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Nokia "Liam" is the E61i successor
Okay, next up from Boy Genius Report's Vodafone breakdown comes the Nokia "Liam," the phone we just saw in the wild being called the E71. No word from this slide whether the E71 name is gonna stick, but Liam is pretty obviously a codename so it'll pick up an "E" number of one sort or another by the time it launches in the second quarter. Looks like all the features we'd heard so far are holding strong: HSDPA, 3.2 megapixel cam, WiFi, GPS, video call support, and pretty much all the S60 you can handle. No word from this slide whether US 3G's in the mix, but we're crossing our fingers.
Vodafone's 2008 roadmap gets outed, new BlackBerry included
Boy Genius Report has seemingly scooped up a healthy portion of Voda's '08 roadmap here, and with it a host of unannounced devices from various manufacturers. Here's one we kinda expected at this point: a new BlackBerry previously spotted via a shady eBay auction, once thought to be a member of the upcoming 9000 series but identified here as an "8XXX" -- in other words, either RIM or Voda hasn't quite decided yet how to shoehorn it into the 8000 series lineup. Projected launch (on Voda, anyway -- other carriers may vary) is May of this year, bringing quadband EDGE, triband 3.6Mbps HSDPA, a 480 x 320 display, 2 megapixel cam, GPS, WiFi, and a whoppin' 624MHz core to "senior executives" across the land (Vodafone's words, not ours). These guys are getting better at making slick looking devices with every iteration, are they not?
UK man racks up monster bill, Vodafone says don't use your phone as a modem
Wait, what? We'd suspected that carriers always secretly hated subscribers tethering their phones to their computers, but it's another matter entirely for one of the world's largest to just come right out and say it. A British man discovered that the data speeds on his Vodafone mobile were faster and more reliable than those offered by his ISP, so he cabled it up to his PC and proceeded to blow through "20 or 30" TV show downloads and a handful of albums. Next thing he knows, Voda's cutting him off and slapping him with a £27,322 (about $54,000) bill -- a bill he has no capability to pay, and a bill he'd never expected on account of a £7.50 (about $15) data plan that he thought was unlimited, but was actually designed for mobile use with 125MB of data allowance per month. Though it says that the charges are totally legit, Vodafone is considering going easy on the guy, but here's the kicker: the carrier's advice is to "never use a mobile as a modem." What's next, should we "never use a mobile as a mobile" for fear that we might go over our monthly minute allowance?[Via textually.org]
Vodafone quietly kills Windows Mobile-based 920
We hope you weren't holding out to scoop up one of those Vodafone 920s to slide into the Festivus stocking, because, well, it no longer exists. It seems that Voda has up and pulled a Foleo on the HTC-sourced Windows Mobile slider, silently dropping it from the planned holiday lineup without giving a reason why. Maybe the carrier felt it duplicated some of its other offerings too closely, maybe it couldn't pass the carrier's usual battery of tests -- but whatever the reason, it's time to find another phone to give to that WinMo lover in your life.
Vodafone Germany rolls out Ericsson's eco-friendly cell equipment
For Ericsson and for the world at large, the company's new Base Transceiver Station Standby feature means a possible reduction of 1 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions if the software upgrade were to be rolled out globally. For Vodafone Germany, it represents a power savings of 10 to 20 percent -- and therefore an energy bill 10 to 20 percent lower -- and while we reckon that's not quite as scrupulous a reason, it's still a win / win situation as far as we're concerned. The so-called BTS Standby upgrade is compatible with Ericsson tower equipment manufactured since 1995, giving hope that it could end up seeing fairly rapid and widespread acceptance across the world's GSM carriers, inching us toward Ericsson's lofty CO2 emission reduction claim. Don't suppose Vodafone would want to go with some of those tower tubes while they're at it, would they?
UK carriers ganging up on 3?
The underdog in Britain's mobile market, 3, is accusing its larger rivals of trying to shut it out of the market to the tune of £250 million (about $500 million), taking its sob story all the way to the UK's court system. The claim revolves around a series of meetings in 2005 of the Operator Steering Group -- a group to which Vodafone, T-Mobile, Orange, O2, and 3 all belonged -- in which everyone but 3 voted to keep the nation's number transfer delay at five days, despite the fact that the process takes mere hours in other European countries. 3 claims that the larger carriers are using this excruciatingly long window to convince folks porting their numbers to 3 to stay by throwing fantastic discount packages their way. On the surface it all sounds like a plea for government help when the little guy finds itself unable to compete, but who knows, maybe there's some actual collusion going on here.[Via textually.org]
Vodafone makes it easier to contact Second Life from the outside
Moo Money covered this story initially, and from Rivers Run Red comes the news that the beta for this service is being extended to March 31st, 2008. This means that you can still sign up for free, and experience what it's like to receive messages from your Second Life friends on your cellphone.Until we get the ability to IM someone in SL, this seems like the next best thing, though frankly, if I'm mobile, I'm probably not going to be texting people in general. I'm not one of those with my thumbs callused from frequent texting, but this could be useful for people on the go who have events to manage. Has anyone tried this? How well does it work? You can get more specific information from Vodaphone's site.Incidentally, I really like their commercial, which you can see on the site. Cute![Thanks, Margaret!]
