i-mate JAMA 201: a low-end QWERTY-smartphone

i-mate is about to release another JAMA model. Unlike other products of the lineup the JAMA 201 is a smartphone, not a communicator. It features a touchscreen display, Windows Mobile 6 Standard OS and a QWERTY-keyboard. The new smartphone belongs to the low-end class and has similar specs to its predecessors.

The specs of i-mate JAMA 201:

• Networks - GSM/GPRS/EDGE 900/1800/1900 MHz
• OS - Windows Mobile 6 Standard
• CPU - Samsung 300 MHz
• Display – 2.5” VGA (much for a low-end phone, but the site states the VGA), 65K colors
• 128 MB ROM and 64 MB RAM
• MicroSD-slot
• Camera - 2-megapixel 4x digital zoom, auto focus and flash
• Interface - Bluetooth, USB
• Li-Ion 1100 mAh battery
• Talk time – up to 4 hours
• Standby time – up to 150 hours
• Dimensions – 113x63x14 mm
• Weight - 152 g

Official announcement of MOTO U9 music phone

Motorola has announced MOTO U9 music phone. Speculated details had already popped up in the news. On the whole the official announcement confirmed this info. MOTO U9 is a stylish clamshell in a sleek form. It has an external display with touch-sensitive media player buttons in it. The phone is designed for GSM networks. MOTO U9 will hit the stores in 4Q in Asia, Latin America and Europe.

The specs of MOTO U9:

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (Class 12)
• External display – 1.45” OLED (128x160 pixels, 65K colors)
• Internal display – 2” TFT (QVGA, 262K colors)
• Built-in music player WMA (Janus DRM), MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+
• Video formats - MPEG4 3GPP, h.263
• Interface - Bluetooth (A2DP), USB 2.0
• 25 MB of internal memory
• microSD-slot
• 2-megapixel camera
• Talk time – up to 430 minutes
• Standby time – up to 350 hours
• Dimensions – 90x48.6x16.4 mm
• Weight – 87.5 g

Samsung SPH-P9200: another UMPC

We’ve got our hands on new details about an ultra mobile PC Samsung SPH-P9200. This is an heir of Samsung SPH-P9000 released this spring on the Korean market. It is packed in a clamshell form with the QWERTY-keyboard, which can also fold up. The vendor hasn’t yet officially confirmed the specs of Samsung SPH-P9200. Besides there is no info on the release date and the price.

The specs of Samsung SPH-P9200:

• CPU - Via C7-M
• OS - Windows XP Home edition
• Display – 5” 800x480 pixels
• 512 MB RAM
• HDD – 30 GB
• Connectivity - Wi-Fi, Wibro and HSDPA
• Camera – 1.3-megapixel
• Slot for SIM
• 2 USB-ports, LAN, VGA
• Offline time on the standard battery - 2-2.5 hours
• Offline time on the enhanced battery – up to 5 hours

Sony Ericsson W910i and K850i launched

Sony Ericsson has announced sales of its two handsets: the W910i of the Walkman series and the K850i of the Cyber-shot series. The shipments will start during this month. I’d remind you that both devices were unveiled on June 14.

Sony Ericsson W910i is a compact and lightweight slider featuring a QVGA-slider, a 2-megapixel camera, a frontal camera for video calls, an FM-radio with RDS and Bluetooth A2DP. Sony Ericsson K850i is a candy bar with a QVGA display, a 5-megapixel camera with auto focus, image stabilizer and xenon flash, an FM-radio and Bluetooth support. Both handsets can work in GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA.

LG Rolex mobile phone?

LG is said to continue partnership with fashion brands for making mobile phones. I’d remind you that LG had already teamed up with Roberto Cavalli and Prada. This time the company is rumored to do business with Rolex, elite watchmaker.

The TechDigest reported that LG Rolex prototype showed it off, but photos were prohibited. Reportedly there is a centerpiece on the phone which is a real Rolex watch face embedded in the casing and surrounded by luxury leather on the outside. As for the release date and the price tag, the company hasn’t unveiled the info. Apparently this device belongs to the luxury class.

Official announcement of a 3G Sony Ericsson K630i

Sony Ericsson has announced a new mobile phone K630i. This is a compact and stylish device supporting 3G. It will be available in two color solutions – Havana Gold and Quick Black. It holds all key multimedia capabilities: two cameras, media player, radio and so on. NetFront browser provides Internet access, you can work with RSS-feed and e-mail. Sony Ericsson K630i is expected to be released in 4Q 2007.

