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Some new Nokia flip gets FCC approval for AT&T
So close, guys, but no cigar! Last time Nokia ran an unannounced model for AT&T through the FCC -- the yet-to-be-released 6750 Mural -- it remembered to blot out the carrier's silkscreened logos but not the giveaway CV logo on the keypad. This time, it remembered to blot out both the keypad and the logos in the external photo documentation, but not in the SAR setup files (pictured above). Of course, with 3G on the 850 and 1900MHz bands, we pretty much could've gathered that AT&T was a likely target with or without the visual confirmation -- but still, amateur mistake. Beyond the carrier, we don't know much about the phone -- but it's definitely not S60-based, it's got some form of four-digit number assigned to it (it's identified as "XXXX" in the manual), and a dedicated Telenav button guarantees that GPS will factor prominently into its selling points.[Via Phone Scoop]
Original Motorola RAZR refuses to die, spawns new LuK Hot Pink version in Korea
There aren't many products in the world that have been produce for so long that they bridged right from the "modern" to "ho-hum" to "retro chic" categories without ever pausing production (actually, the hula hoop is the only one that comes immediately to mind). A year ago, it was cool to hate on the debilitating age Motorola's original RAZR V3 and the fact that it was still being sold in countless shops and by countless carriers around the world; now, though, it's gone on so long that we've got to wonder whether there's some magical, hidden force at play here that will keep this phone on shelves and in hearts until the very end of time. Evidence of that certainly exists in the freshly-launched LuK Hot Pink edition, an apparent follow-on to the LuK launched back in February of this year with 7.2Mbps HSDPA, video call capability, Bluetooth, and that's about it. At a price under 500,000 won (about $400) on carrier SKT, it doesn't seem like a particularly good deal -- but then again, if you look at it as a perfect replica of a vintage collectible device, maybe it's a downright steal.
VeryKool i300 and i410 come to the Americas
If you're looking for a VeryKool in your local Helio shop... well, we've got some really bad news, but we don't have the heart to break it to you at the moment. Instead, just know that you won't see these particular models -- the new i300 and i410 (pictured) -- in any US shops that we're aware of. Instead, distributor InfoSonics is looking to rock Central and South America with these bad boys, offering flip form factors, microSD slots, and music players. The i410 adds nifty features like a camera that turns into a webcam when you cable it up to your PC, and seeing how these are both 2G-only units, we bet you'll be able to find 'em for peanuts in the countries that are lucky enough to get stock. They're now shipping, so they should be showing up somewhere soon.
Alcatel's Miss Sixty flip is so wrong, yet so right
Actually, on second thought, there might not be anything right about Alcatel's unusual entry to the FCC, a phone that's apparently supposed to match up with the fashion collection of the same name. That's all well and good, but we're struggling to associate the word "fashion" with a red plastic flip trimmed with faux antique brass highlights -- especially when said phone is nothing more than a rebadge of the mega low-end OT-660a. If GPRS and weird, out-of-place gold trim is your cup of tea... well, your phone has arrived, but otherwise, we plan on steering well clear of whatever retailer plans on offering this little gem.
NTT DoCoMo succumbs to the solar trend, announces Sharp's SH-08A
For Sharp's domestic carrier partners, solar power is all the rage right now, and now NTT DoCoMo is hopping up on the exceptionally eco-friendly bandwagon with the SH-08A. Bearing the same SOLAR HYBRID badging as its sister device on SoftBank, the 936SH, the SH-08A flip features IPX5 / IPX7 compliance for splashes and submersion up to a meter, an 8 megapixel camera, 7.2Mbps HSDPA, and -- of course -- a wide VGA display. You'll get one minute of talk time for every 10 minutes of time spent baking in the sun, which certainly isn't bad when you're in a pinch and there's not a wall outlet for miles. The SH-08A will go on display at Wireless Japan this month with sales following on in September.
Nokia 7020 garners FCC approval
Here's one we know you've been waiting for with bated breath: the lowly Nokia 7020 clamshell has earned its FCC wings on its way to a Q4 release. The phone was always designed as a quadband EDGE device, so it's not clear whether the FCC filing is indicative of an intention on Nokia's part to actually offer the phone in the States -- there isn't any carrier branding and there aren't any carrier-customized buttons on the keypad, so this might just be a formality. Then again, it could make a respectable backup phone or a cheapo to take overseas if they do decide to offer it direct or through the flagship stores -- who doesn't like concealed displays and 2 megapixel cameras, after all?
