MOTORAZRmaxx V6 Ferrari Challenge Limited Edition

Following similar deals with other manufacturers and car companies, Motorola has today announced the availability of a Ferrari-branded Motorola MOTORAZRmaxx V6. Breaking all boundaries for long product names, this Ferrari endorsed handset is known as the MOTORAZRmaxx V6 Ferrari Challenge Mobile Phone Limited Edition.

On top of the 2.2" QVGA screen, 2.0 megapixel camera, microSD slot, and HSDPA data capability of the regular MOTORAZRmaxx V6, the new special edition includes exclusive Ferrari content and branding. A Ferrari emblem adorns the outside of the handset, a Ferrari sound effect can be heard when the handset is switched on or off, an image of the Ferrari F430's engine features on the external display, and a Ferrari background picture displays on the internal screen. There are also 30 Ferrari photos pre-installed on the handset, and a hand-made Ferrari red leather carrying case is included in the box.

The MOTORAZRmaxx V6 Ferrari Challenge Mobile Phone Limited Edition is available now for a recommended retail price of 490EUR (approximately US$630).

Motorola's Linux Powered ROKR E6 Music Phone

Motorola has been selling Linux smartphones for a while now, but so far they have only been popular in Asian countries, particularly in countries with a large population that uses the Chinese language. The MOTOROKR E6 was announced exactly one year after the MOTOMING A1200, but as the name implies, the target market is completely different. The E6 is meant for the young who need stronger multimedia functions. Today we will see if the E6 delivers what it promises.

Take note that the MOTOROKR E6 we are reviewing is the China Mobile version, the bundled games and portal/network fine tuning are different from the unbranded version. Strangely enough, this is the only version Motorola Hong Kong had for press reviews. The E6 selling in downtown Hong Kong are free of network branding.

Physical Aspects

The E6's design hints at that of a black RAZR, from the sharp edges to the button design. The case is bigger than an average candy bar, it's quite wide and long at 111mm x 51.5mm (4.4" x 2"); good thing is that the thickness is only 14.5mm (.6"). It is because of the thinness that the E6 is a lot more pocketable than you might otherwise think. The build quality is excellent and the device weight is 121g (4.3oz).

The E6 is completely black. On the front you will find a touch screen that is mounted on the surface, making it completely flat, as opposed to most touch-screen devices on the market today where the rim between the screen and the body tends to collect dust. The only buttons found on the front are the d-pad, a music shortcut key, one customizable shortcut key, and the usual dial/hang up buttons. The layer over the screen is glossy, so it will be a fingerprint magnet. The lower part with the d-pad is made of material similar to that found on the RAZR's keypad, the backlight color is the same cyan blue and the tactile feedback is good. I noticed that the paint on the edges of the engravings are already starting to peel off after a few days of usage, the screen is fine though - free of any scratches. Flipping to the back of the phone you will see the camera module with its mirror for self-portraits and the manual macro focus switch. Ringtone audio comes out of the grille holes circularly arranged close to the camera. The stylus and the USB port for data and power can be found on the bottom, whereas the standard 3.5mm stereo headphone jack can be found at the top.

On the left you can find the volume keys, an SD slot, and 3 dedicated music keys. The camera shutter button and the key lock slider are found on the right side. The arrangement of buttons is logical in general, but the positioning is not the most ergonomic. The key lock slide-key, for example, is positioned too high, as are the volume keys. The dedicated music keys are a bit difficult to find by touch when the phone is in your pocket. It would have been better if they were further apart, or if the engraved icons on them would have been bigger and deeper.

Overall I'm happy with the design of MOTOROKR E6, there is definitely room for improvement, for example the positioning of the keys. It would have been great if Motorola could have reduced the length a bit more, as well

Nokia 7360 L'amour

The Nokia L'amour 2 collection was recently launched with 2 new models and an updated version of the 7360 from the previous series. Unfortunately, the only update to the 7360 was the colour scheme - nothing else. It is still the same VGA camera equipped phone running on the old version of Nokia's S40 user interface. It is a triband (GSM 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) phone with support for GPRS and EDGE data. While calling it a timeless design, I wonder what Nokia was thinking when they decided not to at least update the UI.

CES Gallery: Samsung Announces F500 Ultra Video for US market

Today at a press conference at the CES 2007 event in Las Vegas, Samsung Mobile announced that the SGH-F300 and SGH-F500 that we saw at the ITU show in Hong Kong last month will indeed make it to the US market. There were no carrier support announcements made yet, but Samsung said that we should expect to hear details "soon."

The SGH-F500, shown here, is the video oriented Ultra handset. It is quite small, though a bit bigger than the F300 Ultra Music, and like its sibling has two front faces. One face is dedicated to video playback and control while the other is home to a regular numeric keypad and a smaller display. It has a 262k QVGA video display that is larger and higher in resolution than the one found in the F300, but has the same music media file playback capabilities.

In terms of video playback, the F500 supports DivX, WMV, MPEG4, and H.264. The F500's body can be reconfigured to act as its own built-in stand for watching videos. Other features of note include a 2 megapixel camera, a 2GB capable microSD card slot, and a whopping 400MB of built-in storage space. Bluetooth 2.0 support with A2DP stereo is also available.

The HSDPA/UMTS capable F300 only supports the 900, 1800, and 1900MHz GSM frequency bands, but seems most likely destined for Cingular after having the frequency band support changed a bit.

You'll find more live CES photos of the Samsung Ultra Video on the following page.

Dual-Flip QWERTY with the Samsung SCH-u640

The Samsung SCH-u740, announced today at CES in Las Vegas, sports a design and layout similar to the already released SGH-d307, but is made for CDMA networks. The dual-hinge design allows the device to function as a regular handset, but with a twist it can be used in a landscape orientation with a full QWERTY keyboard.

The Samsung SCH-u740 is slightly updated when compared against its GSM counterpart, with a 1.3 megapixel camera and microSD memory expansion on board. A 262k color, 176x220 pixel resolution TFT LCD display adorns the inside of the device, with a 65k color STN unit on the outside, positioned just above touch sensitive music control keys. Speakerphone functionality and voice recognition, features that are almost expected on phones of this price range, are of course present, and Bluetooth connectivity is a welcome addition for short-range communications. High-speed data is taken care of with EV-DO, sure to be useful when sending and receiving email using the messaging focused device.

While no specific information on a release date or carrier availability has been announced, we are told that the Samsung SCH-u740 is expected to be available by the end of Q1 or the start of Q2 this year. Verizon Wireless is the likely carrier for the device.

More live photos of the Samsung SCH-u740 from CES are available on the following page.

