LG developing Snapdragon Android phone

09 November 2009

Early year release of new handset

Having recently released its GM750 and GD510 POP phones, reports have reached us that LG is working on a new mobile phone that will not only incorporate the Android operating system but will be based on the very powerful Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm.

The proposed mobile phone is still largely a mystery but if it is based upon the Qualcomm CPU, running at a swift 1GHz, then it is sure to be feature packed. As it is, the company has already declared that the new design will be "more mature" than the recently released GW620 Eve Android handset, according to the Slashgear website.

At the moment, only two other mobile phones have currently been announced that will feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU. The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 has only just been revealed for an imminent launch onto the market while the Acer Liquid A1 handset was the first design to be confirmed as a host.

The new LG phone will be initially launched into Korea during early next year with other territories possibly to follow later. No prices were mooted.

Source: Mobile Choice

HTC HD2 now available from Vodafone UK

13 November 2009

New handset available for free on selected contracts

The new HTC HD2 mobile phone has been released into a number of European territories with the first supplier in the UK, Vodafone, offering the handset for free on a range of selected contracts.

With a contract agreement for two years and a monthly plan of at least £35, the HTC HD2 is free. The HD2 is also available for free via an 18-month contract but you need to up the price to at least £40, according to the Pocket-lint website. O2 and T-Mobile are due to offer the handset in the near future.

To recap, the HD2 is one of the most richly specified mobile phones that HTC has ever produced. Running on a fast 1GHz Snapdragon processor and Windows Mobile 6.5, the HD2 sports a large, 4.3in touchscreen display at WVGA resolution. This quad-band GSM and dual-band HSDPA / HSUPA machine supports Wi-Fi, GPS and Facebook and Twitter integration. Music fans will be delighted to see the 3.5mm headphone port.

Source: Mobile Choice

Here's what we'll be getting with the new OS, at version 5.0:

Widget support. Finally, support for Gears and SQLite in OS 5.0 means BlackBerry widgets (not that there are any yet). Developers interested in building some can download a beat of the BlackBerry Widget SDK here. www.blackberry.com/developers/widget.

Richer apps with better integration. Update to the Java API means we'll see apps with deeper integration, including access to multiple phone lines and contact lists.

Beefed up camera and video. Yes, the camera's never been much to shout about - now we'll see zoom and focus, plus embedded video capture and streaming.

Super customisable user interface. Well, at least for a 'Berry - you can adjust layout, install and use custom fonts, add sub-menus and customise menu look and feel too.

Better web. 5.0 pumps up the BlackBerry Browser for faster, better page rendering and JavaScript/CSS reading.

BlackBerry OS 5.0 launches with the Storm 2, but will also be available to download for the Storm, Bold 9000, Tour 9630, Curve 8900, Curve 8350i, and Curve 8520.

Second generation Bold arriving in November with all the trimmings

Mobile Choice is in Bochum, Germany at the official launch of the BlackBerry Bold 9700, RIM's latest smartphone marvel. PAcking all the credentials you'd want from a high end handset, with its smooth leather back and svelte waistline it's also no ugly duckling. With HSDPA, Wi-Fi, built-in GPS and Bluetooth all connectivity needs are met, while there's also room for a finger-friendly full QWERTY keyboard.

As seen on the BlackBerry Curve 8520, RIM has opted for a touch-sensitive trackpad as opposed to their more familiar trackball, while there's a token 3.2-megapixel camera with variable zoom, autofocus, flash and video recording. Found on the top of the handset is a row of dedicated media keys that sit side by side with a 3.5mm headset jack. 

Users will of course have access to a host of applications from the BlackBerry App World, while the Bold 9700 can be synced with any music you have on iTunes or Windows Media Player. There may only be 256MB of internal false memory, but RIM has been kind enough to include a 2GB memory card, while the device currently supports 16GB cards RIM says the BlackBerry Bold 9700 will be developed to support 32GB cards.

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 will be available across all networks and will begin shipping from November, though currently there's no word on pricing.

