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Singapore to get Palm Treo 750v
Cingular may still be playing dumb about its next-gen Treo launch plans -- but Vodafone and their partner network in Singapore, M1, are happy to share theirs. It turns out that M1 will be launching the Windows Mobile-powered 750v in October of this year, 3G data and all, which could ultimately make it just the second launch for the stubless Treo globally (after Vodafone proper). This all depends, of course, on whether Cingular wants to get off its hindquarters and kick things into high gear; we're not holding our breath, so enjoy your 15 seconds of fame, M1.[Via the::unwired]
Softbank pulls a DoCoMo, launches 12 phones
Adding a confusing, seemingly endless array of new handsets in one fell swoop is a tactic we normally reserve for NTT DoCoMo (and more recently, KDDI), but far be it from Vodafone Japan-turned-Softbank Mobile to get left out of the fray, launching 12 phones -- plus a data card -- for October delivery. Notable in the bunch are the X01HT (essentially a Hermes tweaked for the Japanese market, a la the Z) and the 705NK, a rebranded Nokia N73. If we get even one third the love spread out over an entire quarter on a US carrier, we're elated -- we obviously live in the wrong country.
Vodafone's Treo 750v gets an actual launch date
Now that we know the Treo 750 is poised for a Cingular release here in the US, we're kind of over Vodafone's version of this Windows Mobile 5 smartphone, but because we've got mad love for our European audience, we'll keep covering it until they pry us kicking and screaming from our keyboards. Following numerous spy shots, reviews, and announcements regarding this device, there's pretty much nothing that we don't know about its feature set -- quad-band GSM with UMTS, 300MHz CPU, 240 x 240 pixel screen, Bluetooth 1.2, miniSD expansion, 1.3 megapixel camera, and of course, still no WiFi -- but despite all the interest, a solid release date has yet to be announced. Well, until now that is, as Vodafone has finally updated its UK site to list an October 2nd launch (why do we feel like this thing has been "launched" like ten times already?), with that same vague pricing window of "free to £127.66 ($242.90)." So, congratulations dear friends across the pond, you'll have your gadget-loving hands all over the 750v in a few short days; us Americans, meanwhile, are just preparing ourselves to go through the whole dog-and-pony show of leaks, rumors, and false starts all over again.[Thanks, Nirav M.]
SK Telecom gets with European operators for 3G roaming
Roaming agreements for the world's WCDMA networks aren't nearly as comprehensive as they are for their 2G / 2.5G equivalents, occasionally leaving 3G customers in the lurch when traveling abroad (we're having difficulty working up any tears here, but we're doing our best; please pardon our bitterness). Case in point: handsets on SK Telecom's WCDMA network could not be used in many European countries, despite the fact that Europe is flush with the 3G goodness. That's about to change, thanks to a new agreement between SK, Vodafone, and Denmark's Hi3G that will allow the Korean carrier's handsets to be used in as many as 12 European countries' UMTS networks, including video calls. Yeah, video calls. Are those crickets we hear?
Palm Treo 750v gets official
Thanks to countless leaks over the last several months, one of the most anticlimactic smartphone releases in history has finally gone official. Palm has issued all the juicy details on their UK site, and... well, it's pretty much exactly what we expected: internal antenna, quadband GSM with triband UMTS (lending itself to a Cingular release), and a superbly average 1.3-megapixel cam sitting atop Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Phone Edition. The phone is still apparently in the pre-order phase, though Vodafone's site is showing a price "From Free to £127.66" (about $240) depending on contract -- not bad considering what you get, but whether similar pricing will carry over to Cingular is another question entirely.[Thanks, Wolwol and Camp]
Vodafone v1210 pictures and specifications
Cool Smart Phone has the first pictures and details of Vodafone's v1210 3G smartphone, courtesy of a leaked roadmap document. The specs aren't quite as dazzling as that slinky silver exterior, with the v1210 skipping a camera altogether and settling for slow Bluetooth 1.2 -- fortunately, the tri-band 3G, 300MHz Intel processor, 2.2-inch QVGA display, and the 128MB ROM / 64 MB RAM deets do cheer us up a little. Apparently the phone will be shipping this October, but pricing is as yet unknown.