Specifications for the Samsung SCH-740
Band	CDMA 800/1900MHz
Data	EV-DO
Size	97.5mm x 51.9mm x 14.8mm (3.84" x 2.04" x 0.58")
Weight	Unknown
Battery Life	Unknown
Main Display	2.2" 262k color TFT LCD, 176x220 pixel resolution
Sub-Display	1.1" 65k color STN LCD, 96x96 pixel resolution
Camera	Yes, 1.3 megapixel resolution
Video	Video capture/playback
Messaging	MMS/SMS
Email	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes
Infrared	No
Java	Unknown
Polyphonics	Yes
Memory	Unknown on board memory, microSD memory expansion
Availability	Late Q1 2007
Other	QWERTY Keyboard

Samsung showcases T509 Slim Bar Phone

Posted: 06-Apr-2006 [Source: Samsung]

[Small size does not mean small feature set for this Bluetooth enabled multimedia handset. The ultra thin T509 bar phone complements the A900 (clamshell) and T809 (slider) to round out the Samsung thin phone line.]

Las Vegas -- Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung) today unveiled a super slim bar phone that is expected to be the thinnest available in the U.S. when it launches this spring. The Samsung t509, displayed for the first time at the CTIA Wireless 2006 trade show, boasts an ultra-thin profile of only 9.8 mm. With the addition of the t509 to its U.S. product portfolio, Samsung leads the industry as the only company to have three distinct slim phone designs -- clamshell, slider and bar.

Driving the global trend and popularity of slim, wide-screened phone designs, Samsung's growing U.S. portfolio of ultra-slim phones is part of the company's aggressive global strategy in the slim phone category, demonstrating how quickly and effectively Samsung recognizes and acts on consumer demands. While Samsung delivers on developing smaller and thinner mobile phones, the company does so without compromising on reliability or on providing premium multimedia capabilities.

The functionality provided by a slim phone with expanded screen supports crucial advanced multimedia features, such as entertainment services, streaming video and messaging. The t509 joins Samsung's successful slim predecessors, the a900, featuring a clamshell design, and the t809, with its slider design. Both phones support impressive multimedia features and each measures less than 15 mm thin. Also included in Samsung's upcoming portfolio of sleek, slim phones is the d807, a stylish black and chrome slider expected in the U.S this summer.

The t509 and d807 feature high-speed EDGE connectivity and Bluetooth(r) wireless technology to support delivery of entertainment and information on-demand services. Each phone boasts large, vivid 262K-color screens, ideal for watching streaming videos or viewing images taken with the phones' integrated cameras. On the d807, an external memory slot, supporting microSD(tm) memory cards, allows for additional external content storage.

"Samsung's industry leadership is based on our ability to deliver innovative phone designs, especially as consumers demand thinner and sleeker devices," said Peter Skaryzynski, senior vice president, Samsung. "When consumers choose one of our slim phones, they are getting an intelligently designed handset that integrates the best features and functionality on the market."

Samsung's reputation to develop slim designs with advanced features started early with the introduction of the company's first 9.8mm mobile phone, the SPH-N2000, in Korea in 2001. Samsung will continue to introduce additional slim concept designs throughout the world with various form factors and features.

Global products announced earlier this year and on display at CTIA include the credit-card sized SGH-P300 phone, which measures 8.9 mm and comes packed with a 1.3 megapixel camera, music player and advanced video recording capabilities. Samsung's SGH-D870 is the world's thinnest three megapixel camera phone in a slider form factor, and the SGH-D520 and SCH-Z540 are both slim, elegantly designed multimedia phones.

Sony Ericsson Launches W200 Walkman Phone

Snapshot by Brad Kellett on Sunday January 07, 2007.


After the success of its first affordable Walkman handset, Sony Ericsson has today announced a new beginner Walkman phone known as the W200. Launched at CES in Las Vegas, the Sony Ericsson W200 is targeted at the US market, where budget handsets tend to do better than their more expensive counterparts.

While the Sony Ericsson W200 is not big on features, it has everything covered for a good music experience. A dedicated Walkman button provides easy access to your audio stored on Memory Stick Micro (M2) cards, which are currently available up to 1GB in size. Bored of the music you have with you? An FM radio is also available, which can be used with the handset's speakerphone as an alarm clock.

Music is not the W200's only trick, though, as the handset also features a VGA resolution camera with 4x digital zoom. A full HTML compliant browser is also present, and the device's PIM applications can be easily synchronized with a desktop PC.

The Sony Ericsson W200 will be available in two versions, one for the Americas and one for Europe, starting Q2 2007. The two versions will be available in two color schemes, Rhythm Black and Pulse White.

Specifications for the Sony Ericsson W200
Band	GSM 850/1800/1900MHz or GSM 900/1800/1900
Data	GPRS
Size	Unknown
Weight	Unknown
Battery Life	Up to 15 days of standby time
	Up to 7 hours talk time
Main Display	65k color, 128x160 resolution
Sub-Display	N/A
Camera	VGA
Video	Video capture/playback
Messaging	MMS/SMS
Email	No
Bluetooth	Unknown
Infrared	No
Java	Yes
Polyphonics	Yes
Memory	27MB internal memory, Memory Stick Micro (M2) expansion slot
Availability	Q2 2007
Other	music player, RDS FM radio, speakerphone, 128MB card included

New Nokia N95 all-in-one multimedia computer

Posted: 26-Sep-2006 [Source: Nokia]

[New Nokia N92 HSDPA multimedia computer offers a 2-way slide concept, integrated GPS, 5-megapixel camera, 2.6" QVGA display, and supports Wi-FI, compatible microSD cards and mini-USB.]

Nokia Open Studio 2006, New York -- Nokia today introduced the Nokia N95, an all-in-one multimedia computer with a pioneering 2-way slide concept, integrated GPS functionality, a 5 megapixel camera and support for high-speed mobile networks, making it easier to watch and record videos, listen to songs, take high-quality photos, browse the internet, or catch up on email while on the move.

"The Nokia N95 brings a range of multimedia ingredients together, such as a fantastic display, outstanding photo and video capability and high-speed connectivity, making it the ultimate multimedia computer," said Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Multimedia, Nokia. "This single device - which fits easily in your pocket - can replace stand-alone devices that you no longer need, whether it's your music player, your digital camera, PDA or navigation device. Most importantly, the Nokia N95 is with you and connected when you want to use it."

The innovative 2-way slide concept makes it easy to switch between different modes, going from reading maps to watching a video with a simple slide. A numeric keypad slides out from one end of the device while dedicated media keys slide out from the opposite direction, converting the display into full screen landscape mode. With powerful 3D graphics, the Nokia N95 has a stunning user interface that makes it intuitive to find the features and services you want.

With its integrated GPS at your fingertips, finding your way just got easier. The Maps application includes maps for more than 100 countries, enabling users to explore the world, find specific routes or locate services such as restaurants and hotels and covering more than 15 million points of interest. You can also purchase additional features, such as city guides and voice guided navigation.

