Pantech shows off latest round of concept phones
October 31, 2008
Filed under: Handsets, Pantech
Pantech has a rich and storied history of showing off concept handsets from time to time, many of which don’t look completely unreasonable for production. The latest batch, produced in cooperation with the company’s 20-strong team of college design students, includes three totally reasonable phones that we’d like (nay, expect) to see serving SKT and KTF customers in the not-too-distant future, and one totally off-the-wall oddball — aptly named “Softy Lofty” — that was clearly mocked up while its designer was involved with some illicit substances. At any rate, we’ll take all four with a helping of global LTE, please. [Warning: subscription required]
[Via Unwired View]
Pantech shows off latest round of concept phones originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Softbank’s operating profit hits record high, iPhone thanked
October 30, 2008
Filed under: Misc, Softbank Mobile, Apple
Nah, Softbank Mobile’s launch of the iPhone isn’t entirely to thank for the carrier notching record operating profits this quarter, but it certainly didn’t hurt matters. Noting that Apple’s darling “pulled in more mobile subscribers,” the company reported an operating profit of
Popularity: 2% [?]
BlackBerry Bold up for pre-order at Best Buy: 680 smackers
October 28, 2008
Filed under: Handsets, RIM, ATT, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA
We already knew RIM’s BlackBerry Bold would sell for a stiff $299.99 on contract with AT&T, but if you’re one of the many AT&T users who’d rather not sign a new agreement (or renew your current one), you’ve probably been patiently waiting to hear an unsubsidized price. Here’s it, but we’re warning you, you might want to sit down. The contract-free Bold is listed at $679.99 at Best Buy, and fittingly enough, the product page offers a convenient link for seeking financing. At any rate, it also tells us that pre-orders will typically ship out within one to two weeks, though we’d be hesitant to bet the farm on that. After waiting for like, ever, for this handset to finally hit shelves, are you still so anxious to drop almost seven bills to claim one as your own?
[Thanks, Christen]
BlackBerry Bold up for pre-order at Best Buy: 680 smackers originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Verizon halts Glyde sales, says it has “an issue”
October 28, 2008
Filed under: Handsets, Samsung, Verizon Wireless
We’re not sure if these are like intimacy issues, magazine issues, or technical issues, but Verizon has put out a vaguely-worded all points bulletin to its employees saying that the Glyde’s somehow screwed up and should be pulled off shelves immediately. In fact, the situation’s so bad that Large Red won’t even let you have a Glyde back if you send one in for service — they want to give you an enV2 in its place (though it states in the memo that customers throwing a hissyfit over the switcheroo can be provided with something else at the manager’s discretion). There’s no word beyond that on what the hell’s going on, but we’re told to expect more info shortly.
[Thanks, Carter]
Update: One important additional detail here — this information was received in a Verizon customer service call center. It’s not clear when (or if) corporate and third-party stores will receive the same story from the huge wigs.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Broadcom packs Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and FM transceiver on 65nm combo chip
October 25, 2008
Filed under: Multimedia, Misc
You can just tell from the wording in Broadcom’s latest press release that it’s still beaming from the late September court ruling involving it and Qualcomm, as we’ve never seen any one company so excited about a piece of silicon. The BCM2049 combo chip is built on 65-nanometer technology and combines Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and an FM transceiver in one convenient place. Obviously, the chip is being aimed at up and coming music phones, and it also features SmartAudio voice processing, Bluetooth audio streaming and an FM transmit function that’ll surely be next to worthless in mid- to large-size cities. Whoever made it onto Broadcom’s early access list can get samples now, but you’ll have to bypass the bouncer in order to get pricing.
Popularity: 2% [?]
T-Mobile G1 Usable Without Activation?
October 25, 2008
A day after the G1 has been released to the masses and it looks like it’s usable without any T-Mobile activation. Simply insert a T-Mobile SIM and go through the phone setup process. You might end up with a… Via [Mobilewhack]
Popularity: 2% [?]
Access debuts ALP 3.0 and ALP mini, a scant 20 years too late
October 25, 2008
Filed under: Software, Linux, Palm OS
Leave it to Access to completely underplay the debut of one of the most anticipated mobile operating systems of the decade — anticipation that’s certainly waned, but we’re sure somebody’s at least a tiny excited. ALP 3.0 and ALP mini are about ready for mass consumption, with ALP mini available to licensees immediately, though no word yet on when ALP 3.0 will hit. From the sound of it, ALP 3.0 concentrates on a fancy, transition-filled smartphone OS, while ALP mini is more stripped-down and ready for featurephone use. Both operating systems are Linux-based, with some strange amalgam of Palm OS-ness, though ALP mini drops Garnet compatibility and can’t run native Linux apps like huge brother 3.0, which is LiMo compatible. NTT DoCoMo is planning ALP phones in the second half of 2009, that Edelweiss ALP phone for Russia has been outed, and we’re still struggling to care.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Navman S30 3D Sat-Nav
October 25, 2008
Navman is one of the pioneers in personal satellite navigation. Navman’s most recent device is a 3D landmark model system, the S30 3D Sat-Nav. Instead of just putting up icons to illustrate points of interest, this uses realistic 3D representations… Via [Mobilewhack]
Popularity: 2% [?]
Samsung’s i7110 gets handled in the wild
October 25, 2008
Filed under: Handsets, Samsung, Symbian, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA
Samsung’s Symbian S60-based i7110 has barely been official for 24 hours, and here we have the very first in the wild shots to get your saliva glands working overtime. Allowed, the handset was tethered to some table wherever it was found, but that doesn’t detract too much from the overall sex appeal. Check the read link for a couple more photographs.
[Thanks, Martin]
Popularity: 1% [?]
Best Buy nabs exclusive on Verizon Blitz Titanium
October 24, 2008
Filed under: Handsets, UTStarcom, Verizon Wireless, CDMA
If you’re not cool with the Blitz’s original blue — well, first of all: hater. Secondly, plan on trotting out to your friendly local large box come this Sunday, October 26 for the release of Verizon’s baby QWERTY set in “titanium,” which is an uppity word for gray. No word on pricing yet, but we’re thinking it won’t break the bank.
[Thanks, Carter]
Popularity: 1% [?]
