hit consumer handset, the HTC Touch Diamond. This slim smartphone features a matt black facetted back, a 2.4 inch QVGA display and slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

Nokia Nseries N85 Launched

Nokia unveiled the Nokia N85, the latest Nokia Nseries multimedia computer made to set new standards for mobile entertainment, gaming and sharing. Along with an eye-catching 2.6" OLED screen and smooth, sleek finish, the Nokia N85 redefines the mobile experience.

It boasts N-Gage gaming, music with in-built FM transmitter, 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and geotagging capabilities, three month integrated license for turn-by-turn voice navigation and high-speed connectivity, all in one device. The Nokia N85 is expected to begin shipping in October 2008 with an estimated retail price of EUR 450, before taxes and subsidies.

With a strong lineup of multimedia features, the Nokia N85 is taking the world of mobile convergence to the next level. Gaming, photos, navigation and music blend together with the newest Ovi and third party services via 3.5G HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity to make discovering and sharing experiences quick and seamless.

Nokia Nseries N79 Launched

Nokia unveiled the Nokia N79, the latest addition to the Nokia Nseries range that combines intelligent and customizable design with a fully-loaded multimedia computer. Behind its sleek exterior, the Nokia N79 is a technology powerhouse.

It offers a full range of multimedia experiences including integrated navigation, music with FM transmitter, high-speed connectivity, superior web browsing, at least 10 pre-loaded N-Gage games and an advanced 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics. The Nokia N79 is expected to begin shipping in October 2008, with an estimated retail price of EUR 350, before taxes and subsidies.

Perfect for the style conscious, the Nokia N79 comes with Xpress-on smart covers that are available in five cool colors: Light Sea Blue, Espresso Brown, Olive Green, White and Coral Red. A combination of three of these comes with each Nokia N79.

The convergence of photos, music and navigation in the Nokia N79 combines with high-speed 3.5G HSDPA and Wi-Fi to make it quick and easy to share experiences on websites, blogs or online communities.

Samsung F400 Review by 3G.co.uk

Samsung has a history of teaming up with experts from other fields to partner them with the launch of its handsets. The manufacturer has teamed up with Italian fashion giants Armani, for the devilishly handsome Samsung Armani, Adidas added its fitness nous to the Samsung miCoach, and one of the longest-running partnerships that Samsung has endured is its relationship with audio experts Bang & Olufsen.

First we saw the Samsung Serene back in 2005, which was followed in 2007 by the oddly shaped Serenata. Both failed to really make their mark in the popular market, though their music capabilities couldn’t be faulted. With the launch of the Samsung F400 it would appear that the two companies are very much the best of friends.

Samsung F400 - Dual slider

Assembling our Samsung F400 we were alarmed to find that the battery was loose. When we held the phone upside down without the back of the handset in place, the battery fell to the floor with an almighty crash. Not the kind of incident that fills you with confidence on the craftsmanship of a phone, which is a shame as when assembled the F400 is quite striking. A dual slider – think Nokia N95 – the F400 sports a glossy black fascia that adorns a clean metal body.The sliding mechanism feels secure and fluid. Sliding the front up will reveal the keypad, and when sliding the front down you will be met by the pièce de résistance, the Bang & Olufsen ICEpower audio technology enhanced speaker, more of which later.

Full Review Here

Palm Treo Pro To Launch on O2 and Vodafone UK

Palm introduced Treo Pro, an effortlessly usable smartphone for businesses that want to simplify their IT infrastructures and lower costs, and for users who want to stay on top of their professional and personal lives.

With its streamlined design and Palm® shortcuts layered on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, Treo Pro is a unique combination of sleek simplicity and robust productivity -- including email, Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities(1) -- that meets the needs of businesses and end users alike.
Treo Pro, which will be available from Vodafone and O2 in Europe(2) and from Telstra in Australia, also will be available in an unlocked version in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific.

The Treo Pro smartphone lets IT managers support an increasingly mobile work force with the ease of use and robust feature set business professionals demand. Besides the benefits of lower costs and increased productivity, Treo Pro can deliver the increased security, easier device management and access to information on the corporate network that Windows Mobile 6.1 provides.

Users can quickly respond to business and personal email, access the web, stay on top of appointments and contacts, and use Wi-Fi or GPS on the go.(1) Treo Pro’s thin design blends a flush, high-resolution color touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard with a removable battery that packs up to five hours of talk time and enough strength for the business user’s needs, offering a powerful yet effortless mobile experience.

3 Announce Bank Holiday Specials

3 have announed a set of special Bank Holiday Offers.

The Bank Holiday offer gives customers a £5 discount per month on all mix and match packages on the brand new Sony Ericsson C902 phone. That equates to a £90 discount over the length of the 18 contract.

The price reduction is for a limited time only, starting 10am, Friday 16th August and ending Noon, Tuesday 26th August.