With the Carl Zeiss optics on the 5 megapixel camera, you can capture print quality photos and DVD-like quality video clips. Photos and video clips can be enjoyed on a compatible television thanks to the device's TV out feature and support for Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology.

Designed for High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) networks and with support for WLAN, EDGE and WCDMA networks, the Nokia N95 provides excellent coverage and speeds wherever you may be. In HSDPA networks, browsing the internet, reading email, streaming video and downloading large files can be carried out up to 10 times faster than with 3G.

The Nokia N95 also offers a first class entertainment experience with the combination of a large 2.6" QVGA 16 million color display, impressive 3D graphics, built-in stereo speakers offering a 3D stereo effect, standard 3.5 mm audio jack, support for compatible microSD cards and mini USB for convenient data transfer. Browsing the internet on the Nokia N95 is a pleasure using the Nokia Web Browser with Mini Map, with new features such as a floating toolbar, password manager and auto complete, as well as web feeds with support for Atom and auto update.

The Nokia N95 is based on the world's leading S60 software on Symbian OS, enabling you to personalize your device from a wide choice of compatible applications that can be downloaded to the Nokia N95, including games, navigation, entertainment, productivity and creativity. The Nokia N95 comes out of the box ready to create, connect, consume and interact with some of the internet's most popular services. Use Yahoo! Search to search for and find most anything on the web, scroll though a book with Amazon's MobiPocket Reader or snap a photo and send it directly to your Flickr site.

The Nokia N95 is expected to start shipping in volumes during the first quarter of 2007 at an estimated unsubsidized retail price of 550 euros.

Sony Ericsson Launches MBW-100 Bluetooth Watch

News by Michael Oryl (editor) on Thursday September 28, 2006.

Today Sony Ericsson launched their first Bluetooth watch, the MBW-100. The latest in a line of novel Bluetooth devices from the company, the MBW-100 was designed in partnership with Fossil and will provide its wearer with caller ID and other information from their linked mobile phone.

The MBW-100's controls and OLED display can also be used to control music playback on compatible mobile phones as well as alert users of newly received text messages - all from their wrist. Perhaps equally useful, the watch can be used to reject inbound calls and have them sent directly to voicemail.

The Bluetooth 2.0 functionality on the MBW-100 should be able to run for 7 days on a charge, and the analog watch functionality should work for an additional 7 days beyond that. Sony Ericsson states that the MBW-100 is compatible with the following Sony Ericsson handsets: K610, K610i, K618, K790, K800, V630, W710, W810, W850, Z610, and Z710.

Sprint Power Vision M1 by Sanyo

Sprint Power Vision M1 by Sanyo
Posted: 04-Jan-2007 [Source: Sprint]

[New Vision M1 by Sanyo features 1 gigabyte of internal memory - that translates to 18 hours of music playing time - plus stereo Bluetooth and a 2.0 megapixel camera.]

Overland Park, Kan -- Sprint and SANYO today announced the full-channel availability of the M1 by SANYO, a Sprint Power Vision(SM) enabled wireless phone that offers an unprecedented combination of features and capabilities aimed at today's mobile music and entertainment users. As Sprint's first phone with 1GB of internal memory, the M1 by SANYO features storage for up to 16 hours* of music and other multimedia files including pictures, video clips and voice recording.

The attractive M1 by SANYO provides quick and easy access to Sprint-exclusive content, including:

* Sprint Music Store(SM), which allows users to browse and wirelessly download full-length songs directly to their phone.

* Sprint TV(SM) with more than 50 channels of television and on-demand video and audio including more than 20 channels offering live content.

* NFL Mobile, a Sprint-exclusive wireless application that brings fans access to same-day video highlights, customizable real-time statistics, scores, injury reports and other information updated every two seconds.

* Sprint Movies, the first "pay-per-view" service for mobile phones in the U.S. that streams full-length movies, including recent box-office hits and timeless favorites from Buena Vista VOD, Lionsgate, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures.

* Sprint Power View, the industry's first made-for-mobile sports and entertainment video programming network.

The M1 by SANYO's advanced power management offers up to 18** hours of continuous music-playing time to support extended use of the multimedia capabilities. Additional key features include stereo Bluetooth wireless technology, a 2.0 megapixel camera with auto-focus, nine equalizer settings for fine-tuning the listening experience, and background music mode for listening to music while checking e-mail, surfing the Web or sending text messages. The M1 by SANYO also has external controls and large external LCD for optimal usability.

"The M1 is the music phone with more -- more onboard memory storage, more music-playing time, more camera image resolution, more multimedia capabilities, more everything," said Andy Kodera, senior vice president and general manager of SANYO Fisher Company's Wireless Communications Division. "The M1 is really the perfect companion for Sprint's powerful network and rich content and service offerings."

"Music and entertainment lovers will definitely appreciate the M1 by SANYO," said Danny Bowman, vice president of device marketing and planning for Sprint. "With one gigabyte of internal memory, this good-looking wireless phone will easily become the only device you need to take your music with you on-the-go."

The M1 by SANYO is available through all Sprint retail channels including www.Sprint.com. Suggested retail price is $349.99 or $199.99 with a two-year subscriber agreement.

Samsung Launches the 'Mini MP3 phone'

Samsung Launches the 'Mini MP3 phone'
Posted: 06-Nov-2006 [Source: Samsung]

[New Mini MP3 Phone (Model SGH-X830) offers click wheel navigation, built-in 1GB memory, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth connectivity.]

Seoul -- Samsung's latest mini music phone comes with an innovative MP3 player design. The unique swing-open form factor allows for a perfect combination of mobile phone and MP3 player function. When closed, the X830 functions like a MP3 player with a music player interface that horizontally displays the playlist, equalizer settings and song information. Swinging the phone open exposes the keypad and doubles its length for optimal mobile communication experience.

The X830 attracts mobile users who prefer portability and an exceptional trendy design. Slim and narrow in size, the mobile phone measures an incredibly compressed 84x30x19.9mm and weighs in at a mere 75 grams for light mobility.

This mini MP3 phone's portability and compactness does not compromise the ease of use for its various multimedia functions. The click wheel navigation gives users hassle-free control of the music functions. The built-in 1GB memory allows for storage of 250 songs. Users can also download audio files from CNN or BBC website by podcasting function. The USB 2.0 connection is fast enough to handle large data volumes, and the Music Library organizes downloaded music according to album name, song title, artist and genre for effortless search and playback. The phone also has Bluetooth connectivity that allows users to talk or enjoy their music through a wireless stereo headset.

Moreover, the 'Mini MP3 phone' comes in six different color choices - black, pure white, oasis blue, candy pink, orange and lemon green - to truly be a full-functioning fashion accessory.

