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Nokia unveils Asha lineup, bringing Series 40 to emerging markets: 200, 201, 300, 303
Nokia has unveiled the Asha lineup, a spate of lower-end devices that run Series 40 and blur the line between featurephone and smartphone. The devices -- named the 200, 201, 300 and 303, are all designed to encourage the "next billion" users to access the web, and seem directed toward emerging markets. The 200 includes an Easy Swap option that lets you throw in multiple SIM cards, and can offer up to 32GB of storage for media playback -- 52 hours of it, in fact. It, along with the 201, have exceptionally loud speakers that work great for parties and those crazy all-nighters, though the latter lacks the multi-SIM support. Both of these phones will be available for €60 ($85); the 200 is going to ship before the end of the year, while the 201 will be ready for your purchase by Q1 2012. The 300 and 303 are the touchscreen handsets of the bunch; the 300 is a candybar with a numeric keypad and offers a 1GHz CPU, 5MP camera and 3G. It'll be priced at €85 ($120) and will be available in Q4 2011. Similarly, the 303 offers the same types of features with a 2.6-inch display and full QWERTY experience, and should be ready before the end of the year for €115 (about $160). All four Asha devices are made of polycarbonate and come with a Nokia Browser, which is powered by the cloud and compresses data by up to 90 percent, saving users from racking up excessive charges. Oh, and did we mention Angry Birds is coming to Series 40? Be sure to check out the vids for each Asha phone -- as well as the press release -- after the break. %Gallery-137548%%Gallery-137529% Sharif Sakr and Dante Cesa contributed to this post.
Motorola EX225 and EX226 saunter through FCC like nobody's watching
Like we said, the Status shouldn't have much to worry about, but Motorola's recently outed Facebook feature phone (along with its less socially aware twin) just passed through the FCC. The obligatory tests reveal support for AT&T's 3G bands, although curiously enough, only the EX225 handles both spectra; the EX226 will connect to Ma Bell's 850MHz band just fine, but not its 1900MHz counterpart. The shame doesn't end there, either, as the Facebook version supports 802.11n, whereas its sibling does not. Who knew Moto would play such a blatant form of favoritism with its own children? At least phones don't have feelings -- we think.
Nokia developing 'Meltemi' OS for feature phones?
Although Nokia still hopes Windows Phone will round out a "three-horse race" with iOS and Android, it's said to be cooking up an entirely new operating system aimed at lower-end handsets. According to the Wall Street Journal, the OS (codenamed "Meltemi") is meant to cement Nokia's top dog status in emerging markets, where feature phones remain king. Makes sense: low-end phones accounted for 47 percent of the company's device-and-services earnings in the second quarter. We're not sure if the adage "when one door closes, another one opens" exactly applies here, but either way, it looks like we've hardly seen the end of software updates out of Suomi.
Nokia passes off Symbian and 2,300 employees to Accenture
After placing all bets on Windows Phone, Stephen Elop announced that Nokia would slowly phase out its OG operating system, Symbian. Today, it's officially passed the torch, handing over all Symbian-related duties to Accenture, a consulting and outsourcing firm. 2,300 former Nokia employees will also be repurposed, getting a new name on their paycheck as they tend to the ill-fated OS. The Finnish mainstay says the arrangement will last until at least 2016, and plans to continually roll out updates during this time. Not everyone is hanging on another five years though, as it seems that at least 500 employees have jumped ship or found new gigs within the company since the original announcement predicting 2,800 reassignments. Head past the break to find the full (and very terse) press release.
Verizon intros $50 unlimited plan, takes a swing at pre-paid operators
In a direct shot at its lesser competitors, Verizon Wireless announced today the launch of a new $50 unlimited plan for pre-paid customers. Available starting this Thursday, the unlimited talk, text and web option'll rollout to all of the operator's retail locations, in addition to Walmart, Best Buy and Target. Users who opt for the plan won't get their pick of high-end smartphones, and will, instead, have to choose from a selection of four feature phones from LG, Samsung and Pantech. The move could seriously undercut growth for Sprint -- which operates Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile -- as well as smaller operators, like MetroPCS, that count pre-paid users as the majority of their customer base. It's not really an even fight, but with fellow industry titan AT&T already offering a similar non-contracted service, all's fair in this messy wireless war.