The new prices on the C902 deals are

Mix and Match 300 For £17

Mix and Match 500 For £20

Mix and Match 700 For £23

Mix and Match 900 For £26

Mix and Match 1100 For £29

Click Here to view the Deals

Sony Ericsson Details

The ultimate super slim mobile jam-packed with photography features. Grab a 5.0 Megapixel Cybershot camera with 16X zoom and flash. Get crystal clear photos everytime with the auto focus, image stabilizer and BestPic functions. Snap away quickly and in style with the slide out lens cover which activates 8 touch-screen softkeys to keep you in control of all your photos.
Store up to 100 pics with your 160MB of internal memory or share your videos and pics on your blog at Broadband speeds using HSDPA.

When you're not shooting great pics, you can keep yourself entertained with a quality music player and great games.

Take a trip down memory lane with PAC-MAN and Tetris or test your reflexes with Worms2007 and more.

Palm Treo Pro To Launch on O2 and Vodafone UK

Palm introduced Treo Pro, an effortlessly usable smartphone for businesses that want to simplify their IT infrastructures and lower costs, and for users who want to stay on top of their professional and personal lives.

With its streamlined design and Palm® shortcuts layered on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, Treo Pro is a unique combination of sleek simplicity and robust productivity -- including email, Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities that meets the needs of businesses and end users alike.

Treo Pro, which will be available from Vodafone and O2 in Europe and from Telstra in Australia, also will be available in an unlocked version in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific.

The Treo Pro smartphone lets IT managers support an increasingly mobile work force with the ease of use and robust feature set business professionals demand. Besides the benefits of lower costs and increased productivity, Treo Pro can deliver the increased security, easier device management and access to information on the corporate network that Windows Mobile 6.1 provides.

Users can quickly respond to business and personal email, access the web, stay on top of appointments and contacts, and use Wi-Fi or GPS on the go. Treo Pro’s thin design blends a flush, high-resolution color touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard with a removable battery that packs up to five hours of talk time and enough strength for the business user’s needs, offering a powerful yet effortless mobile experience.

Treo Pro will be available in September in Europe through Vodafone (from free to €399 with contract) and O2 (pricing is available from O2 direct sales and online business stores), and in Australia through Telstra (from free with contract). It will be available in the United States in the fall through the Palm online store (http://www.palm.com/store) as well as select Internet, retail and enterprise resellers for a suggested retail price of $549. The U.S. version is unlocked and unsubsidized, giving end users the flexibility to simply insert their existing active SIM card and immediately start using their Treo Pro without a new contract.

Detailed regional pricing is available from local resellers and distributors. Additional Treo Pro availability is scheduled to follow worldwide.

The Treo Pro smartphone comes with an international power charger, microUSB cable and a stereo headset (3.5mm). Other accessories designed exclusively for Treo Pro (sold separately) include a vehicle power charger, leather side case, travel microUSB cable, cradle, extra battery, TTY audio adapter, and replacement styli.

Lonely Planet Content via Nokia Maps

In an effort to help travellers everywhere, Nokia and Lonely Planet have teamed up to distribute Lonely Planet content via Nokia Maps. Travellers can purchase and download the city guides so that they have information at their fingertips whilst they are on the road.

With over 100 destinations available now, and more to come, Nokia Maps and Lonely Planet have many of the most world's most popular tourist locations covered. The Lonely Planet guides will help travellers to find great places to eat, shop and sleep, as well as describing the popular sights and nightlife for each destination.

The downloads are available from today, cost USD 13.99, and can be found in the Guides section in the Extras menu. Nokia Maps 2.0 uses vector maps provided by Navteq and TeleAtlas. Nokia Maps now has maps covering over 200 countries, with over 70 of them navigable. Maps can be downloaded over the air directly to selected devices or by using the Nokia Map Loader on a PC.
Nokia Maps 2.0 and the Map Loader is freely* available for selected devices. For download and more information, please visit http://www.maps.nokia.com/.

T-Mobile Offers Laptop to Mobile Broadband Plus Customers

T-Mobile announced it is offering laptops to all new 24 month Mobile Broadband Plus customers with unlimited* broadband usage for just £30 a month, providing a complete mobile broadband experience.*

Mobile Broadband Plus customers will receive an Acer Travel Mate 5320 laptop and a T-Mobile Mobile Broadband Modem, which will mean they have all they need to surf the internet wherever they are. With super fast speeds, unlimited broadband usage each month and includes T-Mobile HotSpots. Mobile Broadband Plus allows customers to surf the internet for anything they like, download the latest music, bank online, shop and stay in touch with friends and colleagues at all times. Furthermore, customers will be able to send text messages from the laptop, with 200 text messages included in the price plan.

A number of significant steps have been taken to give laptop users better value when using Mobile Broadband at home and while travelling in Europe. Until 1 October, new customers signing up for the Mobile Broadband Plus 24-month tariff who opt out of the laptop package, can take advantage of a £5 discount for the first three months, reducing the monthly charge to just £10.

In addition, an 80% reduction in data roaming charges down to £1.50 per Mbyte means that accessing the internet while travelling in EU member countries has never been more affordable. Ease of use remains a key feature of the service “ customers simply select an appropriate plan and connect their laptops to the internet with a USB stick or modem. The full range includes Mobile Broadband Plus, Max and Daily.

This offer is currently available at http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/ and will be hitting all T-Mobile stores in September.

