News

Google announce gPhone – a software platform

After months of rumour and speculation about Google’s possible entry in to the mobile phone market they have today finally announced the gPhone but it’s not a piece of hardware or phone in its own right but rather an open software platform or “Open Handset Alliance” (OHA).

So far there are 34 members of the Alliance, including NVIDIA, Intel, Texas Instruments, Synaptics (haptics!), Marvell, Qualcomm (chips), Motorola, Samsung, TMO, Sprint, LG, HTC, KDDI and DOCOMO from Japan and China Mobile Comm. Corp. You’ll notice a number of companies missing from the list above: Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Blackberry/RIM, Apple, Verizon, AT&T and, finally, Microsoft.

The first phones using the so-called Google “software stack” will be available in the second half of 2008.

“This is going to bring the internet into cell phones in a very cool way,” Andy Rubin, Google’s director of mobile platforms, told the Associated Press news agency.

Mr Rubin’s firm, called Android, was bought by Google in 2005 and the software it developed forms the basis of the new stack.

Google’s Android software will be provided to handset makers free of charge and could lead to a price war for operating system licenses and potentially cheaper handsets.

In the United States mobile networks such as Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile will carry the Google-powered phones.

Peter Chou, chief executive of HTC, said the agreement to join the OHA did not mean the firm would stop the use of other operating systems on its platforms.

“We do have commitments with some carriers and will continue with those lines,” he said.

We’ll bring you more gPhone news as we get it.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Google, gPhone]

Orange announce new ad campaign

Today Orange announced the launch of its new advertising campaign ‘Good things should never end’ to highlight it’s unlimited offerings on pay as you go and pay monthly mobile plans.

The £6 million campaign will run for 12 weeks over TV, outdoor, online, press and in all 343 Orange retail stores across the country.

The TV campaign ‘Good things should never end’ shows people creating a never ending rainbow that goes on and on across an entire city, expressing the ‘unlimited’ product benefits across both pay monthly and pay as you go offers. The creative route of ‘never-ending rainbow’ will be integrated in all campaign executions. The TV execution was created by Fallon London.

The world’s first ‘unlimited’ web page www.goodthingsshouldneverend.co.uk has been created by digital agency Poke with never ending web content including weird interactive oddities, mini-games, downloads, giveaways, toys and mobile goodies. The website features a never ending strand of rainbow that guides the user down the page.

‘Good things should never end’ will also feature an innovative digital interactive TV ad that invites viewers into an Orange ‘world’ where they can find out about lots of exciting Orange offers and competitions including BAFTA & Mobile Act tickets, handset giveaways and a secret competition to win a paid for phone contract for 12 months.

Orange launched its successful unlimited offers earlier this year including Unlimited Talk & Text on pay monthly and unlimited text on pay as you go.

Justin Billinglsey, Director of Brand Marketing, Orange UK said: “The belief that ‘good things should never end’ is a simple but powerful one and our new campaign brings this to life in a creative and engaging way. Orange brings people closer together, and with our unlimited offers you get that little extra freedom to contact who you want, when you want.”

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Unlimited Data, Orange]

T-Mobile Shadow announced

T-Mobile have announced the T-Mobile Shadow officially and are offering a web page for consumers to pre-register their interest. The Shadow will feature a custom interface for T-Mobile which endeavours to achieve T-Mobile’s aim for the Shadow brand which is to make it the ultimate social mobile device.

T-Mobile Shadow

Phone Highlights

Additional Phone Features

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, T-Mobile, MDA Touch, Mobile Broadband, pay-per-day]

3 launches new Skype mobile phone

Mobile phone provider 3 has launched a new handset that will allow users to make free calls over the internet via telephony service Skype.

Users will also be able to use Skype’s instant messaging service, 3 said.

But while people using Skype on their computers are able to make cheap global calls to any phone number, this will not be possible via the new 3 handset.

Skype has about 246 million registered users worldwide and is one of the firms reshaping the global phone industry.

To date, mobile phone companies have been unwilling to let users freely access Skype via their handsets for fear that it would hurt their business.

While it is possible to access Skype from a number of handsets, this has involved downloading third-party software, something that has put off the majority of users.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC news, Windows Mobile news, skype, 3,Tracy & Matt]

AT&T Reveal the BlackJack II

AT&T and Samsung Telecommunications America today announced the availability later this year of the BlackJack II, a sleek, smart and simple device powered by AT&T’s 3G-enabled BroadbandConnect network that has the familiar look and feel of your desktop with Windows Mobile 6. The BlackJack II had its first public showing today during a keynote address by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2007 in San Francisco.

Samsung BlackJack II

BlackJack II from AT&T brings the personal computer experience to a slim, compact device ideal for today’s mobile consumer. The powerful and performance-driven BlackJack II, which is available in slick black and red wine color options, features a full QWERTY keyboard, large 2.4″ QVGA color display screen and front jog wheel to elevate productivity and improve the mobile experience.

