Helio Mysto hits the mainstream – available at all Helio retailers

Helio’s move to launch the Mysto to the Korean-American community before going mainstream was something of surprise. Nonetheless, with huge backing from South Korean wireless provider SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM), the move made sense – you want to keep your investors happy, right?

Well, Helio has just pushed the Helio Mysto into the mainstream and has made the GPS-toting handset available through all Helio retail channels. And, to leverage that glorious GPS-receiver, Helio has launched the Mysto with their TellMe and WHERE location-based services.

TellMe, $2.99 a month, tracks your GPS-sourced location and helps you find the nearest whatever-you-need. Simply press the dedicated TellMe button on the side of the Helio Mysto, speak your query (say you’re looking for a Wells Fargo bank, you’d speak “Wells Fargo”), and TellMe will find the nearest Wells Fargo bank branch and clue you in to its location.

WHERE is a free web-based platform that leverages your the Helio Mysto’s GPS receiver to provide location-data to a host of web-widgets. The WHERE platform runs in the web browser and uses web-based searches to find whatever location-specific information you might want to know. From Gas Buddy to Weather to local music and events, WHERE’s web-widgets use your GPS-location to give you a heads-up on local weather and events.

Of course, Helio has included the Buddy Beacon (which is now the sole trademark of uLocate), Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Maps, and Garmin Mobile applications in the Helio Mysto, along with a location-enhanced Twitter application, to get the most out of the Mysto’s GPS-prowess.

Grab this slick, slim, sexy slider from your nearest Helio retailer. At

Press release after the break.

LOS ANGELES, CA – January 16, 2007 – Helio today released Mysto™, an ultra-thin slider featuring a large, reflective mirror-like screen, a svelte, sapphire blue body and electrostatic keys that make the device shiver when pressed.  Mysto also debuts two new Helio GPS search services, WHERE™ and Tellme™, adding to Helio’s burgeoning portfolio of GPS-enabled services that started with the industry-first launch of GPS-enabled Google Maps™ for mobile and GPS-tagging of photos and videos, plus real-time Garmin turn-by-turn Navigation. Combined with nationwide 3G access and Helio’s acclaimed user interface and suite of communications services, Mysto is an ultimate mix of good looks and intelligence.
Based on the U600 that was released in Europe and Korea this past year where it has been a huge success, selling millions of handsets worldwide, Mysto has been customized and made exclusively for Helio for the U.S. market by Samsung.

“Mysto is a startling combination of beauty and brains,” said Sky Dayton, CEO of Helio.  “We packed our best communications services and some amazing new GPS features into one of the thinnest sliders available. Mysto feels like a finely tuned machine in your hand.”
Beautiful Genius
Mysto combines exquisite design and sophisticated technology to meet Helio members’ needs.  Smooth to the touch, thin and sexy, Mysto boasts a 2 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom, night mode and built-in Photo Studio for high quality photos and video, a large mirror-like 2.2 inch QVGA display, 100MB of available internal memory expandable via microSD™ to 4GB, an HTML browser, stereo Bluetooth and support for an array of audio and video formats including MP3 and AAC audio, and MPEG-4 and H.264 video.  Mysto also has external electrostatic keys that vibrate with “haptic feedback” with the tap of a finger, giving users the look of touch sensitive controls and the tactile sensation they want while using one-click search to jump onto the Web from the device idle screen, navigating through Helio’s ultimate inbox messaging hub made famous on Ocean, or playing a favorite song or video downloaded from Helio Player.

Lose Your Lost
With the introduction of WHERE and Tellme, a Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) subsidiary, Mysto expands on Helio’s line-up of GPS-enabled services that already include geo-tagged images and videos uploaded to Flickr and YouTube™, Buddy Beacon™, Google Maps™ for mobile and Garmin Mobile™. Tellme, the first one-touch voice search application for mobile in the U.S., lets users simply press one button and say a word to receive local search results, no need to know your location or spend time typing, just say what you want and get it. Tellme returns local listings containing phone numbers, maps, turn-by-turn directions and the ability to SMS the listing to friends.  Now, Helio members don’t have to worry about saving restaurants, theaters or other business listings in their address books and finding a late night snack is a snap.

WHERE, a service of uLocate Communications, is a mobile GPS widget platform that gives users access to a library of location-enabled applications. WHERE provides information on things like local weather and events based on the user’s current location. WHERE is accessible on Mysto through its location-aware mobile browser and is a free service for Helio members.
Availability and Pricing
Mysto is now available at Helio retail locations, www.helio.com, by calling 888-88-HELIO and at thousands of retail locations nationwide for $149.  Tellme is available on Mysto for $2.99 per month. WHERE is free of charge to All In Members; data charges apply for A La Carte Members.

[Via: BGR]