Nokia Introduces Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte

Nokia introduced the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte, a new premium mobile phone that marries the timeless design of the Nokia 8800 Arte range with materials that reflect a new exclusivity based on refinement and authenticity. Engineered from carbon fibre, titanium, polished glass and stainless steel, the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte is for individuals who appreciate uncompromised high performance.

Carbon fibre is an ultra light and strong material that expresses a woven pattern that is both high-tech and sensuous. Custom built to ensure the precision engineering that these materials require, the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte features 3D patterns that express the inherent performance and lustre of carbon fibre.

Inspired by the use of these materials in a range of areas, including architecture, sports cars and aerospace, the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte reflects a modern feel through the unique tones, textures and sculpted shapes that carbon fibre and titanium deliver.

In keeping with the tradition of the Nokia 8800 Arte range, each detail of the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte is carefully considered to enhance the premium value and quality of the device. The minimalistic and seamless surfaces, slide mechanism and impressive weight of the phone all feature throughout the Nokia 8800 Arte line. Also available on the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte are soundtracks and wallpapers created exclusively for the range.

Combining timeless style with superb functionality, the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte offers the unique tap-for-time feature - consumers can tap the steel surface below the display twice and a clock appears on the screen. Background images organically change during the day, giving a unique appearance to the display. The turn-to-mute silencing mechanism allows individuals to silence incoming calls in a discrete manner by turning the phone over, screen-side down.

In addition to the 3G capabilities and 3.2 megapixel auto focus camera and high quality audio, the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte boasts a stunning OLED display and built-in memory that has been expanded from previous offerings in the range to 4 GB. Meanwhile, Nokia's anti-fingerprint coating reduces smudges on metal and glass and unsightly outer seams are hidden by a unique all-in-one microUSB connector.

Enhancing the experience, the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte is delivered with an exclusive range of accessories. These include a Bluetooth touch-sensitive volume control headset, a stylish desk stand and a beautiful leather carrying case.

The Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte will be available in the 3rd quarter of 2008 with an estimated retail price of EUR 1,100 exclusive of subsidies and taxes.

3 UK Unveils the Skypephone S2

The next generation of internet-focussed mobile handsets has been unveiled with the launch of the latest model of 3's acclaimed 3 Skypephone, the 3 Skypephone S2.

Alongside free Skype calling and instant messaging, the new device brings internet services such as Facebook, Google and Windows Live Messenger to the front of the phone, making mobilised internet an easy-to-use and instantly accessible reality. Following the success of the original 3 Skypephone, the new 3 Skypephone S2 will be available for pre-order from 19th August, available to buy online from 27th August and in-store from 1st September.

New concept user-interface

The functionality of the 3 Skypephone S2 has been made instantly usable by the introduction of a revolutionary 'carousel' interface. The switcher key on the side of the handset enables you to quickly and intuitively move between applications from any screen on the phone, avoiding the need for the complex and fiddly menu systems that have made surfing the mobile internet difficult in the past.The design of the 3 Skypephone S2 has also evolved since its predecessor. Now with elegant metal keys, a turned steel back and an overall premium finish. Technically the handset boasts an improved 2.2" QVGA screen, a 3.2 mega pixel camera, HSDPA capabilities and up to 4GB expandable memory.

Skype

The 3 Skypephone S2 packs a powerful punch. As with the first 3 Skypephone, Skype is fully integrated into the phone, allowing you to make Skype to Skype calls and send Skype instant messages to other Skype users anywhere in the world absolutely free, just as long as you are on any of 3's Pay Monthly price plans or your Pay As You Go credit with 3 is topped up. Your Skype contacts are fully integrated into your phonebook alongside all your regular contacts, and you won't be charged a penny extra to send instant messages to your Skype contacts.

'Dongle' capabilities

With 500,000 Mobile Broadband dongles already sold by 3 in the UK, the demand for broadband on the move is unquestionable and the new 3 Skypephone S2 brings these same 'plug and play' capabilities to handsets. 3 Skypephone S2 has built in modem drivers so you can use the cable that comes in the box to plug it into your laptop and get you onto the internet. No need for a fixed-line or a Wi-Fi hotspot; the phone will use the 3 network to get you online with HSDPA broadband speeds.

The 3 Skypephone S2 is free on any of 3's Mix & Match tariffs and costs £69.99 on Pay As You Go, and by signing up to one of 3's internet add-ons from £2.50 (pricing info below) you'll be covered to browse the mobile internet.

Orange Launch Combined Laptop / Dongle Deal

Orange announced that the first laptop in its ‘connected’ range will be available from tomorrow, 16th August. The move follows June’s strategic announcement in which the company pledged to “evolve” the communications market by offering new ways for customers to connect with the people and things that matter most to them.

Available from Orange shops, consumers will be able to purchase a package consisting of Orange’s 'Internet Everywhere' mobile broadband service and dongle and an Asus laptop for just £25 a month. The Asus laptop offers the ultimate portable experience with its 8.9" compact design and weighing just 0.99kg allowing consumers to walk out of store and connect to the Internet. The offer will also be available via telesales and the Orange web site at www.orange.co.uk/shop.

With the largest integrated mobile data network in the UK, this is the first package in Orange’s connected laptop product line, with the company planning to evolve its offering over time to include fixed line broadband and an increased laptop range.

