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3G iPhone for Europe to be announced Monday?
Oh man, here we go. Another rumor about that 3G European iPhone. This time, the source is Guy Kewney of Newswireless who, until recently, doubled as eWeek.com's European wireless editor -- i.e., he's the real deal. As the story goes, Apple is set to announce a four-way deal: Vodafone and T-Mobile on the carrier front with Carphone Warehouse out in front as the MVNO. Hmmm, well, this kind of deal would certainly provide Apple's upstart mobile phone with far broader coverage than a Vodafone exclusive could muster while providing a solid brick-and-mortar base on a continent (mostly) void of Apple stores. Best of all for Europeans, the announcement expected on Monday will be 3G. That's right, while you're queuing up for EDGE data, Europeans might be unwrapping an HSDPA iPhone in a 4-way press release. Here's the rub, bub: do you really think Apple will provide Europe a 3G iPhone before the end of the year and not release it in the US at the same time? Now the tough choice: stand in line for your 2.5G iPhone or wait and see what happens on Monday with this rumor (and we repeat, it's just rumor at this point). Decisions, decisions. [Via Pocket-lint]
Vodafone selected as Apple's Euro iPhone partner?
As much fanfare as Apple's partnership with AT&T is getting stateside, there continues to be eerily little official discussion about the specifics of the iPhone's upcoming European launch. The reason for the silence is a subject of some debate, but the popular theory seems to be that Apple's spoiled brat-like demands aren't going over well with Europe's major carriers. Though T-Mobile's been named as a possibility to eventually cave (or cause Apple to cave?), Credit Suisse seems to think Vodafone makes the most sense -- and now at least one retailer seems to be lending credibility to that theory. This is all super sketch, mind you -- after all, it's been widely believed that Apple would go straight to 3G for its European launch -- but phones2U now lists the 8GB iPhone (though pricing is "TBA") as being available with a handful of monthly plans. It's not out of the question for a retailer to break news like this, so we'll see what happens.[Thanks, Cassio]
Credit Suisse: Vodafone likely to carry (3G?) iPhone in Europe
According to a Credit Suisse research note, Vodafone is the frontrunner to carry sole rights to the iPhone in Europe due to their coverage in most European markets. Fine, we've heard this before. The difference this time, however, is an accompanying "confirmation" of a mostly done-deal by way of anonymous Vodafone sources to Europe's Bright Magazine. The story is also being carried by Europe's mainstram media including reputable Dutch news site, nu.nl. Of course, if Apple's going to sell 6 million European iPhones in the next 3 years as expected by Credit Suisse, then you can bet that little slab will be sporting a 3G radio for data-happy Europe. Of course Apple already promised Europe an iPhone in Q4 and, funny enough, 5 million units of the 2nd generation iPhone are rumored to begin shipping from Taiwan in September. Surely, Stevie boy won't release a 3G iPhone in Europe without spreading the love Stateside will he? But let's not get too far ahead ourselves, mkay, it's all just speculation heaped upon rumor at this point. [Via MacDailyNews, thanks Beef S. and William M.]Read -- Bright (Dutch)Read -- Credit Suisse Read -- Nu.nl (Dutch)
Pick a carrier, any carrier: HTC Touch sees wide German release
It looks like subscribers on pretty much any major carrier in Germany will get a shot at the touchy, feely HTC Touch in the next few weeks (though not in wasabi green, we'd wager). The company's European outpost has announced that Vodafone, O2, and T-Mobile will all be adding the Touch to their lineup between this and next month, with O2 likely the first with the "Xda nova" (final design above right). Vodafone meanwhile will simply slap its branding on HTC's reference design (above left), while T-Mobile's bodywork has yet to be announced. Look for it to hit for about €450 ($600) unsubsidized or €49 ($65) on contract. Big diff there, eh?
