Motorola A1800

We have good news and bad news.. the good news is that the Motorola A1800 is a touchscreen smartphone with built-in GPS, and it's a rare handset that supports GSM and CDMA. The bad news is that you are unlikely to ever see one if you live outside of China.

The latest in a series of "MOTOMING" handsets aimed at the Chinese market, the Motorola A1800 demonstrates just what Motorola can do when it's not making warmed-over RAZR phones.

Support for GSM and CDMA is exceptionally rare in a mobile phone, and in fact Motorola are the only mainstream manufacturer that we know of who make handsets like this. Before that A1800 was the Z6c, and before that the very rare A840. Both CDMA and GSM networks are common in China, which perhaps explains why it has been launched there first.. but many frequent flyers between the US and Europe could be interested in the A1800 too.

The Motorola A1800 has a 2.4" 240 x 320 pixel display, has expandable memory (up to 4GB), built-in GPS, handwriting recognition, a viewer for Office documents, email client and web browser. On the back is a 3 megapixel camera with autofocus. It isn't a 3G phone, and one serious omission is the lack of WiFi.

Despite the large 1000 mAh battery, the standby time on the A1800 is very short, at around 3.5 - 4.5 days. This is mostly down to the high power drain when running a CDMA and GSM radio at the same time. On either GSM or CDMA the talktime is a reasonable 3.5 to 5 hours.

Maps of mainland China are included, but nowhere else. Of course, it is theoretically possible to have other maps on the A1800 from different regions, but so far we have only seen this in China.

So perhaps the Motorola A1800 would need some reworking before it was suitable for US or European markets, although presumably it does support English as well as Chinese. And although the A1800 is perhaps not an iPhone killer, it would be a welcome addition to Motorola's worldwide lineup. We will wait and see.

source:http://www.mobilegazette.com

HTC Diamonds are shipping!

HTC Diamond fan boys, this is the news you've been waiting for. Not only have HTC Diamond shipments started (and some stores are already selling device), but the Taiwan-based smartphone maker has already shipped the first batch of over 10,000 units, according to market sources.

In Germany, HTC will co-operate with T-Mobile, where the two companies will market both the Diamond and the QWERTY-keyboard equipped Raphael, which the Deutsche Telekom owned mobile operator will start selling as MDA Compact IV and MDA Vario IV, respectively.

Unfortunately, we've no idea when will see the latest HTC devices hitting other European markets and the U.S. One could argue the handset maker may want to use T-Mobile to push its smartphones outside Germany, in other markets where the carrier operates. Which leads us to the U.S., where unfortunately, we're still waiting for T-Mobile's 3G network roll-out. I just hope they don't bring the "EDGE flavor of the Diamond" there — it's about time we see T-Mobile's 3G offering hitting the States.

source:http://www.intomobile.com

Samsung U800 "Soul b" Preview (Soulb / SGH-U800)

The Samsung U800 "Soul b", or as Samsung insist on spelling it, the Soulb is the third phone to bear the "Soul" brand after the original U900 and G400 clamshell. But unlike the previous "Soul" phones, the U800 Soul b is a much more conventional mainstream handset.

Two significant things missing in the Soul b are the 5 megapixel camera of the Soul U900 and G400, and the Soul U900's interesting touchpad. Unfortunately, they are two of the best features of the original Soul.. so what we are left with on the Soul b is a stylish brushed metal case and the Soul's attractive user interface.

On the back of the U800 Soul b is a 3 megapixel camera with a flash, but we don't know if it has autofocus. On the front is a fairly standard 2" 240 x 320 pixel display. Internal memory is an impressive 1GB, and this can be expanded using a microSD card. This is an HSDPA phone with maximum download speeds of up to 3.6 Mbps, and the U800 Soul also has a document viewer, an FM radio and of course a multimedia player and Bluetooth.

At just 89 grams in weight and only 9.9mm in thickness, you can forgive the Soul b for missing out some of the features of the other two Soul handsets. But we can't help but feel underwhelmed by the whole thing. Yes, it looks nice, yes the user interface is likely to be pretty good. But there isn't an awful lot to differentiate the Soul b from other offerings, notably the Nokia 6500 Classic.

