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ZTE showing off ten smartphones at MWC
ZTE's quite an ODM powerhouse these days, taking boatloads of low- and midrange contracts for carriers -- especially when having a brand-name manufacturer's badge appear on the device isn't a priority. To that end. the Chinese company has announced that it'll be "unveiling" some ten smartphones at MWC next week, though it appears most of the devices have already launched somewhere in the world (like China Mobile's U981) -- and others, like the pictured VF 1231 for Vodafone, have already been well-leaked courtesy of our friends at the FCC. The goods run the full range from CDMA and GSM all the way up to HSUPA, so clearly, ZTE's aspirations may not rest merely in the low-end; look out, Nokia.
ZTE Rock and Samsung Rugby now available at Rogers
Just as we'd heard, the oh-so-tough duo that is the completely unrelated ZTE Rock F165 (right) and Samsung Rugby A836 (left) are now available through Rogers Wireless. As for pricing, you'll be asked to part with $79.99 / $149.99 on contract for each in order of mention, though it seems the former is already on backorder. Guess that unbridled sex appeal just won Canucks over by the thousands, huh?[Via MobileInCanada]Read - ZTE RockRead - Samsung Rugby
ZTE Rock / Samsung Rugby to give Rogers that hardened edge it's been missing
Yeah, "cute" works for awhile, but eventually you've got to man up and prove that you're rough, tough and ready to withstand the elements. To that end, Boy Genius Report has it that the Samsung Rugby A836 and ZTE Rock F165 -- both handsets of the rugged variety -- are about to land on Rogers Wireless in Canada. The former will support 3G data and include a 1.3 megapixel camera and an enclosure strong enough to ward off impending rain drops, dust, short drops and humidity. The latter spices things up with HSPA support, video calling compatibility, a 2 megapixel camera, 128MB of onboard storage, a microSD card slot and a respectable amount of armor for the tumultuous days ahead. As for pricing, we're hearing $149.99 for the Rugby and $79.99 for the Rock, both on staggeringly long three year contracts.[Via UnwiredView]
Huawei and Ericsson land LTE contracts with TeliaSonera
LTE just got officially legitimized under a month ago, and already Nordic-based TeliaSonera is lining up contracts in an effort to showcase its forward-thinking nature to the world. Both Huawei and Ericsson have been chosen to provide 4G LTE equipment for high-speed networks in Stockholm and Oslo, with SE proclaiming that the Swedish network will be ready for commercial launch in 2010. It's expected that the first devices to tap into these newfangled waves will be of the USB / external variety, with 4G handsets following six to twelve months later. Did our 3G just get slower, or are our brains already messing with us?[Via Network World, image courtesy of BusinessWeek]Read - Huawei dealRead - Ericsson deal
ZTE C78 ships on MetroPCS
Following a springtime announcement, the unabashedly purple C78 candybar from ZTE is now shipping on MetroPCS -- the Chinese manufacturer's third on MetroPCS this year, and still among the first official ZTE launches in North America. It's not going to wow any power users, but then again, power users don't really belong on MetroPCS to start; instead, you'll find 60MB of onboard storage, a 2-inch display, a VGA cam, and tri-band CDMA in a package that runs just $129 with no contract. And hey, if you buy in, we'll bet you a dollar you're the only kid on the block with a purple phone (excluding that jerk with the Colorwared Curve, of course).Update: Turns out that ZTE didn't have any good reason to issue this "formal announcement" -- the C78's been available in all MetroPCS markets for several weeks now. Thanks, youngcalihottie and Rich!
