Filed under: Handsets, Pantech, Helio, Virgin Mobile, EV-DO, CDMA

While the Americanized version of Helio’s Ocean 2 has gobs of red accents (thanks, Virgin Mobile!), many have wondered if an all black version would hit the scenes as well. Clearly, that answer is… well, maybe. A South Korean Helio page shows two variants of the newest Ocean, with one devoid of all those fiery accents. Obviously, we’ve no way to tell if this thing is ever coming to US soil, but this just might be the excuse you needed to hit up Seoul for an extended weekend.

[Via MobileCrunch]

Helio’s Ocean 2 spotted in all black attire originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read

Filed under: Handsets, RIM, T-Mobile, GSM, EDGE, BlackBerry OS

Alright, business customers, just wipe that smug grin off your faces, won’t you? The unwashed masses (read: us) have finally been given the green light to rush into T-Mobile stores (and online) to pick up the BlackBerry Curve 8900 for $199.99 on a two-year contract after rebates — not exactly the $149.99 we were hoping for, but we can always hope for Best Buy to get this sucker out the door for a few bucks less than T-Mobile proper.

[Via BlackBerryNews]

BlackBerry Curve 8900 finally available to one and all on T-Mobile originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read

Well, well, well. What do we have here? Looks like Sprint just updated their site with the Palm Pre’s specs. This news alone isn’t anything special as the specs have been available for quite some time, but we now know a few details about the Pre’s internal storage and some service details. Does this mean the Pre is coming soon or did Sprint and Palm just finalize some details?

7.4GB will actually be available from the 8GB included, possibly implying the size of the OS is somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 megs or so (though it’s still unclear what the relationship between the 8GB of storage and RAM will be, and whether or not the Pre will use Program Memory RAM/Storage ROM/Mass Storage like Windows Mobile or have a simpler RAM/Storage setup like other phones).

Also, MMS is CONFIRMED. So is Phone-as-modem via bluetooth or USB tethering. Yes!!

We’re just as excited as the guys over at PreCentral, but it’s still coming to Sprint first and that stinks for us GSM users.

Palm Pre

Crunch Network: TechCrunch obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies

Source[Mobilecrunch]

Filed under: Handsets, Features, HTC, LG, RIM, Samsung, Verizon Wireless, Windows Mobile, EV-DO, CDMA, BlackBerry OS

We’ve got a handful of juicy morsels coming out of Verizon today — actually, that sounds a little unpleasant, but you know what we mean — and we wanted to pass along what we’ve heard. Follow the break for all the action!

Continue reading Verizon tidbits: Versa, Touch Diamond, Pearl 8230, and more

Verizon tidbits: Versa, Touch Diamond, Pearl 8230, and more originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

Filed under: Vodafone, Misc, Hutchison 3

So, how does one successfully snatch away market share from Telstra and Optus? If you’re Hutchison or Vodafone, you merge! Announced today, two of Australia’s smaller operators have decided that an equal joint venture would be the best approach to moving on up, and while they aren’t suggesting that the current economic conditions influenced the decision, many analysts are suggesting that the tie-up could help the newly formed VHA fend off adverse effects from slowed spending on mobile communications. Once together, the combined group will have a local market share of around 26 percent, and Hutchison Australia’s current chief executive, Nigel Dews, has been chosen to lead the new venture. Under the agreement, VHA will market its products and services under the Vodafone brand, though it will retain exclusive rights to Hutchison’s “3″ brand in The Land Down Under.

[Via MobileBurn]

Hutchison and Vodafone to merge in Australia, become VHA originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read

Filed under: Misc

Government-controlled Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) just went live with the 3G network we’ve known was coming since December. All good, right? Not quite. The telecom firm is crying foul to the Department of Telecom, as it currently suspects that someone, somewhere is experimenting on its 3G spectrum. Reportedly, the unauthorized testing has caused disturbances for MTNL subscribers, and according to a company official, the disturbance miraculously stops every time the DoT visits the area to investigate. Sounds like an M. Night Shyamalan movie or something, doesn’t it?