The specs of Sony Ericsson K630i:

• Networks - GSM/GPRS/EDGE 900/1800/1900 and UMTS/HSDPA 2100
• Display – 2” 176x220 pixels, 262K colors
• Onboard memory - 32 MB
• Storage card - Memory Stick Micro (M2)
• Interface - Bluetooth 2.0 (A2DP), USB 2.0
• Camera - 2-megapixel 4x digital zoom
• Frontal CIF-camera (352x288 pixels)
• FM-radio with RDS
• Java MIDP 2.0
• Audio formats - MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA
• Video formats - MPEG4, WMV, H.264, H.263
• Talk time – up to 9 hours (GSM) and up to 5 hours (UMTS)
• Video call time – up to 2.66 hours, music time – up to 21.8 hours
• Standby time – up to 300 hours
• Dimensions – 103x47x15.5 mm
• Weight - 97 g

BenQ M7 rugged 3G handset

The Czech source Mobil.iDnes has posted info on a new mobile phone BenQ M7, which is not yet officially introduced. The rumors about it popped up in the net, however the specs weren’t unveiled. According to the source, BenQ M7 is a candy bar in a rugged shell, which can stand a fall from height, dust and moisture.

The phone can work in GSM/GPRS (900/1800/1900 MHz) and UMTS networks. BenQ M7 features a QVGA 262K color display, a 2-megapixel camera, a frontal VGA camera for video calls, a microSD slot, Bluetooth 1.2 interface and GPS/A-GPS navigation. Other details are expected after the official announcement.

MTube: a prototype for WiMAX mobile device

STAG (Science and Technology Advisory Group) from Taiwan has introduced a mobile device proto called MTube. It is powered by Linux OS and supports WiMAX networks. Reportedly, the finished product based on this proto will come out in 2009.

The specs of MTube:

• CPU - 1 GHz
• Chipset - VIA
• OS - Linux
• Display – 2.8” touchscreen 640x480 pixels
• 8 GB of onboard memory
• WiMAX support
• Battery life - 4 hours
• Dimensions – 85x85x20 mm
• Weight - 150 g

Official announcement of a two-way music smartphone Samsung SGH-i450

Today Samsung Electronics has made an official announcement of Samsung SGH-i450 music phone (in addition to the SGH-F330) for the European market. The device is peculiar for its form-factor – a two-way slider phone like Nokia N95. Instead of media player buttons the new Samsung phone has a sensor wheel, which fulfils the same functions.

I’d remind you Samsung SGH-i450 is built on Symbian S60 3rd Edition and supports 3G networks and HSDPA technology (up to 3.6 Mbps to download music from the web), let alone EDGE and GPRS. Bluetooth technology with A2DP enhances opportunities for music playback.

The price tag for Samsung SGH-i450 makes up €360, and the launch is scheduled for the end of this month.

On our site you can learn more details about Samsung SGH-i450.

Pictures of Samsung SGH-i617 available

Yesterday we wrote that the FCC certified Samsung SGH-i617 smartphone known as BlackJack II. Today we’ve got our hands on the pictures. Its design is really similar to the original BlackJack: a landscape display and a QWERTY-keyboard. But the new model is equipped with a higher resolution camera – 2-megapixel and powered by Windows Mobile 6 Standard.

According to the FCC info the smartphone can work in GSM and WCDMA networks. The test report reveals 850 and 1900 MHz bands, however it’s highly possible the device supports quad-band GSM and tri-band WCDMA (+ HSDPA standard). There is no info on Wi-Fi support. Samsung SGH-i617 will be available from AT&T operator in the US. Neither the vendor nor the operator confirmed the news.

Apple iPhone in Gold now

Goldstriker has introduced the luxury iPhone. From the very beginning the iPhone was positioned as something extraordinary and attracted long queues. Now it’s not enough to obtain an iPhone to confirm high status of its owner. The company offers an 8GB iPhone for those who are gold-mad. It is coated with 24-carat gold. The sales of the golden iPhone should start in mid October. The price for this precious handset hasn’t been unveiled yet.

Samsung SGH-i617 (BlackJack II) approved by FCC

The FCC site has posted the documents referring likely to Samsung SGH-i617 smartphone. Traditionally it hasn’t provided any pictures or the manual, which can give us a hint on the specs. Well, we can have a look just at a scheme.

Should our guesses be true, the FCC has approved the very Samsung SGH-i617 smartphone or BlackJack II, an heir of the original BlackJack. In this case it should be equipped with a landscape display and a QWERTY-keyboard. The FCC documents contain test reports, under which Samsung SGH-i617 supports 3G 850/1900 MHz and HSDPA. Other specs are still vague.

