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Sagem reveals Binder white label e-reader, SFR's version comes with free 3G
Heard of the FnacBook, Telecom Italia eBook or Thalia Oyo? It's looking like they're all one and the same -- a Sagem product called the Binder with a six-inch SiPix capacitive e-paper touchscreen. It's also got the standard accelerometer, 2GB of internal flash, a microSD card slot and support for ePub and PDF, but there's one feature that sets it apart from the pack: a cellular modem that'll give FnacBook buyers free 3G service a la the Amazon Kindle's Whispernet. French carrier SFR is subsidizing that little venture, so it's not part and parcel of buying into Sagem's device, but if you find yourself holding onto a different rebrand we suppose you'll still have 802.11 b/g WiFi for your Steig Larsson downloads. Fnac's already taking preorders at €199 (about $277); devices ship November 10th. PR after the break.
Puma Phone review
So it's true, we're living in an age where people would shamelessly line up for certain electronics and luxurious fashion items. Why? Just because they can, and for that reason, some swanky outlets -- namely Christian Dior, Prada, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, and Versace -- have attempted to exploit our gadget lust by offering self-branded phones at extortionate prices. In the eyes of every-day consumers, there's really not much appeal in these soulless devices except for the logo and some extra bling, but apparently these two factors alone are enough to make some aficionados drool a river. On the other hand, Puma -- a less luxurious but naturally more accessible fashion brand -- has decided to do more than just slapping an OS skin onto its aptly-named Puma Phone. Priced at a comparably affordable £300 ($469), this Sagem-made featurephone packs a few unusual features such as a solar panel, a sports tracker, and even a virtual cougar named Dylan. Read on to find out if we could sense the Puma spirit in this device.%Gallery-99609%
Puma Phone now available somewhere you probably don't live
We never thought we'd live to see the day where we were talking on a shoe, Get Smart-style. Technology still hasn't advanced nearly enough to make authentic shoe-talking anything more than a distant dream, but the next best thing -- a phone from a shoe manufacturer -- is now available. Actually, "available" is a bit of a stretch since the Puma Phone has only launched in nine European, African, and Middle Eastern countries so far, but we'd hope that a wider launch is on the way. And hey, to be fair, we bet the solar panels on back work spectacularly in the African sun. Pricing will naturally vary by locale, retailer, and subsidy, but you can generally look to find it for about €399 ($500) SIM-free.
Sagem Orga shows off pricey SIMfi prototype at MWC
Sagem Orga was on the floor of MWC this week, a company that really doesn't typically draw a lot of attention outside wireless industry suits who fly out to Barcelona to broker deals -- at least, not until they do something totally insane like stuff a WiFi radio into a SIM card. We talked to the company a little bit about its coin-sized technological tour de force and we were shocked to learn that it doesn't instantly nuke your phone's battery -- the gentleman running demos said that he was getting about a days' worth between charges with occasional use. Of course, "occasional use" could mean anything, but he added that the card is currently throwing out a hotspot cloud of anywhere between 5 and 50 meters, and it could easily be reworked to stay within a much smaller radius which improves battery consumption in the process. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take any pictures of the actual SIMfi; this is just a dummy pictured above, but our demo guy took off the battery cover of his phone and we were shocked to find that the real thing looks no different from any other SIM (no, seriously). We guess that makes sense since it has to fit into a standard SIM slot, but it's rocket science how they managed to fit all that circuitry into a board that tiny -- in fact, we were shown an x-ray view of the card, and the number of chips, resistors, and miscellaneous pieces of technology in there is nothing short of mind-bending. It's hard to say when (or if) we'll see these on carriers around the world, but it's going to be a little while -- Sagem Orga tells us the prototypes cost a stout €5,000 (about $6,800) each.
NFC suffers identity crisis, becomes N-Mark, denies prior existence
Things just got strangely... interesting in the world of near-field communications. The NFC Forum, which just a few weeks ago issued a press release repeatedly using the term "NFC" and seemed quite fond of the logo to the left above, has apparently decided that "NFC" isn't particularly trademarkable. So, it will now be calling its suite of (ever dizzying) connectivity options "N-Mark," identified by the new, swoopier logo to the right. The latest addition to those head-spinning wireless standards? Sagem and Telenor are adding WiFi into the mix, creating a hybrid device to interact with the new SIMFi, allowing NFC (or whatever you want to call it) at rather greater than "near" ranges, running at 2.5GHz instead of the usual 13.56MHz. Confused? Just gaze at that new, blue logo and all will seem right as rain.