Telus intros ZTE TXTster, "wow factor" nowhere to be found
While we patiently wait for certain other hotly anticipated handsets to drop on Canada's Telus, we can try and make do with the ZTE TXTster. This vowel-dropping flip boasts a 1.3 megapixel camera with flash and video capabilities and a 180 minute talk time and 120 hours of standby. This Fastap-equipped device -- you know, that quirky input method with tiny letters inbetween larger number keys -- can also take advantage of Telus' mobile music and navigator services. You can nab it now for a paltry $29.99 on a 3-year contract, or $229.99 straight up. You'd better really like Fastap.[Via mobilesyrup]
Telstra launches improved "Country Phone" for signal in the Outback
Tired of having to stand up (way, way up) on the brumby to pull down even a single bar of EDGE from the dusty ditches of the Great Central? We hear you, Aussies -- and so does Telstra. The carrier has retooled its 165i "Country Phone" from ZTE, making it better based on usability testing and customer feedback; in this case, "better" means it's gotten a little smaller, features a nicer screen, and has gained AGPS (probably not a bad thing to have when you're in the middle of nowhere). It's ruggedized and makes use of an oh-so-rare extendable antenna for insane reception that earns it Telstra's coveted Blue Tick certification, but you still get 3G, Bluetooth, FM radio, and a 2-megapixel camera -- all told, it's all set up to be a "big hit in the bush" to steal a bit of Telstra's verbiage. It goes for $529 AUD (about $346) when it drops on December 1.
Hands-on with the ZTE C79
For Chinese handset manufacturers, North America is one of the last great cash cows that has yet to be milked. It's not an easy market to break into by any means, but with LG, Samsung, and Pantech -- historically the value leaders in the market -- moving up the food chain in recent years, it seems like there could be room for another player or two. Enter ZTE, a company that's quiety snuck through the ranks to become the sixth largest handset maker in the world but has approached Canada and the US with kid gloves so far, starting with a Fastap phone (of all things) on Telus just last year and just recently moving onto MetroPCS in the States with the AWS-equipped C78 candybar and C79 flip.We've been playing with a C79 recently, and let's get this conversation off on the right foot: it's a value phone. Yes, MetroPCS charges $159 for it, but that's completely contract-free with no strings attached, so realistically it'd run just a few bucks if the carrier were to offer it on a two-year deal (which they don't). That being said, this is a case where you get what you pay for -- the C79 feels like a cheap phone through and through. Paradoxically, it's both bulky and uncomfortably light, which definitely contributes to that. The external music controls are weird and unnecessarily small, and while we could really juice the volume on the earpiece during calls, the sound was pretty muddy. On the plus side, the keypad is awesome with large, easy-to-press buttons that even the fattest fingers would have no trouble using, and the screens are bright and reasonably colorful (though the 220 x 176 resolution never lets you forget that you're dealing with a lower-end device here). We also had no problem with the hinge, which is a component that's always at risk of cheesiness when you're dealing with inexpensive hardware -- it felt solid and consistently closed with a satisfying, positive action.With a couple midrange features like microSD expansion and stereo Bluetooth included, we could reasonably see picking this up if it were offered to us for free on contract -- but paying just shy for $160 out of pocket for the C79 is a tough pill to swallow. Then again, when you put things in perspective, ZTE's a brand new player in this market and this phone is a strong early effort. Needless to say, the established players would definitely be wise to keep their eyes over their shoulders over the next couple years.%Gallery-35964%
ZTE's TU25 becomes first USB modem for Sprint's XOHM WiMAX network
Not too keen on snatching your WiMAX via ExpressCard? Fret not, as ZTE's TU25 (which was leaked early last month) is fast approaching. Hailed as the only USB modem available (and certified, no less) for the launch of the XOHM network, the TU25 presumably allows users to plug it into a spare USB port, wave a magic wand and begin surfing the mobile broadband superhighway in Baltimore (and a few other places, we hear). There's a frighteningly small amount of details on this thing right now, but hopefully we'll have some of the more crucial aspects (price, release date, etc.) sooner rather than later.
