Vodafone Smart: Android 2.2 with 3G, WiFi, GPS, and a 2.8 inch screen for just 90 Euros

Let the era of the sub 100 Euros handset begin! Today Vodafone has introduced the “Smart”, otherwise known as the Vodafone 858. For 90 Euros this summer, and that includes tax, you’ll be able to pick up this delightful little smartphone that packs Android 2.2, quadband 2G, 2100 MHz 3G capable of 3.6 Mbps download speeds, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, all in a body that weighs just 104 grams and measures 56.8 mm x 103.8 mm x 12.6 mm. Other important specs: It has a 2.8 inch 320 x 240 pixel resolution capacitive touch screen, 2 megapixel camera, 1200 mAh battery rated for 380 hours (15.8 days) of standby time and 270 minutes (4.5 hours) of talk time in 3G mode, 3.5 mm headphone jack, and there’s even a built in FM radio.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il9OztJi6xs

Available to prepaid customers only, meaning it’s locked to the Vodafone network, the Smart should not only help Android become even more dominate than it is today, but also introduce millions of Europeans to their very first smartphone. We’ve got to wonder, at this price point why are other handset makers still insisting on making feature phones? We’re not talking about the sub 50 Euros feature phones for Africa and India, we’re talking about the heavily designed Nokia, Samsung, and LG feature phones that can fetch upwards of 200 Euros and not even come with a decent web browser.

Many of you will look at this thing and roll your eyes. Too small, terrible resolution, single core only, no HSPA+, but let it sink in for a moment that what you spent for the superphone inside your pocket can buy you, your mother, your father, your significant other, and your best friend this fully loaded Android smartphone that back in 2007 would have easily sold for well over 500 Euros. If that isn’t a mark of progress, then we don’t know what is anymore.

Update: We found the official specification sheet! [PDF file]

Article: RSS via IntoMobile

Tags: 3G, Android, Android 2.2, GPS, Smartphones, Video, Vodafone, Vodafone Smart, Wi-Fi

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Vodafone gives the charity pot a texty update

SMS JustTextGiving launched

Vodafone just made donating money to charity all that more straight forward by partnering with Just Giving to launch JustTextGiving – the UK’s first free text donation service.

Charities will be able to set up a personalised 6 digit VIC code, that generous texters can then use to make instant donations up to £10.

For example, Cancer Research will use code CRUK11 so if you want to donate £5 to them simply text “CRUK11 £5″ to 70070 and it’ll be done instantly – your donation will show up on your next phone bill, or be taken from your PAYG credit.

Plus, all of the money goes to the charity and it even takes into account gift aid. It’s also free for the charities to set up their JustTextGiving accounts.

“We believe the use of mobile devices for charitable giving is an important future revenue stream which has the potential to tap into a new demographic and create a new age of giving,” said Cancer Research’s director of supporter marketing Natasha Hill.

“We are excited to see the impact this new service will have on growing the mobile donation market – not only in support of Cancer Research UK but also for all charities in the UK.”

To set up JustTextGiving simply call 0800 0521 081, or sign up via justtextgiving.co.uk.

Article: RSS via Pocket-lint

Tags: Charity, JustTextGiving, SMS, Text, Vodafone

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Vodafone lets Londoners pay for taxis via text message, charge their phones in transit

Mobile payment systems may be gaining only gradual steam in the US, but over on the other side of the pond, Vodafone UK has launched a broad new campaign to integrate smartphone technology where Londoners may need it most — in the back of taxis. As of today, many cab passengers will be able to charge their smartphones in transit, thanks to a wide range of chargers that the mobile carrier has installed in more than 500 of London’s iconic black vehicles. Vodafone is also rolling out a new payment scheme today, whereby cash-strapped travelers can text their cab’s license number to a specific code, allowing any owed fares to be charged directly to their phone bills. The system certainly doesn’t sound as elegant as some of the NFC-based operations we’ve heard about, but it still beats having to navigate your cab driver to the nearest ATM, with the meter tick-tocking away.

Article: RSS via Engadget

Tags: London, Mobile Payments, SMS, Text, Vodafone

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Vodafone: Data revenue exceeds SMS for first time

Vodafone Europe has confirmed that, for the first time, mobile internet revenue for the carrier has exceeded SMS revenues. The news marks a significant milestone in the European mobile segment, which has historically seen particularly strong SMS revenues.

The data revenue news was revealed at the launch of the HTC Sensation, HTC’s newest Android smartphone. Vodafone has clinched a one month exclusive deal with the handset in Europe, and it will go on sale in mid-May 2011.

Meanwhile, HTC has already told SlashGear that the Sensation will go on sale in the US with carrier T-Mobile USA as the HTC Sensation 4G, complete with HSPA+ support. That’s expected to happen sometime in May or June 2011.

Article: RSS via SlashGear

Tags: 3G, Android, Data, HTC Sensation, Mobile Broadband, Mobile Internet, Smartphones, SMS, Vodafone

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HTC Sensation leaked by Vodafone: 4.3-inch qHD SLCD and 1.2GHz dual-core processor are go (video)

Would you look at that, HTC’s latest worst kept secret is live on Vodafone UK’s website. So here’s the scoop: 4.3-inch qHD (540 x 960 pixel) SLCD display, 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera augmented by an 8 megapixel shooter with dual-LED flash around back, a 1.2GHz (dual-core) processor, and 4GB of internal flash memory with an extra 8GB supplied on memory card. Stick around, we’ll have hands-on with the latest Android Sensation from the HTC launch event later in the day.