It's not cheap either - the suggested retail price is €350 (around £280) SIM Free. Considering that you can get the 6500 for around €250 (£200) then we think that Samsung are asking too much for the SGH-U800. Most contract customers will get it for free though, so perhaps the pricing is not so important.

Samsung say that the U800 Soulb will be available from June 2008 onwards in Germany and certain other regions, possibly as a Vodafone exclusive. Black and silver variants have been announced, with the possibility of other colours at a later date.

source:http://www.mobilegazette.com

Samsung L870 (SGH-L870)

The Samsung L870 is a 3.5G device with a 3 megapixel camera and a 2.4" 240 x 320 pixel display. The SGH-L870 runs Symbian 9.3 with the S60 3.2 interface, similar to most contemporary S60 smartphones. In addition to the usual S60 multimedia features, the L870 comes with an FM radio. There's also a variety of push email support, an office document viewer, personal information management applications and we understand that the SGH-L870 comes with a mobile version of the Apple Safari web browser. Samsung say that the L870 offers "DVD quality" video capture, but does not go into technical details.

So.. it's a good looking HSDPA slider phone, but you might expect that the L870 was going to get some tough competition from Nokia. But, oddly enough, the only HSDPA slider phone from Nokia is the N95 and N95 8GB. The Samsung L870 pitches somewhere below the N95 on price, so surprisingly it seems to have found a market niche.

As we just mentioned, the L870 doesn't pitch against the N95. There's no GPS, no WiFi and the main camera resolution is less. But it does compare well against the Nokia E65 (which lacks HSDPA but has WiFi) and the upcoming Nokia E66 slider.

There are still some features that we don't know about - for example, we cannot say if the L870 has autofocus and a flash for the main camera. We don't know how much the L870 weighs, or what the battery life is. But what we can tell is that the L870 promises to be a pretty good S60 handset, and it is one of the few devices worth looking at if you want S60 on a platform other than a Nokia.

The Samsung L870 should be available in certain regions from August 2008 onwards.

source: http://www.mobilegazette.com

Palm Treo 850 specifications

Fans of Palm's Treo lineup of smartphones are no doubt waiting on the edge of their seats for Palm to go live with the next-generation Treo lineup. And, from the looks of the leaked and in the wild pictures, we've seen of the fresh, new wares, it's not hard to see why. The slimmer, sleeker, and more consumer-friendly Treo 850 should help bring Palm out of the slump that not even the Palm Centro has been able to stave off. At just 113 x 60 x 14mm, the Palm Treo 850 is definitely a welcome departure from the bulky Treos of days past.

If these new Palm Treo 850 specs pan out, Palm could very well have a winner on its hands. We're hearing the new smartphone will launch with Windows Mobile 6.1 running the show. Add to that the rumors that the Palm Treo 850 will feature a 2 megapixel camera, 3G/HSDPA topping out at 3.6Mbps, WiFi, AGPS, Bluetooth 2.0 A2DP, 256MB ROM/ 64MB RAM, and a 320 x 320 display and the handset starts to sound like a serious contender in a crowded smartphone market.

Still, will the Palm Treo 850 be the boost that Palm needs to keep it from an unfortunate demise? We sure hope so…

source:http://www.intomobile.com

Apple looking to launch 3G iPhone in Korea and Japan

The latest iPhone rumors to hit the grapevine seems to indicate that Apple could finally break in to the attractive Korean and Japanese wireless markets. Previous reports indicated that Japan would not be getting the iPhone anytime soon, seeing as how the nation's 3G network did not mesh well with the current iPhone. But, Apple is reportedly looking to bring their next-generation iPhone to both Korea and Japan in a joint-launch on Korea Free Telecom (KTF) and NTT DoCoMo (or is it NTT docomo now?) The 3G iPhone would work just fine on the 3G networks in both countries, which makes a good case for the Apple handset to crack the Asian market.

Given the Asian countries' advanced 3G networks and more feature-rich handsets, it remains to be seen how well the iPhone will fare the Pacific Rim. Of course, the apple of Apple's eye is still China. With more wireless subscribers than there are people in the whole of the US, China's mobile market is a potentially lucrative market that can't be ignored.