The 'mini MP3 phone' will be released in the European market by end of this month and will be expanded to other GSM markets shortly.

SGH-X830 Specifications - Standard

*GSM/EDGE/GPRS Class 10

*Camera - 1.3 Megapixel Camera

*Display - 128x220 262K TFT

*Features - 1GB (Nand flash) built in memory, 900/1800/1900 MHz, MP3/AAC/AAC+/AAC+(e)/WMA, MPEG4/H.263, Bluetooth/ USB v2.0, MMS/JAVA/WAP 2.0

*Size - 84x30x19.9 mm

*Weight - 75 g

Samsung Blackjack (SGH-i607) Smartphone (COOL!!!)

Snapshot by Brad Kellett on Monday November 13, 2006.

The competition in the QWERTY keyboard-equipped smartphone market is heating up today, with Cingular's launch of the Samsung SGH-i607, affectionately known as the Blackjack. The phone is aimed at competing with T-Mobile's Dash and the Motorola Q.

The Samsung Blackjack is one of only a handful of devices compatible with Cingular's new HSDPA network, which will come in handy when sending and receiving email from the device. For push email, the Blackjack is compatible with Microsoft Direct Push, Good Mobile Messaging, as well as Cingular's Xpress Mail. The 12mm (0.46") thin device packs a good feature set for a smartphone, with a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth with A2DP stereo headset support, and microSD memory expansion, all on top of Windows Mobile 5.0 with the Messaging and Security Feature Pack. The Blackjack also provides support for Cingular Music and Cingular Video for on demand access to popular songs and streaming video content.

The Samsung SGH-i607 Blackjack is a Cingular exclusive, and will be available from mid November for US$199.99 with a two-year service agreement and unlimited data plan.

Specifications for the Samsung SGH-i607
Band	GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz , WCDMA 850/1900MHz
Data	HSDPA
Size	113mm x 59mm x 12mm (4.45" x 2.32" x 0.46")
Weight	99g (3.5oz)
Battery Life	264 hours standby time
	3 hours talk time
Main Display	64k color TFT LCD, 320x240 pixel resolution
Sub-Display	N/A
Camera	Yes, 1.3 megapixel resolution
Video	Video capture/playback
Messaging	MMS/SMS
Email	Yes (Good, POP3, IMAP4)
Bluetooth	Yes, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
Infrared	No
Java	Yes
Polyphonics	Yes
Memory	Unknown on board memory, microSD memory expansion
Availability	Mid November

Sony Ericsson Releases Photos of the new W880

Sony Ericsson Releases Photos of the new W880

News by Brad Kellett on Sunday January 07, 2007.

Note: Sponsored advertising links, if any, are in green.

In a somewhat different move for the company, Sony Ericsson has released teaser images of an upcoming Walkman handset that has been rumored for some time. Sony Ericsson say the new W880 is the next milestone in the development of the Walkman phone story, and will "…blend astonishing good looks with all of the music-centered features that fans have come to expect from the Walkman phone family."

While no details on features or specifications of the Sony Ericsson W880 have been shared, the device is obviously very thin, with a metallic finish for the front surface. Until the device is released sometime during the first half of 2007 or we can get our hands on an actual unit for some live photos, these two teaser images will have to make do.

Nokia Launches Thin and Smart N76

Nokia Launches Thin and Smart N76

Snapshot by Brad Kellett on Sunday January 07, 2007.

Nokia, which has long shied away from releasing thin devices, has today announced its entry to the ever-crowded thin handset market with the new N76. Nokia states that it did not want to compromise on features just to shave thickness off the device, and as such, this 14mm (0.5") thick handset boasts some impressive specifications when compared to its rivals.

The new Nokia N76 runs the S60 v3 UI on top of the Symbian OS, and so includes all the smartphone features that users have come to expect from the company's Nseries. The folder design holds music control keys underneath the 160x128 pixel resolution external display, and conceals a 16 million color capable 2.4" QVGA resolution internal screen that can also be used in a landscape orientation. A 2.0 megapixel camera is present to satisfy the shutterbugs among us, with 26MB of internal memory and microSD memory expansion supporting up to 2GB cards to store all your photos and music. With UMTS 3G high-speed data and Bluetooth v2.0, the Nokia N76 should satisfy most on the connectivity front. Despite the feature list, the Nokia N76 tips the scales at just 115g (4.1oz).

The thin and attractive new Nokia N76 smartphone should be available during the first quarter of 2007, carrying an expected retail price of 390 Euros (approximately US$515).

RIM's BlackBerry Pearl Smartphone announced

RIM's BlackBerry Pearl Smartphone announced
Posted: 07-Sep-2006 [Source: RIM]

[The new quad-band EDGE-enabled BlackBerry Pearl offers a digital camera, multimedia capabilities, expandable memory slot, plus BlackBerry push-email functionality. Availability begins with T-Mobile USA beginning September 12.]

Waterloo, ON -- Determined to develop one of the smallest and lightest smartphones in the world while staying true to the iconic BlackBerry user experience, Research In Motion (RIM) (today announced its latest innovation in mobile handsets -- the small, smart and stylish BlackBerry Pearl.

RIM is once again changing the mobile communications landscape. This feature-rich smartphone incorporates best-in-class technology that is remarkably small and incredibly easy-to-use. The BlackBerry Pearl comes complete with digital camera, multimedia capabilities and an expandable memory slot for the first time, while continuing to provide the industry leading BlackBerry experience that users have come to love.

Beneath its sleek and stylish exterior, which measures just 4.2" x 1.97" x .57" and weighs only 3.1 ounces, the BlackBerry Pearl is a quad-band GSM/GPRS and EDGE-enabled mobile application powerhouse delivering the fast performance of the latest generation BlackBerry handset platform. The built-in 64MB flash memory is now expandable with a MicroSD card, giving users plenty more storage for music, pictures, videos, and data files.

An advanced and easy-to-use phone

The BlackBerry Pearl delivers exceptional phone quality with premium, easy-to-use phone features including Speaker Independent Voice Recognition for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD), support for polyphonic, mp3 and MIDI ring tones, and intuitive call management features such as smart dialing, conference calling, speed dialing and call forwarding. It also features a speakerphone and Bluetooth 2.0 for use with hands-free headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals such as a GPS receiver. BlackBerry Desktop Software synchronization via Bluetooth is also supported.

Email and text messaging on the go

With a helpful Setup Wizard, the unique 'push-based' BlackBerry service comes to life giving users synchronized access to both personal and corporate email accounts with attachment viewing and the ability to manage multiple accounts while on the go*. The BlackBerry Pearl also comes with a newly enhanced version of RIM's SureType QWERTY keypad technology that makes typing messages and dialing phone numbers quick and easy. The handset is supported on BlackBerry Internet Service as well as BlackBerry Enterprise Server, with a new set of IT policy controls on the latter to allow IT departments to administer camera and expansion memory settings on corporate handsets.