Palm "Gandolf" images look legit, Windows Mobile version on the way as well
All sorts of Gandolf action is coming out of the woodwork, with Morning Paper following up the grainy shot it released yesterday with a shiny color version, shown after the break. The rumored specs remain unchanged, and while we're not at all delighted to hear this one will be running Garnet, we're guessing it could be a halfway decent option for low-end users, since it's rocking that lovable $200 pricetag. Even more interesting is the white Windows Mobile version of the form factor that emerged on TreoCentral today, rocking the Vodafone branding. It appears to be running Windows Mobile Standard (once known as Smartphone) -- which would be a first for Palm, who's stuck with the touchscreen-input Professional (Pocket PC) edition for its Windows Mobile phones -- and positions Palm to better compete with the likes of the Motorola Q and Samsung's BlackJack. Plus the photo is blurry, so you know it has to be good.[Via PalmInfocenter]Read - Windows Mobile versionRead - Color Gandolf shot
Vodafone gives flat-rate data pricing to British customers
We're huge fans of flat-rate wireless data plans (and, umm, unlimited plans too). After all, both normal handsets and smartphones can suck up 40 megabytes of data easily with steaming TV and radio, right? Vodafone's UK arm has finally gotten the message and has launched flat-rate data bundles to compete with O2 and Orange, which have offered flat-rate data plans for some time. Pricing starts at £7.50 per month for 120 megabytes of data transfer, with additional usage charged at the rate of £1 per day above that limit. Of course, with T-Mobile giving contract customers 1 gigabyte of data for £7.50 per month, is Voda's new offering really competitive? Where are the unlimited data plans? Vodafone gave mixed signals when asked why it took so long to offer flat-rate data plans, and also indicated that it would be discouraging the use of VoIP and instant messaging in its data bundles. We'll stick to our unlimited, use-it-any-way-you-want plans here in the U.S.[Via mocoNews.net]
A couple Vodafone networks get the HTC Vox
For fans of Windows Mobile's Smartphone (or "Standard," if you prefer) variant, the Vox pretty much represents the pinnacle of the platform's evolution. HTC's always been good at letting users of its devices have their cake and eat it too -- the Vox is no exception, rocking a numeric keypad up top and a slide-out QWERTY for when the texting starts to get intense. Unfortunately, the phone is still a bit scarce, so there's nothing like news of its release somewhere in the world to perk us up a smidge. This time around Vodafone's German and British outposts are the lucky winners (or their customers are, we guess), offering the Vox as the "VDA V" and "v1415" respectively. The German version goes for €209.50 (about $281) on contract, while Brits have a bit cheaper go at it, ranging from free to £25.53 (about $51) depending on the contract selected. Enjoy, folks; meanwhile, our patient wait continues.Read - Vodafone Germany's VDA V [Via the::unwired]Read - Vodafone UK's v1415 [Via the::unwired]
Vodafone being sued over VoIP blocking
It seems that a cold day in hell will have to arrive before some stuffy mobile operators don't let customers do what they want to with their handsets and purchased data services. In the latest round of madness, Vodafone users in Europe are having multiple issues using wireless VoIP clients on their handsets (usually smartphones) based on selective blocking techniques by Vodafone. While we're not yet calling the carrier "Vader"fone with an evil and dark helmet as the corporate logo, we feel for those European Voda customers. The carrier is now being called on the carpet for not meeting interconnection obligations and disabling Internet telephony on handsets that it sells -- which was inevitable we think. One rather blatant misstep by Vodafone has the carrier actually blocking calls to customers of Truphone, the VoIP service that brought the lawsuit against Voda. Want more? How's this: Voda handsets are also reportedly blocking Skype services to users of its mobile Internet service. Part of Voda's shaky response includes these lines of piffle: "Vodafone believes that VOIP-over-mobile (can't even get VoIP right, heh) is not yet a mature service proposition as it does not have guaranteed quality of service, and would fall short of the customer experience demanded of any service we launch. To ensure a solid end-to-end customer experience, this service would require in-depth testing, billing integration and customer service support which is currently not available." We call shenanigans here. Unlocked Nokia N95, here we come.
Vodafone Italy first to get Motorola Q9h?
