Samsung i900 to see release in September

Mobifrance reports that its insider sources within Samsung hinted at the Samsung i900's release, first facts on which had been leaked into the Web some time ago. According to that data, the i900 is able tap in GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA networks and runs the brand-new Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. Among its highlights are a 3,5-inch display with a resolution of 240x400 pixels, 5 Mpix camera, FM-radio, GPS, TV-out, microSD memory expansion slot, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and WiFi connectivity. The source also provided an image of the communicator based on the Samsung F490's looks - as he claims, the i900 will look along the same lines.



As Mobifrance informs, the Samsung i900 will debut at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and will start shipping in September 2008.

Motorola Z8 for Ferrari fans

New multimedia Motorola ZiNE to come out in 2008

Internet sources report that Motorola expects to release a new series of multimedia pones called ZiNE in 2008. The info leaked from Motorola presentation in Spain. The company introduced Motorola V8, Motorola V8 Luxury and Motorola V9.

There is a confirmation of two Motorola ZiNE devices. The first one is an heir of Motorola Z10, equipped with a touchscreen it has bigger size. It kept the kick-slider form and features Wi-Fi and GPS. The second ZiNE phone seems to be more a phone-enabled camera featuring a 8-megapixel camera with optical zoom (the cooperation with Kodak).

During the show in Spain Motorola confirmed it had not plans to release (at least next year) an iPhone-style phone, i.e. with full touch control and without the hardware keyboard.

Vertu Signature in black and white diamonds

Vertu has released a new handset of its Signature luxury series. This time the product is coated with white gold and black & white diamonds. I’d remind you that the company can boast of several Signature handsets with diamonds (for example, rose diamonds). Vertu Signature Black & White is crafted with 644 brilliant cut white diamonds and 428 brilliant cut black diamonds.

The first Vertu Signature debuted in 2006. Since then the company has offered lots of versions with permanent features and different coating. Vertu Signature works in GSM/GPRS networks, has a sapphire glass display (128x160 pixels, 65K colors) and measures 122x42x15.5 mm.

HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion debuted

HP has reported the release of its compact navigator iPAQ 310 Travel Companion. The device was announced early in September. Being the travel companion it has the functions useful while traveling. In particular, in addition to navigation it supports images, video, music and games. HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion is powered by Windows CE 5.0 with HP dedicated interface. The navigator also features a widescreen 4.3” 800x480 touch sensitive display, Centrality Titan (600 MHz) processor, 128 MB RAM, 2 GB ROM (plus microSDHC slot), Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, miniUSB jack.

HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion is already commercially available in the US. The company says it meant the navigator and some other devices for the Christmas season. The price tag makes up $449.

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

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.

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

18 days left to Bang&Olufsen Serenata announcement

Samsung is said to release the successor of the Serena designer’s phone developed together with Bang&Olufsen. The new product will be called Serenata (index SGH-F310) and sold under the designer’s mark, the index by Samsung will be hardly mentioned. The companies have launched the countdown till the official announcement on the product’s site.

Besides we’ve got live pics of Bang&Olufsen photos.

^{Photo from Mobile Phone Helpdesk}

Top 10 phones, Krusell version

Krusell, the maker of carrying cases for portable electronics, has released its traditional top 10 of popular cell phones. The list is based on sales figures received over the month. This time Krusell has summed up the rating of August (the previous position in the brackets).

Krusell’s Top 10 in August:

1. (1) Nokia 6300
2. (2) Sony Ericsson K790i/K800i/K810i
3. (3) Nokia N95
4. (4) Nokia N73
5. (5) Sony Ericsson W880i
6. (-) Apple iPhone
7. (-) Sony Ericsson P1
8. (6) Blackberry RIM 8300 Curve
9. (-) Nokia E90
10. (8) Nokia 6233/6234

We see a newcomer in the list – Apple iPhone jumped to the 6 position at once. I’d note that the sales of the iPhone started late in June and exclusively from one operator in the territory of the US. Krusell makes its stats on the worldwide basis. However peculiar design of the iPhone unveils the necessity of a protective case. Let’s see which place the iPhone will have in a month then.