Vivid display and intuitive navigation

Images appear incredibly vivid and crisp on the BlackBerry Pearl's large, ultra-bright, high resolution (240x260) display. Built-in light sensing technology automatically adjusts the screen and keypad brightness for optimum viewing of emails and attachments, pictures, web pages, business applications and games in indoor, outdoor and dark environments. The BlackBerry Pearl also introduces an incredibly intuitive user interface with a supple, responsive trackball that makes vertical and lateral scrolling fast and easy. Dedicated 'menu' and 'escape' keys on either side of the trackball along with context sensitive menus make navigation instinctive, smooth, and true to the BlackBerry experience.

Digital camera - just snap and send

Featuring a 1.3 megapixel camera with built-in flash and 5x digital zoom, users can snap a picture and instantly share it with friends and family by email**, MMS or BlackBerry Messenger. Photos can also be set as caller ID images, and can be easily transferred between the handset and a computer using the included USB cable.

BlackBerry Maps -- quick and easy directions

BlackBerry Maps delivers maps and step-by-step driving directions quickly and conveniently. BlackBerry Maps works together with other BlackBerry applications, enabling users to send maps via email and launch maps from other applications including contacts in their address book. BlackBerry Maps is currently available in North America only.

Built-in media player -- for convenience and fun

The BlackBerry Pearl comes with a media player and stereo headset jack so users can enjoy their favorite music and videos on the go. Music and video clips are delivered with rich sound and vivid color. MP3 and ACC music files and MPEG4 and H.263 video files are supported.

Availability

The BlackBerry Pearl will be available from T-Mobile USA in the United States beginning September 12. It will also be available in October from Rogers Wireless in Canada and a variety of carriers in Europe. Availability in Asia-Pacific and Latin America is expected later this year.

* Includes support for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, Novell GroupWise and most popular ISP email accounts.

** Requires minimum versions of BlackBerry Internet Service or BlackBerry Enterprise Server software. Check with service provider or IT administrator for availability.

Motorola advances MotoMusic and more at CES

Motorola advances MotoMusic and more at CES
Posted: 09-Jan-2007 [Source: Motorola]

[Motorola introduces the new Linux-based MOTORIZR Z6 and the MOTOMING devices, announces alliances with Warner Music and Microsoft, and new Bluetooth Active Headphones S9, the MOTO Experience Pack plus the new Yahoo Go! for Mobile is set to debut on Motorola devices, and last but not least, new phone-based navigation and location-based services and products.]

Las Vegas -- MOTOMUSIC devices:

* MOTORIZR Z6 -- This eye-catching new slider brings a mid-tier music experience to consumers worldwide. The Linux-based MOTORIZR Z6 is compatible with Microsoft Windows Media Player subscription stores. It's easy to take music on the go -- simply plug in and sync music. Synchronize individual songs or full playlists in seconds with high speed USB 2.0. Up to 2GB of removable microSD memory allows users to store all of their favorite songs. Dedicated music keys make accessing and managing your library a cinch. Even listen wirelessly with Bluetooth Stereo technology.

* MOTOMING with EDGE -- This supremely stylish and compact Linux-based device is a mobile communications and entertainment center for those who need to keep their work, life and entertainment organized and looking good. With the MOTOMING phone's large transparent window, RealPlayer media player with multiple audio file support, FM radio, unique "play while closed" capability, stereo Bluetooth wireless technology and up to 1GB of optional removable microSD memory so music lovers can get the music they want when they want it.

MOTOMUSIC alliances

* Warner Music Group -- The first of multiple alliances expected to provide content for the MOTOMUSIC Experience, Motorola and Warner Music Group will collaborate on the development of digital products, marketing campaigns and strategic planning across multiple devices. The alliance will feature a variety of artists and can offer fans exclusive, premium content such as full-length songs, ringtones, ringback tones, mobile music videos, wallpapers and more.

* Microsoft Corp. -- The Motorola and Microsoft music collaboration is making it easy for consumers to take music from their Windows-based PC and load it on their phone. Users will have an easy mobile music synching experience with Windows Media Player as well as access to content from more than 200 online music services from around the world.

MOTOMUSIC accessories

* Motorola Bluetooth Active Headphones S9 -- Leveraging Bluetooth Stereo technology, these new Bluetooth Active Headphones make it easy to enjoy the freedom of wireless music. With an easy-to-wear and stable behind-the-head design, the ultra-light (barely one ounce) S9 stereo headphones are comfortable and let users listen to their favorite tunes and stay connected to a compatible Bluetooth enabled mobile phone. And listening could never be easier. Music mutes or pauses when calls come in and resumes when the call ends.

MOTOMUSIC content

* MOTO Experience Pack -- One of the first mobile products expected to be offered as part of the Warner Music Group and Motorola alliance is the MOTO Experience Pack. The MOTO Experience Pack is a single file downloaded to the mobile device that contains several music-based products creating a feature-rich multimedia artist experience on the handset.

Other Mobile Devices announcements:

* New Yahoo Go! for Mobile to debut on Motorola devices -- The Yahoo! Go 2.0 beta (http://go.yahoo.com) is available for consumers to download today on Motorola's new MOTORAZR maxx V6 and MOTORAZR V3xx devices. These products launch the new Yahoo! Go for Mobile 2.0, a Java-based version of the popular Yahoo! Go for Mobile service. Bringing Internet to the mobile phone, Yahoo! Go for Mobile 2.0 makes it easy to connect to your Internet community and content. It places breakthrough search, local information, maps and photo-sharing products at your fingertips on your mobile phone. You also can personalize your news, sports, entertainment and finance content and stay seamlessly connected to your community.

* New phone-based navigation and location-based services and products -- Motorola mobile devices will feature world-class mobile navigation and location-based services through a new agreement with software suppliers Jentro Technologies and Destinator Technologies. Use your mobile phone to access local point-of-interest searches, community tools and other location-based and value-added services.

iPhone announced at MacWorld

Posted: 10-Jan-2007 [Source: Apple]

[New Apple iPhone combines a GSM/EDGE mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and advanced Internet functionality along with support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.]

MacWorld, San Francisco -- Apple introduced iPhone, combining three products-a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, searching and maps-into one small and lightweight handheld device. iPhone introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting users control iPhone with just their fingers. iPhone also ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, which completely redefines what users can do on their mobile phones.

"iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We are all born with the ultimate pointing device -- our fingers -- and iPhone uses them to create the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse."

iPhone is a Revolutionary Mobile Phone

iPhone is a revolutionary new mobile phone that allows users to make calls by simply pointing at a name or number. iPhone syncs all of your contacts from your PC, Mac or Internet service such as Yahoo!, so that you always have your full list of up-to-date contacts with you. In addition, you can easily construct a favorites list for your most frequently made calls, and easily merge calls together to create conference calls.

iPhone's pioneering Visual Voicemail, an industry first, lets users look at a listing of their voicemails, decide which messages to listen to, then go directly to those messages without listening to the prior messages. Just like email, iPhone's Visual Voicemail enables users to immediately randomly access those messages that interest them most.

iPhone includes an SMS application with a full QWERTY soft keyboard to easily send and receive SMS messages in multiple sessions. When users need to type, iPhone presents them with an elegant touch keyboard which is predictive to prevent and correct mistakes, making it much easier and more efficient to use than the small plastic keyboards on many smartphones. iPhone also includes a calendar application that allows calendars to be automatically synced with your PC or Mac.

iPhone features a 2 megapixel camera and a photo management application that is far beyond anything on a phone today. Users can browse their photo library, which can be easily synced from their PC or Mac, with just a flick of a finger and easily choose a photo for their wallpaper or to include in an email.

iPhone is a quad-band GSM phone which also features EDGE and Wi-Fi wireless technologies for data networking. Apple has chosen Cingular, the best and most popular carrier in the US with over 58 million subscribers, to be Apple's exclusive carrier partner for iPhone in the US.

iPhone is a Widescreen iPod

iPhone is a widescreen iPod with touch controls that lets music lovers "touch" their music by easily scrolling through entire lists of songs, artists, albums and playlists with just a flick of a finger. Album artwork is stunningly presented on iPhone's large and vibrant display.

iPhone also features Cover Flow, Apple's amazing way to browse your music library by album cover artwork, for the first time on an iPod. When navigating your music library on iPhone, you are automatically switched into Cover Flow by simply rotating iPhone into its landscape position.

iPhone's stunning 3.5-inch widescreen display offers the ultimate way to watch TV shows and movies on a pocketable device, with touch controls for play-pause, chapter forward-backward and volume. iPhone plays the same videos purchased from the online iTunes Store that users enjoy watching on their computers and iPods, and will soon enjoy watching on their widescreen televisions using the new Apple TV(TM). The iTunes Store now offers over 350 television shows, over 250 feature films and over 5,000 music videos.

iPhone lets users enjoy all their iPod content, including music, audiobooks, audio podcasts, video podcasts, music videos, television shows and movies. iPhone syncs content from a user's iTunes library on their PC or Mac, and can play any music or video content they have purchased from the online iTunes store.

iPhone is a Breakthrough Internet Communications Device

iPhone features a rich HTML email client which fetches your email in the background from most POP3 or IMAP mail services and displays photos and graphics right along with the text. iPhone is fully multi-tasking, so you can be reading a web page while downloading your email in the background.

Yahoo! Mail, the world's largest email service with over 250 million users, is offering a new free "push" IMAP email service to all iPhone users that automatically pushes new email to a user's iPhone, and can be set up by simply entering your Yahoo! name and password. iPhone will also work with most industry standard IMAP and POP based email services, such as Microsoft Exchange, Apple .Mac Mail, AOL Mail, Google Gmail and most ISP mail services.

iPhone also features the most advanced and fun-to-use web browser on a portable device with a version of its award-winning Safari(TM) web browser for iPhone. Users can see any web page the way it was designed to be seen, and then easily zoom in to expand any section by simply tapping on iPhone's multi- touch display with their finger. Users can surf the web from just about anywhere over Wi-Fi or EDGE, and can automatically sync their bookmarks from their PC or Mac. iPhone's Safari web browser also includes built-in Google Search and Yahoo! Search so users can instantly search for information on their iPhone just like they do on their computer.

iPhone also includes Google Maps, featuring Google's groundbreaking maps service and iPhone's amazing maps application, offering the best maps experience by far on any pocket device. Users can view maps, satellite images, traffic information and get directions, all from iPhone's remarkable and easy- to-use touch interface.

iPhone's Advanced Sensors

iPhone employs advanced built-in sensors -- an accelerometer, a proximity sensor and an ambient light sensor -- that automatically enhance the user experience and extend battery life. iPhone's built-in accelerometer detects when the user has rotated the device from portrait to landscape, then automatically changes the contents of the display accordingly, with users immediately seeing the entire width of a web page, or a photo in its proper landscape aspect ratio.

iPhone's built-in proximity sensor detects when you lift iPhone to your ear and immediately turns off the display to save power and prevent inadvertent touches until iPhone is moved away. iPhone's built-in ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the display's brightness to the appropriate level for the current ambient light, thereby enhancing the user experience and saving power at the same time.

Pricing & Availability

iPhone will be available in the US in June 2007, Europe in late 2007, and Asia in 2008, in a 4GB model for $499 (US) and an 8GB model for $599 (US), and will work with either a PC or Mac. iPhone will be sold in the US through Apple's retail and online stores, and through Cingular's retail and online stores. Several iPhone accessories will also be available in June, including Apple's new remarkably compact Bluetooth headset.

iPhone includes support for quad-band GSM, EDGE, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 EDR wireless technologies.

iPhone requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port, Mac OS X v10.4.8 or later and iTunes 7; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2). Internet access is required and a broadband connection is recommended. Apple and Cingular will announce service plans for iPhone before it begins shipping in June.

Learn More About iPhone

To learn more about iPhone, please visit Apple.com or watch the video of the iPhone introduction at www.apple.com/iphone/keynote.

enV smartphone by LG

Posted: 27-Nov-2006 [Source: Verizon Wireless]

[Verizon Wireless intros the enV smartphone from LG including an integrated QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth, dual speakers and a 2.0 megapixel camera plus V CAST functionality.]

Verizon Wireless -- Verizon Wireless and LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) announced today the exclusive availability of the LG enV. A successor to The V by LG, the enV is the ultimate wireless phone offering an abundance of fun and functional multimedia features: including V CAST and V CAST Music, VZ Navigator(SM), an integrated QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth capabilities, dual speakers and a 2.0 megapixel camera that provides crisp, clear photos and videos.

The enV is the perfect device for V CAST and V CAST Music customers. With over 1.4 million songs to choose from in the Verizon Wireless V CAST Music store, customers can download the latest hits and play the songs they love whenever they like. A separately purchased external memory microSD(TM) card allows customers to move their own music or video clips from their computer to the phone. Plus, customers can take their music experience to the next level by pairing the device with a Bluetooth stereo headset, to enjoy the rich, full sound of their favorite songs wirelessly.

Complementing its robust mobile entertainment features, the enV comes equipped with a slide-out QWERTY keypad for easy access to messaging applications including Wireless Sync, the proprietary e-mail solution from Verizon Wireless. With Wireless Sync, customers can synchronize their enV with a home or office PC for easy access to new e-mail, calendar, contact, and task information.

