Ctia2008
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HTC S740 hands-on
You certainly wouldn't know it from the deluge of Windows Mobile Professional devices in every segment of the market these days, but believe it or not, Microsoft's still trudging along with the Standard edition for the handful of us who still favor the smallest package possible (and a physical numeric keypad, for that matter) to a touchscreen. HTC -- which has always had a penchant for packaging WinMo in as many form factors as it possibly can -- has distilled Standard into what can only be described as its ultimate execution in the S740, a bangin' little candybar that carries over the Touch Diamond's distinctive styling elements to a decidedly slimmer package.We had a chance to put our hands on an S740 recently, and let's just put it this way: if there's a phone that could convince us Windows Mobile Standard was the way to roll, this would be it, no questions asked. It's stunningly beautiful, has one of the best displays we've ever seen on a device of this size and form factor, and you're still packing a full QWERTY keyboard should the need arise. We're told that the matte keypad will be replaced with a glossy one on the final production device, which is only going to bump the chic look yet another notch. Strong work, HTC -- now just cut us an American version to sell unlocked through Best Buy, and we'll call it a day.%Gallery-31899%
Virgin Shuttle hands-on
As 3G sliders go, the Shuttle won't rank terribly high on anyone's hot list, but as Virgin Mobile handsets go, specifically -- well, the Shuttle is pure gold. We toyed with it a bit at CTIA, and yeah, okay, it's not going to blow any minds. But if we put on our prepaid hats for just a moment, we can see how this is exactly what the doctor ordered: it's definitely the best-looking and feeling handset in Virgin's lineup, and at the same time, it doesn't come close to encroaching on Helio's higher-end territory. Granted, the 3G support doesn't mean terribly much considering the small screen (and we dare not mention "Virgin" and "tether" in the same sentence), so the Shuttle's gonna have to push units on the strength of its strapping good looks and support for Buddy Beacon. We think it'll manage.%Gallery-31640%
Hands-on with Motorola's ROKR EM30
Just like the press shots had us thinking, Motorola's ROKR EM30 really is nothing more (and nothing less) than a dumbed-down E8. Oh, and don't be alarmed by the utter blackness you're presented with below the d-pad -- the EM30 carries over the E8's "ModeShift" morphing keypad, so it does some cool stuff depending on the mode you're currently in. Legions of E8 loyalists are going to pan the missing touch arc, but listen, guys -- do you really need that to navigate music? Naw, of course you don't, especially at the EM30's price point. Rock on, Moto.%Gallery-31860%
Color mirasol-equipped Freestyle Audio DAP gets spec'd, no closer to release
Well, wouldn't you know it? Just after we bash Qualcomm for talking up its second color mirasol-based design before shipping the first, along comes a little justification of our actions. Over in San Francisco, said company is trumpeting an item that we first heard about back in May, but regrettably, it doesn't sound as if we're any closer to getting a release date. What we are told is the device's name: the Freestyle Audio Soundwave Ltd. Edition, or -- more formally -- the FA300. It'll boast a 0.9-inch color mirasol display, a waterproof casing, built-in Bluetooth, and a whole host of other niceties that we're sure to find out about before the next decade dawns. 'Til then, we'd suggest a hearty helping of patience.
Hands-on with Sprint's Touch Pro
Oh, come on, you know there's a part of you that wants it. A big part, even. The Touch Diamond is the first new HTC piece to get teed up for Sprint, but the Touch Pro is hot on its heels a few weeks later -- and with a QWERTY keyboard, it's hard to ignore. Question is, is it worth the extra wait? Well, ease your troubled mind for just a second and take a gander at our gallery on Engadget Mobile -- we're not saying it's going to make your decision any easier, we're just saying everyone likes pretty pictures.
