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T-Mobile Tap and Nokia 3711 are carrier's new low-end maestros
T-Mobile is rolling in with a couple new 3G-enabled devices for the holidays that manage to keep costs under control -- at least they should, though prices haven't yet been announced. First up, the Tap -- as its name suggests -- is a touchscreen phone that looks a bit like a dumbed-down HTC Touch of old; it's got a 2 megapixel cam with video capture, GPS, stereo Bluetooth, and availability in "berry" and midnight blue. Next, the 3711 fold from Nokia has a concealed (read: fashion-friendly) external display, GPS with Nokia Maps built-in, 2 megapixel camera, and a "sable" finish. This one should be on shelves "in the coming weeks," but the Tap's merely "anticipated" for availability later this year, so we'll see how that plays out.
Bell nabs iPhone deal in Canada, ends Rogers' reign of terror
It's official, Bell and Apple have agreed to sell the iPhone 3G and 3GS in Canada starting November. The move ends the Rogers exclusive in while christening Bell's new 3G network with Apple's darling. Hmm, first O2 lost it exclusivity then Rogers, we're sensing a trend. [Thanks, Sean]
Samsung Behold II marries Android, TouchWiz for T-Mobile
The Behold is all grow'd up with its second rendition, moving up in the world from a mere featurephone to an authentic Android-powered contender. T-Mobile's latest Android set is a full-touch model backed by a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, flash, and video recording, a 3.2-inch AMOLED display, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, and microSD expansion up to 16GB. Like virtually all Samsung smartphones (and many of its featurephones), the Behold II features an adaptation of the company's TouchWiz UI and has a 3D "cube menu" for rotating among common features like web browsing and YouTube access. Neither pricing nor availability are being announced right now, but we're being promised it'll be around "in time for the holidays."
HTC Pure and Tilt 2 bring Windows Mobile 6.5 to AT&T
Long-rumored versions of HTC's ubiquitous Touch Diamond2 and Touch Pro2 have finally been made official for AT&T -- but perhaps more notably, they mark AT&T's very first forays into the WinMo 6.5 arena as Microsoft officially unleashes the latest version of its mobile platform on the world this week. The Pure (pictured left) is a particularly heavy rework of the Diamond2's industrial design, shedding the square metal-adorned shell for a glossy black plastic one while carrying over the 3.2-inch WVGA display and 5 megapixel autofocus camera. Meanwhile, the Tilt 2 resurrects the Tilt name -- dormant since AT&T's version of the TyTN II made way for the Fuze last year -- bringing a 3.6-inch WVGA display, full QWERTY keyboard with tilt-up display (hence the name), full duplex speakerphone, and a 3.2 megapixel cam. The Pure will be the first on shelves, available already (ahead of Microsoft's official release on Tuesday, interestingly) for $149.99 on contract after a $50 rebate; the Tilt2 comes "in the following weeks" for $299.99 after $50 rebate.
AT&T touts Opera-powered full web browsing with new phones from Samsung and Pantech
AT&T wants you to know that you don't need a smartphone just to get a rich, full web experience from your handset -- theoretically, anyway -- with the introduction of four new models from longtime partners Samsung and Pantech alongside a new featurephone browser. First up from Samsung comes the Flight (pictured left), billed as a "next-generation messaging device" on account of its full QWERTY portrait slide paired with a full touchscreen up top; it'll be available next month for $99.99 on contract after rebate -- that is, if you didn't buy it on Craigslist already. That silvery slate in the middle that's more likely to be catching your eye is the Mythic, rocking TouchWiz on a 3.3-inch display along with AT&T Mobile TV, making it a fitting successor to the Eternity and big brother to the Solstice; like the Flight, it swings onto retail next month, but you'll be paying a stiffer $199.99 on contract after $50 rebate. Turning our attention to the Pantech side of the table, we've got the Reveal (pictured right) that lets you have it both ways with a numeric keypad up top twined with a QWERTY slider underneath. It's 3G-capable, AT&T Navigator-equipped, and available for your enjoyment on October 18 in red and blue. Finally, the Impact (not pictured) has an OLED touchscreen up front, but when the texting gets hot and heavy, the phone opens up to reveal a second display along with a QWERTY keyboard. It'll be available in pink and blue, though neither pricing nor availability are being announced just yet. Gluing everything together is AT&T's new mobile browser, described as "a rich hybrid experience that gives you a HTML experience similar to your PC browser at home" that "works really well on a feature phone." Additionally, users visiting att.net from their PCs will be able to send bookmarks to their phones' mobile portals -- kind of a neat trick, especially when you're trying to minimize the number of URLs you have to mash out on an on-screen keyboard. Of course, featurephone browsers have a reputation for generally sucking, so considering that AT&T bills its new line of devices as "full web browsing phones," it'll be interesting to see how close they actually come to delivering on the claim; it's said the phones use "advanced data compression from Opera Software," which we're thinking is very likely some variation of Opera Turbo -- not a bad start.