Puma Phone hands-on
Chalk one up for Sagem and Puma who apparently just want a cell to be fun -- and somehow, we're right there with them. The obviously-named Puma Phone launched today, and for a pretty basic handset, it was drawing some reasonably large crowds at the booth. That might be thanks to some of the silly stuff like a calculator that teases you when you try an operation it deems too trivial, a pet puma on the device called Dylan (who shows up on-screen when you leave your handset untouched for a while), and an audio player with a turntable you can actually scratch -- but the real draw is probably the solar panel around back. It's quoted at a respectable 15 minutes of talk time or two hours of music playback for every hour in the sun, meaning you should theoretically be able to charge the phone even while blasting tunes (of course, the proof is in the pudding when it comes to battery claims, as always). It's not going to replace your Pre, but the Puma set is definitely geared toward a youthful active market that focuses on sports and entertainment, and you've got to admit that it's driven by a brand everybody recognizes. Sure, it's simple; sure it is at its most basic a feature phone; but all that aside, we just liked the experience of using it. We're feeling that if the companies behind this thing align themselves with the right carrier when it launches in Europe this April, it'll actually do pretty well. No plans for it to land in North America yet, but we're told that if its launch goes well it could cross the pond later this year. Follow on for a full tour and gallery of the goods!%Gallery-85726%
Puma joins forces with Sagem to birth the Puma Phone
Looks like the rumors we heard were true: august cordwainer Puma has teamed up with Sagem to make a phone -- and it's quite a looker, too. The Puma Phone (as it's called) is a lightweight little guy that boasts an integrated solar cell for charging and charge indicator to let you know how you're doing on juice, a QVGA TFT 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen, plus a 3.2 megapixel cam with LED flash and 6x zoom. It also packs in GPS, a compass and geotagging, plus it's got a host of 'sporty' features (pedometer, stopwatch and GPS tracker)... if you're into an active lifestyle. This bad boy can be strapped to your arm when you're on the go, but don't blame us if it doesn't score you any points with the passersby. The Puma Phone will be available throughout Europe in April of this year -- no word on pricing or availability elsewhere yet. The full press release is after the break.
Sagem and Puma tease with a glimpse of the Puma Phone M1
Sagem and Puma's presser isn't until tomorrow, but they were kind enough to allow us this sneak peek at what exactly they're up to here at MWC. From the corners and sides it's pretty evident that the Puma Phone M1 is a touchscreen affair and sports a large solar panel on its rear side. Colors? So far we've seen black, though, that's no reason to not hope for more, right? Check back later today for the specs and some thorough hands-on treatment of this sporty entry from Sagem and Puma. %Gallery-85561%
Sagem Orga's SIMFi merges WiFi with SIM cards at long last, turns any phone into a hotspot
Thought WiFi spectrum was congested now? You ain't seen nothin' yet, because SIM card provider Sagem Orga has hooked up with Telefonica to develop a marvel of modern technology called "SIMFi" that combines -- you guessed it -- WiFi with a run-of-the-mill SIM card like you'd slip in your cell. In practical terms, this means that you're able to turn virtually any phone (or "classic handsets," as the company calls them) into a WiFi hotspot accessible by authenticated laptops, MIDs, and miscellaneous wireless gadgets in the immediate vicinity. Frankly, the concept is downright brilliant in its simplicity -- never mind the fact that we had no idea you could fit WiFi circuitry into a 25 x 15 x 0.76mm footprint -- and we're excited for what this means for the future of tethering, assuming carriers can keep up with the spectrum demands. MiFis and Overdrives of the world, you're on notice. Follow the break for Sagem Orga's full release.
Pumaphone coming next week, solar power in the mix?