Consumer Proposition
Price: £25 per month
Laptop: ASUS Eee PC 900 16G
USB Modem: Option ICON 225
Internet Everywhere tariff:
- UK data allowance 3GB UK
- UK 100 texts from laptop
- 24 month contract

Speck’s New Slim SeeThru Hard Shell Cases for iPhone 3G Now Available

Speck announced today they are now shipping their new SeeThru hard shell cases for iPhone 3G. The cases are the latest addition to their growing line of iPhone 3G accessories.

“We’re proud of our commitment to offer consumers new and refreshing case designs for their iPhone 3G,” said Irene Baran, CEO of Speck. “SeeThru cases are a great way to add subtle custom styling, protection and colorful accents to your new iPhone without adding bulk.”

SeeThru’s ultra-slim profile and silky hard-shell finish easily slips in and out of pockets. The cases feature rubberized, no-slip finger grip strips on each side and a two-piece, snap-fit design with removable bottom for docking. Once removed, the bottom of the case can also serve as a stand that holds the iPhone horizontally for hands-free viewing of photos and video.

The SeeThru also offers access to all iPhone controls, ports and sensors without having to remove the case or deal with a smudgy screen protector. SeeThru for iPhone 3G currently comes in Amethyst Purple, Rose Quartz Pink, Garnet Red, Diamond Clear and Obsidian Black.

The Speck SeeThru is available at Apple stores and online at http://www.speckproducts.com/ and http://www.apple.com/ for $29.95 USD.

Sony Ericsson W980 Review by 3G.co.uk

Sony Ericsson W980 Review by 3G.co.uk

The Walkman and Cyber-shot handset ranges have for so long been stalwarts in Sony Ericsson's mobile phone collection that even the least tech-savvy individual should be aware of them, seeing as the majority of the manufacturer's high-end handsets fall into one of the two categories.

Following the launch of the mightily impressive C902 Cyber-shot phone, one might have expected Sony Ericsson to surf on its wave of success, at least for a few months. Not so, as the manufacturer has unveiled its new flagship Walkman device, the Sony Ericsson W980, complete with a whopping 8GB of internal memory.

Sony Ericsson W980 - Clamshell design

When the W980 arrived in the 3G.co.uk office, we were slightly taken aback to find that it is in fact a clamshell. Of course, we had seen the obligatory press shots when the phone was first announced back in February, but with so many ‘big' handset launches since (the iPhone 3G, Nokia E71 and Samsung Soul to name but a few) we had forgotten the exact specs of the phone. Now, we were slightly surprised because we can't help but feel that clamshells are beginning to look a little dated. And with far more slider and candybar handsets being released than the flip phone, it would suggest that the manufacturers are in agreement.

Full Review Here

Lenovo Launches Its First Commercial Mobile Phone with Fingerprint Using Atrua’s Fingerprint Solution

Atrua Technologies announced today that Lenovo Mobile selected Atrua’s made-for-mobile fingerprint solution for Lenovo’s recently launched P960 mobile phone – Lenovo’s first commercial mobile phone to incorporate fingerprint biometrics.

Lenovo, a leader in the adoption of fingerprint sensors, selected Atrua’s solution for its superior fingerprint recognition accuracy and compatibility with the mobile phone. “We evaluated a number of potential fingerprint solutions for this project, and found that Atrua delivered the superior combination of features and performance for mobile phones,” stated Paul Wu, General Manager of Lenovo Mobile’s Product Department.

Atrua’s made-for-mobile fingerprint touch control utilizes the company’s own unique adaptive capacitance and neural matching technology, developed from the outset for mobile applications. The technology accurately recognizes fingerprints while consuming only a fraction of the power to image a fingerprint as compared with competing solutions that derive from technology developed primarily for PC applications. Atrua’s fingerprint solution also consumes less memory and processor resource and takes up less area on the phone than competing offerings. “Because of the Atrua sensor's small size, we were able to fit it conveniently on the edge of the P960,” said Mr. Wu.

With fingerprint recognition now common in laptop PCs, the capability has been increasingly finding its way into mobile phones. Atrua’s fingerprint touch controls deliver all the benefits of fingerprint sensors found in laptops, and more. Studies have shown that mobile phones are frequently lost or stolen and many users are concerned about compromising the private and valuable data on their phones. Since typing passwords is even more cumbersome on phones than it is on PCs, the convenience of never having to re-type passwords is all-the-more appealing to phone users.

In addition, Lenovo’s P960 has an innovative “VIP recording” feature that automatically records calls from designated numbers. The fingerprint biometric technology is used in the P960 to protect sensitive data such as VIP recordings, text messages, call history, and address book information.

Artificial Life Introduces MobileBooster Support for iPhone

Artificial Life, Inc. announced that its mobile development tool MobileBooster™ now extends its support to the iPhone® and iPod® touch platforms.

A new extension module for MobileBooster enables support of iPhone and iPod touch embedded applications. MobileBooster maintains snapshot builds along with change logs for effortless release management during the development and testing phases. Clients and partners are provided restricted remote access to the automatically generated release site. Ad hoc build distribution profiles allow clients to review application and game builds as well as leave comments and feedback. The feedback is immediately available and can be labeled as feature or change requests with customizable priority tags.

