Vodafone 555 Blue – world’s first prepay-only Facebook phone

Oh, so that’s what the “F” button is for?

Vodafone has unleashed what it claims to be the world’s first designated prepay phone that is aimed squarely at Facebook fans (the INQ Cloud Touch is also available on contract). Indeed, the handset itself has been designed in collaboration with the social networking giant and even features the iconic “F” logo as a separate button.

The Vodafone 555 Blue (which sounds a bit like a 1980s porn movie, to be honest) is fairly basic in functionality and connectivity: There’s a QWERTY keypad, 2.4-inch display, and 2-megapixel camera (with flash)

It can play MP3s, WMAs and AACs through built-in music software, and its 40MB of on-board can be upgraded through SD card support (up to 16GB). There’s also an FM radio and Bluetooth 2.1.

And, of course, Facebook is built into its core, running from the off. Messages from your FB friends will appear in your inbox alongside emails. It also updates automatically in the background, so you can always keep informed of what’s going on in your social networking world.

There’s also the Opera Mini 5 web browser on board for internet tomfoolery. But it is only a 2.5G device, so it’s not designed to munch away on massive amounts of data (just as well, really. As a pre-pay handset, you don’t want to run out of credit quickly for phone calls, for example).

Vodafone will be releasing the 555 Blue globally in the near future, through its own shops and online. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.

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Tags: Facebook, Facebook Phone, Mobile Phones, QWERTY Keyboard, Vodafone, Vodafone 555 Blue

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GSM turns 20 today, still rocking the world

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkZn7jFd9Rc

Happy birthday, dear Global System for Mobile Communications! 20 years ago today, on July 1 1991, the world’s first GSM call was made by Finnish Prime Minister Harri Holkeri. The historic call used Nokia gear on GSM’s original 900MHz band. Today GSM is all grown up and ruling the world — connecting 1.5 billion people in 212 countries and serving 80% of the planet’s mobile market. GSM gave us a number of firsts. It was the first fully digital cellular system using TDMA to cram more information into less spectrum and provide better sounding, more reliable calls using less power. It introduced the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), the idea of switching handsets at will (something carriers have sought to subvert by locking phones), and the reality of international roaming.

Short Messaging Service (SMS) was first launched on GSM networks, along with packet data (GPRS and later EDGE), which made internet access practical on mobile devices. Eventually, GSM expanded to the 400, 800, 1800 and 1900MHz bands and evolved into WDCMA-based UMTS (3G) and later HSPA and HSPA+, followed byLTE (4G) networks. So next time you’re at the coffee shop sipping on that latte while uploading that video to YouTube at 10Mbps using your LTE phone, remember to be thankful for that first GSM call 20 years ago — that’s when the mobile revolution really started.

Article: RSS via Engadget

Tags: 2G, 3G, 4G, 900MHz, Cell Phones, EDGE, GPRS, GSM, HSPA+, LTE, Mobile Networks, Mobile Phones, SIM, Smartphones, SMS, UMTS, WDCMA

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Shift away from landlines continues

Everyone I know has a mobile phone of some sort. Even my grandmother and mom have one, even though they rarely answer the phones. When it comes to the segment of the population most likely to have and use smartphones it’s the younger and tech savvy that are most often leaving the landline behind for mobile phones only. The latest FCC wireless communications report has been published and sheds a bit of light on the number of users leaving landlines behind.

Right now 24.9% of all Americans have no landline phone and use a wireless phone exclusively. I have been in this group for nearly seven years now and haven’t missed a landline yet. Among the younger users 25 to 29 years old, the percentage of users with wireless phones only is nearly twice the US average. This is the most impressive number from the report. The US has 308 million people living in the country and 274 million of that number are subscribed to a wireless plan.

I would love to know the percentage of young children in the population today. It would be very interesting to know how many of the roughly 29 million US residents not on wireless are the very young or the very old who aren’t able to use a mobile phone. Out of the 274 million subscribers, 55.8 million have a mobile data plan likely to mean they use a smartphone. The report shows AT&T and Verizon lead the wireless market.

