Samsung

Samsung Unveils Samsung L170

January 23, 2008

Samsung just unveiled Samsung L170 (or Samsung SGH-L170), a handset that comes with a rare and beautiful design. Its metallic look combined with the unusual form will surely attract mobile fans who want a phone that can easily stand out. Samsung L170 is actually a candybar phone, one that packs a unique touch-sensitive keypad and a large navigation pad. Unlike the usual touch-sensitive keypads, the one that L170 brings is not flat and could be mistaken for a standard keypad with real buttons.

The phone measures 102.3 x 45.8 x 10.7 millimeters and weighs only 86 grams, thus being one of the slimmest and most lightweight 3G handsets ever created. Unfortunately, Samsung L170 has a small display when compared to other newly released phones, an 1.6 inch one that offers a 220 x 176 pixel resolution.

L170 is a tri-band GSM phone (900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz) with 3G (UMTS 2100) and EDGE. It packs a 2 Megapixel camera with Auto focus, Flash and video recording, as well as a secondary VGA camera for video calls. The phone comes with Media Player, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, USB 2.0, WAP 2.0 / xHTML and NetFront browser, Java MIDP 2.0, FM radio with RDS, Google search, mobile blogging and handsfree. The handset provides only 21 MB of built-in memory, but it can be extended with a microSD TransFlash card, most probably for up to at least another 2 GB.

The battery included in Samsung L170 can offer a talk-time of almost 3 hours and a stand-by time of up to 250 hours . Samsung L170 should hit the market until the end of 2008’s first quarter. No information about the retail price yet.

[Source]

3G / Ericsson / Network

Ericsson Wins Swisscom’s WCDMA/HSPA Upgrade Contract

January 23, 2008

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has signed a frame agreement with leading Swiss operator Swisscom to expand and upgrade its WCDMA/HSPA network to enable high-speed mobile broadband coverage across 90 percent of Switzerland.

As key supplier to Swisscom, Ericsson will provide an HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) solution that will upgrade the operator’s network to enable peak speeds of up to 7.2Mbps on the downlink – the maximum speed that commercial HSPA subscriber devices currently allow.
This agreement also expands on Swisscom’s initial HSPA launch in February 2006, making uplink speeds of up to 1.4Mbps available across 90 percent of the country.

The contract will underpin the widespread availability of mobile broadband services across Switzerland and support subscriber access to a host of innovative services. The service was announced by Swisscom in November 2007. Rollout has started and is due for completion in the second quarter of 2008.

Patrice Haldemann, Network & IT, Head of Operations Swisscom said, “Ericsson’s solution allows us to boost network capacity and extend our leadership in mobile broadband availability across the country, offering customers seamless access to our range of broadband services.”

Richard Batistier, Account Manager at Ericsson said, “This contract marks an important milestone in our long-standing partnership with Swisscom and will extend high-speed mobile broadband throughout the country, supporting access from almost any device and nearly any location.”

Source: Ericsson Press Release

Cellphones / Nokia

Nokia Unveils Nokia 2600 classic and Nokia 1209

January 22, 2008

n 2600Today, Nokia unveiled the Nokia 2600 classic and the Nokia 1209, two mobile handsets that offer useful features, range of colors or exchangeable covers for consumers in emerging markets. Nokia 2600 classic, which will retail for approximately 65 euros before applicable taxes or subsidies, has begun shipping, ramping up in all key markets during the first quarter of 2008. Nokia 1209 will become available globally during the second quarter of 2008 and will retail for approximately 35 euros before applicable taxes or subsidies.

The highlight of today’s announcement is the Nokia 2600 classic which allows consumers to customize their phone with colourful, fully changeable Xpress-on covers and MP3 ring tones. The cheerful Nokia 2600 classic also features a number of entertainment features, including an FM radio and a VGA camera.

“While cost sensitivity is an important element in creating mobile devices for emerging markets, the overwhelming feedback we receive from consumers in these markets is that they want their mobile device to complement their personality and offer a range of colours and entertainment features,” says Alex Lambeek, Vice President, Entry Devices, Nokia. “The Nokia 2600 classic offers a colorful sense of flair and a robust set of features at an exceptionally accessible price. As with all Nokia devices, it is backed by a brand that stands for quality and durability.”

Source: Nokia Press Release via SlashGizmo.

Samsung / Services

T-Mobile Introduces Samsung t819

January 22, 2008

T-Mobile yesterday introduced the Samsung t819 to its lineup. The slider drops the safer blacks and grays of most phones in favor of a copper brown. It also provides a newer control pad design with shortcut buttons that are as usable at the main selection and calling buttons. The handset occupies T-Mobile’s mid-range with a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth with stereo audio, and a media player that uses the microSD card slot for the bulk of its storage.

The phone officially supports quad-band, 850/900/1800/1900MHz calling with EDGE for mobile Internet data. It also supports Wireless Internet Express. T-Mobile will sell the phone for $100 with a two-year contract and $220 for contract-free subscribers.

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Cellphones / LG

LG Viewty Offers Dark Silver Color

January 21, 2008

LG announced today a new dark silver color option for its popular camera phone, LG Viewty. It has now sold over 550,000 units.

LG choose this new color to further the LG Viewty’s polished, premium image, after researching colour preferences in countries where the phone is sold and colour trend forecasts for 2008. Another improvement to the LG Viewty is a redesigned jog wheel that makes scrolling through menus even easier.

The LG Viewty, which includes a 5M camera and a 3inch touchscreen has now topped 550,000 units in sales. This comes only two and half months after the phone’s November 2007 release in Europe.

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