Rogers' Rocket Hub disguises 3G data and voice as mild-mannered home modem
Good news for Canadians who can't seem to get a decent internet plan for home. Rogers has unveiled a 3G station for residential use dubbed the Rocket Hub, and with it a number of jet propulsion-related puns that we'll be taking painstaking measures to avoid. It boasts 7.2Mbps HSPA, WiFi and ethernet out, and voice calls over UMTS. Makes sense since it's riding an Ericsson W3x core. Upfront cost of hardware hasn't been disclosed yet, but plans start at $35 Canadian. Launch date (okay, we couldn't resist) is sometime later this month.
Sonim's XP2 strong-arms its way through the FCC
No one's going to mistake this for a fashion phone, but we're thinking that's just fine with Sonim, the company well-known for its ultra-rugged XP3 that's just passed a new XP2 model through the FCC's barrage of testing. Dubbed "Spirit," the XP2 appears to be Sonim's first phone with 3G on board -- though the tiny display will probably make it useful more for tethering than anything else -- and that insane-looking octagonal shell has us believing that they're going to be able to make some truly wild claims about its survivability. UMTS while spot-welding the phone in 30 feet of water? Probably not, but if any phone could do it, we suspect it'd be this bad boy. No word on pricing, availability, or even an announcement, but we'll keep you updated.
Nokia E72 NAM up for $469 preorder on Amazon
It's not hard to find Nokia users that believe the E71 is the finest S60 device (if not the finest device, period) that the company has ever made, so expectations for the E72 are at a stratospheric high. Impatience for a retail release is also at a stratospheric high, coincidentally, so Americans will be pleased to see that Amazon now has the unlocked North American version of the "zodium black" phone listed for $469 -- without a release date, unfortunately, so it's still a guessing game as to when these will actually be shipping out. All things considered, it's not a bad price for an unbranded phone of the E72's capabilities, but when you figure how easy it's been to find awesome deals on North American Nokias around the interwebs this year, it still might give some potential buyers pause -- just imagine if it were $299? [Thanks, Ani]
HTC Pure starting to show up in AT&T stores, not for sale just yet
We'll withhold judgment until we have a far more intimate encounter with the device, but at a glance, the HTC Pure -- AT&T's branded, customized version of the Touch Diamond2 -- might carry the least-exciting industrial design of any variant launched thus far. Considering the business-oriented clientele, that might not be a big deal for the phone's bottom line -- but when you take a look at the slightly better-equipped Imagio that's about to launch over on Verizon, we would've liked to have seen something with a little more spunk here. At any rate, it seems Pure units are starting to flow into AT&T retail locations, which inevitably leads to some time in front of the bright lights and camera; AT&T was mentioned as one of Microsoft's global launch partners for Windows Mobile 6.5 on October 6, so if we connect the dots, we're guessing this is the phone that's gonna make it all happen. So where's that Touch Pro2, then, eh? [Via wmpoweruser.com]
Samsung Omnia II handled again, huge display delights as usual
Samsung's Omnia II is coming to Spain's Movistar in November, but in the meantime, our esteemed colleagues over at Engadget Spanish have had a chance to spend some quality time with the high-end WinMo 6.5 set. Unlike us, they've found that the TouchWiz 2.0-based interface is smooth as silk, which gives us hope that the firmware has improved significantly since way back in June -- and otherwise, there's not a lot to complain about when you're staring at a dazzling 3.7-inch AMOLED display. They've come away with the conclusion that it's plenty light and comfortable despite clocking in a bit taller and wider than the iPhone, and "light and comfortable" is a pretty good start if 6.5 wants to have a successful (if not brief) run ahead of its flashier successor. Follow the read link for the full gallery!