ZTE's U990 does Windows Mobile for TD-SCDMA
Outside of China, TD-SCDMA isn't going to do you very bloody much good -- but inside China, it's just about the best thing going right now for 3G data. That makes devices like this here ZTE U990 particularly useful if you happen to be in the area, offering the People's Republic's oh-so-special flavor of high-speed wireless in an attractive package loaded with Windows Mobile 6, GPS, and EDGE roaming. The U990 also happens to be ZTE's very first Windows Mobile device, a surprising revelation for a manufacturer that currently sits at number six in the world for production volume. Look for it to launch into the retail chain "soon" -- which in corporate doublespeak could mean "tomorrow" or "2010."[Via wmpoweruser.com and cellular-news]
ZTE looking to move upmarket, build lots of smartphones
HTC might be setting the pace for Windows Mobile development right now, but it better watch its back -- especially on the low end of the range. China's ZTE, which has somehow silently risen through the ranks to become the world's number six phone manufacturer by volume, is said to be prepping a renewed global assault that will see it move beyond its typical role as a provider of low-end dumbphone fare to occupy the low-end smartphone niche, a market with traditionally limited choice. Windows Mobile and Linux are apparently both high on ZTE's hit list, with a contract already underway to supply Vodafone with a carrier-branded device next year (to fill the void left by the 920's killing, perhaps?); Symbian's not getting quite as much love, though they're said to have their eye on that camp, too. The firm commands a 30 percent market share in China's nascent TD-SCDMA market, and hey, you can only be a massively successful manufacturer in your domestic market before trying your hand elsewhere, right?[Via mocoNews]
Sprint leaks XOHM WiMax service details and devices
A little URL hacking by Engadget fan Leo, has revealed Sprint's new My Xohm site and loads of service information. The site is clearly in a preparatory state with plenty of dead links and Latin dummy-text holding the pre-launch site format together. Nevertheless, there is quite a bit of detail here, some of which is certainly more than just idle filler. For example, based on the current text, we can expect the following at service launch in September: Nokia's N810 WiMAX Edition -- looks like a lock based on the liberal use of its image (above) across the pages. XOHM USB (ZTE's TU25) modem. XOHM Express Card (Samsung's SWC-E100) modem with optional PCMCIA adapter. XOHM Modem (ZyXel's MAX-206M2) Ethernet hub / router with optional 4-hour battery -- unfortunately, XOHM will not offer static IP addresses at this time. The XOHM portal (whatever that is) supports both Windows and OS X. However, the modems listed above and Sprint's XOHM Connection Manager software are PC-only, sorry Mac owners. Unfortunately, we can't find any specific pricing information but the site does tell us that access will be sold by the day or by the month without binding contracts or cancellation fees. It also promises speeds between 2-4Mbps for downloads and 1-3Mbps for uploads. Not sure that's worth the move to Baltimore but it's certainly given us cause to pause at the thought. See the modems pictured after the break.[Thanks, Leo S.]Read -- General Support FAQRead -- Pricing and SpeedRead -- My XohmRead -- Devices
ZTE's AWS-packin' C79 now on MetroPCS
True, ZTE's C79 clamshell becomes one of the relatively few phones released to market to support CDMA on the AWS frequency band in addition to the old-skool cellular and PCS bands, but to buyers, that doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot at this point. Instead, they'll be more concerned (and rightfully so, may we add) about the stylish red shell, the 1.3-megapixel camera, 220 x 176 primary display, external music controls, and 69MB of memory on top of a microSD slot. Strangely, there's no EV-DO involved, but this is MetroPCS we're talking about -- which also means we're met head on with a contract-free price of $169. It's available now.
LiMo Foundation breaks 50-member mark
The deafening silence out of the Android camp as of late has left plenty of room for competitors to steal some of the spotlight to advance their own causes, and the LiMo Foundation certainly seems to be doing what it can to take advantage of the opportunity. The "other" Linux-based mobile platform already has a key advantage over Android and the Open Handset Alliance -- products that are actually shipping -- and they're working to wide the gap here by announcing that they've now pushed their member count over the half-century mark. As usual, there are a few heavy hitters in this round, too: ZTE, Motorola spinoff Freescale Semiconductor, and Telecom Italia headline the eleven-strong class of carriers, component manufacturers, and software shops. Separately, they've announced that 21 LiMo phones now grace the market, so it's looking like these guys are here to stay regardless of what the Android camp's up to.