Will Italians be the first to wrap their eager paws around Motorola's latest lust machine? The Q9h has made what appears to be its first official bow on a carrier site, showing up with Vodafone's Italian outpost (so much for the European exclusivity theory for 3, we guess). No word on an exact release date, but the number being thrown around for the sticker is €499 (about $680), which we think (read: hope) is an unsubsidized price. Vodafone branding -- quite a throwback to the original Norman prototype, eh?[Via the::unwired]
The Vodafone-branded LG KU580
We thought the Chocolate was falling out of favor to make room for Shine, but LG apparently has at least a little more sweetness left up its sleeves. This here KU580 comes complete with Vodafone branding and flips the portrait screen of the KU800 and its stablemates on its side while offering up QVGA resolution. Features are said to include UMTS 2100, a 2 megapixel camera (meh), microSD expansion (it better!), front-facing secondary VGA cam for video calling, Bluetooth 2.0, FM radio, and 45MB of integrated memory, all to complement the typical Chocolate design elements that we've come to love / hate. Any love, Verizon?[Via Slashphone]
GSM Association gets everyone together for phone e-wallets
With services like NTT DoCoMo's FeliCa-based Osaifu-Keitai in Japan and Mifare deployed through much of Europe, perhaps one of the last great hurdles to widespread acceptance of phone-based e-wallets is a lack of standardization. Either that, or most people don't feel the need to pay for things by tapping their phone on various devices, but we digress; the point is that the GSM Association has now taken up the cause of getting everyone on the same page with its global "Pay-Buy Mobile" initiative. We really mean global, too -- among a slew of carriers, AT&T, NTT DoCoMo, Vodafone, and KTF are on board, representing the US, Japan, Europe, and South Korea, respectively, and the manufacturer camp counts Nokia, Samsung, and LG as its members. The first Pay-Buy Mobile trials are schedule to kick off this October, a schedule that is probably helped along by the availability of existing software and chips from Sony and NXP and the GSMA's pledge to build off financial institutions' existing NFC initiatives. We can't promise we'll use it -- but yeah, if it's secure, go ahead and build it into our phones, folks.[Via Phone Scoop]
Nokia N95 sees crippling by UK carriers
Are you one of those Windows Mobile handset VoIP hackboys / hackgirls (wireless Skype, anyone)? How about that voice minute-less wireless VoIP on that Orange or Vodafone Nokia N95 handset? Wait, let's go back a bit -- right back to that Nokia S60 flagship handset in Europe. It appears that Vodafone and Orange in the UK have removed an important feature from carrier-branded N95s there. In what can be considered one extreme example of handset crippling, the two carriers have apparently stripped the N95 on store shelves of is VoIP capability in an attempt to preserve voice revenue. The solution -- as always with GSM carriers -- is to buy the more expensive, unlocked N95 and install your Symbian VoIP client of choice. Did we say we can't stand carrier-branded madness like this?
BBC shows to hit Vodafone, Orange, and 3
This certainly isn't the first time that shows from the BBC have been delivered in a non-traditional method, but now fans of the programming will have the option of viewing select episodes on their handset. Vodafone, Orange, and 3 customers will all be able to take advantage of the one-year trial, which will include BBC One, BBC News 24, BBC Three, and radio broadcasts, but unfortunately, "premiership football, some films and cartoons, and some overseas programs like Neighbours" won't be available on the mobile service. BBC is hoping that the trial will test both the "effectiveness of the 3G network and the demand for BBC channels," and if you're lucky enough to take advantage of said offerings, you can expect things to start rolling sometime this month.
Vodafone to get exclusive European iPhone rights?