Article: RSS via SlashGear

Tags: Cell Phones, Landline, Landline Network, Mobile Phones, Smartphones

Posted in Mobile Phones, Smartphones | No Comments »

SuperTooth HD Bluetooth speakerphone

How many of you still flaunt road rules, especially when it comes to using hands-free kits when you’re driving? You know you aren’t supposed to attend to that phone call, but since traffic is moving so slow, it doesn’t hurt to check out what John has to say to you, right? Why not do so in style and safety by getting the SuperTooth HD Bluetooth speakerphone instead? This device will remain clipped onto your car’s sun visor, making sure you can keep both hands on the wheel, and two eyes on the road while still getting your conversational kicks. What makes the SuperTooth HD Bluetooth speakerphone so special is its ability to basically communicate with even social networks using nothing but your voice alone – although those from non-native English speaking countries might find it rather challenging at first, somewhat like how the speech recognition algorithm in Nintendo’s Brain Game failed to work with certain words (especially naming the colors bit).

Dual microphones ensure that voices are picked up more clearly than ever before, while anti-echo and DSP control for noise cancellation lets you carry out crystal clear conversations. There is also the option for advanced voice commands that lets you answer incoming calls, select pre-dialed phone numbers, check battery level and retrieve voicemail. With Dial2Do, you can compose and send Facebook, Twitter, e-mail and SMS messages via voice – bear in mind that these texts will be posted as audio files for your recipients can listen to. Too bad Dial2Do is free for a mere half year, whereby you will then need to fork out $3.99 monthly after that.

The SuperTooth HD can reside in your vehicle for a mere $129 – surely this is a small investment compared to all those tickets you will receive for talking on the phone while driving? [Press Release]

Article: RSS via UberGizmo

Tags: Accessories, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Speaker, Mobile Phones, Smartphones, SuperTooth HD Bluetooth Speakerphone

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Nokia hands Symbian over to Accenture – still no end for the OS

WP7 from here on out? Doesn’t look like it

The days of Nokia and its love affair with the Symbian OS are numbered. The final signatures have been put in place, hands shook and leaving parties arranged. This is it, this is the end. From October 2011 all developing and support of Symbian will be up to Accenture.

By the end of the year nearly 2800 Nokia employees from around the world will move over at closing. This doesn’t however mean the end of Symbian altogether, the agreement between the two companies will see Accenture developing the OS ecosystem until 2016.

Nokia will also continue to support products like the recently released 18-carat gold Oro. CEO Stephen Elop has even said the company plans an additional 10 Symbian powered handset over the next 12 months. The new Symbian Anna update should also be headed to handsets around August this year.

We do expect these, however, will likely be overshadowed by the companies’ Windows Phone 7 plans. Still you couldn’t say Nokia doesn’t have enough operating systems to develop for, first Symbian, next Windows Phone 7 and now MeeGo in the form of the N9.

Should Nokia make its mind up?

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Tags: Accenture, Mobile Phones, Nokia, Smartphones, Symbian

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Sony Ericsson txt makes it easy to be friendly

SMS and Facebooking made simple

Sony Ericsson’s quest for the world record of most phone launches in a year continues with the announcement of the teen friendly Sony Ericsson txt.

When we say teen friendly, we don’t mean for loner teen who sits in the school library at lunch time, reading books, picking white-heads and engaging with nobody bar Pedro, the non-English speaking cleaner (how we miss old Pedro) – we mean the popular teens, ones with loads of pals and contacts.

That’s because the Sony Ericsson txt is a feature phone meant for the social media crowd.

There’s no 3G on board so to make best use of the social web features (a “friends” app that boasts both Facebook and Twitter connectivity) of the phone you’ll have to use the built-in Wi-Fi, although there is GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 – so it should be okay for the odd status update on the go.

It has a 3.2-megapixel camera with video recording, an email client and a YouTube app as well. There’s also Bluetooth connectivity and an FM radio. It can handle up to 32GB microSD cards, on board memory is a paltry 100MB.

The screen is a 2.6-inch, scratch resistant, 240×320 display.

It’s out in Q3 2011. No prices yet – but expect to see this phone sitting nicely with the other social friendly PAYG options.

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Tags: Bluetooth, FM Radio, GSM, Mobile Phones, Sony Ericsson, Sony Ericsson txt, WiFi

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Nokia C2-03: Dual SIM, navigation and a touchscreen for £68

The Nokia C2-03 and its brothers, the C2-02 and C2-06, were also unveiled at Nokia Connect overnight. Unlike the Nokia N9, they’re not running an all new OS, and they do come with buttons. But these are about as smart as non-smartphones get: read on to find out why.

The Nokia C2-03′s slide-out T9 keyboard form factor is nothing new, and nor is it ability to accept microSD cards or tune into FM radio. And as for the 240×320 resolution screen? That’s so 2006.

