If only all UK operators had the same thoughts as Lyca Mobile.

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTSMS WITH LYCAMOBILE’S FREE TEXT MESSAGE OFFER

First-rate offer of free text messages to mobiles in ALL countries
Why send cards? Deliver your holiday greetings for free and on time via SMS
Pay As You Go SIM is the ideal stocking filler and secret Santa gift
Festive offer period lasts from 1^stDecember to  2^nd January

LYCAMOBILE, the international mobile telecoms provider, helps to unite friends and families across the globe this Christmas and New Year with a special festive offer that gives international mobile phone users the opportunity to send their loved ones UNLIMITEDtext messages to mobiles in ANY country in the world.
From this 1^st December to 2^ndJanuary 2009, all users of Lycamobile’s Pay As You Go SIM, who top-up with £20 in December, can send free Christsmsto mobiles worldwide, may it be to Australia or to Zimbabwe. Complementing Lycamobile’s existing cut-price international call rates, starting from as little as 3p per minute, the festive offer is much more than just the icing on the Christmas cake.

“As always the focus of our festive promotion is to unite family and friends. In line with the increasing trend of sending text messages, we have developed a unique SMS promotion that allows our customers to interact on a global scale in a more straightforward and uncomplicated manner,” says Lycamobile’s CEO Milind Kangle.

Lycamobile’s free text message deal offers users unlimited opportunities that can range from getting your Christmas party started via free SMS invitations to sending seasonal SMS-powered greetings rather than spending extra money on extravagant cards and international postage fees.
As well as sending free text messages to any country, new Lycamobile customers get an extra £2 credit on registration and all customers get an additional £10 worth of calls on £20 top-up vouchers. Calls can be made by simply replacing an existing SIM card, in any unlocked UK mobile handset,with the Lycamobile Pay As You Go SIM. Top-ups and SIM cards are available from more than 85,000 UK retail outlets, including newsagents, convenience stores, payzone and e-pay. Top-up vouchers can also be purchased online at www.lycamobile.co.uk.
On top of its seasonal rates Lycamobile always offers cut-price national tariffs, with calls to UK landlines costing 8p per minute while calls to UK mobiles are 10p per minute. Calls made between Lycamobile customers are even less at 0p per minute plus a one-off connection charge
“Why not give the gift of free worldwide text messages and bargain rate calls to your family, friends and colleagues? Our compactly-sized Pay As You Go SIM card makes an ideal stocking filler and secret Santa gift,” adds Kangle.

I’m not sure how much a PAYG simcard from Lyca Mobile will cost but I know that Tesco sell them, so why not get over there and see what this is all about.

For the sake of a £20 top up to take part in this offer it makes me think "where’s the catch", but in all honesty there is none.

Fantastic offer folks, I’m off to get myself a simcard.

Posted by: John

ModeLabs Group, the French manufacturer of tailor-made phones (like the Christian Dior and the Hummer HT1 ones) has announced the availability of MTV 3.4 “Non-Stop MTV” – a new handset designed for youngsters.

ModeLabs Group: MTV 3.4 “Non-Stop MTV”: A New 3G Mobile Available with an Exclusive Offer By SFR

PARIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Regulatory News:

ModeLabs Group (Paris:MDL), the creator of tailor-made handsets, announces the commercial launch of its new MTV 3.4 “Non-Stop MTV” mobile telephone. Following the success of the MTV 3.3 launched in May 2008, MTV is thus reinforcing its range of 100% Music and TV mobiles with the MTV 3.4 to be made available as an exclusive SFR Pack in all SFR shops and retail distribution.

The MTV 3.4 “Non-Stop MTV” mobile incorporates the full range of multimedia functionalities. In particular, its “one-click” ergonomics developed by ModeLabs provide it with SINGLE CLICK access to MTV channels and to MTV’s musical playlists. The MTV 3.4 also possesses a large choice of preloaded MTV content (ring tones, videos, logos and games) and is equipped with a 2 mega pixel camera, an MP3 player, a videoconferencing function, an RSS feed reader and a memory that can be enlarged via a micro SD card.