Toshiba rocks TS808 clamshell for Vodafone
Vodafone's tapped Toshiba to bring its latest music-oriented flip to market, answering the call with the TS808 shown off at IFA this week. The phone can't exactly be billed as high-end, sporting only a 1.3-megapixel cam and a meager 10MB of internal memory, but a miniSD slot helps restore some semblance of meaning to the external music controls and generously sized external display. Integrated stereo speakers, and of course, Bluetooth are also along for the ride on the phone, which is expected to launch on Voda-owned Swisscom Mobile this month.[Via MobileWhack]
Vodafone taking preorders for Treo 750v
The teaser shot of the keyboard on Voda's site might not be very revealing, but hey, we've got plenty of evidence lined up to know pretty much what's in store for Vodafone customers come September 12 either way. Businessfolk on the carrier's UK site are now being encouraged to preorder the device, which will be "using Vodafone's high-speed 3G network" humming along atop Windows Mobile 5.2. The remainder of the spec sheet (if accurate) is nothing we couldn't have guessed, suggesting a 1.3-megapixel cam (we've heard 2 megapixels thrown around; we'll see), Bluetooth, and that fabulous HSDPA radio, though there's no mention of WiFi -- potentially a deal breaker for some. And for the record, yes, we're figuring that if they panned up on that annoying teaser shot, there'd be no external antenna in sight.[Via Mobility Site]
New Treo 750 photos du jour
Alright Treoheads, gather round for a new set of Treo 750 pics. Yes, they're all coming out of the woodwork these days. (And here we thought the scratching under the house was raccoons?)[Thanks, hofo_mofo]
Vodafone Japan intros 804NK, alias Nokia N71
They call it the Vodafone 804NK, we call it the Nokia N71, but hey, it's all the same to us. Hailing its "European style flip design," Vodafone Japan (or Softbank Mobile, depending on who you ask) has unleashed Nokia's 2-megapixel S60 clamshell virtually unchanged from its European counterpart, save for some Japanese localization and preloaded software. Of course, failing to cater to Japanese tastes was the very reason Vodafone bailed on the market to begin with, so whether the N7... er, 804NK will see much acceptance in the Far East remains to be seen.
Sharp ships SX633 to Hong Kong's SmartTone-Vodafone
Apparently Sharp likes its 705SH for Softbank Mobile enough to export the thin clamshell, though not before getting a name change. Apart from some minor cosmetic changes, the tri-band SX633 is a dead ringer for its Japanese cousin, ready to bring joy to the hearts of SmartTone-Vodafone customers willing to shed the asking price of $4,180 HKD -- a bit north of $500 USD. For the money, you get a 17mm-thick 3G clamshell with 2.2-inch QVGA internal and 72 x 12 external displays, and microSD support for when you fill that 20MB of internal memory to the brim, all in your choice of Black Opal, Pink Champagne, or Silver McIntyre. Doesn't quite seem to justify the coin; we'll pass. Er, we would if we were in Hong Kong, that is.[Via Ministry of Tech]
HTC Hermes launch roundup!
A spectrum of HTC's highly-anticipated Hermes variants are finally coming around in the retail pipeline, and what better way to celebrate than with a launch roundup? Regardless of your continent, odds are one or more of these flavors are available in your parts -- and if not, your friendly local import shop shouldn't have a difficult time hooking you up. As you come across other launches, do your fellow readers (and us) a favor and post 'em in the comments. Thank ye kindly![Thanks, Leigh]Read - Orange SPV M3100Read - T-Mobile Germany, UK MDA Vario IIRead - Vodafone VPA Compact III / v1605Read - HTC TyTNRead - HTC ZRead - Dopod 838ProRead - Dopod CHT9000
Vodafone brings 3G to MacBooks via USB
Some people call it compatibility; we call it cheating. Yeah, Vodafone's freshly-announced Mobile Connect USB Modem fits into your MacBook Pro a little better than their PC Card does, but we'd sure like to see a real, honest-to-goodness ExpressCard operating on Vodafone's UMTS and HSDPA networks, and we're guessing we can find a few Pro owners to agree with us. Granted, non-Pros will need to kick it with the USB model either way, but at least Vodafone's glossy white capsule matches the MacBook a little better than its metal-clad sibling. The device hits the streets this fall, but Bluetooth dial-up should hold folks over in the meanwhile -- and if the thought of a white tumor on the side of your 'Book pains you, ya might be looking at Bluetooth as your permanent solution, too.[Via Reg Hardware]
New Treo "coming soon" on Vodafone