Already equipped with VZ Navigator capabilities, the enV is ready for the road. VZ Navigator uses Location Based Services (LBS), including mapping, audible turn-by-turn navigation and the ability to find over 14 million points of interest (like ATMs, restaurants and gas stations) for $2.99 a day or $9.99 monthly. The enV comes with a 2.2 inch internal color LCD, which enhances the easy-to-understand mapping capabilities of VZ Navigator.

The enV by LG, exclusively available through Verizon Wireless, includes the following features:

* Stylish design with internal antenna

* QWERTY keyboard for easy messaging

* Simultaneous GPS for enhanced location accuracy

* 2.0 megapixel autofocus camera with flash and camcorder

-- Camera resolution: 1600x1200, 1280x960, 640x480(default), 320x240 pixels

-- Protective camera lens cover

-- Self-Timer: 3, 5 or 10 seconds

-- LCD Dual Mode for self-portraits

-- Customizable brightness, white balance, shutter sound, color effects, night mode

-- Video Resolution: 320x240, 176x144 pixels; video format: 3G2

-- Video Player for MP4, 3GP, 3G2, WMV formats

-- Functionality to allow videos to be set as wallpaper

-- Capability to record up to one hour of video

-- Video Message Mode -- record up to 15 seconds of video

-- Digital Zoom: up to 2.5 times(2)

* V CAST-Capable

-- V CAST Music -- download songs over the air or transfer your own music collection onto removable microSD memory cards

-- V CAST Video and 3D Games -- download or stream video clips from the best names in news, sports, entertainment and more or download the latest 3D games from top providers

* Music player with customizable audio effects and user interface player themes that support mp3 and WMA formats

* My Music -- Allows users to manage play lists. Songs are automatically organized by artist, genre and album

* Music Only Mode (RF off except Bluetooth)

* MicroSD memory port -- store music, customer generated pictures, video and sounds

* Dual speakers for stereo sound

* Bluetooth-Capable (v1.1) -- compatible with devices that support the headset, handsfree, Serial Port (SPP), file transfer, audio/video remote control, basic printing, human interface device, Dial Up Networking (DUN), and Object Push (OPP) profile for vCard(5) exchange

-- Advanced audio distribution profile (for Bluetooth stereo headset support for listening to music)

-- Save up to 20 Bluetooth pairings

-- Send vCard to another Bluetooth device

* Wireless Sync E-mail (BREW e-mail Client) capability

* TXT, PIX and FLIX Messaging-enabled -- send and receive messages with text, sounds and customer generated photos and videos

-- Up to 1,120 character of text for TXT Messaging

* Get It Now-capable -- download games, ring tones, wallpapers and more

* Mobile Web 2.0(SM)-capable -- customizable, enhanced wireless access for the latest in news, sports, weather and more

* Web-Based e-mail and instant messaging

* One-touch speakerphone

* Text to Speech, so text messages can be heard aloud

* Speaker-Independent voice recognition

* Voice Memo Recording -- 1 minute in standby or 5 minutes during a call

* 13 unique ring tones and vibrate/silent modes

* VZ Navigator-capable -- get audible turn-by-turn directions and location information from the phone to more than 14 million points of interest

* Personal Tools: Calendar, Alarm Clock, Notepad, World Clock, Calculator and EZ Tip calculator tools

* Speed Dial (95 entries and pre-programmed entries for voicemail, #BAL, #MIN, #PMT)

* 1,000 address book contacts with 5 numbers, 2 e-mail addresses and a picture ID for each entry

* Keyguard

* TTY/TDD Support

* Hearing Aid Compatible (M3-Rating)

* Standalone Mode (RF Off)

* Technology: CDMA

* Frequency: 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 800 MHz CDMA (digital dual-band)

* Data Transmission: high-speed EV-DO (where available) and 1xRTT

* Dimensions: 4.64" (h) x 2.08" (w) x 0.78" (d)

* Weight: 4.60 oz.

* Displays --

-- Internal LCD: 262K Color TFT, 240 x 320 Pixels, 11 Lines

-- External LCD: 65K Color TFT, 128 x 160 Pixels, 8 Lines

* Standard Battery: 950 mAh Li-Polymer

* Usage time of up to 4 hours 30 minutes or 19 days 4 hours of standby time

The enV by LG is available today at more than 2,200 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores including those in Circuit City and on http://www.verizonwireless.com for $149.99 after a $50 rebate and new two-year customer agreement.

New Nokia N93i digital camcorder announced plus plans to offer Vox free personal blogging service

New Nokia N93i digital camcorder announced plus plans to offer Vox free personal blogging service

Posted: 08-Jan-2007 [Source: Nokia]