MTNL posts “Keep Out!” sign on its 3G network originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read

Filed under: Features, Podcasts

Like last week, we were pretty shocked at the crushing amount of content we wanted to burn through this time around: two major product reviews, one metric ton of Samsung leaks, a beautiful iDEN set (oxymoron?), and so much more. We managed, though — sort of — so grab yourself a hot cocoa, curl up next to the fire, and have yourself a listen!

Hosts: Chris Ziegler and Sean Cooper
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Solvent – Devices and Strategies (Ghostly International)

00:01:00 – Mystery 3G network appears in Canada — tomfoolery from Bell and Telus?
00:17:18 – BlackBerry Pearl 8230 caught in Verizon garb
00:23:15 – Motorola Renew now available from T-Mobile – Engadget Mobile
00:26:25 – Samsung pulls a Samsung, leaks nine new models ahead of MWC
00:34:50 – 16GB Samsung Omnia shows itself, other Samsung rumors surface
00:39:17 – LG Arena KM900 touchscreen phone shows itself in print
00:42:55 – Toshiba TG01 with 4.1-inch WVGA touchscreen: a world’s first Snapdragon
00:46:33 – Helio Ocean 2 Review
00:51:30 – T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8900 review
01:00:04 – i465 to be first Motorola iDEN phone with QWERTY – Engadget Mobile
01:05:12 – Motorola i9 “Stature” gets real on Boost Mobile
01:07:04 – KDDI au announces Spring 2009 collection
01:13:26 – Reader Question
01:18:13 – Pimping Chris’ G1 Book

Subscribe to the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace

Download the podcast

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)

Contact the podcast

podcast (at) engadgetmobile (dot) com.

Engadget Mobile Podcast 007 – 02.05.2009 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

Filed under: Handsets, T-Mobile, Android

We’ve already heard of one big new feature included in the RC33 firmware update for the G1, but with the update now trickling out into the wild, we’ve finally got the complete rundown of what’s been added and fixed. Leading the list of additions is the ability to check for software updates, and receive automatic updates in the Android Market when an updated application is available. You’ll also now be able to take advantage of Google Voice Search, save pictures received as MMS, and report comments in the Market as spam when you see fit. The update also apparently fixes some messaging stability issues, as well as a problem with a lack of reminders on calendar items, and a pesky issue that caused some G1s to hang at the G1 screen. Hit up the link below for the complete breakdown, and keep an eye on your handset for the over-the-air update.

RC33 G1 firmware update gets detailed in full originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read

Filed under: Handsets, Toshiba

Finally, an honest to goodness Qualcomm Snapdragon device is about to land in the form of the Toshiba TG01. The 9.9-mm thin handset will feature a 4.1-inch WVGA (800 x 480 pixel) touchscreen display, HSDPA data, GPS, WiFi, a microSD slot, and custom Tosh 3D GUI to hide the Windows Mobile 6.1 uglies within. Most notable is that 1GHz Snapdragon chip that Toshiba claims makes the TG01 considerably faster than any device currently on the market with the promise to “revolutionize the mobile entertainment world.” Perhaps that’s where the DivX support comes in? We’ll see when the TG01 is unveiled at Mobile World Congress in less than two weeks followed by an expected summery launch. One more picture after the break.

Update: Oh man, the hands-on photo galleries from the London launch are coming up over at Pocket-Lint and Electricpig, the latter with head-to-head pics of the TG01 against the 12.3-mm iPhone 3G chubster and BlackBerry Bold. She’s definitely a slim-lined beauty but we have our doubts about that stripey UI. Hey Tosh, where’s the Android OS we saw running on Snapdragon at CES?

[Via Pocket-Lint and Stuff.TV]

Continue reading Toshiba TG01 with 4.1-inch WVGA touchscreen: a world’s first Snapdragon

Toshiba TG01 with 4.1-inch WVGA touchscreen: a world’s first Snapdragon originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 07:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, LTE

We’re almost as the excited as the fella in the picture at the news that Motorola’s LTE (Long Term Evolution) trial has gotten off the ground — with an honest-to-goodness set making a standards compliant LTE call. Moto’s setting themselves up as an in-house host for carrier testing in the U.K, or will haul kit to your neck of the woods for a carrier-hosted LTE trial. So that settles it, we’ve decided to launch Engadget Mobile mobile and will be applying tomorrow for our very own LTE test pack tomorrow. Motorola will have this on display at Mobile World Congress and you can rest assured we’ll be all over it.