Following in the footsteps of the highly popular BlackJack, the BlackJack II boasts an enhanced feature set, which includes:

AT&T Video Share, the first service in the U.S. that enables users to share live video over the wireless phones while on a voice call. BlackJack II is the first AT&T business-oriented smart device to feature Video Share.

Built-in GPS, Support for location-based applications such as TeleNav GPS Navigator™.
Global phone capabilities. Tri-band 3G UMTS/HSDPA and Quad-band EDGE/GPRS technology takes advantage of AT&T’s industry-leading international wireless footprint for access to e-mail, the Web and other data applications in more than 135 countries — including Japan, South Korea and China — and customers can make or receive phone calls in more than 190 countries.

An RSS Reader Client to compile syndicated Web content in a single location for easy viewing.

Significant improvement in the standard battery capacity to get you through the day.

In addition to a robust feature set, BlackJack II provides users with access to multiple e-mail accounts, both personal and business, through Microsoft Direct Push technology with Outlook® Mobile and AT&T Xpress Mail™, which includes most major POP3/IMAP providers. The BlackJack II also offers over-the-air synchronization of contacts, calendar and task lists with Microsoft Exchange Server or AT&T Xpress Mail.

“The BlackJack II takes one of AT&T’s most popular smart devices and adds to it a whole new level of functionality and capabilities,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Marketing and Operations for AT&T’s wireless unit. “This will provide business people and consumers alike with an even more powerful and complete communications and entertainment tool backed by the largest domestic and international wireless data footprint of any U.S. carrier.”

“Samsung is proud to work with AT&T and Microsoft to bring the next-generation BlackJack to the U.S. market,” said Dale Sohn, president, Samsung. “We built upon the success of last year’s award-winning version of the BlackJack, our No. 1-selling smart device. This highly popular device allowed Samsung to develop BlackJack II with several design enhancements, making it the quintessential device for both work and play.”

A Pocket-Sized Personal Computer
With Windows Mobile 6, the BlackJack II brings a powerful personal computer experience to the small screen and improves how people do business on the go on a single device. The BlackJack II helps people keep track of schedules and contacts through Outlook Mobile, browse the Internet by using Internet Explorer Mobile, as well as manage Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents using Office Mobile. Windows Mobile 6 also supports HTML e-mail so that people can view and compose e-mail messages in their native format with live links to Web sites, support for images, tables and bullets.

BlackJack II will be among the first Windows Mobile 6 devices from AT&T to support Microsoft’s System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008, which Ballmer introduced during his keynote address today. Available for BlackJack II in 2008, System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 offers companies an end-to-end solution for managing and securing Windows Mobile devices. Employees will also have access to company information and a line of business applications from a single, secure place behind the firewall by using a cutting-edge Mobile Virtual Private Network (VPN).

“Samsung and AT&T are delivering a worthy successor to the wildly popular first generation BlackJack,” said Pieter Knook, senior vice president, Mobile Communications Business at Microsoft Corp. “Windows Mobile 6 on the shiny, sleek BlackJack II is a great option to those wanting to run errands or take a walk in the park, all while staying in touch with important business and personal matters.”

Posted by: Matt

[Post tags: smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Samsung Blackjack, Samsung SGH-i617, Windows Mobile blog]

Orange TyTN II ROM flashing warning

The Orange version of the HTC TyTN II was released just over a week ago and one of the biggest complaints we are seeing from our readers is that the Orange version does not include any of the Touch-Flo features from the vanilla HTC version and also (once again) Orange have removed Windows Live Messenger.

Several readers got in touch to tell us about this and pointed out that they decided that they would try and flash the official HTC ROM on to their Orange TyTN II. Seems like a feasible solution for anyone willing to risk bricking their brand new device.

So here is a word of warning for anyone thinking about going down this route. Not only is there the obvious consequence of invalidating the warranty on the device BUT the process doesn’t work properly on the Orange TyTN II. If you take a look at some of the forums over at XDA Developers you’ll see a raft of Orange customers have already tried this process only to discover that once you have flashed the ROM the device becomes SIM locked and not ever the original Orange SIM card will work in it!

Probably best to avoid this route for now until someone works out a better method methinks and you should also be aware that this kind of ROM-fiddling is illegal in many countries!

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Orange, HTC TyTN II, Windows Mobile Blog]

Nokia N800 Internet Tablet – £149.99

Quick heads-up for any bargain hunters out there. The Nokia N800 Internet Tablet, which we’ve reviewed in the past, is now available for just £149.99 including delivery!

Available now at Play.com

You can also read our review here

Posted by: Mark

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Windows Mobile blog, Nokia N800, Internet Tablet,Tracy & Matt]

HTC Touch Sprints across the pond

Big news for HTC, and their aging mass-market device – the HTC Touch

Although the device has been available worldwide for a considerable time now, including the US, it has until now failed to make a connection with a operator.

