Helio's Ocean 2 in the wild

Sure, Helio is going through a bit of a rough patch right now, what with those retail outlet closings and nasty Virgin merger takeover, but as far as we can tell, the company is moving forward with the Ocean 2. As you can see by the above shot -- nabbed from a YouTube video -- the slider looks eerily similar to its predecessor, though we know it's getting spec bumps all around. Apparently the source material has been wiped out of existence, and if things keep moving in the same direction for the MVNO, this might as close as you get to one of these babies. Enjoy!

[grull27 @ Jun 23rd 2008 11:01AM]

It's just as ugly as the first one.

[natels @ Jun 23rd 2008 11:02AM]

I don't think he has successfully NOT double posted.

[bcohen1983 @ Jun 23rd 2008 11:02AM]

I hate Helio with the fury of a thousand suns. I can only hope they push this out at the last minute, to find that nobody buys it, putting the final nail in the coffin. And no, I'm not an Apple fanboy.

[Allan @ Jun 23rd 2008 11:05AM]

Do you have any particular experience with Helio to make you hate them so much? Or are you just throwing out totally unsupported thoughts like the rest of the internet does?

I'm actually curious. That's a pretty straightforward declaration of hate... but with no reasoning. And there has to be SOMETHING behind it.

[bcohen1983 @ Jun 23rd 2008 11:10AM]

@Allan:

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I do have extensive firsthand experience with Helio's products and service. Their customer service is hands down the worst I have ever experienced, and they tried to charge me more than double what I had already paid for an item returned within their "30 day happiness guarantee period". Please see

http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/20/helios-flame-going-out-stores-to-shutter-customers-heading-to/comments/12756614/

[Fusion Fuzo @ Jun 23rd 2008 11:05AM]

FUGLY

[aka_mr_make_it_rain @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:58PM]

The world may be a better place when helio shuts down

[Grant @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:44PM]

So does this mean I'll get out of my ETF?

[DJZeratul @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:27PM]

*Hopes*

Getting the HTC Touch Pro when it comes out, so if I can get out of my ETF, then suhweeeeet

[Almighty- @ Jun 23rd 2008 11:32AM]

I hope he is gone for ever ... His comments were only annoying!

[Jim @ Jun 23rd 2008 11:53AM]

Does anybody know what happens when an MVNO goes under? Would I lose my phone number? I was planning on switching to AT&T and the new iPhone in 17 days and counting but was wondering if Helio bites the dust before then what would happen? I honestly don't even care about the ETF, as I had that factored into my budget for the iPhone before I found out that it would only be $200/$300. Thanks.

[troy @ Jul 8th 2008 1:09PM]

Since the Virgin Takeover you can probably argue that you signed up with Helio and not Virgin. If you push hard enough, they might waive your ETF.

[Kurian @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:08PM]

I want Helio's Chariot, and three complimentary Fire Steeds.

[Jim @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:24PM]

"Climb upon my faithful steed,
Then we gonna ride,
gonna smoke some wee-eeeed."

[phanbouy @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:19PM]

don't even know that reference but +1

[Andad @ Jun 23rd 2008 5:13PM]

It's a Tenacious D reference.

[thedesolate1 @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:20PM]

I wonder if the carrier will last long enough to release the phone. lol

[Markus @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:36PM]

Is that a 2003 Kyocera Slider?

[James Grant @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:52PM]

Helio is going strong and by staying away from the touchscreen phones which are still glitchy, you can look to find one of the most advanced devices on the market in the next few weeks.


James Grant
http://www.ocean2promo.com

[Justin D @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:14PM]

I'm a Helio customer despite having switched to AT&T for the iPhone for a while (until I couldn't take all the problems that go along with being prepaid on an iPhone). And I have to say, though I think Helio is the best provider at the moment and I'm plenty hyped for the OZ2...