German court says T-Mobile can sell iPhone exclusively -- Vodafone injunction dismissed
Surprise! The German courts have reversed the November decision and now say that T-Mobile has the right to sell the iPhone exclusively in Germany. As a result, the injunction granted to Vodafone has been dismissed. T-Mobile still has the right to seek damages. Ah well, there are still unlocked iPhones in France if anyone's looking.
Verizon and Vodafone to launch LTE trial in 2008
The decision to move to LTE for their next-gen network is old news. However, Vodafone and Verizon's coordinated trial set to launch in 2008 is most definitely new. Suppliers will include Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia-Siemens, and Nortel with devices anticipated from the usuals (LG, Samsung, Motorola, Nokia, and Sony Ericsson) in addition to non-traditional consumer electronics companies looking to get a foothold on the nascent wireless broadband service. Presumably the latter is a nod in the direction of Verizon's suspect, Open Development initiative announced earlier this week. No word on dates or locations but we'll certainly let you know how this trial network, with a theoretical 100Mbps download and 50Mbps upload capability, unfolds.
T-Mobile vs. Vodafone: November 29th, Germany -- be there
The gloves are off and the court date is set: T-Mobile faces off with arch rival Vodafone on November 29th in Germany. Will T-Mobile's exclusivity on the iPhone continue unabated or will Germany's other carriers (and their consumers) still not reap the benefits of an unlocked iPhone due to its prohibitively high, €999 cost? Tune in next week to find out.Pssst, hey Germany... yeah you. Just in case T-Mobile wins and discontinues the unlocked offering, November 29th is the same date that your neighbors in France will start selling their iPhones. Chances are, an unlocked version will be sold too. Just saying is all.
Vodafone to have exclusive rights to 3G iPhone in Q1?
It's been awhile since we've had a decent 3G iPhone rumor to kick about. Perhaps it was the collective disappointment of the 2.5G release on Europe which deflated all the mongering. Whatever it was, we all know it's coming, it's just a question of when. Well, the gossip coming out of Italy calls for a Q1 release of a UMTS iPhone. Italian site Morse.IT claims to have spoken to high-level sources and "confirms" in no uncertain terms that Vodafone has signed an exclusive deal with Apple. Right, the same company currently suing T-Mobile in Germany for their iPhone exclusivity. The launch of the 3G iPhone would occur simultaneously in all countries where the carrier operates but will not be announced until after the holidays (MacWorld?) to avoid impacting sales of the existing iPhone. The timing chides well with other rumors calling for a 3G release before May. Still, a Vodafone iPhone sold in the UK and Germany would seem a violation of those long-term exclusive deals presumably signed with Apple by O2 and T-Mobile, right? Sure, unless of course, those contract were for rights to the "iPhone," not the "iPhone 3G" you silly lawyers. [via Unwired View]
Vodafone Germany obtains restraining order against T-Mobile iPhone sales
You'll have to bear with us on this one folks as the news is a bit muffled crossing the Atlantic, language, and cultural divides, but UK-based Vodafone has reportedly received a restraining order against T-Mobile's iPhone sales in Germany. Vodafone's issue is the exclusivity contract with Apple and fee structure within T-Mobile's subscription offering. What's odd here is the language of the Dow Jones piece which claims that the Hamburg order, issued Monday is, "prohibiting the German telecommunications giant from selling Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) iPhone in Germany." That sounds like a full stop (pending appeal) of all iPhone sales in Germany. The Financial Times, however, says that the order "will not disrupt sales" as the Christmas purchases accelerate. Vodafone is framing their argument around customer choice while admitting that it's the revenue sharing model, and possibility that Nokia or Ericsson follow suit, which has prompted the legal action. At least they're not sticking their heads in the sand this time. Update: Dow Jones has now clarified the situation. A Vodafone spokesman says, "The preliminary injunction filed in Hamburg doesn't mean Telekom will have to cease marketing the product immediately." Deutsche Telekom is the parent of T-Mobile Germany. He goes on to say, "We're not taking any plans to replicate these actions anywhere else, or in the U.K."[Via Appleinsider] Read -- Dow Jones Read -- Deutsche Telekom (translated) Read -- FT
Vodafone "InsideOut" connects phones to Second Life
Vodafone customers now have access to a new service called "InsideOut" that allows interaction between characters in the vast virtual world Second Life and real, actual phones (you know, like in the real world) operated by Voda. Both voice calls and text messages can be ferried in and out of the game, with SMSes running a cool L$300 (which we think is somewhere around $1) and voice calls running L$300 per minute. Calls and messages placed to Second Life, though, are billed at the same rate as they would be to a traditional German phone (it seems Voda's pool of InsideOut numbers are based in of Deutschland at the moment). Through the end of November, InsideOut's still operating in a beta mode so it's all free to try out, but keep in mind that Voda's customer support won't be able to bail you out -- cue Matrix reference -- if you're having trouble getting to a hardline.