MSV shows off L-Series satellite phone prototype
On a typical day, anything shown off at CTIA with a "coming in 2010" sticker would cause some serious unrest, but given that we've already found that LTE is eons (or so it feels) away, we're just taking things in stride. The MSV prototype shown above will purportedly become a proud member of the L-Series, and its satellite / cellular hybrid system will enable it to play nice on traditional cell bands as well as snag sat coverage anywhere in North America. Apparently the firm is planning on shooting up a pair of birds in 2009 as well as landing a deal with an undisclosed US carrier, and the 0.6-inch thick unit itself should feature a 480 x 320 multi-touch screen, WiFi and an integrated camera. No word on a price just yet, but feel free to check back in a few years.
Android phones in AT&T's future? Hey, anything's possible!
Sure, Ralph de la Vega was chatty at yesterday's AT&T luncheon during CTIA, but with the scattered reports you've probably seen, it's hard to keep tabs on it all. On the topic of Android -- the Google OS which the company had been reluctant to make a definitive ruling on -- de la Vega seemed to soften up to the possibility. According to the exec, meetings with the search giant have reassured him that carriers will be able to equip handsets with their own applications, not just Google's tools. "That's attractive to us. We were concerned that maybe the focus was just on Google apps," he said. Of course, other than vague pleasantries about the possibilities of the operating system, de la Vega wasn't concrete about actual Android phones in the pipeline, saying, "If it's good for customers we'll offer it like any other OS." Bottom line? They're not exactly storming into the OHA, but if they see something they like, they won't look the other way.[Thanks, bdawg]
Vodafone CEO urges industry to rally around LTE
Late last year, we were still wondering whether LTE even had the backing to keep up with WiMAX. Fast forward to CTIA 2008, and my, how the tables have turned. Vodafone, which already teamed up with Verizon in order to initiate an LTE trial in 2008, urged the rest of the wireless sector to put its support squarely behind Long Term Evolution. Vodafone Group's CEO, Arun Sarin, suggested that we could all see mobile internet speeds more similar to those enjoyed on the PC today if the industry "rallied around one broadband standard," specifically noting that "we need to look at LTE as an all-encompassing standard." The push comes hot on the heels of Sprint's unfortunate delay of its XOHM WiMAX network, but it should be noted that infrastructure vendors in attendance tended to feel that the two would coexist at least in the short term. Sheesh, let's just forget this whole LTE / WiMAX spat and place our bets on TD-SCDMA.
Sanyo's Pro-200 and Pro-700 Direct Connect handsets get official
Fresh out of the FCC's lair comes a new pair of QChat-enabled mobiles ready to launch on Sprint: Sanyo's Pro-200 and Pro-700. Unsurprisingly getting official at CTIA, the pair of Nextel Direct Connect devices can handle all the hot PTT action you could ask for, and while the Pro-200 (shown above) checks in with Bluetooth, messaging capabilities and mobile e-mail, the beefier brother (pictured after the jump) touts a ruggedized shell "certified to military standards for dust, shock and vibration." Curiously, the duo is only expected to go on sale in "limited markets" this month, with availability popping up elsewhere in due time; those eager to get their chirp on can plan on dropping $49.99 / $69.99 on contract, respectively.[Thanks, Colton]
Mio showcases prototype PND with wireless connectivity
While Mio was busy propping up its Moov GPS lineup at CeBIT, it has smartly chosen CTIA to unveil a prototype PND that touts wireless connectivity. After teaming up with ATX, which is hailed as "the world's largest independent telematics services provider to the automotive industry," Mio has launched a connected navigator based on the Pinnacle platform. Unfortunately, it's still somewhat unclear what extra features will be found on this linked-in unit -- which may or may not have made an early cameo at CES (pictured) -- but thankfully, we won't be waiting long to find out. If all goes to plan, ATX-powered Mio devices will be hitting the streets in the second half of this year, but it better be mighty impressive (or just cheaper, really) if it plans on dethroning the Dash Express.Read - Mio Technology / ATX partnershipRead - Pinnacle Platform