Motorola’s LTE trial is a go in Swindon, UK originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read

Move over FADs (”for a day”), it’s time for FAFYs (”for a few years”). Thanks to Apple’s lead, touch screen mobile devices have just about consumed the entire mobile industry. Including a touch screen just for the hell of it is like putting lipstick on a hockey mom pig. On the other hand, more competition helps everything: prices drop and innovation increases.

No matter, the LG Arena (KM900) is on its way, one way or another, as evidenced by this leaked (Dutch) image. Sporting a new “3D” UI, dubbed ‘S-Class’ (complete with Apple-like icons), the metal-clad LG Arena features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 5MP camera with “DVD quality” video capture, and of course, a touch screen.

The Arena is expected to be officially announced at the 2009 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona later this month.

[via GSMArena]

Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0

Source[Mobilecrunch]

Filed under: Software, HTC, Android

Odds are there’s not a lot of point in checking your own G1 for the update at this point — it’s just in the hands of a select few so far — but T-Mobile has confirmed that firmware 1.1 / RC33 is just around the corner with some unspecified pre-Cupcake features and fixes in the mix. At this point, at least one inordinately lucky recipient has reported that the phone now supports Google voice search like we’ve seen on other platforms; don’t get us wrong, that’s cool and all, but we’re still waiting for our virtual keyboard. ‘Bout ready to go whip up some batter and bake it ourselves, if you know what we’re saying.

[Via TmoNews]

T-Mobile G1 firmware RC33 (also known as “not Cupcake”) trickles into reality originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read

Filed under: Games, Apple

With the economy lodged so firmly in the toilet we’re always glad to see some sort of good news on that front, so check out the latest numbers from comScore that show the market for downloadable time-wasters on smartphones grew by a massive 291 percent in the period between November of 2007 and 2008. That’s thanks in large part to the iPhone and its App Store, with sales on that platform alone accounting for 14 percent of all mobile game downloads and nearly one third of all iPhone users reporting they’d downloaded at least one game. That compares quite favorably to non-smartphone users, of whom just 3.8 percent have downloaded a game, driving that market to decline by 14 percent since 2007. Overall the mobile gaming industry bucked recessionary trends, grew a healthy 17 percent, and will now be shopping in the husky clothing section.

[Via PHONE Magazine]

Smartphone videogame market explodes in 2008; dumbphone market wounded, but struggling on originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read

Filed under: Software, RIM

Once again, an official firmware update has leaked for the Storm 9530, and once again, it’s being totally avoided by carriers so far — but naturally, it’s already been leaked for the world’s immediate enjoyment. Early impressions include far faster boot times and a return to a smaller keyboard — a change being met with some disappointment — so we’re going to hold off on calling this a must-have upgrade, but as always, it’s pretty awesome to see RIM pumping out these things rapid-fire style. Now, we just need carriers to settle on one and push it out, eh?

4.7.0.99 firmware for the BlackBerry Storm may or may not be awesome originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read

Filed under: Multimedia

We’re honestly beginning to wonder: can Qualcomm catch a break? Between the years of fighting with Nokia and the absolutely abysmal MediaFLO adoption rate, we’re seriously beginning to consider that a Qualcomm curse isn’t too far from the realm of possibility. With the announcement this week that the impending digital TV transition could be pushed from late February to June 12th (though it looks as if the House has halted those plans for now), Qualcomm has begun to wail. In essence, this delay — should it still go down — will force the firm to continue paying fees to broadcasters in order for it to have almost immediate access to vacated analog waves as soon as the cutover takes place. The tab? COO Len Lauer says it’ll be in the “tens of millions of dollars,” and that’s not counting lost revenue that it was surely expecting to pick up between March and June. Here’s hoping one of those “breaks” finally catches up with it here.

Qualcomm could suffer from digital TV transition delay originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read