We'll see if Korea and Japan welcome the iPhone with as much enthusiasm as the US did on its initial launch. Chances are, it won't.

source:http://www.intomobile.com

AT&T back-peddles on iPhone sales limit - allows three iPhones per person

Just a day after AT&T instituted a one iPhone per person limit to presumably ration remaining iPhone stock, the top US wireless carrier back-peddled and is now allowing customers to buy up to three iPhones at a time.

"Our No. 1 concern is to make sure that every customer who wants an iPhone gets one," an AT&T spokesman said. "We thought yesterday that the fairest way to do that was to limit customers to one iPhone. Then we realized that we have sufficient inventory to go back to our original policy."

AT&T customers can now expect to buy up to three iPhones with a credit or debit card. Cash and checks are not accepted in order to enforce the iPhone sales-limit.

source:http://www.intomobile.com

Cheap Mobile Deals: Efficient and Pocket Friendly Deals

The use of mobile phone has become a child’s play in modern times. Various cheap mobile deals have made this thing possible. People are getting the latest handsets with many cheap deals, which are offered by many online mobile shops, as well as network providers. The users can avail attractive and advanced mobile phones with many cheap contract plans. There are several online mobile phone shops, which offer high-end featured mobile phones with cheap mobile deals. You can get the handsets as well as, save a lot of money too with many free offers of them. Isn’t it an amazing idea?

The users can gain a lot of advantages with cheap mobile deals like 12 months free line rental, cash back offers, clearance phones, Bluetooth handsets, free Sony PS3, free ipods, 18 months free line rental and more. Furthermore, there are also other interesting cheap mobile deals along with cost effective tariff plans for users.

With these cheap mobile deals, the users in the UK can purchase the advanced handsets at affordable rates. The well known network providers like O2, Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile and more provide plethora of such deals to the users and they can pick any one plan in accordance to their needs and tastes. You can also find the handsets of the leading mobile manufactures, such as Nokia, samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and many more.

Cheap mobile phone deals are of different types like reduced line rentals, 12 months free line rentals, contract mobile phone deals, pay as you go deals and a lot of for the users. You need only to select the deal that suits your lifestyle and budget. You can also get cheap mobile phones by purchasing a mobile phone plan, which provides you free or low cost handsets. Hence, it can be said that cheap mobile deals are the best option if you want to enjoy all the features of a latest handset at an affordable rates. The mobile users can get mobile phone with many free offers like free accessories, free talk time, discounts and more.

source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Alcatel OT-S211 with FM Radio Announced

Alcatel's new OT-S211 brings the noise with its built-in FM radio and handsfree speakerphone. The 1.5" color display on this entry-level candybar handset is small, but functional, and a rubber keypad helps you maintain your grip on your new portable radio phone.

The OT-S211 offers storage for up to 250 names and numbers in its built-in phone book, and supports T9 predictive text for easy messaging. In addition to calculator and alarm clock, which adds a bit of functionality to this simple handset, Alcatel has also included a game. Pricing and availability are not currently available.

Alcatel OT-S211 cheap phones

news source : http://www.mobileburn.com/review.jsp?Id=4551

Sony Ericsson Z555 Review

The most successful entry-level phones tend to be the ones that don't look cheap. While the spec sheet may be basic, an entry-level handset that boasts slick looks or a well-crafted chassis will be forgiven for the basic 1.3-megapixel camera or lack of 3G. The Sony Ericsson Z555i is aimed at such a market, but will it prove to be an entry-level hit or a low-budget miss?

Sony Ericsson Z555 - Prism-style :

Clamshell handsets are tricky phones to master. By their very nature they are big - open it up and it doubles in length, and closing it will often double the thickness. Yet with this in mind, we were still a tad disappointed with the bulk of the Sony Ericsson Z555i.


Sony Ericsson Z555 - Making the most of space :

Open the clamshell up to reveal a large flat keypad that has been decorated with a golden trim. It works really well against the black keys that are big enough to allow easy digit navigation. While the size of the adjoining screen is 1.9-inches, some careful positioning by Sony Ericsson could surely have led to a slightly larger screen.
Sony Ericsson Z555 - Entry-level camera :

The camera is 1.3-megapixels, although shooting in the one-megapixel mode will prevent you from zooming in on a shot. Flip to VGA and you can zoom 2x and QVGA 4x, but the quality of the picture suffers each time you move down the displays.