Puma (and partner Sagem) have thrown up a teaser site ahead of the launch of the company's first-ever phone next week -- a trend being voraciously adopted by designer brands lately -- but sadly, there's not a lot to see at the moment other than some unhelpful videos (one of which you can peep after the break). That may not have always been the case, though: Recombu is reporting that there'd previously been an all-too-brief glimpse of what appeared to be a touhscreen phone with a solar panel aboard in one of the videos, but Sagem eventually pulled the offending segment and asked that the site take down its screen capture. That's pretty lame, but the good news is that we've but a few days to wait before this thing gets all official on us. Let's hope for sun in Barcelona, eh? Update: MobileCrunch managed to snap the phone, too -- and unlike Recombu, they're not backing down.
Porsche Design working hard for the money, brings back P'9522 in black
More than a year after releasing the P'9522, you'd think that Porsche Design would have something a little more... well, Porsche up its sleeve than just another color, but make no mistake: this latest incarnation of the pricey candybar is nothing more than a repainted version of the original. As a refresher, it's got a 5 megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi, microSD expansion, a 2.8-inch display (they make it look bigger than that in the press shot, don't they?) and a fingerprint scanner up front to make sure the baddies don't get all up in your business should the phone get stolen. For a company so steeped in the tradition of speed, you'd think they'd at least have taken the opportunity to add in 3G, but alas, this handset's fast in name only. Anyhow, you should be able to pick up this remixed version now in overpriced boutiques around the globe.
Porsche Design P'9522 gets a little FCC love
Porsches have a reputation for being... well, fast. So isn't it just a little ironic that the Porsche Design P'9522 from Sagem is anything but? As usual, Europe gets the 3G action on this one -- but sadly, the FCC only needs to worry about GSM 850 / 1900, because that's all Sagem saw fit to give Americans. Normally we'd shake it off and move on without a second thought, but Porsche Design handsets don't come along every day -- and with that huge display and the fingerprint sensor front and center, the P'9552's pretty dang handsome -- so we're gonna spend at least a good 10, 15 minutes sulking over this one.
Sagem brand says goodnight at the end of the year
Sofinnova's purchase of Sagem means that the Sagem brand will disappear completely from handsets by the end of the year, Mobile Phone Helpdesk is reporting. Don't worry, though, you rabid Sagem fans: the manufacturer will still be alive and well, albeit in a decidedly less high-profile form as a dedicated ODM. Making phones for other brands is a biz Sagem's already well acquainted with through its partnership with Sony Ericsson and others, so it should be an easy transition. In the meanwhile, Sagem-branded phones currently planned for release before the end of the year should still "partly come to market," so get those collectors' editions while you still can.
Sagem valiantly returns with Porsche Design P'9522
Not even two full months after Sagem fell into the obviously capable hands of Sofinnova, out pops the company's return to the red carpet. Picking right up (numerically speaking, at least) where the P'9521 left off is the well-endowed P'9522, which was reportedly built with a little help from Porsche Design. The candybar features an aluminum chassis, 2.8-inch display, 5-megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi, fingerprint reader and a microSD card slot. Unfortunately, the fun and games end there, as there's no 3G radio anywhere to be found; plus, you'll be asked to lay down about €600 ($875) to acquire one when it ships next month. Loyalty has its price, we guess.
Sofinnova snaps up Sagem from Safran, Sam sizzles steaks
Remember back in those freewheelin' days of 2006 when men were men, phones were phones, and Motorola was rumored to have been seriously considering taking Sagem off Safran Group's hands? Yeah, well those days are long gone; Moto's a mere husk of what it once was at the peak of the RAZR craze, and as for Sagem, they're getting ready to fly the "under new ownership" banner in front of headquarters. Venture capital firm Sofinnova has purchased 90 percent of Sagem for around €220 million ($343 million) off current parent Safran, intending to rename it Sagem Wireless (don't get too crazy with the name change there, guys) and turn it into an all-ODM shop not unlike fellow French firm ModeLabs. Roughly half of Sagem's staff will survive the transfer intact, while most of the rest should be offered jobs in Safran's other lines of business or firms in which Sofinnova holds a stake.[Via mocoNews]
New players team up with LiMo Foundation
Following a new round of partnership announcements back in February, LiMo Foundation today added 8 new members, bringing the grand total to 40 -- and perhaps most notably, Verizon Wireless becomes the first American carrier to team up with the group and the Foundation's final board member (in other words, they seem to be taking this initiative pretty seriously). Other new players include South Korea's SK Telecom, France's SFR, Sagem, chipmaker Infineon, and Mozilla, suggesting that there'll be plenty of mobile Firefox support for LiMo's nascent platform. LiMo represents the largest Linux-based threat to Android's plans for world domination, having announced its initiative some time before Google while collecting a veritable who's-who of world players from NTT DoCoMo to manufacturers like LG and Motorola -- and with the depth of Verizon's commitment to this, evident by its nabbing of an actual board seat, we wouldn't be surprised to see LiMo-based products actually go beyond its Any Apps, Any Device initiative and get real on the carrier's official lineup.