Nokia Siemens Networks unveils LTE solution for North America
Make no mistake, LTE is quite likely the buzzword at CTIA 2008. That being the case, Nokia Siemens Networks is making sure it's part of the in-crowd by introducing a "LTE solution for radio and core networks [that] will enable operators to deploy WCDMA / HSPA and LTE in all major frequency bands, including the 700MHz and 1.7 / 2.1GHz bands that are of particular importance in North America." Apparently the outfit is assuming that winners of the recent spectrum auction will be champing at the bit to deploy new networks / services, and while we can only hope it's correct, the equipment to make it happen is seemingly ready to roll.[Via PhoneScoop]
Everex Cloudbook MAX plays on Sprint's XOHM WiMAX network
Not too long ago, we gave you loyal Cloudbook owners a chance to voice your opinion on how you'd change things. Fast forward a few weeks, and take a gander at what Everex has put together. Debuting today at CTIA 2008, the Cloudbook MAX not only boasts an 8.9-inch WVGA (1,024 x 600) display, Windows Vista, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, integrated GPS receiver, 2-megapixel webcam and a battery good for four hours, but it also features an 80GB HDD, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, audio in / out and an S-Video output. Beyond all that, this thing gets energized by a 1.6GHz VIA C7-M ULV processor coupled with the VX800 digital media IGP chipset, which touts full DirectX 9 support and video acceleration for MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV9, VC1 and DivX video formats (plus a VMR-capable HD video processor, among other things). Lastly, the unit includes built-in support for Sprint's XOHM WiMAX network. Brimming with excitement yet? Start stocking that piggy bank -- this currently unpriced rig will be available in the latter half of this year across North America. Check out the gallery over on Classic! Read - VIA and Everex demonstrate Cloudbook MAX at CTIARead - VIA VX800 Series Chipset Update: Looks like availability is now set for Q1 - Q2 2009. Thanks, Taylor!
Samsung's Soul train makes stop in USA, no plans to get sold here
If you thought Samsung's Soul would be content with sitting in Barcelona, you've never had the pleasure of vacationing in Las Vegas. Sure enough, the Soul is following the HTC Touch Dual in making its US debut at CTIA 2008, and it's quite alright if your palms are already beginning to get sweaty. After all, what else would you expect from looking forward to a quad-band / HSDPA 7.2Mbps slider with a 2.2-inch QVGA display, 5-megapixel camera (with QVGA movie mode), Bluetooth 2.0, microSD expansion slot and Magical Touch navigation? Beyond that, the long-awaited miCoach is also making its US debut in the desert, along with a number of other global handsets (F480, F400 and G810). The sad part here is that none of the mobiles are actually slated to go on sale here in America -- yeah, it's a bit depressing to know they're sitting within our borders as we speak and won't be available for purchase, but there's always next year (right?).
D2 Technologies' mCUE solution gets powered by Android
Lookee here, yet another supporter of Google's Android. Taking the wraps off of its mCUE converged communications client here at CTIA 2008, D2 Technologies is touting said software -- when coupled with Google's Android SDK -- as a "complete turnkey solution for developing multi-mode mobile communication devices based on Android." According to the company's vice president of marketing and sales Doug Makishima, the goal with mCUE is to "make it as fast, easy and affordable as possible for OEMs to deliver converged, unified communications devices to meet the demand [for Android]." Hey world, there's still time left to hop on this (increasingly attractive) bandwagon, believe it or not.