The fluid integration of MobileBooster into the development cycle simplifies the management and overhead of maintaining builds and their associated meta information. The platform promotes a standardized development approach which limits errors and ambiguity while increasing efficiency.

Created by Artificial Life for mobile 2G / 3G applications and games, MobileBooster™ is a development tool and platform that greatly facilitates the mobile roll-out process and enhances business effectiveness. The extended support to the iPhone and iPod touch platform adds value to this efficient tool. The Company is also using the Mobile Booster™ for all its internal iPhone® product developments.

Samsung Introduces the Samsung Messager Handset

Samsung announced the availability of the Samsung Messager (SCH-r450) to MetroPCS customers at authorized dealer locations and company-owned retail locations. The Samsung Messager sports a sleek horizontal slider-design and QWERTY keyboard, making it easy for users to travel light and stay in touch while on the go.

"The stylish horizontal slider of the Samsung Messager is easy to use," said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer of Samsung Telecommunications America. "The Samsung Messager's attractive layout and QWERTY keyboard is a great fit for people who love text messaging."

Available in black, the Messager is packed with a powerful feature set, including a built-in 1.3 megapixel camera, SMS, MMS, email and IM messaging capabilities, advanced voice recognition, Bluetooth wireless technology and speakerphone for easy, hands-free operation. The Messager's MP3 player boasts a rich user interface, while the external micro SD slot provides the user with up to 2GB of memory support.

For more information on where to purchase the Samsung Messager, please visit metropcs.com or samsungwireless.com.

Key features of the Samsung Messager include:

Horizontal Slider with QWERTY Keyboard
Stereo Bluetooth Wireless Technology
MP3 Player (microSD)
1.3 Megapixel Camera
Messaging Services
Advanced Voice Recognition
Speakerphone
Dimensions: 4.4" x 2.0" x 0.7"
Display: 2.1" 262K TFT, 176X220 pixels

Nokia 6220 Classic Review by 3G.co.uk

Nokia has done more than any other mobile manufacturer to put personal navigation on the map (if you'll excuse the pun). The company recognised several years ago that mobile phones were better suited for GPS assisted navigation when used out of the car than the dedicated dashboard-mounted sat-nav devices that have traditionally dominated the market.

As a result, the manufacturer put in place a strategy to fit the bulk of its new smartphones with a built-in GPS receiver and also launched a new Navigator range of phones that specialises in satellite-assisted navigation and location-based services.

Peculiarly, Nokia's new flagship navigation device is not the 6120 Navigator phone (which we'll be reviewing next month), but the new 6220 Classic which we're reviewing here and now.

It's worth pointing out that we're no strangers to the navigation experience on a Nokia phone as we've been using the GPS-enabled E71 every day for the past couple of months.

Full Review Here

Lenovo Launches Its First Commercial Mobile Phone with Fingerprint

Atrua Technologies announced that Lenovo Mobile selected Atrua's made-for-mobile fingerprint solution for Lenovo's recently launched P960 mobile phone - Lenovo's first commercial mobile phone to incorporate fingerprint biometrics.

Lenovo, a leader in the adoption of fingerprint sensors, selected Atrua's solution for its superior fingerprint recognition accuracy and compatibility with the mobile phone.

Atrua's made-for-mobile fingerprint touch control utilizes the company's own unique adaptive capacitance and neural matching technology, developed from the outset for mobile applications. The technology accurately recognizes fingerprints while consuming only a fraction of the power to image a fingerprint as compared with competing solutions that derive from technology developed primarily for PC applications. Atrua's fingerprint solution also consumes less memory and processor resource and takes up less area on the phone than competing offerings.

With fingerprint recognition now common in laptop PCs, the capability has been increasingly finding its way into mobile phones. Atrua's fingerprint touch controls deliver all the benefits of fingerprint sensors found in laptops, and more. Studies have shown that mobile phones are frequently lost or stolen and many users are concerned about compromising the private and valuable data on their phones. Since typing passwords is even more cumbersome on phones than it is on PCs, the convenience of never having to re-type passwords is all-the-more appealing to phone users.

In addition, Lenovo's P960 has an innovative "VIP recording" feature that automatically records calls from designated numbers. The fingerprint biometric technology is used in the P960 to protect sensitive data such as VIP recordings, text messages, call history, and address book information.

Opticon releases two new AT&T certified Windows Mobile Professional Smartphones

The Opticon Mobility Group announced today that their H16 Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional smartphone was just certified by AT&T and they are currently seeking certification of their H19 Windows Mobile 5 Professional smartphone, for a September release.

The H19 is a GPS device, enabling location-based solutions for field service, route navigation and dispatch.

The award winning H19 features Windows Mobile 6.0, quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE, WiFi and Bluetooth communication, an integrated GPS module and numeric keypad. With your choice of laser barcode scanner, or 2D CMOS imager, the H19 is the perfect productivity tool for any field workforce.

The H16 features Windows Mobile 5.0, quadband GSM/GPRS/EDE, WiFi and Bluetooth communication, as well as a full slide out QWERTY keyboard. With your choice of laser barcode scanner, or 2D CMOS imager, the H16 is the perfect productivity tool for text intensive field applications.