Vodafone UK's gone live with a site promising a WM5-based Treo "coming soon" -- we know very little here, but let's put the pieces of the puzzle together. First, we know that Palm's done with the 650 in Europe. Second, we know that it won't be a CDMA 700w, it'll have to be GSM. Third, they're saying the device will be "using Vodafone's high-speed network." We'll let you draw your own conclusions, but we're thinking antenna-free UMTS version of the 700w.[Via CoolSmartPhone]
Palm announces WM5-powered Treo for Vodafone
So Palm has officially announced one of those three Treos we were promised at the end of last year, and just as we expected, this Windows Mobile 5 AKU2-powered model will be sold exclusively overseas. Unfortunately the company neglected to include a detailed spec sheet in its press release -- more information will be available closer to the as-yet-unspecified launch date -- so all we really know at this point is that it's destined for Vodafone's 3G UMTS network in several European countries. Also unclear is how this model relates to other upcoming Treos we've seen under such codenames as Hollywood, Lowrider, Nitro, and Lennon -- we sure wish Palm would be a little more forthcoming with its product roadmaps. As usual, though, you can always count on us to bring you every little bit of Treo news we get our hands on, even if Palm and friends don't give us much help putting it in context.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Vodafone Germany to snag Hermes, Star Trek
Looks like Cingular customers aren't the only ones expected to get an HTC windfall this summer; according to The Unwired, come July and August it appears that the Hermes and Star Trek will be launched on German Vodafone as the Vodafone VPA Compact III and Qtek 8500, respectively. Apparently the VPA Compact III will set you back as much as €900 ($1,150 US) without contract, or €409 ($522 US) with a two-year, whereas the 8500 will go for €600 ($766 US) and €170 ($217 US) the same ways -- something tells us they want their customers to snag these subsidized.
VK goes belly-up
Officially, it was the discrepancy between the value of the dollar and that of the won, combined with aggressive marketing strategies of companies like Nokia and Motorola that have driven Korean battery-turned-handset maker VK into receivership, a form of bankruptcy. Personally, we believe it had something more to do with the boatload of unimpressive and stylistically unoriginal handsets (Kickflip notwithstanding) they've released since they entered the mobile phone game in 2002. Either way, they'll surely be missed; if not by us, then by SK Telecom and other investors who parted with billions of their won earlier this year in a failed attempt to keep VK afloat. Our only regret is that we won't get to pocket the 4-megapixel VK 2200, but since we don't live in South Korea, there's a good chance we never would anyway. Oh well, at least we'll always have CeBit.
Vodafone's Simply Sagem VS4
Vodafone's Simply has a new pedestrian candybar going on, the Sagem VS4. It's just your usual tri-band GPRS handset with a 160 x 128 CSTN display, and 4MB internal memory, although it does have a USB 1.1 connection (which we're only hoping isn't some proprietary-to-USB solution). We wouldn't expect much more from the thing, especially since it's probably about a low end (and cost-effective) a device as you're likely to find for your mum on Vodafone.
4G development group comes together
While much of the world awaits 3G to grace their airwaves, a coalition of companies in the wireless industry are putting together a nonprofit organization in the UK this month to promote the development of 4G. The "Next Generation Mobile Networks" group, consisting of founding members KPN Mobile, Orange, Sprint Nextel, Vodafone, and T-Mobile plus add-ons China Mobile and NTT DoCoMo, is looking to 2010 for the commercial deployment of 4G devices -- that's less than four years away, folks. We're somewhat skeptical 4G is going to come together for any substantial population in that amount of time, but just in case, we're going start compiling our list of things to do with 2.5Gbps of WWAN bandwidth now.[Via EE Times]
SmarTone-Vodafone launches thin Toshiba TS30
9.9mm might not be close to breaking any records these days, but Toshiba's TS30 candybar is thin enough to confortably slip into pretty much any nook or cranny you had in mind. With a QVGA display (quickly becoming par for the course in Europe and Asia), music player, MicroSD slot, and FM radio, SmarTone-Vodafone customers in Hong Kong shouldn't find much missing when the phone hits for HK$1680 (about $215) unsubsidized. Rumor has it the tri-band GSM TS30 will eventually find its way to Taiwan and Europe, though possibly under a different moniker -- but per protocol, no US launch plans are in the works.[Via MobileBurn]