Sony Ericsson Z555 - Music capabilities :

There is only 12MB of shared memory, although the MemoryStick Micro slot (M2) found under the back cover will enhance your music collection. It's fair to say that the Z555i won't see you binning your iPods and MP3 players.

news source : http://www.mobilechoiceuk.com/Phone-review?product_id=353#full

LG KP215 Mobile Phone: A Very Light Handset

LG unveils its extremely light mobile phone named LG KP215. The LG KP215 phone weighs as light as 78 grams and is packed with the best of the features in it.

The clamshell phone that supports GSM Dualband, GPRS and 2.0 WAP browser proudly displays its Dual LCD display screens. The LG KP215 clicks its pictures and videos through its 300K resolutions digital camera and plays off its FM radio and an efficient media player which plays formats as MP3, MPEG4, AAC, and AMR very well. With an internal storage of 4MB, the phone also accepts external memory via its MicroSD/TransFlash card expansion slot.

The phone does not show any advancement in its specifications but it does seem to be an above average phone that allows entertainment and internet combined together in synchrony and presents itself well in a compact and sleek form. There is no word on its release date or pricing as yet.

news source : http://www.mobiletor.com/2008/04/29/lg-kp215-mobile-phone-a-very-light-handset/

Asus P527 Cell Phone

The Asus P527 Smart Phone is probably what you’d call perfect. When shopping for a new phone, you’d probably look at its technical specifications first and more often than not, base your decision on that piece of scouting job. Well, if you did that, it’s hard not to choose the Asus P527 phone. On paper, it has everything you’d ever dream of in a phone. But it’s not always the specs and features that matter. At least not with the P527. Later on in the article, you’ll know why.

It’s features include a big 2.7-inch LCD and spacious keypad that is both very usable and attractive. Beneath the elegance, you have Wi-Fi, GPS, an FM radio. Asus has even thrown in a even remote desktop-control feature. Great right? Well, unfortunately, what will detract users from getting this phone is its slow response time that I’m sure most users will loose patience of, and buggy applications.

A feature that would probably matter to some people is the P527’s GPS. The main application is Asus Go, which comes on its own 2GB microSD card and isn’t preinstalled on the device proper. The software is reasonably intuitive but is hardly as capable as a modern, stand-alone GPS device is. Other GPS applications included in the phone is the Travelog.

As a phone, the Asus P527 performs well enough. Its talk-time battery is very good and its built-in 2-megapixel camera takes good quality pictures. Better than most phones do in this class.

news source : http://www.camera-core.co.uk/28-04-2008-asus-p527-cell-phone.html

LG Secret KF750 Black Label Cell Phone

LG has recently announced the launch of the LG Secret KF750 Third Black Label Series Handset. The latest mobile phone is based on the LG Chocolate and LG Shine models. It is the Third model in the Series.

"The huge success of the previous models of the Black Label Series validated our approach to provide the ultimate mobile experience for today's discerning consumers, who seek to embody personal style with their handsets," says Skott Ahn, President & CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company."

Well! One distinguishing feature of the LG Secret is that it will forever look new. This is because of the carbon fiber used in its outer body. Sleek handset comes with a tempered glass which adds brightness and tensile strength. The Neon Touch Navigation buttons offer a great tactile experience.

Boasting a trendy design this feature rich cell phone integrates a 5 MP Camera. LG Secret delivers 120 fps video and DivX® certified playback. The Bluetooth auto-sync automatically syncs with the PC. You can view images in any direction, thanks to the Auto Rotating Display. The Voice Clarity technology lets the users listen clear voice even in noisy surroundings.

news source : http://www.mobilewhack.com/lg-secret-kf750-black-label-cell-phone/

Motorola Q Global

PDA’s are having a stronger foothold in the mobile market, now more than ever. Motorola, one of the leading manufacturers of PDA’s, rode on the success of its multimedia-friendly Q 9m. It now has a newer PDA, the Q smart phone that comes in with Windows Mobile 6 and perfect for business travelers. It has international roaming via a quad-band GSM radio.

The Q Globals design looks so much like that of a Blackberry. It weighs around 4.6 ounces and measures at 4.6 inches high, 2.6 inches wide, and just under half an inch thick, it sports a landscape-format 320-by-240-pixel screen.