Source

BlackBerry Bold set for August 16 launch on Orange network

Orange will be the first network operator to offer the new BlackBerry Bold mobile phone in the UK.
The smartphone will be available to all Orange customers from August 16 - weeks ahead of T-Mobile, which earlier this week announced plans to launch the phone in September and restrict it to business customers only.

By contrast, any Orange subscriber can opt for the BlackBerry Bold, but they must sign up to an 18-month contract and agree to pay £45 per month.

The handset is likely to be free, and the tariff is expected to include unlimited data usage, so that users can surf the web at no additional cost.

Source

Vodafone Launching the HTC Touch Pro this Month ?

Vodafone expects to launch the HTC Touch Pro this month according to their online store, although this could be wishful thinking on their part, but I guess they covered themselves if it doesn’t happen by the “Expected”.

The HTC Touch Pro had all the style and elegance of the HTC Touch Diamond but incorporates a sliding five row QWERTY keyboard as well for those heavy messengers out there in text city.

Source

Three giving free Laptops with Mobile Broadband

Three have introduced its latest promotion where a customer gets a free laptop when taking out a mobile broadband contract.

There are many packages with different laptops being available at different price points.

These days, the internet's pretty difficult to live without. Thanks to Mobile Broadband from 3, you can now search all the best bits of the web whenever and wherever it takes your fancy.
And surprise, surprise!

You can now also get an HP laptop when you sign for a 2-year Mobile Broadband bundle with a monthly 5GB data.

View the Laptop Deals Here

New software would let iPhones access iTunes libraries from anywhere

A new version of Apple's iPhone Software could provide iPhone and iPod touch users with access to their home computer's entire iTunes media library while on the go without having to first download those media items through a traditional sync, a new company filing has revealed.

The Cupertino-based electronics maker notes that downloading media items from a computer to a media player is often a time consuming process, and one that is limited by the player's storage capacity. Therefore, users who are out and about sometimes find themselves without access to some of their content, which sits inaccessible on their home Mac or PC. New versions iTunes and the iPhone Software could theoretically eliminate this problem by syncing only the metadata -- or tiny files containing the barebones attributes of each media item or playlist but not the content itself -- from a user's iTunes library to their portable devices.

Using this metadata, iPhones and iPods would contain "virtual media items" representing every playlist, video, photo, and mobile game stored on their computer, even if the sum of those files would ordinarily be too large to fit onto the devices' hard disk drive or flash drive. This is possible because metadata capable of representing a media item consumes only faction -- typically less than 1 percent -- of the space required to store the media item itself.

Source

New Luxury Brand VEVA S60 Mobile Handset

Qiao Xing Mobile Communication announced that Qiao Xing Mobile's new luxury brand VEVA S60 mobile handset (''VEVA S60'') has achieved great success since its release in May 2008. VEVA S60 targets female professionals with its unique and luxury design and features.

Through cooperation with Swarovski, each VEVA S60 is decorated with 129 Swarovski crystal mosaic and 18K gold coating. As thin as 9.4 millimeters, VEVA S60 also has long standby time. Retail price stands at RMB1,980 (USD290) and nearly 100,000 units were sold in the second quarter of 2008. VEVA S60's gross margin was 61%.

VEVA S70 will be released in September.

VEVA S80 and S90 are being developed too. We expect VEVA to become one of best domestic luxury brands in the mobile handset market in China.'' About Qiao Xing Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.: Qiao Xing Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. is one of the leading domestic manufacturers of mobile handsets in China in terms of unit sales volume. The Company manufactures and sells mobile handsets based primarily on Global System for Mobile Communications, or GSM, global cellular technologies.

It operates its business primarily through CEC Telecom Co., Ltd., or CECT, its 96.6%-owned subsidiary in China. Currently, all of its products are sold under the "CECT" brand name. Through its manufacturing facility in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China, and two research and development centers in Huizhou and in Beijing, the Company develops, produces and markets a wide range of mobile handsets, with increasing focus on differentiated products that generally generate higher profit margins.

For more information, please visit http://www.qxmc.com/ .

LG Shine Andy Lau Special Edition

LG has customized a lot of their phones. This is essential specially when they are operating in Asia, an area where people love to accessorize. This time, LG Electronics has launched a new version of their Shine phone, as a token to one of China’s movie industry icon - Andy Lau.

The Shine x Andy Lau Special Edition phone comes complete with the actor’s own handwriting inscribed on the back of the phone. Fans will ultimately see his motto, which is “Heaven is where the kind-hearted people are.”

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Samsung i7110 shows up

The Samsung i7110 is a device that we haven't seen before in the rumours section and with this it is very distinctive that the device shows up in full glory today with very clear real-life photos. The i-Series of Samsung is known for its business and semi-business devices so it is quite strange that the Samsung i7110 takes another turn, the turn of multimedia.

The website KingMobile is the first to shoot some photos of the candybar. The photos are so clear that most details of the device can be read from them. The Samsung i7110 is an easy-to-use device that can be operated with an optical mouse. At first sight the navigation key looks like a regular key but when you touch it with your finger a mouse pointer will appear on the display. The display will probably be a 262.000 colours display with QVGA resolution.