Smartphones out-ship feature phones in Europe, Samsung leads the way
It was probably gonna happen sooner or later, but a new report from IDC confirms it: smartphones are now out-shipping feature phones in western Europe. According to the company's statistics, only 20.4 million feature handsets were shipped to the Old World during the second quarter of this year, representing a 29 percent decrease from Q2 2010. Quarterly shipments of smartphones, on the other hand, increased by 49 percent to 21.8 million units, marking the first time that they've surpassed basic phone orders. Smartphones also comprised 52 percent of all mobile shipments, which shrunk by three percent, collectively -- something IDC's Francisco Jeronimo attributes, in part, to Europe's brutal economic climate and Nokia's steep decline (see chart). On the OS front, Android once again came out on top within the region, thanks to a whopping 352 percent year-to-year increase in shipments, while Samsung controlled the manufacturing side, with 33 percent of the European market. You can find more IDC math in the full PR, after the break. [Thanks, Pauly]
Is Motorola joining the Facebook phone bandwagon with its EX225?
A funny thing just happened over at the Bluetooth SIG's website: the group may have just outed Motorola's first Facebook phone. As Unwired View rightfully points out, the EX225 is likely a feature phone that's based on BREW, as Android's navigation buttons are nowhere to be found. The handset offers two variants, one that supports dual-SIMs and another that accommodates only one. Further, a nearly identical version, the EX226, is displayed in a separate listing that lacks the notorious "F" button. Both models share a common 2.4-inch TFT-LCD display, a 3 megapixel camera and five row QWERTY keyboard -- along with a sizable protrusion at the bottom rear of the device. That's all we have for the moment, but it seems that the Status shouldn't be too concerned about this Moto.
Nielsen confirms Android on top, buyers split on next smartphone
In a recent report from Nielsen, Google snagged 40 percent of the smartphone market, while Apple captured approximately 28 percent -- up just barely .01 percentage point from last year. This report coincides with findings filed earlier this week by ComScore, citing Google with 41.8 percent market share and Apple with 27 percent, up one whole percentage point from last year. Diving a bit deeper, Nielsen found that around 33 percent of people planning to buy a smartphone in the next year want an iPhone, while another 33 percent would prefer an Android. The tie between those who want an Android v. an iOS phone fluctuated when Nielsen asked the "early adopters" within the group what kind of phone they are hoping to cop. 40 percent of "innovators" said they would like a phone on Google's OS, while 32 percent want a bite of the Apple -- leaving a mere 28 percent of self-proclaimed tech junkies desiring something else, like a BlackBerry or Windows Phone. Perhaps these figures are an indication that Google will remain on top for 2012, or will there be an upset? Only time will tell.
Samsung's ChatON messaging service brings free texting to Android, iOS and BlackBerry (video)
It looks like Samsung is about to dip its toes in the mobile messaging market, with a new service called ChatON. Slated to debut at this week's IFA, the app brings texting, group chat and image / video sharing to not only Samsung's Bada OS, but to iOS, Android and BlackBerry platforms, as well. According to the Korean manufacturer, the new client will be available in two versions: a basic one for feature phones and another, more complex variation that allows smartphone users to comment on other profiles, send animated messages and visualize their most frequently contacted friends, as displayed above. The company is also planning to release a web-based version that would bring similar functionality to PCs. ChatON is slated to go live next month (in more than 120 countries and 62 languages), but you can find more information in the demo video and translated PR, after the break.
Gartner: Apple's global mobile phone share almost doubled in Q2 2011
Gartner's numbers were released for the second quarter in 2011 and Apple continues to show strong growth. The smartphone manufacturer is number four globally in the mobile phone market trailing Nokia, Samsung and LG. Its market share almost doubled from last year, climbing from 2.4% in 2010 to 4.6% in 2011. These figures are impressive for a company that makes a single smartphone and is competing against companies that produce a variety of smartphones and feature phones. Apple is also the #3 platform with almost 20 million iPhones flying off the production line. It now has 18.2% market share, up from 14.1% in 2010. Much of this growth is due to Apple's partnership with 42 new carriers and its expansion into 15 new countries during Q2 2011. According to Gartner, Apple still trails Symbian which has 22.1% market share, a significant drop from its 40.9% in the same quarter of 2010. Apple also trails Android which now has a 43.4% market share, up from 17.2% in 2010.