Furthermore, the Q included a 2-megapixel camera with lots of settings and tweaks. This includes image resolution, brightness, white balance, flash, and up to 8X digital zoom.

As it is targeted to travelers and businessmen on the go, Q features multimedia playback which does sound and look very good.

Overall, the Motorola Q Global might appeal to travelers seeking a Windows Mobile smart phone with a good keyboard, 3G data, and solid multimedia support.

news source : http://www.camera-core.co.uk/23-04-2008-motorola-q-global.html

Nokia 5320 XpressMusic Voice-Controlled Phone Unveiled

Nokia today introduced the 5320 XpressMusic, an affordable music device with voice-controlled features.

Featuring a dynamic design with 3G social entertainment capabilities, the Nokia 5320 XpressMusic delivers exceptional music and web 2.0 access. With the voice-controlled Say and Play feature, consumers only need to say the name of a favorite artist or song to automatically play it. Offering additional features, the 5320 XpressMusic includes dedicated music keys, a 3.5 mm audio jack, up to 24 hours of playback time, an audio chip for hi-fi sound quality, extendable memory up to 8 GB, HS-USB for fast music transfer and HSDPA for fast access to data.

The full-featured Internet browser, access to Ovi and Nokia Search 4.1 allow users to find and share media content and information. Dedicated N-Gage gaming keys and landscape view deliver a true gaming experience, while HSDPA provides fast access to N-Gage, which will be available for download.

The Nokia 5320 XpressMusic is expected to begin shipping in the third quarter of 2008 with an estimated retail price of 220 EUR ($350 USD) before taxes and subsidies.

news source : http://www.mobiledia.com/news/65929.html

LG Flare LX175 Review

Cellphones nowadays have more and more feature, more complex controls and more advanced technologies. Tech savvy users would love these phones, but for those who wants only the basic functions, this can be a burden. That is why, simple entry-level phones with the most basic features are still on the market.

The new LG Flare LX175 is a simple phone that basically gives you all that you need in a phone. It is easy to use, very basic, and gives you just enough functionality to make it useful.

Despite its fancy name, the Flare is anything but fancy. It does not have a colorful or eyecatching design that most phones today have. It has an all-black exterior and very bland indeed. What does attract people is its sleek and minimalist appearance. It’s slightly curved on the sides, which contributes to a nice feel in the hand. Measuring 3.54 inches by 1.85 inches by 0.78 inch and weighing 2.72 ounces, the Flare is fairly lightweight and fits easily in a pocket or purse.

news source : http://www.camera-core.co.uk/17-04-2008-lg-flare-lx175-review.html

Samsung F700 review

currently mobile phones are used for a lot more than calling and sending text messages alone. Smartphones are gradually catching up with sales of mobile phones. The difference between a smartphone and a regular mobile phone is mainly found in the more extensive E-mail and Internet functionalities on the smartphone. The operation system of a smartphone is usually based on Microsoft Mobile, Symbian or PalmOS. However, Samsung have chosen equipping the F700 with their own operating system.

The main feature of the Samsung F700 is its full touchscreen. The monitor measures 3.2 inch and is capable of reproducing 260,000 colours. Touchscreens are beautiful and handy but one type of touchscreen or another can make a whole lot of difference.

The Samsung F700 has been equipped with two digital cameras. The front carries a small VGA camera, which mainly serves for video calls. The second camera, on the back, is more enhanced of course. The 3.0 Megapixel camera with auto focus as well as flash takes beautiful pictures. A minus is the shutter lag which makes the camera very slow. Sometimes I did not capture what I wanted to capture because I moved the phone before the picture was taken or because the object had gone from the composition before I was able to capture it.

news source : http://www.letsgomobile.org/en/3261/f700-samsung-review/

Sharp 880SH Review

It has been a while since Japanese manufacturer Sharp produced a mobile phone, so when the Sharp 880SH arrived on our desk we were a little unsure what to expect. Despite being readily available on Vodafone in other European countries, Vodafone UK has so far refused to take the handset. Surveying the spec sheet it looks to be a well-rounded phone and will therefore surely only be a matter of time before the UK operator does snap it up.