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Vodafone Partners with MTV for Launch of Vodafone Soundbites

Vodafone, the world’s largest mobile community and MTV, the premier multimedia music and entertainment brand, announced the launch of a new multi-platform programme, Vodafone Soundbites.

Vodafone Soundbites explores every aspect of the global music scene. Featuring international artists’ interviews at gigs and festivals, bands’ fantasy group line-ups, pre-show rituals and performers describing their first time on stage, Vodafone Soundbites brings an authentic behind the scenes insight into the world of music.

Vodafone Soundbites will be available on TV, via a website (www.mtv-vodafonesoundbites.com) and on mobile (wap.mtv-vodafonesoundbites.com) as a series of twenty one, three minute shows from early August. The website and mobile service will carry additional footage, as well as editorial and news elements.

Vodafone Soundbites will be available in seven languages on MTV in Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, the UK and Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and on the MTV European feed, covering sixteen countries. Vodafone Soundbites is supported by an MTV created promotional spot, driving viewers to the premiere of each show. Each show will air four times in each territory on TV.

Vodafone and MTV recently joined forces by launching an online global interactive profile hosted by Myspace, ‘Vodafone Music Reporter’, offering music fans in some countries a chance to become an MTV reporter in an online and mobile Vodafone Soundbites episode.

O2 Launch First Operator Supported Major Label Mobile Music Store

SONY BMG Music Entertainment UK and O2 in the UK today announces the launch of the first operator- supported major label mobile music store.

The store, called My Play, will be available exclusively through O2 Active and is powered by Momac’s multimedia publishing platform GoMedia. It brings together the full suite of mobile music products in the shape of videos, full track audio and realtones onto one store. Designed to help bring consumers closer to their favoured artists, the simple user interface will see consumers accessing the store simply by clicking on artist microsites as their gateway into the store. Purchases from the store will be chart eligible from launch.

The store is live from August 7th with videos priced fully inclusive at £1.50, tones at £3.50 and full music tracks at 99p.

Artist micro-sites will rotate in line with SONY BMG’s release schedule. The store itself is powered by the Momac publishing platform GoMedia which will manage and deliver the raft of content and services. Momac already have a proven track record with both O2 and SONY BMG.

Apple iPhone 3G Review by 3G.co.uk

A sequel with this much razzmatazz is usually the stuff of Hollywood. However, the Apple iPhone 2 (aka the iPhone 3G) has made a heroic summer blockbuster entrance that competes with anything Indiana Jones or Batman could muster.

As we twiddled with our review sample a few days after the iPhone 3G’s release, Apple announced that its new-look handset had just reached one million sales across the world; suggesting that it’s as popular with consumers as it is with the technology media and the Apple PR machine.

One reason the iPhone 3G is selling faster than the original is almost certainly the price. Upon its UK launch, the first iPhone set you back £269 plus the cost of your O2 contract; however, the 8GB version of the 3G edition is available for free on £45 and £75 contracts and for £99 on the £30 and £35 tariffs.

Meanwhile, the 16GB version is free with O2’s £75 contracts, £59 with its £45 contracts and £159 with the others. In short, it’s cheaper and it’s still exclusive to O2.The other attraction is the iPhone 3G’s improved feature set, which we’ll look at in a moment. But first let’s examine its new design.

Full Review Here

T-Mobile Launches New BlackBerry Bold Smartphone

T-Mobile announced an expansion of its BlackBerry smartphone portfolio with the launch of the BlackBerry Bold smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM), which will be available in shops and online from September 2008. The BlackBerry Bold features a premium design and unprecedented performance to increase the ability of T-Mobile customers to work effectively whilst away from the office. As the first BlackBerry smartphone available from T-Mobile to support 3G (HSDPA) networks, the BlackBerry Bold allows business users to download email attachments, stream video or render web pages more quickly than ever before. T-Mobile's 3G network coverage is among the best in the UK and will provide almost complete population coverage by 2009 as a result of the innovative 3G radio access network sharing agreement with 3 UK

With this powerful new smartphone, users can talk on the phone while sending and receiving email or accessing the web, and the BlackBerry Bold also allows users to download Word, Excel or PowerPoint email attachments and edit them directly on the handset with the preinstalled DataViz® Documents to Go® software suite “ a great advantage for those working on the go. The BlackBerry Bold also comes with a 2 megapixel camera that supports video capture and a media player for taking entertainment on the go. It includes 1 GB of on-board storage memory, as well as a microSD/SDHC memory card slot for additional storage of music, video, pictures and office documents*.

The BlackBerry Bold will be available to all T-Mobile Business 1-Plan customers. The Business 1-Plan tariff enables companies to reap more value from their mobile communications investment by building a truly flexible allowance of voice, data, texts and international calls “ removing the complexity of surrounding costs by providing one simple plan tailored to meet the user's mobile communication needs.

Business 1-Plan includes calls from the UK to Europe and North America as T-Mobile recognises that many business transactions are no longer confined to the UK.

