T-Mobile USA introduces BlackBerry Bold 9700 with Wi-Fi Calling

T-Mobile USA announces the release of the BlackBerry Bold 9700 that offers Wi-Fi Calling and GPS. T-Mobile claims that the Bold is its first 3G powered Blackberry and also RIM’s (Research In Motion) first phone to offers built-in support for 3G connectivity as well as voice calls over Wi-Fi.

The high-end Bold 9700 offers top class performance, functionality and advanced features. Designed with high-gloss black finish, chrome highlights and leather textured back. The Wi-Fi (802.11g) enabled handset supports 3G HSDPA networks across the globe, next generation (624) processor, 256MB Flash memory and built-in GPS.

“Increasingly, T-Mobile customers are expanding the use of their BlackBerry smartphones by communicating with friends and family online and through the latest applications and services,” said Denny Marie Post, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA, Inc. “Customers deserve a fast and reliable broadband experience, and that’s what we’re delivering with the new BlackBerry Bold on T-Mobile’s nationwide 3G network.”

With industry’s top mobile email and messaging solutions, the powerful BlackBerry Bold 9700 device keeps users connected while on the go. It also permits access to social networking sites like Facebook. The Bold 9700 also equips RIM’s specially designed compact full-QWERTY keyboard for precise typing and amazing touch-sensitive optical trackpad enhancing the navigation experience. The feature-rich device offers a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus functionality, flash and video recording, music and video player and a strikingly clear high-resolution display.

“The new BlackBerry Bold 9700 delivers state-of-the-art features and performance in a compact and beautifully designed handset,” said Don Morrison, chief operating officer, Research In Motion. “This sleek and powerful 3G smartphone offers an incredibly refined mobile experience that is ideal for both personal and professional use.”

Users can easily access the BlackBerry App World on the device, which enables them to browse and download several mobile applications. The Bold 9700 comes pre-loaded with applications such as the Slacker Radio for free access to music, TeleNac GPS Navigator that allows viewing turn-by-turn directions and visual voicemail. With a hot swappable microSD/SDHC memory card slot, users receive an additional storage to save their huge collection of multimedia files. Users can even save their applications with a 2GB memory card.

Source: http://www.mobiletor.com/

Powermat comes to the UK: Look mum, no wires

Is it a bird? It is a plane? Is it a skateboard without wheels? No it's a Powermat. The Powermat is an inductive charging mat which is capable of charging mutliple mobile phones at once. It's perhaps best thought of as a widescreen version of the Palm Pre's Touchstone charger, as it uses similar technology. After attaching a receiver to your mobile phone, you simply sit it on the Powermat to charge it up. You can charge up to three devices at once this way, and connect a fourth device to the side of the Powermat via USB.

Charging on a Powermat is apparently just as effective as if you were charging directly from the mains and it doesn't eat up as much energy, even with three phones sat on top and another charging over USB. The Powermat can also be used to charge other handhelds, so you can have your phone grilling away next to your iPod Touch and Nintendo DS.

There are two versions of the Powermat available, the more stationary home and office mat (pictured above) and the portable mat (pictured below), which neatly folds up and comes with its own carry case. Both devices can charge the same maximum number of devices. The home and office mat costs £70 with it's portable counterpart costing a slightly dearer £80.

For each phone or device you want to charge you'll need to purchase a separate receiver. The only phones you can currently buy receivers for are Apple iPhones and a selection of BlackBerry phones (including the Bold, Curve 8900 and the Curve 8300). Powermat also make the Powercube which comes with eight interchangeable connections (including mini USB) allowing you to charge Nokia, LG, Samsung and Sony Ericsson phones as well as the Sony PSP. It's worth noting that the Nokia connection will only work with Nokia phones which accept the most recent 2mm chargers.



The Apple iPhone receivers come in the form of battery cases (only available for iPhone 3Gs and iPod Touches) which you attach to the back of the phone, or in the form of an iPod dock which sits on top of the Powermat. All of these go for £40 each. The BlackBerry receivers called 'battery doors' cost an additional £30. If you don't want to have a Powermat receiver on the back of your iPhone or BlackBerry, then you can opt for a Powercube instead, which costs £30.

