Overseas mega-corp Hutchison, which owns the
3 network, has a new handset subsidiary called INQ, which is going after the social-hungry youth market in a big way. INQ's first handset, the INQ1, doesn't look like anything special -- just a frumpy-looking slider with a decent screen -- but start poking around and you'll find a massive amount of software for such a dorky phone from a handset upstart. The big angle here is Facebook integration -- INQ has a Facebook app to rival Facebook's own work on the iPhone, and ties Facebook contacts, chat and messages into all parts of the phone. The phone enjoys similar integration with Skype (including making Skype calls free over the network, like 3's
Skypephone) and Windows Live Messenger. Other apps include an eBay tracker and a full-on WebKit browser. None of this is revolutionary, or even particularly polished, but the work INQ has done at integration, like a unified contact list, could do to be copied by even the major smartphone players. What is revolutionary is the price: INQ plans to sell primarily through pre-paid carriers, who are expected to retail the featurephone for under £99 without contract. The HSDPA phone, to be "officially announced" on October 13th, will hit the UK in November, and can apparently be flashed to work with US carriers -- with a launch planned for here next year. Oh, and the killer app? The phone doubles as a plug-and-play 3G modem. Yeah, US carriers are going to take real kindly to this one.
posted Oct 10th 2008 5:05PM
1ST~~~~~
Congrats... go back to sucking your thumb.
Three are brilliant. They are probably the best for data in the UK at the moment. Phone deals are pretty tasty too.
Also, as far as I know Skype comes standard on all of their phones and all Skype-to-Skype calls are free. A pretty cool deal although I've never used it :)
3 is also the best with HSPDA in Denmark with cheap prices, 14 Mbit speeds and a lot of services.
although i had two wisdom teeth extracted mere hours ago, i still had to come get my engadget fix!
You might want to go back to sleep, the drugs haven't completely faded yet...
@telepheedian - Go back to sleep?! sounds like a waste of drugs to me.
Does anybody know if this Cell will have an A2DP technology in it? I want to know this so I may use it with my JayBird. http://www.jaybirdgear.com/jaybird-wireless-headphones-overview.php
I would say more than likely.
Im with three got an N95 8GB at mo, 700 xnet Mins, Unlimited Texts, Unlimited Data, Unlimited skype2skype calls for a nice £30PM ($60), and the way Three have there network running means that anyphone with a bluetooth or USB modem connection can work as a plug and play modem. Three also are the most innovative and intergrated feature based network in the UK, cust serv could be better, but whos cust serv is good?. I always thought Three should of got the iPhone in the UK instead of rubbishy O2
I wish we had three in Canada... Damn Rogers! :(
Unfortunalty the iphone is a loss leading exercise really and 3 didn't want to just throw money away like that. Shame as I'd of liked one too.. but the fact that it doesnt have mms nor the modem facility means its just a nice ipod really. Thanks for the positive comments on the network.
Oh thank god someone that agrees with me, why in the world did o2 get the iphone 3G over the largest 3G network - 3, although it really does have to be said that the iphone is a cheap and nasty piece of work from those people at apple : ( , im not a fan of them or their products, but i really do not see how 3 didnt want it. this phone looks pretty cheap but has some great features, tbh i think the skypephone S2 looks better. but i think on terms of iphone rivalry this should do 3 the world of good, it is about time people started to realise that 3 have changed for the best.
These look quite interesting. How much do Three charge for data? Do they have an all you can eat package? I might end up picking one of these up.
They are generally cheaper than most, quite frequently you can get 1/2 price mobile broadband with a phone, and the data addons are reasonably priced compared to others. Still too expensive though.
three are actually pretty reasonable on the data front, they have the largest HSDPA and 3G network to use it on as well, a mobile phone add - on costs from as little as £2.50 for 10Mb or £5 for 'unlimited' usage, which we all know has a fair usage policy but its of 1GB thats 100,000 mobile web pages! compaired to T-mobile and vodafone's 500MB fair usage, plus T-Mobiles is more money.
mobile broadband packages vary depending on length of contract, amount needed and whether you want pay as you go or pay monthly go to http://three.co.uk/personal/products_services_/mobile_broadband_/index.omp to find more info. and to check out their future coverage (which is huge by the way).
hope this helps and if you decide to go with 3 then welcome to the network its great.
Am I the only one who thinks it looks like a knock off Nokia?
Yea, the first instant I saw it I thought it was a nokia phone. The menu and c key made me thought it's running S60 too. It's not though....
Don't think the carriers will allow the 3G modem part to be implemented here.
Considering the phone was designed specifically for the 'carriers' (i.e: Three), if they didn't want people to use it as a wireless modem, they simply would have not included the hardware/software.
And let's face it; Data=Monies. And browsing the web on a computer chews data a lot easier than browsing on a low-end phone like this.
Then you can change it. Stop the shameless plugs!
It's cheaper than a regular HSPDA modem. I am so gonna buy this together with a cheap 3 data plan. Thumbs up 3!
Three Skypehone S2 is virtually identical to this, in software, GUI is nearly identical, it's in a small candybar format, works as a 3g modem, and is available as TWO phones for £99... and with SkypeOut now... I don't see why you need to buy this phone....
Looks like the handset that would have been known as the 3skypephone S3.
Has to be said this won't be a proper smartphone - downloadable apps would be likely be limited to Java and BREW (yep, both available ...and on a GSM phone, just like the existing 3skypephones) it compare nicely to the iphone imho, but I'd rather have a G1.
This phone will be a minimum of £15.00 per month for 75 minutes, unlimited text, unlimited 3 to 3 calls, unlimited internet browsing and unlimited email!!! amazing!!
Just got an email from 3 advertising this, and it's £79 pay as you go. Not bad at all.
Will it integrate with Twitter and Twitpic? I hope so
I just picked up one of these, totally unbelievable deal from 3.
Free Phone, 18 month contract, £15.00/month for unlimited internet, email, texts. Unlimited 3 to 3 calls (great as my wife and most of my mates are on 3) and 75 minutes any network minutes (which I know isn't a lot but with unlimited calls to 3 phones it should be more than enough for me). Oh and it does appear from the blurb included with the phone that use as a modem is included (although I'm not convinced about this.....will need to check out further). The specs on the handset appear to be great as well 5.4hrs talk time, 329hrs standby, HSDPA, 1GB memory card thrown in, 3.2mp camera. Really scratchin' my head trying to see where the downside is (I am of course presuming that it will work once I've charged it up).
The INQ1 sports the best integration out there for social networking, instant messaging and email. Check my review here: http://odedran.wordpress.com/2008/12/09/inq1-finally-a-mobile-that-gets-the-internet-right/.