SPECS

Size: 109 x 60 x 14.1mm

Weight: 122 grams

Connectivity: HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Camera: 3.2-megapixel camera

GPS: Yes

Talktime: 360 minutes

Standby time: 408 hours

Source: http://www.mobilechoiceuk.com/News/EXCLUSIVE%3A+RIM+announces+the+BlackBerry+Bold+9700/4155

Vodafone has reached an agreement to sell Apple's popular iPhone in the UK.

The announcement follows news that network operator Orange had secured a similar agreement with Apple.

The deals mark an end to the exclusive UK arrangement between O2 and the US technology firm, which has been in place since 2007.

Vodafone says users can register an interest online, with the handsets becoming available to customers from early 2010.

Orange said its customers would be able to buy the phone "later this year" but did not specify a date or pricing.

Vodafone is one of the biggest mobile operators in the world with an estimated 300 million customers world wide, making it the second largest carrier after China Mobile.

The agreement sees both Orange and Vodafone selling both the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS.

A spokesperson for Vodafone said the firm was "delighted" at securing an agreement with Apple and that the phone was going to be primarily for existing Vodafone customers.

This is a different model from that adopted by O2, which used the iPhone as an incentive to attract new customers.

Exclusivity

O2 has offered the handset in the UK since its launch in 2007. In February, it said it had sold more than one million of the handsets.

The launch of the latest iPhone 3GS in June significantly boosted sales, with many stores running out of stock.

The phone has also allowed the firm to win subscribers from other networks, according to analysts.

Dave McQueen, principal analyst at Informa Telecoms and Media told BBC News said that the smartphones - which have the ability to surf the web and send e-mail - has put a burden on the O2 network.

"IPhone users to tend to use data quite extensively - perhaps more than anticipated," he said.

O2 will continue to sell the handset in Britain, alongside iPhone rival the Palm Pre.

The Palm phone, described by some as an "iPhone killer", will be available exclusively to O2 from 16 October.

O2 said that it always knew that its exclusive deal was for "a limited period of time".

In countries where exclusive deals still persist, such as the US, some customers choose to "unlock" their phones using third party software so they work on an unlicensed network.

However, Apple has warned that the practice can cause "irreparable" damage to a handset and has engaged in a game of cat-and-mouse, releasing periodic software updates which prevent unlocked phones from working correctly.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8278073.stm

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T-Mobile UK and Orange are to merge - becoming the UK's biggest mobile phone firm with 28.4 million customers.

The deal between Orange-owner France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile UK will create a business with sales of 9.4bn euros (£8.2bn; $13.5bn).

The merged firm will have about 37% of the UK mobile market - overtaking the current leader, Telefonica's O2.

It is the second large corporate deal in two days, after Kraft Food's £10.2bn takeover proposal for Cadbury.

'Efficiencies'

Orange and T-Mobile said their deal - due to be signed by November - would "bring substantial benefits to UK customers", and promised expanded network coverage, better network quality and improved customer services.

Both brands will remain separate for the first 18 months after the deal is completed while branding is reviewed.

Orange chief executive Tom Alexander will lead the new company, with T-Mobile's UK boss Richard Moat as chief operating officer.

Orange employs 12,500 people in the UK, while T-Mobile has UK workforce of 6,500.

A spokeswoman confirmed there would be "efficiencies" that could be made across both businesses - but said it was too early to give details of any impact on staff.

DEAL IN NUMBERS 28.4m customers 37% UK market share £8.2bn sales (in 2008) Source: Deutsche Telekom Return of the deal?

Integrating the business will cost between £600m and £800m, the firms said. This bill would include decommissioning mobile phone masts, cutting back the network of stores and streamlining other operations. Savings should reach about £445m a year by 2014, they added.

Avoiding writedowns

Deutsche Telekom said earlier this year that it was considering its options for its UK business - which has struggled to win customers in the highly competitive market - which sees five operators and several smaller players compete.