Nokia's N810 Internet Tablet WiMAX Edition gets official
Right on cue, Nokia's WiMAX-enabled N810 Internet Tablet has surfaced at CTIA 2008, and yep, this critter is destined to go on sale here in the US of A this summer. Beyond that, you'll notice the familiar 4.13-inch touchscreen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard and even a built-in webcam for video calls, Mozilla-powered browser, integrated GPS / media player, 2GB of internal memory and a microSD expansion slot. Heck, Nokia even touts this thing's ability to "access the Internet over WiFi or via conventional cellular data networks by pairing to a compatible mobile phone via Bluetooth technology." Also announced today is the freshly updated OS2008, which includes an enhanced e-mail client, support for Chinese character rendering in the browser and RSS feeds and "Seamless Software Update functionality" to boot. Needless to say, said OS will come standard on the currently unpriced Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition -- which is scheduled to land wherever WiMAX connectivity is available -- but existing N810 / N800 owners will also get the OS upgrade free of charge in Q2. %Gallery-19586%
Qualcomm announces improvement in CDMA network capacity
Qualcomm's latest release has left us smothered in technobabble, but frankly, it's a breath of fresh air to not see any sort of vitriol spewed in Nokia's direction. Announced today, the aforesaid outfit has developed a method for improving capacity of CDMA2000 networks; more specifically, its technology will enable "operators to support more than double today's capacity of 35 simultaneous calls in 1.25MHz of spectrum while delivering the same level of voice quality." Unfortunately, the improvements are slated to be featured in Qualcomm's forthcoming Cell Site Modem CSM8xxx-series chipsets, which aren't supposed to go commercial before 2010. Oh future, you seem so far away.
HTC's Touch Dual makes US debut at CTIA
Brace yourself, US-based Touch Dual lovers -- the handset that your Japanese / European friends have been taunting you with for months is finally making the trip stateside. Slated to launch "later this quarter" (at Best Buy initially, of all places), the US Touch Dual will come rocking Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, TouchFLO, Office Mobile, Live HTC Home, a 2-megapixel camera, quad-band GSM support and HSDPA connectivity. Sadly, HTC didn't give us the pleasure of knowing a price, but we'll be keeping an ear to the ground for more exact details surrounding the release.
Sprint hits back with the Samsung Instinct
See that? That's the Samsung Instinct, due to hit Sprint in June. Better get used to it, because Sprint's about to start hyping it with the biggest marketing push in its history -- it's going to drop some $100M on this lil' guy. Of course, there's no escaping the comparison to a certain other touchscreen candybar phone, and Sprint's not backing down from a fight -- it's just being willfully obtuse, saying that while the Instinct wasn't developed in response to the iPhone, the company recognized that it needed "a product from a usability standpoint that can compete." Um, sure. Samsung and Sprint worked together to simplify the UI, which features a reconfigurable home screen, music, and TV features, but we're going to hold off judgment until we get a look at the browser in person a little later. One more shot after the break.[Thanks, Billytickets]%Gallery-19615%
Motorola's Smart Rider in-vehicle phone takes handsfree to the next level
Oh sure, we've seen handsets designed to spend more time riding shotgun than hyperventilating in your front pocket, but Motorola's Smart Rider may actually break out in hives if removed from the comfort of your car's cabin. All joshing aside, this unique "in-vehicle phone" plays on GSM bands and features built-in GPS navigation services, voice activation, Bluetooth and a microphone / speakerphone. You'll also get a 2.8-inch display, turn-by-turn guidance, real-time traffic information and automatic re-routing. Regrettably, Moto's all hush-hush on pricing, but it'll be available for those that want this June.
Kyocera shows off new CDMA, GSM handsets at CTIA
ZTE isn't the only handset maker showing off AWS-friendly mobiles at CTIA, as Kyocera is making a similar splash with three new CDMA devices. Kicking things off is the Neo E1100, which boasts a 2.2-inch QVGA display, Bluetooth 2.0, 1.3-megapixel camera and a hidden OLED for Caller ID. Moving on, we've got the low-end Mako S400 clamshell, which touts a 1.8-inch screen, VGA camera, BT and a "large, graduated keypad." Rounding out the CDMA line is the Adreno S2400, which rocks a clamshell design, 1.8-inch LCD and a few other forgettable inclusions. Over on the GSM side, we're lookin' at the multimedia-lovin' E4600 slider, E3500 clamshell, E2500 candybar and the el cheapo S1600. Be sure and scrutinize those read links for more details on the whole lot, but don't expect to find any pricing info just yet.Read - Kyocera Wireless Reveals Stylish CDMA Handsets at CTIA Wireless 2008Read - Kyocera Wireless Makes Strategic Jump Into GSM Handset Market