HTC’s September report: revenues on rise

HTC has reported September 2007 financial results. Its revenues totaled NT$ 10,551 million, up 18.73 % compared to the same period last year. The Year to date revenue of 2007 reached NT$79,570 million, a 4.2% year-on-year rise.

The company estimated its 3Q revenues at NT$29,108 million, a 10.44 % year-on-year rise. Self-assessed net incomes before tax were NT$ 8,026 million and after tax - NT$7,384 million. I’d remind you that the company has recently introduced its 4Q portfolio with 3 new models, revealing grounds for the further revenue growth

Rumors: new Sony Ericsson products in 2008

Some pics and info on new SE phones in 2008 have leaked to the Internet from an insider source. According to the Mobile Close Up these are W970, K830 and K860.

Sony Ericsson W970 belongs to the Walkman music series. It is equipped with an iPod-like navigation wheel, a 5-megapixel camera and a storage card slot. It’s not said to have 8GB of memory onboard. Sony Ericsson K830 from the Cyber-shot series comes with a 3.2-megapixel camera, which is likely to shoot QVGA video. The device might replace the K810. As for the last handset, there are no details except for the picture.

Nokia N82 to be announced on November 2?

Nokia has launched a teaser page in the style of www.070829.com dedicated to Nokia’s’ big announcement in London. This time it deals with Nokia N82 smartphone to be announced on November 2.

Currently there are many details about the device, however they don’t have the official back up:

• Networks - GSM/EDGE and WCDMA/HSDPA
• Platform - S60 3rd Edition FP1
• QVGA-display
• 5-megapixel camera with xenon flash and Carl Zeiss lens
• Built-in GPS-receiver
• TV-out
• FM-radio
• Wireless Bluetooth (A2DP support) and Wi-Fi
• Dimensions – 112x50.2x17.3 mm
• Weight - 120 g

Nokia 8800e approved by FCC

Nokia 8800e, which was rumored as the 8900, has been approved by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This is a luxury handset in the slider form with the opening mechanism of the predecessor Nokia 8800. Right before the FCC approval some live pics had leaked to the web.

By the way the FCC site hasn’t posted any details on the specs and pictures. The confidentiality agreement expires on October 16, two days before Nokia’s 3Q financial results. Probably at this time we’ll hear more details on Nokia 8800e.

Twins phone for GSM and WCDMA networks

The Chinese company TechFaith Wireless, the developer of original design for mobile devices, has announced the world first (as it claims) mobile phone, which can hold two GSM cards or one GSM and one WCDMA. The device is called the Twins. It features a 2-megapixel camera, a frontal camera for video calls, a media player, a WCDMA modem and Bluetooth support.

According to the manufacturer, the demand for this solution has become mature and it can become essential, for example, for travelers. The shipments of the Twins are scheduled for November 2007.

Glofiish M800: a successor to the X800 with QWERTY-keyboard

We’ve got our hands on the specs of E-TEN Glofiish M800 communicator. This is an heir of the X800 with a slide-out QWERTY-keyboard. At the same time the specs are likely to be the same as in the original communicator. The Pocketinfo.nl says the new model will be launched in late November – early December. The recommended price is about €600.

According to the source the specs enlist the following:

• 3G (UMTS/HSDPA) support
• OS - Windows Mobile 6 Professional
• CPU - Samsung 500 MHz
• 256 MB ROM
• Wireless - Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• Display - touchscreen VGA
• Two built-in cameras
• GPS SiRFstar III
• Battery - 1530 mAh

Renault Twingo Nokia with free Nokia 6110 Navigator

We are not surprised to see ever more mobile phones, PDA and notebooks under brands of car giants, but isn’t rare to see the situation vice versa. Renault teamed up with Nokia to come with the Twingo Nokia Special Edition car. The Nokia-branded town-car is supplied with free Nokia 6110 Navigator, which works with the built-in Bluetooth system. Thus the smartphone can work as a car GPS-navigator. You can load maps on microSD cards, use navigation services, for example, get info on radar location, traffic jams and so on.

In addition there is a 140 Watt audio system containing the standard 3.5” jack, USB-port and DIN-connector for iPod. Nokia 6110 Navigator is integrated with the car speakerphone, the phone transfers incoming calls to it and the contact name is displayed on the dashboard. The Answer/ End, sound volume and player buttons are located on the wheel.

Besides the Twingo Nokia Special Edition has special design. It features dark metallic color and a Nokia logo on the B-pillar.