Source: http://recombu.com/news

Samsung Galaxy i5700 announced for Russia

The Samsung Galaxy i5700 handset, which is nearly identical to the previously spotted Android handset of the same name, has been officially unveiled for sale in Russia. The handset will be known as the Galaxy Spica and sport an 800MHz CPU, 128MB of RAM, and a 3.2-inch touchscreen display. There is also a 3.2-megapixel camera, along with support for microSDHC memory cards up to 32GB in capacity.

The device will also have the ability to play back common video file formats, and there is both a compass and a GPS sensor. Power comes from a 1500 mAh battery. As visible from the home screen and from previous leaks, the Galaxy Spica uses the Android operating system.

Source: http://www.electronista.com/

LG's 'simple' GD510 touchscreen phone outed

LG has decided that the recent raft of touchscreen phones are overburdened with superfluous options which are unnecessary for use every day, so have released the streamline, simple-to-use LG GD510. Or to give it its simpler name: the LG Pop.

The phone comes packing an impressive 8GB of internal memory, 3-inch full WQVGA touchscreen interface, and a 3MP camera. The phone also includes an MP3 player.

The biggest sell here is the simplicity of the device. This is shown in the phone's navigation system: a single button is used on the interface which functions as the 'menu', 'end' and 'cancel' keys. This is coupled with a slim strip of light around the button shines either green or red indicating the handset's function.

Also, the phone has a fair few eco credentials as well, most notably the use of a solar panel on its back, so it can be charged by the sun.

Inevitably, simplicity means that there's no big features to write home about – and that includes a lack of 3G and Wi-Fi.

What you do get is a multimedia device which plays music and movies in several file formats. Oh, and it also makes calls too.

The handset has a UK release date in November and will be available from the Carphone Warehouse. Contracts and pricing are still to be confirmed. more details.

Source: http://www.techradar.com/

Virgin Mobile India Introduces New vPower

Virgin Mobile India the youth brand of Tata Teleservices has launched a new vPower recharge for its customers across India. The pack comes in for Rs499 and gives 900 minutes of free local outgoing talktime. This talktime can be utilized to call any local phones and is valid for 90 days.

It really sure will pinch the pocket being a one time recharge of Rs499 will surely hit the pocket friendly youth whose monthly budget is around Rs.250-Rs.300. Shelling out about Rs.500 at a go will make people think before investing.

A round about calculation concludes that if we divide it the total Rs499 into 3 months then each month its going to cost you approx Rs.167 a month and if we calculate on the basis of minutes, it comes to 300 minutes a month i.e. just 5 hours of non stop talk. Virgin’s idea though seems great in diverting the mind from money to minutes but this plan surely will make people think a bit.

Source: http://telecomtalk.info/

Pre-order the BlackBerry Bold 9700 on Vodafone UK

The sleek smartphone is ideal for both personal and professional use. The touch-sensitive trackpad makes it easy to glide through menus and flip between applications, while the full QWERTY keyboard makes emailing a breeze.

The 3G connection enables fast downloads and web browsing. Store all you documents, files, music and photos on the 256 MB Flash memory, or slot in a microSD card to increase the capacity. Other features include built-in GPS and Wi-Fi, plus a 3.2 megapixel camera.

The dark chrome frame and leatherette back add to the new smart phone's sleek and elegant appearance, while the narrow profile, balanced weight and soft-touch sides allow it to feel incredibly comfortable in the hand.

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 is available on pay monthly price plans from £35 with 600 minutes, unlimited texts, unlimited BlackBerry Internet Service, unlimited Vodafone Mobile Internet and broadband. Customers who want to be one of the first to get hold of a BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone can pre-order today.

Source: http://www.mobileburn.com/

Known as the B3310 in Europe

Known as the B3310 in Europe, Samsung has announced its latest full QWERTY phone as the Corby Mate in India

The Corby Mate sports a rather weird looking design thanks to the numeric keypad seen on the left of the screen - quite unlike most other phones. The QWERTY keyboard however is a standard slide-out one. The phone will make an excellent mid range messaging phone and sports a 2 inch QVGA display and offers quad-band GSM connectivity.

It also offers easy access to social networking sites and e-mail. There is a decently specced music player with FM Radio as well. The camera is a very basic 2 megapixel one. With 40MB of internal memory and MicroSD card support, the device has enough space for all your multimedia.

There is no word as to when the phone will actually be available in India - nor there is an inkling of the price range at which it will sell in the country. For more on this, head to the Samsung Website.

Source: http://www.techtree.com