Cell Phone Hub

Anticipated for months, Samsung’s first Android phone is finally a (paper) reality after being flushed through the rumor mill just hours ago. Launching “in major European countries from June,” the 11.9-mm slim quad-band GSM, tri-band 7.2Mbps HSDPA (900/1700/2100MHz) candybar packs a 3.2-inch, 320 x 480 pixel AMOLED touchscreen, WiFi, GPS, 5 megapixel camera with Power LED, 1,500mAh battery, 8GB of storage (plus MicroSD expansion for up to 32GB more), and a standard 3.5mm heasdset jack. Step aside HTC, you had your chance, let’s all welcome Samsung to the Android party. Another picture and full press release after the break.

P.S. Although no US announcements have been made, that 1700MHz HSPA frequency could make T-Mobile USA customers very happy.

Continue reading Samsung I7500 with OLED touchscreen powered by Android, dreams

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Samsung I7500 with OLED touchscreen powered by Android, dreams originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We were already scratching our heads over the SciPhone Dream G2+, which went to all the trouble of ripping off Android for little apparent reason — most of the OS is free for the taking. Well, things just got weirder with the new “G1 Quad band GSM Google Android Style Touch Screen Mobile phone.” The handset not only has a fake version of Android, but also mimics the G1’s looks pretty extensively — ironic for a phone that was a bit long in the design tooth by the time it hit the market, despite its adorability factor. The fake G1 also lacks a slide-out keyboard, and we’re having trouble making out the trackball — it might be fake as well. We suppose a 3.5mm headphone jack would be a bit much to ask for?

[Thanks, Patrick K.]

Gallery: Fake G1

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Keepin’ it real fake, part CCII: meticulous G1 clone forgets the keyboard, a reason for being originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While most carriers are having quite a tift about Skype intruding on their territory, UK-based 3 is letting customers use unlimited Skype-to-Skype calls and messages without any extra fees. The new rules start May 1st for any compatible 3 headset, and later this summer it’ll expand to every 3G phone on the network. The company says it sees the initiative as a win to everyone, not just the customers, as the hope is it’ll lessen calls to people on other networks, which carries a hefty Mobile Termination Rate fee. Whatever the reasons, we’re just happy to see at least one company embracing the VoIP service. We (and Nokia) can only hope this move is somehow contagious.

[Via GigaOM]

Filed under: Cellphones

3 UK promises free mobile Skype calls until the end of time originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nokia’s first ever full touchscreen S60 phone has had quite the bumpy ride into reality. After launching here in North America, it was on the receiving end of heavy pounding from early adopters who couldn’t adequately take advantage of 3G services. Now that those issues are ironed out (and you’ve had five minutes to cool your jets), we’re wondering how you’d tweak / change / overhaul the 5800 XpressMusic. Needless to say, our own personal list would likely span a few pages (collated, double-spaced, 1-inch margins), but this post isn’t for us. In fact, it has been specially crafted just for you, so feel free to let off some steam in comments below. Just keep it constructive, okay?

Filed under: Cellphones

How would you change Nokia’s 5800 XpressMusic? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Lazarus be praised! The last time we heard about ASUS’ P565 was back in February, when we mourned its sad and supposed demise. Turns out that’s not the case, as we’ve now got a hands-on with the GPS / PDA phone from Polish site ASUSPDA, who claims (at least via machine translation) that it’s been on sale for several months. The plethora of product / unboxing / interface pics look mighty legit, and as for the impressions, the reviewer seems very quite fond of it. Compliments are given for its general performance and design, though he does note the Glide interface isn’t as seamless as you’d expect with a 816MHz processor inside. If you’re interested in finding out for yourself, it looks like you can order the GSM / WCDMA-enabled device from Qbit for around $566.