Sony Ericsson "Bao" bows in lame spy shot form
If you allows us to transport you back for a moment -- way back -- to the world of QVGA cameras and parachute pants, you'll be in the right mindset for these awfully low-res shots of an alleged Sony Ericsson "Bao" flip that seriously turns the geometry dial up to 11. Little is known about the phone -- it could be a long-canceled project, for all we know -- but it definitely diverges significantly from the usual SE industrial design cues. Whether that divergence is for the better for worse is a matter of personal taste -- but in terms of market success, maybe these guys should hit up Nokia for some pointers.[Via PhoneArena and mobile-review]
TracFone's $45 Straight Talk unlimited plan punishes you with brutal hardware
They say "there's no such thing as a free lunch." They also say "there's no such thing as an unlimited contract-free $45 monthly unlimited plan that offers awesome phones," so we're not terribly surprised to see that TracFone's new blowout offering -- dubbed Straight Talk -- is rife with ancient Motorolas (with a RAZR V3a thrown in for good measure, of course) and an LG flip that we're pretty sure we saw McClane use in the first Die Hard. Then again, the plan becomes the one of the cheapest for unlimited voice and text anywhere -- and if you're less heavy on the minutes you can even step down to 1,000 minutes and 1,000 texts for $30 -- so we'll let it slide. But seriously, TracFone, we expect a V9 by 2012.[Via Phone Scoop]
Samsung announces four phones spanning the low to midrange
We've already seen a couple of these semi-officially, but it seems that Samsung has now fully, honestly announced these four fresh models for all of the world to ogle. There's actually not a lot to see here -- they're so well-buried in Samsung's literature that we were only able to find the S6700 ourselves -- but they present interesting options for anyone looking to get in on mobile music at a ridiculously low price point. Starting at the bottom, the M2310 and M2510 together formulate a powerful one-two flip / slider punch (okay, that's saying a bit much) with dedicated music controls and support for up to 8GB of microSD storage; the M2310 has a VGA cam while the M2510 steps it up to 1.3 megapixels. Moving upwards, the C5510 adds in a dual-band 3G radio, 16GB expandability, and a 2 megapixel fixed-focus camera, while the S6700 slider (pictured) tops out the range with HSDPA, a 3 megapixel camera with autofocus and dual-LED flash, GPS, and 120MB of storage on board. Still no word on when or where these are launching, but it seems like the S6700 might be available in some regions if you look hard enough.[Via GSMArena]
Pantech Escapade getting worldly on Verizon?
Global roaming on Verizon has typically been revered as a premium feature -- which more or less makes sense, considering that the well-to-do are more likely to be globetrotting and the additional radio hardware jacks component costs -- but it always pays dividends to keep a few lower-cost options in any lineup, and that might just be where the Pantech Escapade comes into play. The Korean flip is rumored to be gearing up for a launch on Verizon -- and as the SIM slot suggests, you'd be able to take this one overseas with you on the occasional business jaunt or vacay. It's said to have a 2 megapixel camera and a QVGA display, though a microSD slot may strangely be missing; it's become such a common feature at this point (even on the lowest-end devices) that we'd be shocked to see it launch like that, but who knows? Maybe you don't need music and picture storage where you're going.
BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 now available through Verizon
Seemingly as though it wasn't just totally pulling the claim of June 19 availability out of thin air back at the announcement, Verizon has gone ahead and started offering the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 online today. It's no Tour by any stretch, but the consumer-friendly phone comes in at a palatable $79.99 after discounts on contract and offers a 2 megapixel camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, EV-DO Rev. 0, and the 20-key layout made famous by the original Pearl -- if you're into that sort of thing. And hey, it looks pretty good in silver, doesn't it?[Via Boy Genius Report]
Samsung Axle launches on US Cellular
We can say with confidence after perusing the Axle's specifications that the most exciting thing about this phone is the unusual name. The new flip from Samsung is launching today on US Cellular for $50 after rebate on contract ($40 for existing customers), offering a VGA camera, Bluetooth, speakerphone, and not bloody much else. As far as we can tell from the specs and pricing in the remainder of US Cellular's lineup, that's about $50 too much -- but then again, we'll admit, the name alone might be worth the cost of admission.
Nokia's 3710 fold does 3.2 megapixels on the cheap
A little tip to Nokia: don't bother announcing stuff like this at the exact same time as monsters like the E72, because we assure you that no one's going to care. That's a shame, too, because the 3710 fold is a surprisingly well-equipped phone for the €140 Nokia will be asking for it (about $193) unlocked when it launches in the fourth quarter of the year -- on top of the standard Series 40, AGPS, stereo Bluetooth, FM radio, and concealed external display, you've also got a full 3.2 megapixels of photographic power and 3G. No carrier partners have been announced, but couldn't you totally picture T-Mobile USA wanting in on this in an AWS flavor?