[Nokia announces its new N93i compact digital camcorder and multimedia computer. In addition, Nokia announces the integration of Vox - a free personal blogging service - to its Nseries products for easy blogging and sharing of photos and videos directly from compatible Nseries devices.]
Nokia today introduced the Nokia N93i, a compact and stylish digital camcorder and multimedia computer in one. Boasting a host of advanced features - from DVD-like quality video capture to direct video uploads - the Nokia N93i enables you to record great quality video wherever and whenever you feel inspired.
You can shoot DVD-like quality videos with the Nokia N93i thanks to its MPEG-4 VGA video capture at up to 30 frames per second, stereo audio recording and digital stabilization. The Nokia N93i also boasts a 3.2 megapixel (2048 x 1536 pixels) camera with Carl Zeiss optics, 3x optical zoom, autofocus and close-up mode. With the 1 GB miniSD card included in the standard Nokia N93i sales pack, you can capture up to 45 minutes of DVD-like quality video or up to 1250 high-quality photos.
With its slim and compact design, the Nokia N93i is now even easier to slip into your pocket. It also has a new metallic finish keymat and a mirror effect cover. The 2.4" main display of up to 16 million colors has a 160 degree viewing angle, the easy-to-use joystick provides smooth video control and there are dedicated camera keys to capture images, switch shooting mode and operate the flash quickly and easily.
Integrated into the Nokia N93i is a new personal video and photo blogging service called Vox (see below) with privacy features that let you share stories and thoughts instantly with your friends, family, neighborhood or the entire world. Select your video or photos in the gallery of your Nokia N93i and upload them directly from your device to Vox in their original size.
Once you've finished filming, shape your story while it's still on the Nokia N93i with the on-device editing capabilities. For advanced editing, the standard Nokia N93i sales pack comes bundled with Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0 software, enabling you to create professional quality movies on your compatible PC. These videos can then be transferred back to your multimedia computer or burned to DVDs.
Get the popcorn out and have a communal screening of your very own blockbuster or latest photos. Simply connect the Nokia N93i to a compatible TV with the supplied video-out connectivity cable, dim the lights and enjoy the show. Or if you prefer the wireless route, use the integrated wireless LAN (WLAN) technology to connect to a compatible UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) enabled device.
The Nokia N93i is far more than just a digital camcorder - work or play, it delivers just what you need. Designed to work on WLAN, 3G (WCDMA 2100 MHz), EDGE and GSM (900/1800/1900 MHz) networks, the Nokia N93i provides mobile broadband internet access for browsing, uploading content, and sending and receiving emails, allowing you to stay connected on the move. You can also keep yourself entertained with MP3 music, podcasts, stereo FM radio or mobile TV video streaming.
The Nokia N93i, which is based on S60 3rd Edition software on Symbian OS, is expected to start shipping in volumes during the first quarter of 2007 with an estimated, pre-tax, unsubsidized sales price of approximately 600 euros.
Nokia, the world leader in mobile communications, and Six Apart, the world leader in blogging, today announced cooperation to bring Vox (www.vox.com), a free personal blogging service to the Nokia Nseries multimedia computer product range. The two companies will make it easy for people to upload video and photos, and update their blogs directly from their compatible Nokia Nseries devices to the Vox blogging service. The cooperation is an important step in making Web 2.0 mobile and enabling people to create and share their experiences with friends and family on the go. The Nokia N93i, also announced today, is the first product to include the integrated Vox service.
Vox is a free personal blogging service for sharing experiences with friends and family. Vox's rich privacy filters give members granular control over who views their stories, photos, videos or audio. Members can easily set any of five levels of privacy on any piece of content they share on Vox.
Vox offers rich media integration, including the ability to insert video, photos and web content into posts by connecting with popular web services people already use such as Amazon.com, YouTube, Flickr, Photobucket, iStockphoto, and iFilm. Generous storage - two gigabytes total uploads per month and three gigabytes for Nokia Nseries users - assures members that they never have to worry about deleting an important memory.
Doing all this from a Nokia Nseries device is easy. After registering with Vox (www.vox.com/nokia) and setting up account information in the device, Vox members are able to upload videos and full size photos to Vox directly from the camera or Image Gallery application. The first device shipping with Vox settings will be the Nokia N93i, and existing users of Nokia Nseries multimedia computers can download the settings file from www.vox.com/nokia for the following models: Nokia N70 Music Edition, N72, N73, N73 Music Edition, N80 Internet Edition, N93, N93i, and N95.

Palm unveils the sleek Treo 680 Smartphone

Palm unveils the sleek Treo 680 Smartphone

Posted: 13-Oct-2006 [Source: Palm]

[Palm will sell exclusively an unlocked quad-band GSM version of the new Palm Treo 680 smartphone in four new colors. ]
New York, Digital Life Expo -- For people who are ready to move up to a full-featured mobile phone that includes everything needed to stay organized, Palm, Inc. announced the Palm Treo(TM) 680 smartphone, a GSM/GPRS/EDGE quad-band world phone.
Customers will find the Treo 680 smartphone easy to use, slim and compact, yet packed full of features beyond its stellar phone capability, such as email, web browsing, messaging, multimedia, calendar, contacts and more. In the coming weeks and months, carriers around the world will announce additional product details, availability and exact pricing. Palm believes this product will appeal to price-sensitive feature-phone owners who want a more capable mobile-computing device.
Palm's U.S. retail and online stores will sell exclusively an unlocked GSM version in four new cool colors - crimson, copper, arctic and graphite. For a limited time, they will come complete with a music bundle from Yahoo!, which includes a 30-day free trial to its music service. With Yahoo! Music Unlimited, users have access to more than 1 million songs to take with them anywhere.
With the introduction of the Palm OS based Treo 680 smartphone, Palm is targeting new users in the rapidly growing smartphone and feature-phone markets. Market research firm In-Stat, estimates that 25 percent of all wireless handsets worldwide will be smartphones by 2011. Research conducted by Palm suggests a substantial population of feature-phone users have not purchased smartphones, fearing they were too expensive and too difficult to use. The Treo 680 will offer an affordable, simple and fun way to get started and stay connected.
"The Treo 680 is the smartphone for everyone. It's small, sleek, fast and comes in a variety of fun colors," said Ed Colligan, president and chief executive officer of Palm, Inc. "It's a great phone design, great for messaging and email, and provides users easy and fast access to the Internet and to their favorite music and pictures, and makes it easy for people to manage and balance their business and personal lives while on the go."
During a press conference at DigitalLife in New York City, the audience saw Palm's innovative hardware design and integrated, easy-to-use software. Known for ease of use, Palm differentiates the Treo 680 smartphone from others in the Treo family by offering the following features along with many additional enhancements:
New Design
The Treo 680 smartphone has an internal antenna and slim form factor, making the device smaller and sleeker than its Treo predecessors in the United States. It has a full, easy-type keyboard, perfect for writing SMS messages and emails, and an optimal 320x320 vibrant color screen for viewing web pages, photos, media and more.
All-in-one, Smarter Phone
The Treo 680 smartphone has a unique phone user interface that further simplifies Treo innovations, such as the ability to respond to calls with a preset text message and add new phone numbers to existing contact information, and three-way calling. The Treo 680 also has integrated email and web capabilities, so users can stay in touch with colleagues and friends. The messaging application on the Treo 680 displays text-messaging conversations as "threaded chats," similar to IM, so users can see their entire conversation with a particular person. The Treo 680 smartphone also can be used as an MP3 player and has an integrated digital camera, camcorder and video player.
Additional Features
The Treo 680 smartphone offers many additional features, including the following:
* Added memory: The Treo 680 smartphone includes 64MB of user-available storage, nearly three times the memory of the original Treo 650 smartphone. Customers can add up to 2GB of storage with expansion cards for those large music or video files (sold separately);
* Enhanced email and messaging: Exchange ActiveSync will now synchronize not only calendar and email, but contacts as well; SMS and MMS capabilities have been improved for a better user experience;
* Improved web browser: The Blazer 4.5 browser is superfast due to its smarter caching rules and includes alternate modes for viewing web pages optimized for the device or as a regular web page;
* Enhanced multimedia: Customers can use the Treo 680 smartphone to stream music, play MP3s and manage and share photo albums;
* Built-in dial-up networking (DUN) capabilities: Customers can use the new smartphone as a wireless modem via Bluetooth(r) wireless technology to connect to a compatible Bluetooth enabled laptop;
* Documents To Go: Customers can view, edit and share Microsoft Word and Excel documents on their Treo 680 smartphones in addition to viewing full-featured Adobe PDF files and Microsoft PowerPoint presentations; and
* Bluetooth 1.2: Customers can connect wirelessly to other Bluetooth enabled devices. The Treo 680 has improved car-kit and headset support, and support for multiple simultaneous Bluetooth connections.