T-Mobile preps Samsung Gravity TXT for August 24th launch
While the smartphone is everybody's darling, T-Mobile and Samsung are hoping the Samsung Gravity TXT might garner some love, too. This landscape QWERTY slide features a 2.4-inch display, 2 megapixel camera, and Social Buzz -- via a dedicated key -- which integrates all your social sites into one app. The pic above seems to have the new feature phone shipping August 24th at $139.99 off-contract or $39.99 if two-year contractual obligations are more your thing. The Gravity TXT obviously isn't going to get the power users all in a tizzy, but we'd gamble that the younger set -- who're typically hell-bent on callousing their fingers while messaging -- just might bite.
Peek calls own internet-only devices 'collector's items,' heads to India with the cloud
Nokia? Samsung? LG? Those jokers are all 'old world' has-beens. The future -- according to Peek's latest email campaign -- is Indian featurephones. Well, at least MicroMax's latest, the Q80 EZPAD. Peek says its 'Genius Cloud' gifts the Q80 with smartphone-like features via cloud-based software. The firm's site claims that the service will run on any hardware, from not-phone to smartphone, providing push mail, instant messaging, video chat, social networking, software GPS, web browsing, and other smartphone features. Writing on Business Insider, Peekster-in-Cheif Amol Sarva asserts that low-end devices have pushed Nokia out of the asian market, and suggests that with the help of the Genius Cloud, featurephones can do the same to RIM. If that doesn't work out, at least the firm still has a corner on the dedicated tweeting handheld market.
Sony Ericsson introduces Mix Walkman and txt pro feature phones, available in Q3
Congratulations -- you spent the last two weeks earning points on the latest 'ville, when you could've used your time on Facebook to win phones instead. That's what Sony Ericsson was offering, anyways, giving fans the chance to review and win one of two mystery devices. Now that these reviews are live, the manufacturer is ready to lift the curtain and show off the WiFi-enabled Mix Walkman and txt pro feature phones. The former, as you could probably derive from the name, is a music-centric handset that doubles as a karaoke player; the latter, in contrast, is focused on messaging, implementing a full slide-out QWERTY and 3-inch touchscreen display with 400 x 240 resolution. Let's be honest here -- you can't really hate a phone that plays karaoke, right? Unfortunately, these are feature phones only; no trace of Android can be found on either phone, but rather use an interface "inspired" from the Xperia Mini series. Aside from being available in select markets in Q3, we have no word on pricing or individual carrier availability. In the meantime, you have at least a few months to get prepared for it by belting out Dancing Queen in the car several times a day -- as if that's any departure from your usual routine. Full press release after the break.
Motorola EX119 receives FCC approval, determined to captivate AT&T with its dual-SIM charm
Last year, after Motorola brought the EX128 before the FCC, it was unable to tempt AT&T with its dual-SIM feature-phone -- which ultimately found a home in India. A similar fate befell the EX115, another dual-SIM offering that picked up its toys and went to Brazil. Now, Moto is once again pushing the EX lineup in Ma Bell's direction, where the EX118 and EX119 recently received FCC approval. Interestingly, the only difference between the two handsets is the SIM -- the 118 has one, and the 119 has two -- which sadly gives AT&T an opportunity to grab the device while passing on its most desirable feature. Considering Motorola's prior luck in convincing the carrier, those really intent on handling AT&T and T-Mobile in one phone are better off scouring eBay... or waiting for the merger to complete.
Sony Ericsson Facebook competition outs two upcoming feature phones
We know it's hard to imagine, but an interesting competition is taking place in Facebook that doesn't involve Cityville. Sony Ericsson has unveiled two upcoming feature phones for the first time by announcing a contest on the social network. Twelve finalists will get the chance to review one of the phones, and the winner will receive ten of that model to dole out to friends and family. The contest forces you to guess the names of the new devices, but speculation is pointing to txt pro and Mix Walkman. We know one is Walkman-branded and the other is a smaller slider phone geared toward messaging; they appear to be the CK15i and ST18a we saw leaked a few days ago, although both are eerily similar to the Xperia Mini and Mini Pro. Since these handsets are being considered "feature phones", we're unsure if they'll actually be shipped with Gingerbread or a watered-down variant. We'll find out all the details no later than June 7th when the selected videos go live. If you're hoping to be the brains behind one of them, submit your entry by visiting the source below before May 26th. [Thanks, Jacky]
Alcatel Onetouch 905A gets measured by the FCC, receives a stamp of approval for AT&T
When we played with Alcatel's entry-level Android offerings at this year's MWC, it was assumed the handsets would begin infiltrating the domestic paygo market -- of course, we hadn't expected a previously unseen feature phone to be the first arrival. The Onetouch 905A recently graced the FCC, and it's now clear for take-off on AT&T, bringing a 2.8-inch resistive touchscreen at 320 x 240 pixels, a 2 megapixel camera and FM radio to Ma Bell's bottom shelf. Get a good look, because if you accidentally destroy your iPhone and are needing a quick fix, the Onetouch 905A has "punishment phone" written all over it.