However, shortly Sprint will be offering the device exclusively, with the device subsidised depending on contract terms. Heres the blurb:

With an easy finger swipe, Touch by HTC, exclusively from Sprint, offers both business and personal essentials with an easy-to-use interface

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. and BELLEVUE, Wash. — 10/17/2007 — Combining a dynamic touch screen experience with industry-leading network speeds, Sprint (NYSE: S) and HTC Corp. (TAIEX: 2498; “HTC”), today announced the upcoming availability of Touch by HTC, a full touch screen wireless phone integrating Windows Mobile 6 with advanced entertainment features. Operating on the Sprint Mobile Broadband network, the stylish Touch by HTC brings together email and other essential business applications with Sprint’s exclusive multimedia content including over-the-air music downloads, live TV and more.

With a nearly 3-inch display, Touch by HTC features integrated TouchFLO technology, developed by HTC, leveraging smooth navigation through menus with a finger swipe. In addition, the innovative TouchFLO cube brings a 3D cube interface allowing quick access to entertainment, communication tools and a “Dial-by-picture” photo caller ID screen.

Touch by HTC leverages the broad functionality of Windows Mobile 6 with Outlook Mobile for smooth email integration, Office Mobile, Windows Live and the ability to run thousands of third-party applications. It also allows users to surf the web with Internet Explorer, send and receive emails, chat on Messenger and send files to their own web space through Windows Live. The home screen provides one-touch access to email, text messages, calendar appointments and contacts, as well as current weather conditions and forecasts for hundreds of cities around the world.

Versatile and compact, Touch by HTC provides quick and easy access to Sprint-exclusive content, including:

(Standard data charges apply to all downloads from Sprint.)

“Our customers appreciate the ability to have one device that seamlessly balances both personal needs and business demands,” said Danny Bowman, vice president of product development for Sprint. “Touch by HTC is unlike any other wireless device because it brings together the power of Windows Mobile with easy access to our entertainment applications. This attractive device easily lets you watch news as it happens, respond to email, download your favorite songs and stay connected with the office, family and friends.”

“This device provides a broad set of consumers with the benefits of a smartphone with the style and ease of use they demand,” said Peter Chou, chief executive officer of HTC. “Touch by HTC presents a new, more intuitive touch experience that simplifies access to the most commonly used smartphone features such as dialing, messaging and Web browsing. It also improves the video and music experience with the addition of Sprint TV and the Sprint Music Store.”

“People want an easy-to-use companion in a mobile phone, freeing them up to leave the office or home and get more done while on-the-go,” said Pieter Knook, senior vice president, Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft Corp.” The Sprint Touch is the result of the strong relationship between Microsoft, HTC and Sprint and offers customers a fun user experience, the power of Sprint’s network and the ease-of-use of Windows Mobile which makes it easy to browse the Web, send email or enjoy your digital entertainment.”

Touch by HTC offers MicroSD card slot that supports up to 4GB – a 512MB card is included with the device. Additional features include a 2.0 MP camera/camcorder with up to 5X zoom, advanced stereo Bluetooth and Voice-activated dialing.

Touch by HTC measures 4.0″ x 2.4″ x 0.6″ and weighs just 4 ounces. This device will be priced at $249.99 with a two-year subscriber agreement and a $100 mail-in rebate. Standard data rates apply for music and other content downloads.

Touch by HTC will be available on November 4 in all Sprint channels including www.Sprint.com and 1-800-SPRINT1. Customers can register to be among the first to purchase Touch by HTC at www.sprint.com/touch.

Posted by: Mark

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Sprint, HTC Touch, HTC Elf, HTC P3450]

Samsung i620 – released and in stock

The Samsung i620, the small slider smartphone with full qwerty keyboard is now available from Expansys.

As you can see, this one is a bit of a looker – at least in the world of Windows Mobile! The spec sheet is mixed, but if Samsung manage to get a deal with the major operators, I can see this being a big seller.

Here is the blurb from Expansys:

The Samsung i620 Smartphone has a compact slider form factor, with a slide down QWERTY keyboard. Use the 5-way navigation keypad to access applications quickly. For prolonged use, like replying to emails, the keyboard is there for easy input.

Weighing just 105g, this light weight smartphone has great communication options and runs Windows Mobile Standard (WM6). You can connect to the Internet with HSDPA (3.5G). It also boasts a 2 Mega Pixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0 and a Micro SD slot.

Samsung i620 Specification

Additional Features

Posted by: Mark

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Samsung, i620]

First HTC Touch Dual review live

CoolSmartPhone.com have just gone live with what is probably the first full review of the all new HTC Touch Slider.

There are two versions of the HTC Touch Dual, one has a 16-key phone-style keypad with number keys and the other has a 20-key QWERTY style keypad (similar to the Blackberry or Sony P1i) where each key has two letters associated with it. This review deals with a pre-production version of the 20 key variant

Hopefully, we’ll be getting our hands on a 16 key production review device shortly, but for a head start, head over to CoolSmartPhone’s review

Posted by: Mark

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Sprint,