Gold looks without gold prices: Sagem's my220x
Squint a little, and you might think this is a two or three hundred dollar handset. Then you unsquint, see the Sagem logo, and say, "ahh, nevermind." No offense to Sagem, either; we think they make some decent looking phones -- not that we'd really know how they work here in the US -- but let's be honest, their specialty lies on the low end of the spectrum. The my220x candybar was released a few weeks back across the pond and appears to be making quite a splash on account of its tastefully applied gold accents and exceptionally low price. It's being sold for £14.99 (about $30) or less in retail outlets -- an aggressive price, yes, but without even a VGA camera to its name, just be forewarned that the gold trim is the fanciest feature of this simple candybar.[Via Slashphone and Mobilewhack]
Carphone Warehouse preps "Limited Collection" line of designer handsets
Carphone Warehouse is prepping a line of devices for its new "Limited Collection" line, an all-designer showcase for all that's rehashed new in mobiles. The line will feature two handsets from designer Ted Baker, and one each from Mandarina Duck, Levi's, and Porsche. We're all for expensive, glossy new sets -- ok, we're sorta all for it -- but with the exception of the Porsche (Sagem) and Levi's (ModeLabs) sets, these are just same old, same old with expensive accessories and new color choices. Though, we have to hand it to one of the Ted Baker-branded devices, we dig its somewhat throwback name "needle" for its HTC Touch. The Levi's and Ted Baker Button should land in October with the rest of the collection arriving in November. Hopfully we'll see a pricing update soon.[Via textually.org]
Vodafone gets the drop on Santa, announces Christmas lineup early
This may well be our first unofficial Christmas article, as Vodafone gets the jump on the holiday season with a sizeable list of new handsets for your enjoyment. The early launch features the new 8GB Nokia N95, Samsung SGH-F700V (by the by, that V at the end there stands for "vroom vroom"), Sony Ericsson W910i, BlackBerry 8310 Curve, and the BlackBerry 8100 Pearl. On the "B" list we can expect two new Windows Mobile devices, six devices based on Series 60, six 3G devices from leading manufacturers, and three new Vodafone branded sets (Vodafone 920, 720, 810). The final items on the menu are 13 new HSDPA handsets, not bad huh? While the devices are lumped into all those categories above, the devices specific to each are not, but in no particular order we can expect the Sharp GX33 and 880SH, Sagem my850v Crystal and my411 Cv. More Samsung goodness will arrive in the form of the SGH-i640v and SGH-ZV60, Sony Ericsson's W660i and V640i, with the Nokia 6120c rounding out the show. Don't take our word for it, but it seems like Christmas may be a good time to hop on Vodafone. Check the gallery for the pics we were able to cobble together of this grand event.%Gallery-7207%
Porsche and Sagem team up on handset design, doesn't vroom vroom
Sagem and Porsche's P'9521 handset is set to launch at retail as they announce the boxy thing will start selling in Taiwan this month for a whopping $1800. Featuring quad-band GSM / EDGE, measuring in at a portly 140 gram 91 x 48 x 18.4 mm, and packing a 3 megapixel camera, shows us that they got most of the internals right. But unfortunately, the unlikely design duo has also seen fit to include a fingerprint scanner to activate the camera which begs the question, why? Well, at least they've got ugly well covered, so there's comfort in knowing that the next -- if there is such a thing planned -- can only improve on this first effort.