Observers say that a joint venture allows the German firm to avoid the write downs it could face if forced to sell T-Mobile UK for less than it hoped.

Meanwhile, for France Telecom, the deal it is a way to strengthen its position in the UK market without paying cash or taking on vastly more debt.

T-Mobile is currently the fourth-largest mobile operator in the UK, with a 15% share of the market. O2 has a 27% share, followed by Vodafone (25%) and Orange (22%).

source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8243226.stm

T-Mobile Pulse available on a pay-as-you-go contract for £179.99

T-Mobile has teamed up with Huawei to produce their third Google Android phone. The T-Mobile Pulse aims to bring Android to the masses by being the first such phone available on prepay. Sporting a black polished chrome finish, the Pulse's touch-screen is an impressive 3.5-inch putting it on par with the iPhone. The 'Canvas Home Screen' has six default homescreens (though this can be increased) which can be customised with applications and features.

Being a Google device, the T-Mobile Pulse comes pre-installed with various Google services, such as Gmail and Google Maps which includes the Street View option. Other features include a 3.2-megapixel camera with the ability to upload your pics direct to the web, while the phone comes boxed with a 2GB microSD memory card to store your content.

The T-Mobile Pulse will be available for £179.99 on prepay from October with a contract version set to be announced shortly.

Seoul, September 3, 2009 - LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in mobile communications, today announced the imminent launch of three new Windows phones in the next few weeks, delivering on LG’s commitment to further grow its share of the global smartphone market. The three devices will kick off LG’s most aggressive smartphone strategy to date, which will ultimately result in a total of 13 new LG-branded Windows® phones launched globally before the end of 2010.

The three latest additions to LG’s expanding smartphone line-up and the first to include the new Windows Mobile® 6.5 operating system include a full touchscreen device, a touch slider with QWERTY keyboard and a QWERTY bar-type handset. The three phones will be aimed at different segments of the market ranging from premium to affordable smartphones. The phones will be introduced initially for early adopter customers in Europe, the United States and Asia before being made available globally.

Designed with usability in mind, LG’s latest smartphone offerings will highlight the touch-friendly, easy-to-navigate interface of Windows Mobile 6.5 which delivers an easier and faster smartphone experience for users. These Windows® phones will be supported by LG’s own distinctive S-Class User Interface, which offers a unique 3D experience that works with Microsoft’s familiar operating system.

“This initial launch is a strong testament that LG is committed to offering a spectrum of choices for our broad range of customers,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Our work with Microsoft on mobile devices reflects our strategy of offering the best in both hardware and software in all our smartphones.”

The latest version of Windows Mobile includes an upgraded Internet Explorer Mobile browser with a new engine and a customized version of Adobe Flash Lite for accessing sites previously unable to render properly on a handheld. Windows Mobile® 6.5 will also include free access to Microsoft’s My Phone service where customers can perform automatic backups of photos, music, contacts and text messages from their handheld to the web for easy access any time.

“With familiar software like Microsoft Outlook, Windows Media Player and Windows Live, these phones will give people the confidence to get things done with the software they would normally expect from their PCs,” said Todd Peters, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Corp. “LG’s portfolio of stylish Windows smartphones gives people the ability to choose the model that best suits their style and budget.”

Launched in July, the LG Application Store (http://www.lgapplication.com) will offer add-ons for all three devices as well as future LG smartphone devices. The site expects to offer up to 2,000 downloadable applications by the end of year.

Featuring heavy integration with Facebook

The N97 Mini has been confirmed at Nokia World 2009. It's going to feature heavy Facebook integration, including Nokia's new So-Lo concept - social networking + location based service.

You'll be able to share your location, pictures and status with anyone in your network via Nokia's new 'Lifecasting' tool - broadcasting your life to friends (at least, the ones on your Facebook).

For now, it only works with Facebook, but apparently the goal is to make more social networks available to the app, and also be able to add more than photos.

People reading your update can then click a Nokia Maps screenshot of your location right in Facebook.

More info on Nokia's collabo with Facebook later on.