3's Facebook-loving INQ1 launches in the UK

You probably remember 3 network subsidiary INQ's announcement of the INQ1, their first stab at a phone? Well, it's launched in London and is officially "coming soon." As previously mentioned, the phone is nothing fancy or revolutionary, but its integration with Skype (just like 3's Skypephone), Facebook, and a handful of other consumer-friendly apps is something worth taking note of. When available, the slider will come in black and silver and though we don't know the exact price, last we heard it would cost under £99 with no contract. No details on the handset making its way to the US as of yet -- it's complicated -- but we'll keep you updated. Don't forget to check out a few shots of the (very attractive) packaging after the break.

[Thanks, David M.]

[Flaystus @ Nov 13th 2008 10:44AM]

What happens if you p... nevermind.

[holycow @ Nov 13th 2008 10:47AM]

I don't know why but it reminded me Nokia 7610 Supernova right away...
http://img.gsmarena.com/vv/pics/nokia/nokia-7610-01.jpg

[bob sakamano @ Nov 13th 2008 10:51AM]

yeah the packaging IS really nice. they should include a chain so you can wear it around your neck.

[ctbear @ Nov 13th 2008 10:57AM]

japanese companion cube

[Seanross @ Nov 13th 2008 10:57AM]

Nice for people who save boxes of stuff like me

[matt @ Nov 13th 2008 10:58AM]

I don't like the phone but I love the packaging. Apple should do something like that with art from the staff and just wrap the current boxes in "eco-friendly" recyclable cardboard with some sweet art printed on it.

[y3k.nik @ Nov 13th 2008 11:02AM]

You forgot, jack the prices by 100$ because of the new and improved packaging version 2.0 or maybe version 1.4

[iEye @ Nov 13th 2008 11:08AM]

If you are going to knock off a nokia handset, at least kirf copy the high-end models...

nice dollarama box...

[TimmyRaa @ Nov 13th 2008 11:12AM]

A *phone* specifically designed for accessing social networks? Oh pur-leeeze...

The fact that almost all the comments here are about the packaging and not the phone says it all. Move along, nothing to see here.

[Gav @ Nov 13th 2008 11:14AM]

They say no contract, but all prepaid topups (minimum £15) expire after 30 days...

[TimmyRaa @ Nov 13th 2008 11:26AM]

That's not a contract, that just means that your credit expires after 30 days.

A contract is where you are contracted and obliged to pay them £x per month, every month, for a set period of time.

[lazygamer @ Nov 13th 2008 11:34AM]

Any initial top-up (starting credit) or bonus top-up (e.g. for transferring your number to 3) has a 30-day expiry.

Any top-up you buy after that has NO expiry date (subject to making/receiving a call/text every 180 days - the same clause for any PAYG phone in the UK). When you buy a top-up you get 30 days of Skype-To-Skype and MSN free, after which another top-up is required, but your existing credit never invalidates.

3 dropped the 30-day expiry on top ups a couple of years ago.

[matt @ Nov 13th 2008 12:22PM]

Lazygamer is right. I have found 3 to be far and away the best network in the UK, having tried pretty much all of them, except o2.

[Nick @ Nov 13th 2008 11:25AM]

I used to work for 3, and I can honestly say that 90% of their Skypephone we sold came back with Sim-reader errors or random software problems.. or my old favourite, the battery lasting 3 charge cycles.
I'd never personally touch anything that 3 or a subsidary ever made.. nor would I ever be a customer of 3 (and, for the record, I only used their network as a customer because they were paying our bills). Stick to T-Mobile, Orange, or one of the other big networks.. give 3 a miss.. or you'll definitely regret it!

[bob @ Nov 13th 2008 11:25AM]

do they show facebook running at all? is it half as good as the iphone app?

[Wonderkid @ Nov 13th 2008 11:48AM]

Fring on a Nokia E71 is a very useful 'social' (and business) networking tool, replacing or complementing many other communications tools. a) Fring allows you to remain in touch with contacts in real time - no silly pokes and other 'it was fun for 10 seconds' features that get annoying after a while. b) It notifies me of incoming Gmails. c) It runs in the background even managing well in a 2G area. The E71's tactile QWERTY keyboard is a lot more effective than you would believe. While I think 3 have made a great job of both their Skype phone and the INQ1, well written software on any well designed device can do the same job. Fring is a paradigm shift and really does render a lot of other software and concepts obsolete. It is not perfect and very much early days, but I am sure there will be the day when people say "Give me a Fring!" (I have no connections with the company, just a very happy user of both Fring and the E71 - very well designed products that deserve a mention.) I wonder if they will port Fring to the INQ1?

[JeffEd @ Nov 13th 2008 12:34PM]

Just me or does the interface look a bit Android-y?

[Ori Matalon @ Nov 13th 2008 3:37PM]

Is there anywhere a good article to compare facebook application for the main mobile devices, mainly iPhone, BlackBeery, HTC (Win Mobile)?

my comments at http://www.commentino.com/orim

[Andrew @ Nov 14th 2008 3:34AM]

Just got the announcement email this morning. Here's the contract deets:

£15/mo gets you
* Unlimited internet access
* Unlimited texts
* Unlimited 3-to-3 calls
* 75 mins calls to other networks

£79.99 on PAYG
* Unlimited Skype and Windows Live Messenger for 3 months every time you top-up £10 or more
* Unlimited Facebook & other internet access when you buy an Internet Add-on

I'm pretty happy with 3. I hate my Skypephone, but it was just to see if I could get my family and friends back in North America to actually CONTACT me here in Blighty. But I've had less trouble with them than with T-Mobile or Orange!

[chimpoid @ Nov 14th 2008 3:16PM]

Hmm, facebook account settings, activate a mobile, UK providers - O2. No sign of 3 anywhere.
3 aren't available as a mobile network that facbook actively supports making this a bit a farce IMHO.