Nokia 6350 comes to AT&T October 4
Wouldn't it have been amazing if Nokia had managed to drop S60 on a brand-new flip for AT&T and push it out the door for just $29.99 on contract? Yes, well, that's not what's going on here -- but if you're looking for a basic featurephone with a distinctly Finnish accent, the 6350 might be right up your alley. The phone still manages to pack HSDPA, a 2 megapixel camera, and dedicated music controls without breaking the bank -- and thanks to the 3G radio, it'll work with that newfangled 3G Microcell if you find yourself needing it. It'll be available in your choice of red and graphite (Nokia calls them "seasonal shades") starting this Sunday.
HTC Imagio launches on Verizon: WinMo 6.5 and VCAST TV on October 6
Those Imagio rumors have proven to be deliciously correct, with Verizon officially announcing the beastly Windows Mobile 6.5 set for availability on October 6 -- the first day 6.5 devices will officially be available anywhere. HTC's latest CDMA device features a spacious wide VGA display clocking in at 3.6 inches, a 5 megapixel autofocus cam, quadband EDGE plus HSPA 2100 for when you're looking for a little connectivity abroad, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the very latest iteration of TouchFLO 3D featuring social network integration, but the most interesting feature might be its support for MediaFLO-based VCAST TV -- a first for HTC and Windows Mobile. Interest parties need only wait until next Tuesday to latch onto an Imagio online, while retail stores will be taking delivery on the 20th of the month -- either way, you'll be paying $199.99 on contract after rebate.
Gresso's Grand Monaco gets wrapped in leather, credit card debt
Here's the problem with carbon fiber phones: they're not for everyone, especially those who aren't interesting in dropping over two grand on a midrange candybar. Don't sweat it, though, because Gresso's back at it again with a leather-clad version of its Grand Monaco called the Grand Monaco LE -- "LE" apparently stands for "Limited Edition," if the badging on the back of the phone is any indication -- available in your choice of red and black. Otherwise, you've got the same pricey materials found on the basic Grand Monaco like machined titanium and sapphire (plus a few not-so-pricey materials like a 2 megapixel camera) which somehow ultimately collaborate to produce an $1,800 price tag.
T-Mobile's Motorola CLIQ presale countdown page is up and running
In a little over 19 days from now, you'll be able to get your CLIQ... ah wait, no you won't, but at least you'll be able to express your interest in getting a CLIQ, which is a good first step, we suppose. T-Mobile has just thrown up its official CLIQ preorder countdown page, which we're thinking the most die-hard Android types out there are probably going to leave running in the background of their machines for the next three weeks until the moment of truth finally comes. In the meantime, you can register for official updates, which -- sorry, T-Mobile, much love -- probably won't come as quickly as we can provide them. Just sayin'. [Via TmoNews]
Vodafone nabs iPhone in prelude to UK price war
Now that O2 has lost exclusivity, everyone's getting in on the iPhone action in the UK. First it was Orange, now Vodafone has inked a deal said to have been signed only last night as a defensive move to stave subscriber defections. The new agreement sees Vodafone selling the iPhone 3G and 3GS to the UK and Ireland in early 2010, a bit later than the Orange Apple expected before Christmas.Update: Official Vodafone UK statement now live.[Via Randomly Accessed and The Telegraph]
Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 finally ready for AT&T: $300 on October 4?