Seeing how iPhone rumors news has been a bit thin as of late, we present you with the latest chatter from the never-ending "Who Gets the iPhone®" drama. The Guardian is reporting that Apple is sitting down at the table with Europe's largest mobile carrier, Vodafone, as the big red giant vies for exclusive rights to this much sought-after device. The story now sees Apple -- and we are sure will this will delight Xmas shoppers everywhere -- getting the iPhone on shelves in Europe by year's end. Though make no mistake, nothing is final, and we would bet dollars to donuts that every other large provider in Europe is clamoring for a seat at the very same table. [Via Brighthand.com, photo based on work by manicho]
Vodafone shows VoIP integration; non-committal about launch
The world's second-largest carrier is using CeBIT to demonstrate something very un-telecom-giant-like: integration with Internet calling services. Perhaps realizing that VoIP isn't about to just disappear like a bad dream, Vodafone has thrown together a demo app called "Starfish" that connects its handsets to all manner of voice-enabled IM services -- Skype included. Voda's wireless data network can breathe a sigh of relief, though; calls are mercifully routed via the traditional voice airwaves to some magical black box in the carrier's control, which then switches the remainder of the call over to the 'Net. Of course, such goodness stands to lose Vodafone fistfuls of cash, since calls that were once billed at international rates are now nothing more than a local hop to the radio base station -- no wonder, then, that the company is being wishy-washy about Starfish ever seeing the light of day: "We have not yet decided if we will launch it, or the commercial terms and prices."
Vodafone bags Hutch Essar for $11 billion
After what seems like an eternity recently, European mobile mega-carrier Vodafone has said that it will be buying a 67% interest in Indian mobile operator Hutchinson Essar for just over $11 billion in cash. Since China Mobile overtook Vodafone as the world's largest mobile carrier, we think some of that mine is bigger than yours pride finally got Vodafone upset enough to go lay down some serious cash for a mobile carrier who is growing rather nicely. But the party has a little pooper though -- Vodafone will have to eat up to $2 billion in Hutch Essar debt in addition to the $11 billion outlay. Let's hear it for emerging markets, ok?
Vodafone annonces agreement to launch YouTube Mobile
We won't get all wrapped up in the semantics of marketing words or anything, but with YouTube on the tip of everyone's tongue who lusts for on-the-go video clips of, well, everything -- your day is coming. In addition to 2006's announcement that YouTube Mobile would be coming to U.S. customers of CDMA carrier Verizon Wireless, Vodafone in Europe has "announced an agreement of an expectation to offer" YouTube Mobile to its customers across Europe soon, with initial launching to Voda's UK customers. When will Voda customers see YouTube Mobile sit alongside Vodafone Live! on all those millions of handsets? Sometime soon according to Vodafone's rather verb vagueness here.[via Slashphone]
Omnifone to be the first with 3G subscription music downloads?
Apparently a London firm that goes by the name of Omnifone is working with Vodafone and 3 to support what could be among the first 3G-based over-the-air subscription music download services. Apparently the biggest of all record labels, Universal, is on board (we wonder how much cash they had to bribe, er, subsidy them with) for Omnifone's sub-£10 per month service, but we've still got questions that need be answered, like: is this PlaysForSure? Can you move tracks to your PC? Can you move PC tracks to your phone? Hopefully we'll find out at 3GSM this week, so watch out.[Thanks, John]
Toshiba RG4-E01 HSDPA Smartphone in FCC
A little Friday present from the FCC: Toshiba's new RG4-E01 Smartphone (that's right, it doesn't look like we're talking about a Windows Mobile 6 Standard device), featuring HSDPA, a 65k color screen, 2 megapixel camera, and Bluetooth with A2DP. Look for this on Vodafone, probably later this weekend when 3GSM kicks off in Barcelona. Gallery below! Gallery: Toshiba RG4-E01 HSDPA Smartphone in FCC
European carriers to control adult content
If you're a adolescent living in the EU, consider your access to adult content coming to a rather abrupt end shortly. Thanks to some of the major carriers in Europe -- including Orange, Vodafone, and Deutsche Telekom -- efforts to control objective material on children's phones are underway. With an amazing 70 percent penetration rate among 12 - 13 year olds and almost 25 percent among 8 - 9 year olds, there are strong efforts to remove access to such services. Unless you're an 8, 9, 12, or 13 year old, that is, in which case this is all hogwash to you.