Vodafone's solution to iPhone-related defections: shutdown customer service?
The Inquirer is reporting that Vodafone UK's customer service line used for defecting customers is down. In fact, it's been down the entire weekend since the iPhone's Friday launch. Instead, Vodafone customers looking to change their status to O2 customers are being greeted with an automated voice response asking them to try again later. Coincidence? Maybe. It's certainly timely having already witnessed the carrier defection rate following the US launch.
Vodafone breaks rank, gives Nokia's Ovi the thumbs-up
Carrier reaction to Nokia's Ovi suite of multimedia apps has been tepid at best -- and understandably so, considering that the company's gunning for a share of on-device entertainment revenue, a cash stream historically reserved for carriers themselves. Fortunately for Espoo, though, the 800-pound gorilla of European carriers has gone against the trend to issue Ovi a hearty endorsement. Vodafone and Nokia have announced that Nokia handsets released on Voda in '08 will rock out with Ovi services installed -- with a catch, of course: Vodafone's own competing services will also be installed. The companies say it's a win for consumers because the diametrically opposed apps somehow compliment one another, but by loading both Nokia's Music Store and Vodafone's own music service, for example, it could all be a daunting challenge for consumers to figure out what's what. We'll have to wait and see how this all plays out on retail devices in a few months.
Vodafone's v1520 WM6 handset goes for endurance
Is it just us, or does this teeny, tiny image bear a striking resemblance to one ASUS P550, a feature-packed Windows Mobile handset that hit the FCC a couple months back? The few specs Vodafone lists on its site for this coming-soon device match up with the aforementioned FCC docs, too, so we'd say it's pretty safe to assume ASUS is the ODM in question here. Anyway, it looks like Voda will be getting this bad boy as the self-branded v1520 -- and while the 3.5 inch screen is pretty hot, the headlining feature seems to be an astounding 12 hours of rated talk time (whether real-world results are anywhere near that remains to be seen). No word on price or drop date yet, but you UK folk keep your ears to the ground, k?[Via the::unwired and CoolSmartPhone]
LG's KS20 now available in Europe
Announced in August, LG's HSDPA-totin' touchscreen KS20 was just released for retail in Europe -- France and Germany to be specific with more countries coming on the quick. Nothing new to report, same business minded, 12.8-mm thick Windows Mobile 6 handset with 3.6Mbps data, WiFi, Bluetooth, 2 megapixel camera (VGA up front), up to 4-hours talk, and built-in stylus for navigating with precision on that busy, 240 x 320 pixel, 2.8-inch WinMo interface. No prices given but we're sure your carrier will happily oblige.
Carphone Warehouse takes the big leap from retailer to postpaid MVNO
Perhaps getting just a little bored with its ginormous operation as Europe's largest phone retailer, Carphone Warehouse has decided fire up its own MVNO to do battle with the very carriers whose phones it offers. Called "Talkmobile," the service is actually Carphone Warehouse's second MVNO (its first, Fresh Mobile, concentrates on prepaid service) and runs atop Vodafone's rather expansive network. Naturally, all MVNOs need a unique angle if they want any shot at scooping some subs from the competition, and Talkmobile's is pricing; in fact, its most expensive plan is just £18 (about $37) and offers a free phone to boot. Oh, and get this: contracts range from 18 months down to just 9 freakin' months. If we were any of the UK's stodgy traditional carriers, we might wanna sit up and start taking down notes here.[Via textually.org]
Treo 500v sports a revamped Windows Mobile interface
For all of you fervent Treo fans chomping at the bit to get your hands on the 500v, here's an interesting piece of information which may stir "things" deep inside your mind and body. Apparently, the Windows Mobile-equipped smartphones will be touting a UI that's a pretty big step away from Microsoft's staid and standard operations. According to a slow, yet detailed video we've seen, the new interface will be pulled together using a completely revamped "start menu," (similar to the UI which Samsung is employing on its SGH-i620) which gives you much faster access to applications and settings, and has a completely new look. Menus and application icons also appear to be a departure from what we've seen in other WM devices, giving the interface a wholly unique aspect. Check the video after the break and see for yourself.[Via pocketnow]
Samsung's i640v for Vodafone caught on camera
Hot on the heels of its Christmas announcement, it turns out Vodafone teased with a preview of Samsung's i640v at GITEX. Hoping to improve upon its predecessor, the just-released i620, newest model adds a WiFi radio under its hood along with GPS support. Add these key features in with Bluetooth 2.0, microSD storage, a 2.4-inch QVGA display all running on Windows Mobile 6 Standard, and we figure this device is built to please. There doesn't seem to be any solid release info floating around just yet, but we can take a solid stab at the launch carrier, eh?[Via the::unwired]