Motorola W766 "Harmony" for Verizon gets Bluetooth SIG certification
In terms of leaking juicy product info, we're accustomed to the Bluetooth SIG being one of the least helpful certification bodies around town, so imagine our surprise to see those guys outing the upcoming Motorola W766 (codenamed "Harmony," apparently) with some photography. This clamshell certainly isn't anything special, but we've heard from other sources that it'll likely replace the W755 -- which basically looked old the moment it was launched -- at some point in the next few months. Oh, and yes, no worries -- A2DP's in the cards.[Via mobile-review]
Cricket picks up Samsung's MyShot II
We didn't know the lowly MyShot had developed enough brand cachet to warrant a sequel, but sure enough, the MyShot II has gotten very, very real for value carrier Cricket. Like the model before it, the MyShot II packs a 1.3 megapixel camera and tops out with 1x data; in fact, the only real improvement here seems to be the styling, which arguably looks a little more modern. It supports AWS CDMA -- as all Cricket phones do these days -- and can be yours (hence the "My" in "MyShot") contract-free for $139.99 after rebate.[Via Phone Scoop]
Samsung Mantra comes to Virgin Mobile
When you first click over to the Mantra's product page, your immediate thought is "why the hell would I pay $59.99 for this?" But then, it all comes back to you -- the fact that Virgin has no contracts, for example -- and you realize that it makes perfect sense that the MVNO would be charging a hair under $60 to get Bluetooth, a pair of color displays, and a VGA camera. In an age where heavy subsidies have become the norm, we bet it can be a tough sell for anyone coming from the world of postpaid, but then again, there's definitely something to be said for having the freedom to walk away after a couple months if you like. The Mantra's available now, and if you buy, don't bother bringing your signin' pen -- you won't need it.
Casio EXILIM now available on Verizon, water resistance no extra charge
Long rumored as the C721, Casio's pivoting EXILIM clamshell is now available to all comers on Verizon. Though the camera goes way up to 5.1 megapixels with autofocus, image stabilization, and a 3x optical zoom, the phone doesn't stray too far from its G'zOne roots -- it's mil-spec 810F compliant for dust, shock, temperature, and water resistance. It also features expandability up to 8GB (something you'll likely need if you're taking advantage of that cam) and compatibility with Verizon's VZ Navigator service. If you really need to be taking pictures in the shower, the pleasure's going to cost you: expect to pay $279.99 on contract after rebate.
Boost Mobile repaints Motorola Stature i9 in red
Boost Mobile's i9 stands head and shoulders above the rest of the carrier's line as its clear-cut hero device, but there's a problem -- the launch color, kind of a dark bronze, was a little bland. That's not cool for an iDEN flip this far up into the rare air, is it? Of course not, so we're glad to see that they've partnered up with Moto to bring out the so-called Stature in a second (more fitting) color, red. It's available now for exactly the same price as the original that's been available since February, $299.99.
Verizon's Casio Exilim C721 fully revealed in FCC docs
Yo, Verizon, we know your secret. We get it. The Exilim-branded C721 from Casio has been handled, it's taken a shower, and it's even made appearances on the carrier's rebate forms. When we first heard of its existence, the Exilim badge coupled with a 5.1 megapixel camera was a clever trick -- but sensors of this resolution get more common by the day, so the only trick that's going to be left in this pivoting clamshell's book by the time Verizon gets around to launching it is going to be the water resistance. That's all well and good, but we feel like we're just being taunted by the fact that some FCC certification lab has been playing with this thing for ages while Verizon network engineers are too concerned with "quality" and "customer satisfaction" to sign off on a half-baked unit. Chop chop, guys![Via Phone Scoop]
Sony Ericsson's TM717 gives FCC a quick "hello" on way to T-Mobile
Remember that "Elle" we mentioned in the leaked roadmap this morning? Whatever it is, it's destined to replace the somewhat homely TM506 -- which makes this here TM717 a prime candidate (especially considering that "Elle" was the T707's internal codename prior to launch). The handset looks to be little more than a T707 rebrand with AWS 3G thrown in for good measure, which would make it just what the doctor ordered to pick up where the TM506 left off, especially since it'd have a 3.2 megapixel cam versus the older model's 2. If the roadmap's close to correct, we have a few months left to wait for this one -- but it's not the end of the world since the CS8 is the Sony Ericsson that we're really waiting for anyway.