A slider phone with a jet-black glossy body with metallic trimming, at first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking that you were looking at a handset from one of the more renowned manufacturers such as Nokia or Samsung.

The first test with all slider phones is to see how secure it feels. While the sliding mechanism on the 880SH provides a satisfying clunk as you pop it back and forth, we're sad to say that the top half of the handset feels a little flimsy. We bet it wouldn't take too much for the phone to break apart.

news source : http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/April2008/Sharp_880SH_review.htm

HP iPAQ 614c Business Navigator

Prada phones, phones studded with diamonds and fashion phones are a regular sight in the moody, glass-fronted emporia of the average high street. Yet this kind of glamour rarely casts its golden glow on the world of smartphones.

The iPhone was a rare bright spark, and there has been the odd flicker of light from HTC, E-TEN, Samsung and Blackberry, but other than that, smartphones have largely conformed to the bland business template over the past year or two. HP's latest handset, alas, does nothing to change this.

The iPAQ 614c Business Navigator is a large and ugly phone that's all drab black and grey plastics with no brushed aluminium highlights or chrome trim to set it off. It's pretty chunky, too, with porky dimensions of 60 x 117 x 18mm. And it's hardly a design masterpiece in other respects - its integrated numeric keypad has a rather cheap-looking, shiny finish and is topped by a pair of 'soft', context-sensitive keys that look like a pair of malevolent eyes leering at you as you write a text or surf the web.

It does at least try to balance out its design shortcomings with a few clever tricks. The first of these is its touch ring (don't laugh) control. Embossed in glossy relief on top of the numeric pad keys, it enables you to sweep a thumb or finger in a clockwise or anti-clockwise motion to control the navigation through lists and the like. An innovative addition, to be sure.

The phone has support for the latest super fast HSDPA mobile data networks at up to 7.2Mbps. It also has a GPS receiver built in... but this is no ordinary satellite receiver. It uses the new Assisted GPS (A-GPS) technology, which is designed to combine location information gleaned from the phone's cell location with the data from the satellites themselves to speed up initial satellite lock. The phone is, alas, only supplied with Google Maps - no sat-nav software to speak of - but it did do a decent job of locking onto satellites in central London taking a reasonably quick one minute to lock on to five satellites and provide a position.

news source : http://www.trustedreviews.com/mobile-devices/review/2008/03/31/HP-iPAQ-614c-Business-Navigator/p1

Vertu mobile phones taking luxury to a whole new level

Vertu is essentially a UK-based luxury brand whose sole product is the cell phone. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia. But, these are not your run-of-the-mill phones that are widely available in the market today.

Vertu manufactures premium high-end mobile phones which offer a perfect blend of design and technology. And, in India they are available at a few high-end stores one of which is Popley & Sons Jewelers in Bandra West, Mumbai. Incidentally, Popley Jewelers also houses other high-end brands like Tag Huer and Omega watches.

Vertu has introduced four families of Vertu phones in the country - the Ascent, Constellation, the Signature and the Ascent Ti. The starting prices of these phones is Rs.2,20,000 and mind you, this is the price of the Ascent which is more of an “entry-level” phone according to the folks over at Vertu. Prices soar even higher than one can imagine! Apparently, the Vertu Ascent series of phones are the most popular in India. We got a chance to see the Limited Edition Vertu Ferrari version of the Ascent Ti as well as a Yellow Ascent phone with the Monaco race track on its steel back.

But, there is a reason for the exorbitant price tag that Vertu phones carry. The Vertu Signature phone for instance has its glass screen made of Sapphire crystal, making it scratch resistant. After all, it is a similar kind of glass used in a Rolex watch! Some Vertu phones have Ruby ball bearings under their buttons while the LiquidMetal and Titanium combination makes these phones very durable.

Vertu phones also have a ceramic cushion for the ear and even offer a Concierge service available at the touch of a button when traveling.

That’s not to say that the Vertu phones with their rich design fall short of anything on the interior. In fact, the power conductivity used in this phone is made from pure gold components which help the battery utility to be optimized.

Nokia solely provides user-friendly OS for Vertu handset, but they are not the manufacturers.

news source :
http://www.techshout.com/features/2008/22/vertu-mobile-phones-taking-luxury-to-a-whole-new-level/