The BlackBerry Bold also features integrated GPS with support for location based applications and services such as satellite navigation with local search capabilities, a valuable tool for remote and mobile workers traveling to a meeting at a new venue or for locating the nearest petrol station. It also features Bluetooth® 2.0, with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals

Adding to its wealth of functionality, the BlackBerry Bold provides access to email (including attachment viewing), text and instant messaging, organiser, web and other mobile applications. Chivers adds: We already know that business users are incrediblyenamoured with the capabilities of their BlackBerry smartphones. The BlackBerry Bold from T-Mobile offers all the features they expect, as well as a range of advanced functionality that enhance its business benefits. We are sure it will prove a popular choice with both SME and enterprise customers

Sony Ericsson announces the slim and elegant T700 - a phone that shines above the rest

Shine with the new Sony Ericsson T700, a phone with slim elegance that will help you stand out from the crowd. This flawless phone combines timeless design and premium features for the mainstream market. Snap a great shot with the 3.2 megapixel camera and share it with your friends on your blog or web page. Boogie to the beat from the exquisite sound of the built-in stereo speakers, or through your phone's colour-matched headset.

Be the envy of your friends with the T700. Building on the heritage of the style icon Sony Ericsson T610, the T700 has the robust set of must-have features that you'd expect from a Sony Ericsson phone - but with the slim elegance that takes centre stage in a premium handset. At just 10mm thin this phone has a timeless yet fresh Sony Ericsson design and is complete with a 3.2megapixel camera and self-portrait mirror - ideal for those who are always well groomed and take pride in their appearance and possessions.

The T700 is a slim elegant phone for the mass market - whether you want a phone that looks good or one that is perfect to show off in an important business meeting.

The T700 is a GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 UMTS/HSDPA 2100 phone that will be available in selected markets in the colours Black on Silver, Black on Red and Shining Silver from early Q4 of 2008

SkyLink Announces New CDMA Handsets for RussiaSkyLink, the CDMA Russian mobile operator, has recently announced the future availability of two new han

SkyLink, the CDMA Russian mobile operator, has recently announced the future availability of two new handsets: AnyDATA ASP-505 and Ubiquam U800.

Undoubtedly, AnyDATA ASP-505 is the device that’s worth most of our attention, as it's an elegant Pocket PC that runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and packs several advanced features. These include dual-band CDMA connectivity (450 / 800 ÌHz) with EV-DO Rev. A for fast data transfer speeds, Wi-Fi, internal GPS, a 2.8 TFT touchscreen display with 240 x 320 pixels and 65K colors, Bluetooth 2.0, Music and Video players, a 2 Megapixel camera, a Samsung processor at 400 MHz and microSD card support.

AnyDATA ASP-505 measures 102 x 58 x 14.3 millimeters, weighs 120 grams and includes a 1270 mAh battery that can probably offer decent talk and stand-by times.

According to SkyLink, the new Pocket PC will be commercially available across Russia starting the fourth quarter of 2008. Its price was not disclosed yet.

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HTC to begin shipping Android-based handsets in 4Q 2008

High Tech Computer (HTC) will begin to ship its first Android-based handsets to ODM clients in the fourth quarter of this year as scheduled, according to company CFO Hui-ming Cheng.

HTC revenues are expected to grow 10% sequentially and 30% on year in the third quarter, buoyed by the planned launch of CDMA, GSM and sliding form-factor HTC Touch Diamond handsets, Cheng indicated.

HTC has shipped Touch Diamond handsets to 50 telecom operators in more than 30 countries so far, Cheng noted.

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Vodafone UK launches Sony Ericsson W980 exclusively with Usher's new album Here I Stand'From this week Vodafone UK customers will be able to exclusive

From this week Vodafone UK customers will be able to exclusively buy the Sony Ericsson W980 with Usher's latest album Hear I Stand preloaded. The phone will be from free on contract or GBP300 for pay as you talk customers.

Here I Stand is the latest album from the best selling artist following on the success of Confessions which was the most successful album of 2004, selling 20 million copies worldwide. Yeah', Burn', and Confessions Part II' were all up there, topping Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart - immortalizing Usher as the first solo artist in history to have three singles in the top 10 simultaneously.

Customers who purchase the W980 will also be invited to become a part of Ushers Entourage', a special online community that will give them access to enter a competition to win a pair of tickets to Usher's UK tour, watch Usher's latest video, read an exclusive interview with the star and be first to get information on tour dates.

There is also a special Usher WAP site where customers can download extras including: * Mobile wallpaper * Entourage theme * Exclusive Burn remix * Exclusive Love In This Club remix * Here I Stand animated screensaver * Love In This Club ringtone * Love In This Club video

The Sony Ericsson W980 Walkman has excellent music features that Sony Ericsson mobile lovers will have come to expect with impeccable sound quality and added features such as shake control and direct music control keys. The W980 has unique audio enhancing quality which ensures music sounds true to the original recording and comes with integrated stereo speakers and a stereo hands free headset. It also has a built-in FM receiver and transmitter making it easy to share music that's being played with friends. It also comes with a 3.2 megapixel camera. The W980 has built in memory of 8GB and with its large high quality display its ideal for accessing the internet and checking email.

Apple to launch the iPhone 'nano' in time for Christmas

Apple is about to launch a 'nano' version of the hugely successful iPhone. It is expected to be in the shops in time for Christmas.