SE’s patent for transformer phone

The US Patent Office has got a patent application from Sony Ericsson. The project describes a mobile phone with two detachable connected housings. The idea can be implemented in a clamshell, slider or a rotator-type phone. The phone consists of two parts: the one with the keypad and the battery (GPS-receiver and camera can go in there too) and the other with the display, some buttons and another battery. Both housings communicate with each other via Bluetooth. The developers believe such design serves two opposite goals – while being compact, it provides a convenient hardware keypad. That is, you can use only the display housing and the rest of the phone put deep in your bag. Besides you can joint two parts with the main display on the inside or outside of phone, when closed.

Nokia files patent for on-screen QWERTY keyboard

Nokia has filed a patent for a "Mobile device with virtual keyboard", which is designed to solve the problem of placing a full thumbboard on a tiny handset. The idea behind this scheme is to use the abilities of the phone itself to imitate a virtual keyboard, and that's the way it should work: the phone's bundled camera will capture all your fingers' wrigglings on any flat surface, while specially designed sensors will catch sounds or vibrations. Using a desktop cradle you will be able to have your phone in the upright position, although it is not obligatory to use this technology. The patent application also claims that the users will be allowed to just hold his device in the hands and type literally in the air, and just utter certain sounds himself (although it is not very clear how it will work out in real life). The virtual keyboard, along with the user's fingers, will be rendered on the phone's screen in real time, while all entered symbols will be popping up on the screen.

RIM to refresh design of BlackBerry smartphones?

RIM has filled a patent for new keyboard design, which can be applied in new BlackBerry smartphones. It is peculiar for the form of the buttons, which are set at an angle. RIM believes this design ensures more convenient text input. In addition these buttons can be used for the screen keyboard. Probably next year we’ll see new BlackBerry models with the new keyboard and the touch-sensitive display. Besides they will be equipped with the scroll like LG Shine.

Samsung SGH-I640V WM-smartphone from Vodafone

We’ve already mentioned Samsung SGH-I640V smartphone, when it was approved by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This time the device is said to come out from Vodafone. The operator’s site has posted the description and pictures of it. This is a slider equipped with a sliding QWERTY-keyboard.

Samsung SGH-I640V is based on Windows Mobile 6 Standard, works in GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA networks. It features 2 cameras (a 2-megapixel for snapping pictures and a frontal one for video telephony), Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and a microSD slot. The maximum battery life in talk mode is 6 hours and in standby mode – up to 380 hours. Measuring 95x61x16 mm it weighs 126 g. Vodafone hasn’t specified the release date of Samsung SGH-I640.

Sony’s successor to mylo Wi-Fi communicator

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved Sony mylo 2 mobile device. This is an heir of Sony mylo released in the middle of the last year. This device is equipped with a sliding QWERTY-keyboard and meant for instant messaging and working in computer networks. Sony mylo supports Wi-Fi (802.11b), but no cell networks.

Sony mylo 2 recently approved by the FCC has the same form-factor, but slightly different shape. We can judge just by the scheme, the FCC site hasn’t posted pictures of it. The device features an integrated camera and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g support. Well, we have to wait for more details (or the leakage from the FCC site).

Samsung SCH-U940: a side QWERTY slider for the US

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has certified Samsung SCH-U940 mobile device. At the same time the FCC site doesn’t have full info about it. However the Phonearena with the reference to reliable sources reported that the device is a modification of Samsung SGH-F700 for the US market and will be sold by Verizon. In this case the model will work in CDMA EV-DO networks. Like the European version the U940 is packed in a side slider form: it is equipped with a 3.2” touchscreen and a sliding QWERTY-keyboard. It also features a 2-megapixel camera, 150 MB of memory onboard, a microSD slot and Bluetooth support (with stereo profile).

HTC Neon approved by FCC

The FCC site has posted documents on a new HTC device mentioned as NEON100. Taking into account the scheme, the product is a version of HTC Touch. Most likely the modification is designed for Japan’s operator NTT DoCoMo. However tests report about WCDMA Band V (850 MHz), mainly used in North America, while Band VI is effective in Japan. The FCC site has unfortunately no manuals or pictures, so we can’t resume the specs. So let’s wait for the official announcement of HTC Neon or another info leakage.

Samsung SPH-i325 WM-smartphone

Some info leaked to the Internet about a new smartphone Samsung SPH-i325 “Ace” powered by Windows Mobile 6 Standard. It is a successor to Samsung SGH-i320 introduced in 2006. The SPH-i325 is designed for American operator Sprint. And it is said to get the FCC approval.