Available for €29 as part of the SFR pack, this new generation mobile will be the perfect occasion to satisfy young consumers during the year-end festivities.

Coming after the MTV 3.3 phone, which was released in May this year, MTV 3.4 “Non-Stop MTV” obviously offers a set of features that will bring people closer to the popular music TV channel.

These include MTV musical playlists, single click access to MTV channels, exclusive ring tones, logos, wallpapers and two MTV games (Dirty Sanchez and Urban Attack).

MTV 3.4 “Non-Stop MTV” may be a good-looking slider, but except for the stuff mentioned above, its specs are rather modest:

• 3G connectivity

• MP3 player

• 2MP camera

• Videoconferencing

• RSS feed reader

• MicroSD card support, up to 2GB

MTV 3.4 “Non-Stop MTV” is currently available only in France, via SFR, for as low as €29 (as part of a SFR pack).

No word yet about the phone’s availability in other markets.

Posted by: John

[source & text]

In a move that seems a little unusual to say the least the T-Mobile Shadow II has appeared on the FCC website in all it’s glory.

T-Mobile Shadow II

Very much the same as it’s predecessor featuring Windows Mobile Standard, QVGA display, scroll wheel, Wi-Fi, microSD slot and a modest 2 megapixel camera the Shadow II will be Manufactured by HTC. Windows Mobile 6 has been upgraded to version 6.1 with additional support for Hot Spot Wi-Fi-based calling.

T-Mobile Shadow II

The main difference this time round is the more rounded edges and front buttons. The 20-key keyboard is still there using again a Blackberry style QW-ER-TY layout.

Since the phone is not officially announced yet, we don’t have any information about release date or expected price.

Posted by: John

OK so have a quick read through the below press release then I’ll tell you what this means to us.

HTC Bolsters Design Credibility With Addition of One & Co

Leader in lifestyle design will be cornerstone of HTC’s design capability and philosophy

while continuing as an innovative design consultancy

Taoyuan, Taiwan and SAN FRANCISCO, December 3, 2008 – Furthering its reputation as a global leader in mobile innovation and design, HTC Corporation today announced the continuation of its design focus with the acquisition of San Francisco-based lifestyle design firm One & Company Design, Inc. (One & Co).  Recognized for its award-winning work with some of the world’s best known and most design-savvy lifestyle brands, One & Co will maintain its name and client base while it joins forces with HTC to create an unparalleled force in global mobile design.

“Design is key, it is why you love or hate something,” said Horace Luke, Chief Innovation Officer, HTC Corporation. “Integrating iconic design into HTC products is an inspiring and dynamic challenge that requires a unique combination of consumer insight, creativity, innovation and an appetite to take risks; attributes that embody One & Co.”

HTC and One & Co first began collaborating in 2006 on the initial incubation and creation of the HTC Touch Diamond, a highly touted phone with iconic design that blended unprecedented use of material and industrial design.

“One & Co is excited to bring our lifestyle, user focused approach to HTC and we look forward to creating iconic, compelling products together,” said Scott Croyle, partner of One & Co. “Knowing about HTC’s cutting edge technology and proven track record of innovation, we are excited to collaborate with HTC as a global lifestyle brand.”

In addition to its work with HTC, One & Co has broad design experience in a variety of industries that range from footwear, snowboarding and skiing, furniture, packaging, houseware, timepieces and more.  One & Co has been recognized by the design and business communities by winning numerous BusinessWeek/IDSA IDEA Awards, the Good Design Awards, CES Innovation Awards, and ID Magazine awards.

Well basically the story goes that One & Co designed the Touch Diamond which I’m sure you will agree was a first for HTC and a very nice looking handset so if anything can be taken by this move its to expect more very well designed handsets coming from the HTC camp.

Posted by: John