Let's just be brutally honest here: Garmin-Asus' nuvifone G60 is basically the Duke Nukem of phones. We've been following it since before Garmin and ASUS formed their joint venture, since before we had an inkling of what carriers might pick it up, and before other models running other platforms got thrown under the nuvifone branding umbrella. It's been a heck of a ride -- a ride that seemed exciting for the first year or so, but at this point, the phone's stretched our patience to the breaking point and set expectations so unrealistically high that it seems virtually impossible that a US launch could quench our thirst for awesomeness. The world will never know with certainty what took so long -- maybe it was met with a lukewarm response from carriers, maybe the formation of the joint venture set everything back a bunch of months -- but whatever the case, it looks like we'll finally be able to navigate the G60 right into our hands come October 4 on AT&T. With triband HSDPA, a 3.2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and microSD expansion, the phone really doesn't scream "high end," but AT&T must think that the promise of an authentic Garmin nav experience is enough to command a hefty premium because a two-year deal is going to run $299.99 with a required $30 data plan -- and that's after $100 mail-in rebate. Follow the break for a gander at AT&T's G60 FAQs for salesfolk. [Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Samsung's SCH-W880 12 megapixel phonecamera with 3x optical zoom
In a welcome reversal of trends, Samsung just stuffed a 3G cellphone into a 12 megapixel camera making this M8920 / SCH-W880 more of a camera than most 12 megapixel cameraphones can claim. While this presumed follow-up to Samsung's Pixon 12 (M8910) isn't official, the announcement looks imminent based on the leaked collateral above and the spyshots that emerged over the weekend. What's impressive here is that extending 3x optical zoom -- something carried over from the SCH-B600 -- and dedicated camera controls like a mode dial, shutter and zoom, and big 3.3-inch WVGA AMOLED display. Rounding out the specs are HD (720p presumably) video, HSDPA data, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, microSD slot, and DMB mobile television; that latter spec making this Korea-only whenever it does launch. See her in the wild after the break.[Via HDBlog.IT]
HTC Leo looking confirmed for O2 UK debut, will be free on the right plan
If you needed another reason to frown upon the state of the North American wireless industry, allow us to go ahead and turn your attention to Exhibit A here. What you're looking at is some promotional material backing up earlier rumors that the HD2 / Leo is en route to O2 in the UK, but what's especially upsetting (though not terribly surprising) is the knowledge that customers will be able to scoop up HTC's new ultra-high-end WinMo beast for zilch on an O2 1200 tariff -- a plan that runs something like £45 (about $72) a month. Oh, and that's on an 18-month contract, not 24. Meanwhile, we'll be lucky to ever see the Leo land in its natural, original, HTC-approved state on a carrier at any price in the US, but hey, at least we've still got some more Touch Pro2 launches to look forward to, right? [Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Nokia N97 mini's FCC docs gain full disclosure
The N97 mini's back on its whirlwind tour of the FCC approval process, this time coming off confidentiality so we can get a good, hard look at its externals, internals, and user manuals. We're still not seeing a market for this thing in any locale that can't find a carrier to sell it for free on contract (read: the US), but for what it's worth, we still after all this time can't help but get a little smile on our faces when we see WCDMA 850 / 1900 listed in the SAR report. The phone will have quadband 3G nestled right alongside quadband EDGE, making it a rarity (by 2009 standards, anyway) and a truly world-capable phone for high-speed data -- perfect for that occasional jaunt to New York from your pad in London.
Sony Ericsson TM717 becomes Equinox on T-Mobile, launching next month?
Are you a "connected socializer" or a "sharing optimizer" who's "motivated by the combination of affordability, style, and high-end features"? If so, good news: T-Mobile's directly targeting you with the release of its Sony Ericsson Equinox, a tweaked version of the T707 that we've seen in the FCC as the TM717 not long ago. Big features on this one include a 3.2 megapixel cam, a trick multi-colored pulsating light up front that can be assigned to individual contacts, and support for gesture controls, but don't get too excited just yet -- you'll have to wait until October 28 to enjoy this lovely little gem, it seems.