The device is made as a candy bar equipped with a landscape QVGA-display and an integrated QWERTY-keyboard. According to the FCC site, the SPH-i325 features a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth interface and a microSD-slot, GSM 900/1800 MHz and CDMA EV-DO networks. It is scheduled for 1Q 2008, however the info isn’t officially confirmed.

Nokia to come with an 8-megapixel N-series smarthone?

The materials of the US Patent Office contain the info on a new Nokia slider. It is equipped with a camera module, which is located in an unusual place and can be revolved, and a flash, which can be hidden inside the device. Uncustomary for standard applications Nokia has provided a good image of the phone in addition to the schemes. The product is probably in the process. Under the camera lens we can hardly see an “8 megapixel” mark. Does it mean we are to see an 8-megapixel N-series smartphone next year?

LG HBS-250 stereo Bluetooth headset

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved new Bluetooth headphones by LG Electronics. The product got the name HBS-S250.

In addition to several pictures of small resolution we’ve got the info on the supported Bluetooth (v2.0+EDR) profiles:

• Headset (HS)
• Audio/Video Remote Control (AVRCP)
• Generic Audio/Video Distribution (GAVDP)
• Advanced Audio Distribution (A2DP)
• Hands-Free Profile 1.5 (HF)

Glofiish X650 approved by FCC

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved Glofiish X650 communicator. The model is almost the very X600, but with some improvements. It has the same form-factor – a candy bar without a keyboard. The device is equipped with a VGA-display instead of QVGA in the previous model. In addition there is an FM-transmitter to transfer sound to an FM-radio receiver, a more powerful processor 500 MHz and up to 256 MB ROM.

Recently E-Ten has held a presentation showing winter season communicators – Glofiish X60 and X650 and also M800 (a similar model to the X800 with a slide out QWERTY-keyboard).

Motorola Z6c approved by the FCC

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved Motorola RIZR Z6c mobile phone. It will be released by Verizon Wireless operator. This is a slider working in GSM (900/1800 MHz) and CDMA EV-DO networks. The FCC documents provide the following details about the phone: a QVGA-display, a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth interface (stereo profile) and a microSD slot. The source hasn’t specified the release date, the model will probably come out b the Christmas holidays.

ZTE C332 budget CDMA phone for Tata Indicom

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved a low-end CDMA phone C332 by the Chinese ZTE Corporation. This way or another all the symbols depicted on the photos and in the rest documents (available at the company’s site) have the connection with the Indian operator Tata Indicom. That is ZTE C332 belongs to the budget class. If we talk about the design, it is very close to Motorola’s budget models.

The technical specs of ZTE C332:

• Dimensions: 46x104x12.8 mm
• Weight: 70 g
• Networks: CDMA 1X
• Message: SMS
• Organizer
• Voice notes
• Alarm clock
• Stopwatch
• Calculator
• Built-in games

One of the materials of the US Patent Office contains the info on a Nokia’s product. It seems to be closely related to the upcoming touch interface S60 Touch. This is a clamshell phone with two displays and one of them can be used as a touchscreen to control the device or a secondary display. The switch between two modes runs automatically depends on the opening angle. 160 degrees reveal the touch panel and 180 degrees (the full opening) make the secondary display. Naturally Nokia isn’t the pioneer with the idea of the touch display instead of the keyboard. However this very solution on the new S60 Touch interface might be very interesting.

Nokia to release its own Sidekick?

Nokia has got a patent for the mobile device resembling T-Mobile Sidekick. The new device differs in the opening mechanism: you have to revolve the device at 180 degrees, while with the standard Sidekick you just slide the display to reveal the QWERTY-keyboard. It’s unclear whether such design is more convenient or it’s just an attempt to go beyond the patents of Danger, the maker of the original Sidekick. Unfortunately there is no info when Nokia’s Sidekick-like device will come to stores.

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.

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.

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.

Sony Ericsson files for touch sensitive keypad patent

Sony Ericsson is the last one from the “great five” to pay attention to touch interface in mobile phones. The company filed for a patent, which deals with a touchscreen displaying virtual buttons in compact devices.

There are no patent details, which make it original, especially taking into account existing models with the implemented idea. Probably Sony Ericsson will be able to derive benefit from similar products by other companies.

The source doesn’t say whether Sony Ericsson would develop products based on its recent concept, however that’s possible.

FCC approved Levi’s handset

In June we mentioned the announcement of a Levi-branded (Levi Strauss & Co) handset scheduled for September. The French company Modelabs Group will be in charge of the production.

Recently the info has leaked that the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the model, so soon we can expect a newcomer in stores. The phone features a 2-megapixel camera, a 1.8” display, Bluetooth and a microSD slot.