"… by staying away from the touchscreen phones which are still glitchy…"

I must disagree. Apple has proven, without a shadow of a doubt, that a company can make a purely touch-based device and have no interaction glitches. You *touch*, and it *does*. Quite a far cry from the Instinct and numerous pressure-sensitive touch screen devices on the market. Hate the iPhone in any way, shape and form you want, but you just can't fault the interaction.

[phanbouy @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:20PM]

maybe your related spam tag discredits your flowery praise?

[paul @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:45PM]

I've always liked Helio. Never had a problem with their customer service. For those of us who prefer qwerty instead of touchscreen, they're a good company to have around.

[randomguy132 @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:19PM]

Don't leave me Helio...

[michas_pi @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:20PM]

The Ocean can't copy and paste (the iPhone isn't the only one, folks).

I wonder if the Ocean 2 will have this feature; that, and true multitasking.

[Bravo @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:13PM]

Ok, someone please explain to me why everybody currently want a copy and paste feature on the smart phones?
Will people really use it?
And could you give me some examples of phones who currently have this feature?
Thank You.

[letstakeawalk @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:23PM]

I don't use a smartphone for browsing, but I can tell you that whenever I want to learn about something that isn't an actual link, I "cut and paste" the text into a search window. All the time. So I'd think I'd want that capability in a mobile browser as well. But that's just me...

I am excited about the new Ocean 2. I want the querty, and I want Opera! My Drift has been a champ for the past couple of years, but I'm ready for something newer.

[Jim @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:41PM]

I think that if someone sends you a phone number or some kind of contact info, you have to go back out to the "New Contact" screen and try to remember everything. To be able to highlight a line of text or a phone number and use that as a contact would be great. For the most part, if I look up a business or person on Google on my Helio Ocean, it gives me a highlighted phone number that I can press ENTER and it will call that number. However, it's glitchy and 1 time out of 5 it will NOT work for some strange reason. I have gotten emails or text messages and would have liked to have done a copy & paste from there.

[letstakeawalk @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:31PM]

*qwerty* darn those English classes, I can't help but type a "U" after a "Q". I knew it looked wrong...

[adamcelikay @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:46PM]

Please i own two Helio Oceans. the service is great they do not outsource there customer service anymore and the phone is great itself. Bar none the service plan is the best verizon and sprint had to copy it but the funny thing about theres is there is no unlimited data therefore regular consumers wont pick up on this. The Opera Mini is the most like Safari browser. The service coverage is merged with Verizon and Sprint the best of both worlds (Internet Speed, Great Service). For people wishing Helio will go out of business i highly doubt it they are owned by SK Telecom, Earthlink and Virgin Mobile. For people talking out of there asses please stop if you havent owned one for a while to actually judge it and still its highly debateable
HELIO OCEAN 2 is deffinately on my wishlist

[Adam @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:23PM]

I've had my Helio Heat since last August and i've had to call customer service 3 times, all b/c of picture msgs not going through. EASILY worked out and the tech support are great people, unlike any other tech. support i've ever delt with.
I've heard O2 in a few weeks...has anyone read a more concrete time table for its release?

-a

[mi1400 @ Jul 27th 2008 1:59AM]

Does this device support Wimax. What OS does it run !?!

[jcorwin @ Sep 7th 2008 11:21PM]

Hey I love my Ocean and Helio customer servise has always been great.I came from sprint "the worst servise in the world"untilI came accross a Helio store next to the Mac Store.I originally was on my way to buy an Iphone but found out it was with At&t was there main provider for servise.. Another bad phone provider.I was sold on Helios features,price,value ,and servise.I never looked back. I love there products/servise and I look forward to there new and exculsive products.JC

[delphian @ Sep 15th 2008 9:15PM]

Hate to bust your bubble but Helio uses the Sprint network under a leased network contract. So in fact you left sprint but are actually still primarily using it.

I love my Ocean as well but the service could be better. Still waiting to see if the Ocean 2 will happen.