Mobile Miscellany: week of October 22nd, 2012
If you didn't get enough in mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This past week, T-Mobile announced the price and release date for the Optimus L9, carriers were announced in Canada for the ATIV S Windows Phone and ZTE released a low-priced Android smartphone for Virgin Mobile in the UK. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of October 22nd, 2012.
LG Optimus L9 arrives at T-Mobile on October 31st for $80
T-Mobile announced the price and release date for the LG Optimus L9 smartphone this week, which confirms the date that we'd previously reported in the carrier's leaked roadmap. The Optimus L9 will arrive on US shelves come October 31st for $80 after a $50 mail-in rebate. Naturally, a two-year commitment is required to snag the device at this price. The Optimus L9 features a 1GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4430, along with 1GB of RAM, a 4.5-inch qHD display and Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Also on deck is a 5MP rear camera that records video at 1080p, 4GB of internal storage and a 2,150mAh battery. [Android Central]
Canadian carriers revealed for Samsung ATIV S
It's now official: Samsung's forthcoming Windows Phone, the ATIV S, will debut in Canada this November at Bell, Rogers, Telus and Sasktel. The phone combines a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4, a 4.8-inch HD (1,280 x 720) Super AMOLED display and Windows Phone 8. You'll also find an 8-megapixel rear camera that captures video in 1080p, either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage and a 2,300mAh battery. [Unwired View]
ZTE Kis now available at Virgin Mobile UK for £60
Brits in need of a smartphone on the cheap now have another option from ZTE, which debuted the Kis at Virgin Mobile in the UK this week. The phone costs £60, and while it's not much in the spec department, shoppers can expect an Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) device that's powered by an 800MHz CPU. The Kis is also outfitted with a 3.5-inch HVGA (480 x 320) display, a 3.2-megapixel AF rear camera, 256MB of RAM and a 1,400mAh battery. The phone is available in either white or black as members of the PAYG lineup, and when purchased with £10 of airtime, Virgin Mobile will discount the handset to just £50. As a special promotion, purchasers will also be treated to 1GB of free monthly data usage for one full year. [Virgin Mobile UK]
Videotron welcomes smartphones from HTC, LG and Motorola to the fold
Quebec's regional carrier Videotron added three new smartphones to its lineup this week, which includes the HTC One S, the LG Optimus 4X HD and the Motorola RAZR V. The One S is available as low as $50, whereas the Optimus 4X HD starts at $130. For those unable to afford either, the RAZR V can be snagged for as low as $30. [MobileSyrup 1, 2]
Black Samsung Galaxy S III arrives at Expansys and Negri Electronics
Verizon customers got early dibs on this one, but the unlocked Samsung Galaxy S III is now available in black through both Expansys and Negri Electronics. Shoppers in the US can snag the handset from Negri for $563.50, whereas Expansys comes in a bit steeper at $575. Meanwhile, UK-based shoppers can get their hands on the black Galaxy S III at a SIM-free price of £410. [Negri Electronics, Expansys USA, Expansys UK]