Update: Vodafone removed the pages but we’ve got a screenshot after the break. Better yet, we’ve also got a trio of videos uncovered by our friends over at Mobile Bulgaria showing updated elements of the Sense UI.

Article: RSS via Engadget

Tags: 1.2GHz, 8 Megapixel Camera, Android, Dual-Core, HTC, HTC Sensation, Sense UI, SLCD, Smartphones, Video, Vodafone

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Vodafone grabs £7bn, leaves France

Sells off French assets to Vivendi

Vodafone is selling its minority shareholding in French operator SFR, netting €7.95bn by flogging 44 per cent of SFR and giving Vivendi complete ownership.
Vivendi already owns 56 per cent of mobile, fixed-line, broadband and TV supplier SFR, which boasts 20 million customers, but once the deal is completed, Vivendi will own the whole company. SFR and Vodafone will maintain a Partner Market agreement covering roaming and commercial cooperation.

Vodafone will hand back some of the cash to shareholders, buying back £4bn worth of its own shares; the rest will be dropped in the debt pile. Explaining the move, Voda’s CEO Vittorio Colao talked about focusing on wholly-owned operations, rather than those over which Vodafone has less than complete control. He said:

“Our Board remains committed to realising maximum value from our non-controlled assets. The sale of our stake in SFR, at an attractive multiple, represents a significant further step in the execution of this strategy.”

Article: RSS via The Register

Tags: France, Mobile Networks, SFR, Vivendi, Vodafone

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HTC Wildfire S appears on Vodafone website

Vodafone look set to deliver the rather brilliant HTC Wildfire S soon enough. They’ve added the handset to their coming soon page and will also retail an exclusive grey and purple model too.

The Wildfire S has a 320×480 pixel screen, 600MHz CPU, 512MB RAM, 5 megapixel camera, microSD slot, 3.5mm audio port, digital compass, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS and 3G connectivity. It’ll hopefully be just as successful as the earlier model.

Article: RSS via CoolSmartPhone

Tags: Android, HTC, HTC Wildfire S, Smartphones, Vodafone, Wildfire S

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Nokia E7 UK pre-orders open: Will you stick with Symbian?

When we first copped the Nokia E7 QWERTY smartphone back in September, we were blown away. It’s one of the most beautiful, astoundingly designed phones we’ve ever seen. You’d have thought then, that today’s news that it’s up for pre-order in the UK at long last would be cause for celebration. The thing is, with Nokia dumping Symbian for Windows Phone 7, is there any point investing in it any more? You tell us, right here.

Head on over to Nokia’s UK online store right now and you can pre-order a Nokia E7, either on a £35 per month contract on T-Mobile or Vodafone, £469 Pay As You Go or £499, for delivery in late April. That wait itelf is galling, especially since the Nokia E7 is shipping internationally already, but what we want to know is if you’ve been lusting after this metal beauty with a 4-inch AMOLED screen, do you still want it, knowing that Nokia is all but giving up on Symbian as a smartphone OS?

Last month, Nokia announced its earth shattering plans to switch to Windows Phone 7, but since we’re not expecting the first Microkia phones until next year, that’s a long wait in between, and Nokia is still hoping to sell plenty of smartphones in the meantime.

The good news is we’re expecting our own Nokia E7 review unit imminently, so you can expect a full verdict long before then. Will you be buying? Let us know in the comments.

Article: RSS via Electricpig

Tags: Nokia, Nokia E7, Pay As You Go, SIM Free, Smartphones, Symbian, T-Mobile, Vodafone

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UK 4G spectrum set to be auctioned off next year

Ofcom, the UK version of the FCC, is currently sitting on two fat bands of prime 4G spectrum, at 800MHz and 2.6GHz, but it won’t be doing so for long. This morning has seen an announcement from the independent regulator that it’s looking to sell off those airwaves to the highest bidder, as early as 2012, pending the conclusion of a consultation on how to ensure the auction helps promote, rather than stifle, competiton. The 800MHz band comes directly from spectrum freed up by the country’s transition to digital television, and together with the 2.6GHz is equivalent to three quarters of all the mobile spectrum the UK uses today. The usual suspects of O2, Vodafone and Everything Everywhere will be vying for prime position in the next wave of superspeedy internet … we just wonder how 3G-centric network Three will react to the news.

Article: RSS via Engadget

Tags: 3G, 3G Networks, 4G, 4G Networks, 4G Spectrum Auction, Everything Everywhere, O2, Ofcom, Three, UK, Vodafone

Posted in 3 / Three, 3G, 4G, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone | No Comments »

Vodafone’s network knackered by thieves

Silicon Corridor loses mobile coverage

Millions of Vodafone customers were disconnected this morning after an overnight break-in. Calls, text and data are intermittent west of London with a fix in progress.

The failures seem only to be affecting areas just west of London, in the so-called Silicon Corridor. Wales seems fine and the rest of the country is OK, but reports of intermittent failures are coming in from Swindon, Reading, Oxford and surrounding areas, with the fault making incoming and outgoing calls all but impossible.

Thieves apparently broke in to Vodafone’s data centre, which resulted in kit getting damaged. Putting things back together is taking a while, but Vodafone tells us the fix is in process, and that no customer data was compromised.

We’ll pass on more details when we have them, but in the meantime, if you can’t get hold of a colleague this morning they might genuinely be having network problems, rather than the more usual Monday morning difficulties.

Article: RSS via The Register

Tags: London, Network Outage, UK, Vodafone

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