But the Nokia C2-03 is still worthy of note, because it’s cheap (just €77 unlocked), and the smartest dual-sim “dumbphone” we’ve seen. Its screne reacts to touchscreen prods like previous Nokia “Touch and Type” phones, and it can remember settings for up to five different SIM cards, and these can be switched in and out from the side of the phone, with no restart required.

The Nokia C2-03 is also the first S40 mobile to run the new Nokia Maps for feature phones. It comes preloaded with maps for your country out of the box, so downloads are kept to a minimum, and Nokia is even claminig it can still provide “turn-by-turn directions for drivers”, even without GPS.

We’re skeptical of this last claim, but overall it’s a smart move for mobile mapping software regardless since it keeps data costs down – and therefore makes it much more affordable.

The Nokia C2-03, and its single-SIM version the C2-01, while for a few pounds more the Nokia C2-06 gives you moor colour options (Metallic black, silver and lilac, or gold).

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKti9mLEB4Q

Article: RSS via Electricpig

Tags: Dual-SIM, Mobile Phones, Nokia, Nokia C2-03, Symbian, Touch and Type, Video

Posted in Mobile Phones, Nokia, Symbian, Videos | No Comments »

Nokia shutting up shop in the UK

Elop’s big trim continues…

Nokia has admitted defeat with regards to its online store platform – with news that the UK store is to shut along with other European outlets such as France, Spain and The Netherlands.

The UK closure was confirmed by an email from Nokia to affiliate digital marketing outfit TradeDoubler, with a closure date of 30 June stated. A Spanish Nokia bod also told Engadget: “Prices are too subsidised by the carriers and sales were low, so they will keep providing support.”

The move comes during a turbulent time for the once undisputed mobile heavyweight champion. Recent financial results were very disappointing – shares dropped by 15 per cent after its second quarter 2011 outlook and the company stated that it ”now expects Devices & Services net sales to be substantially below its previously expected range of 6.1 billion euros to 6.6 billion euros for the second quarter 2011 “due to lower than previously expected net sales” – and straight-talking and hard-hitting CEO Stephen Elop also oversaw the slashing of 4,000 people from its payroll, and the offloading a further 3,000 more.

With Nokia’s Windows Phone 7 revolution all scheduled for later this year, there is light on the horizon but whether that light shines bright enough to save the former king remains to be seen.

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Tags: Europe, Mobile Phones, Nokia, Smartphones, UK

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Vodafone’s Emporia RL1 is super easy-to-use anti-smartphone that costs 60 GBP on PAYG

Although the number of smartphone users keeps growing on a daily basis, there is still a significant population that uses phone for basic texting and calling. For those folks, Vodafone launched Emporia RL1, which looks like a regular cordless phone most of us still have in our homes. It doesn’t have a camera, mobile data and media player. Its 1.8-inch OLED screen can be used for texting, calling and to run few selected apps such as alarm clock, calculator and the birthday reminder app. You can store up to 100 entries in the phonebook and that’s about it.

This “anti-smartphone” is said to come with a battery that can provide up to 3 hours of talk and up to 8 days of standby time.

If this somehow excites you, hit this link to grab the Emporia RL1 for 60 GBP on Pay as you go. Alternatively, you can sign-up for a contract and get the phone for free.

Article: RSS via IntoMobile

Tags: Emporia RL1, Mobile Phones, Vodafone

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Is Samsung preparing to purchase Nokia?

One has to wonder about Nokia’s future these days as rumors are beginning to crop up that it is going to be purchased. If not Microsoft, then maybe Samsung. The Wall Street Journal has received word that Samsung, maker of the Galaxy series of smartphones and tablets, is preparing to purchase the Finnish company. In an effort to verify the information, both Samsung and Nokia have denied to comment, predictably, since it is still just a rumor.

Nokia has failed to make a splash in the way that Apple and Google have with the iPhone and number of high-end Android devices. Nokia has partnered with Microsoft for Windows Phone 7 devices, however we won’t be seeing any of those, or just how well they’ll do in the market, until later this year. It’s also rumored that Nokia employees aren’t exactly thrilled with what Stephen Elop has been doing since taking the helm.

TechEye reports:

While it would be a surprise move, particularly with what is seen as a Microsoft stooge at Nokia’s helm, the Dow Jones tends to report where there are at least several grains of truth to be found.

What do you think? Would it be a good idea for Samsung to purchase Nokia? More importantly, would it be a good move for Nokia or should it just keep its head down and continue cranking at making great hardware and let Microsoft handle its software?

Article: RSS via IntoMobile

Tags: Microsoft, Mobile Phones, Nokia, Samsung, Smartphones, Windows Phone 7

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