More Verizon Unleashed phones popping up, pricing confirmed
This morning's 'Unleashed' tipster has let loose a few more branded phone snapshots from his local Best Buy, further confirming Verizon's new contract free $50 unlimited talk, text, and mobile web plan. These new shots show off the same price structure we saw leaked earlier this month, as well as two more handsets: an LG Accolade, and a Pantech Caper -- both priced at $79.99. This seems a bit steep for the Accolade, a run of the mill flip phone, as this morning's tip priced the more capable LG Cosmos featurephone at a mere $39.99. Take your grain of salt, and check out the gallery below. [Thanks, Anonymous] %Gallery-122115%
First Verizon Unleashed phone gets pictured, priced at Best Buy
When a screenshot of Verizon's new 'Unleashed' pricing plan surfaced, we held our breath to see if this contract-free $50 unlimited talk and text plan was in fact too good to be true. As it turns out, more evidence has been unearthed that lends credence to the rumor. A tipster snapped the above photo of the LG Cosmos donning Unleashed attire at a local Best Buy, and went out of their way to note that the phone was priced at $39.99. We like what we're seeing here; for a full messaging phone without commitment, this is definitely an aggressive price. No additional pricing details were leaked, but we're sure savvy international texters will notice that the packaging specifically promises the option of unlimited messaging to Mexico and Canada. If the 'Unleashed' phones are already making their way into Best Buy, this could very well mean an impending launch is coming sooner than we expected. We'll continue keeping you up-to-date as we hear more. [Thanks, Anonymous]
Samsung's Wave 578 outted with NFC love, representing the Bada gang
Look, we all know Samsung's Bada platform isn't exactly everyone's first choice when picking a new phone, but if you're eyeing up an NFC-compatible handset within a reasonable budget later this year, then this Wave 578 could be a potential candidate. Packed within the metallic body is a dinky 3.2-inch 432 x 240 LCD screen with multitouch, compensated by a 3.2 megapixel rear camera, a VGA front camera, Bluetooth 3.0, and 802.11 b/g/n WiFi. Alas, there's no HD video support for both playback and recording, but you can at least take this as an indication for a wallet-friendly price point. Expect to see this featurephone on the shelves across Europe, South East Asia, and Middle East starting in May. Press release after the break.
Verizon feature phone users could boost iPhone activations by 19 million
Analyst William Power of R.W. Baird & Co. is making a bold prediction on Verizon iPhone sales. While other analysts and Verizon itself is predicting a conservative 11 million units sold in the upcoming year, Power is projecting a whopping 19 million in sales for the Apple-branded smartphone from feature phone users alone. This prediction is based on a survey of 1,000 people that was conducted to gauge the interest in the Verizon iPhone. Of feature phone users at Verizon, 11 percent said they would definitely buy the Verizon iPhone, while 18 percent said they would probably buy the Apple smartphone. Combined, this 30 percent could potentially contribute 19 million new iPhone activations for the wireless carrier. The survey also revealed that 25 percent of smartphone owners on Verizon will definitely or probably purchase the iPhone when it becomes available in February. This would add another five million activations and would bring the final tally to a whopping 24 million in sales. Powers does not take into account contract end dates, and not all of these 19 million feature phone subscribers will be eligible for upgrade in 2011. Even if you consider the worst case scenario of 2-year contracts and extend this 24 million over 2 years, these numbers are still impressive, especially for Apple. Apple will sell an additional 24 million iPhones, and Verizon will lock 24 million of its subscribers into new contracts. This 24 million estimate does not include customers from other carriers like AT&T and Sprint who may jump ship to snag an iPhone on the nation's most reliable network.