China Mobile opens "experience shops" as TD-SCDMA softly launches
We knew good and well China Mobile was all geared up to launch its homegrown 3G standard in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Shenzhen (among other locales), and though China's government hasn't issued 3G licenses yet, TD-SCDMA has finally made its soft launch. In order to garner interest in the service, said carrier has also opened up "experience shops" in the aforementioned cities "to allow the public to experiment with TD-SCDMA handsets and gain confidence with TD-SCDMA's capabilities." During the initial launch, some 60,000 dual-mode TD-SCDMA / GSM handsets and 15,000 data cards will be on sale in these outlets, with most of the units being in the "mid- to high-end range" and costing between $286 and $572 (those are subsidized prices). Here is where we suppose China Mobile holds its breath and hopes for things to take off.[Via mocoNews]
ZTE pops out C78 / C79 handsets for US market
As the usual jollifications at CTIA roll on, ZTE has announced a new duo of ho hum handsets for the US market. Hot on the heels of the C88 comes the affordable C78 candybar and C79 flip phone. As for the former, you can expect a VGA camera, MMS / internet browsing capabilities and built-in Bluetooth, while the latter packs a 1.3-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, a 2-inch display and a microSD expansion slot. Both units operate on the AWS frequency bands in addition to the PCS and Cellular bands, but unfortunately, mum's the word on carrier / pricing information.
ZTE launches C88 flip on MetroPCS
That handset for MetroPCS that ZTE was promising is finally here -- and while it's not a FasTap phone or anything nifty like that, it's a surprisingly decent midrange piece that should find its way into a fair number of pockets. The Chinese manufacturer is clearly trying to make inroads into North America, and it had previously said that its MetroPCS device would be custom designed for the US market; a good, close look at the C88 has us agreeing that they probably weren't lying. The phone is a clamshell -- just the form factor us Americans can't get enough of -- and includes a camera, speakerphone, decently sized primary display, Bluetooth, and on-device web content. It's available now for $139.
New ZTE handset a little too proud of crappy camera
Odds are we're never going to see this phone again, which is just fine with us; it's got nothing but GPRS and a VGA cam, after all, and we'd typically save this kind of hardware for FCC Fridays. What struck us as we did our standard vetting of the phone's FCC documents, though, was the silkscreened label on back. We can't remember the last time a phone so proudly displayed that it's packing "0.3 Mega Pixels" underhood, and there's a reason for that. Thanks, but no thanks, ZTE A137 Plus.
ZTE heads south from Canada, supplies phones to MetroPCS
Handsets from China's ZTE are nothing new to Canada; in fact, the ZTE-sourced D90 clamshell offered by Telus is a FasTap phone, of all things. We've yet to see any ZTE kit officially released in the US, though, and MetroPCS is about to get things started. The manufacturer has announced that regional carrier MetroPCS will begin offering ZTE equipment designed specifically for the US market starting next month (which we suspect won't be as cool as the WiMax ones being prepared for Sprint) without giving any details about the actual handsets or their specifications. Given nifty MetroPCS devices like the Samsung r410, we think they'd better step up -- another FasTap model, perhaps?[Via Phone Scoop and RCR]
Telus releases Fastap-equipped D90 from ZTE
Digit Wireless' quirky Fastap text entry system doesn't have the biggest following in the world, but every once in a while, some random manufacturer will release a Fastap-equipped handset on some random carrier. Case in point: China's ZTE -- of all companies -- has hooked up with Telus up in Canada to release the rather nice looking D90 flip this week. Specs ain't shabby, either, with EV-DO, stereo Bluetooth, integrated GPS, multimedia support, and a 1.3 megapixel cam. Get it now for $80 CDN (about $76) on a 3-year contract.
