Digital Trends
Samsung has become the first major handset manufacturer to roll out a handset based on Google’s Android, officially announcing the I7500 will land in Europe beginning in June, with Germany’s O2 going live as the first carrier with the device. Although the G1 has been on the market for a while, the I7500 marks the first Android handset from a major cell phone manufacturer…and its sure to be just the first of many.
Citing sources close to the project, The New York Times is reporting that mobile operator T-Mobile is planning to launch the first smartphone based on Google’s Android open platform. The QWERTY-equipped smartphone will be manufactured by Taiwan’s HTC, and should be on sale in the United States before the end-of-year holidays…with The New York Times speculating it may launch as soon as October.
Finland’s Nokia might be the largest handset maker on the planet, accounting for about 40 percent of all mobile phones on the planet—including vast numbers of entry level phones all around the world— but the company has been struggling in the lucrative United States market, where it has fallen to about a 10 percent market share. But Nokia is not giving up: according to Finnish daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, Nokia will be rolling a number f new handsets in conjunction with U.S. mobile operators in the coming months, including CDMA handsets for use on Sprint’s and Verizon’s mobile networks.
Wireless provider Leap Wireless has added a new mobile handset to its lineup. The phone, from Samsung, is marketed as Siren and is compatible with Leap’s Cricket service.
The flip-style, Bluetooth-enabled phone boasts a camera with flash and zoom as well as advanced voice recognition and multimedia messaging, according to the companies. Other features include VibeTonz, which lets users download ring tones, Web browsing capabilities, and a personal organizer. The Siren is metallic red with black accents and is available today from Leap. Pricing was not yet available.
12 operators world-wide have selected the slim and attractive LG KU250 handset for use in the GSM Association’s All campaign. The handset will be available at wholesales pricing (about 30% less than normal) and contains a chipset supplied by Qualcomm.
What’s surprising about the whole promotion is that this is a phone people will actually want to use. Measuring in at a mere 15mm thick, the KU250 mobile supports video calls, high-speed internet access, and other multimedia features. "The 3G for All campaign has had a great response from both handset and chipset vendors demonstrating their commitment to work with operators to drive usage of 3G services," said Craig Ehrlich, chairman of the GSMA,”A highly-capable device that is as attractive and cost-effective as the leading 2G multimedia handsets, the LG-KU250 has clear mass-market appeal and will help fuel interest in third-generation services across the world."
Telephone users of a certain age will usually concede that new communications technologies like cell phones, wireless handsets, headsets, and speakerphones have generally made communication easier than using those old-style, clunky handsets and coiled phone cords. But those same folks are likely to note something else: it was sure easier to hold one of those big handsets than it is to keep a grip on some of these barely-there newfangled phones.
Among respondents to the survey, 80 percent reported a belief that a low-end GSM handset with a total bill-of-materials cost of $25 can be achieved within two years or less, while 51 percent believe this level can be reached within one year or less. In addition to electronic and mechanical components, the cost of the handset as presented in the survey was defined to include battery, testing, final assembly, software and IP licensing, and product packaging.
The rugged Motorola i605 handset offers exclusive features, including Nextel’s new Group Connect walkie-talkie service, which enables group walkie-talkie conversations nationwide, and a large screen that is optimized for outdoor usage to reduce glare from sunlight.
The Motorola i605 is designed for users in industries such as field services, construction, transportation and government segments. Its rubberized monolith design meets military specifications for resistance to dust, shock and vibration. Its large memory and maximum battery life provide the optimal operation of Java-powered business solutions, and its GPS capability enables location-based services, including fleet tracking and turn-by-turn directions. The Motorola i605 also offers Nextel Multimedia Messaging service (MMS), which allows users to send and receive messages that include text, images and audio together.
The flat panel speaker emits sound by sending vibrations throughout the entire display panel. The user can hear the person on the other end by placing an ear anywhere on the panel. In addition, the speaker’s use of the entire display makes audiovisual content more vivid than conventional handsets, whose speakers are located on the side of the display.
The N506iS includes the 180-degree display “reverse style
“The company said it has already shipped 20,000 of its SCH-A890 handset to Verizon and said it expects to increase shipments in 2005. Verizon’s 1xEV-DO network is currently available in about 20 major markets in the U.S. but, so far, it is only available to laptops users who buy a PC Card that works with the service.”
The new handset will feature a 1.3 Megapixel camera and a clam shell flip phone design
Read more at EETimes
Everyone wants to be an insider, and you can be one too! Choose your poison: sign-up for our Newsletter, join us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter. Do all three and you'll be swimming in the the latest news, reviews, videos and more gadget goodness!
Become a DT soldier! Join us on Facebook and share the best news, guides, videos and other cool information directly with all your friends. Some might even thank you for it!
Join the thousands and follow the best of us on Facebook.
Do you like information in small snippets? Then our Twitter feed is just for you. Follow Digital Trends and you'll be able to catch up daily on our latest content, or even interact directly with our team. Tweet Tweet!
Join the thousands and follow the best of us on Twitter.
That’s Right, Sign-up For Our Monthly Random Prize Drawings and You Could Be That Winner.