[Thanks, Jackob]

Read - Unboxing
Read - Product page

Filed under: Cellphones

ASUS P565 apparently available, unboxed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It’s not exactly a huge surprise considering that the Cupcake-powered HTC Magic is confirmed to be coming out May 5th, but T-Mobile Germany’s website now looks to have also confirmed that the Cupcake update itself will also be rolling out to G1 users sometime the same month — in Germany, at least. That’ll of course bring with it the much-desired on-screen keyboard, along with video recording, stereo Bluetooth support, and some new integration with Picasa and YouTube, among other fixes and additions. As you can see above, the update will “skillfully” install itself on your G1 as soon as it’s available, so you needn’t do anything except go on about your daily business in the meantime, or check the interwebs furiously for a means of jumping the cue.

[Via Talk Android]

Filed under: Cellphones

T-Mobile Germany website indicates May launch for Cupcake originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Attention, Orange and the random supplier who’s manufacturing these ripoffs: the world has moved on from the original HTC Touch’s design language. Hell, we’ve actually moved on twice now; once to the Touch Diamond, and once to the Touch Diamond2. On that note, we’re not sure what’s possessing a Western European carrier to release a cheesy rip of a such a well-known late model phone — whose manufacturer Orange has a great relationship with, no less — other than the fact that they’re looking to give entry-level customers a really inexpensive way to get into the touchscreen game. Indeed, the prepaid device will apparently run just £48.50 (about $71) when it launches, but in return, you’re only getting a 1.3 megapixel camera, presumably EDGE data, and the mocking of everyone you’ve ever known — including your own mother, who we understand uses an actual HTC Touch.

[Via mobile-review]

Update: If T-Mobile UK is more your style, turns out they’re offering the very same device as the Vairy Touch. Thanks, everyone!

Filed under: Cellphones

Keepin’ it real fake, part CCI: dirty Vegas plays Orange UK originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Yes, KIRF number two hundred is a special affair. The HiPhone Nano N3+ is one of those knockoffs that transcends the category and is just plain awesome all on its own. We can’t vouch for its performance or build of course, but the N3+ clamshell is part iPhone, part RAZR, and part iPod, with a little bit of Star Trek: TNG attitude thrown in for good measure. Seriously, though guys: we weren’t kidding when we hinted (told you) that this would be a perfect birthday gift. June 15th. Think about it. Oh, and Happy 200th KIRFday, Engadget! One more glorious shot after the break.

[Via PMP Today]

Continue reading Keepin’ it real fake, part CC: HiPhone Nano N3+ is crazy beautiful

Filed under: Cellphones

Keepin’ it real fake, part CC: HiPhone Nano N3+ is crazy beautiful originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While we still don’t have an official release date for HTC’s Touch Pro2 here in the states, the folks at Russian site Mobile-Review have managed to get some extensive hands-on time with the unit. Props go to the quality of the voice calls and especially the QWERTY keyboard, noted via the machine translation as one of the most user-friendly in modern mobile devices. The same is not said here, however, for the plastic casing and steep pricing. They also don’t really touch on TouchFlo 3D 2.0.XX — that’s apparently coming later in another article — but hit up the read link for a plethora of pictures and a video of the updated UI in action.

[Via WMPoweruser]

Continue reading HTC Touch Pro2 gets thoroughly handled overseas

Filed under: Cellphones

HTC Touch Pro2 gets thoroughly handled overseas originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We don’t know why T-Mobile isn’t trumpeting this, but Deutsche Telekom’s Q1 results are out, and the multinational carrier says that over one million G1s have been sold in the US, making up a majority of the 1.5 million 3G devices currently active on T-Mo’s network. That’s quite an accomplishment in just six months, considering the Android handset launched without nationwide 3G coverage — it’s better now, but we’re talking just 21 cities back in October. Of course, a million’s just a drop in the bucked compared to the number of Blackberrys, iPhones, and Windows Mobile devices out there, but we’ve got enough of a soft spot for Android to overlook it — now let’s get some more devices out the door and really boost that marketshare number, shall we?

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Cellphones

T-Mobile sells a million G1s in the US originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.