Remember the HTC Bravo? 3 Sweden will be getting it in March, according to tipsters, and gives us a reasonable window to expect a lunch for the rest of Europe. There was talk that Verizon (NYSE: VZ) would be getting the Bravo in January, but it might just be the Nexus One, considering the similarities (3.7” display, 5 megapixel camera, Android 2.1). If HTC just up and released their own branded version in Europe with Sense, I have a feeling a lot of people would be happy, and make Nexus One owners insanely jealous. For those in Sweden, check out 3 Sweden’s Facebook page where the mention was made.

[Swedroid via Engadget]

I wrote a piece on the release of the INQ Chat 3G , and my slight disappointment that there was a dearth of information on it when it was launched. Well have no fear, INQs PR company have been in contact and remedied that!

Usually I wouldn’t bother popping this sort of info up for phones that are already available on release, however, I really do think the Chat 3G is worthy of the coverage – it mixes smartphone functionality with social networking with a VERY good price-point! So here’s that info:

The INQ Chat 3G is the culmination of several months of listening, collaborating, developing and improving. It’s the latest milestone in our mission to produce smart, simple, fun to use and beautiful devices. The INQ Chat 3G is built to cope with the demands of a new generation of media consumers who want to throw email, text, Facebook, Twitter and internet browsing at a mobile device. It is built to run multiple internet and communication applications at the same time, over a fast 3G network and at an affordable price.

Here are the top ten features to check out on the INQ Chat 3G on 3 UK:

1. Qwerty keypad. Makes messaging quick and easy.
2. Mobile email for consumers that is robust, doesn’t require any fussy back-end infrastructure and is elegantly presented – especially with Gmail.
3. Proper Twitter and Facebook on a mobile that isn’t dumbed down from a PC.
4. One inbox shows texts, emails, pokes, Facebook messages and Direct Twitter Messages.
5. A completely integrated address book with Facebook, Twitter and Skype contacts.
6. Beautifully designed packaging and four changeable coloured backs.
7. Click the side button anytime to multi-task between applications.
8. Zero-click widgets on the home screen with a rolling ticker for Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo Weather and a choice of SkySports and GoogleNews feeds.
9. Pulls ALL the music on your computer regardless of whether it is a Windows Media file or from iTunes using the doubleTwist software pre-loaded on the INQ Chat 3G.
10. You can use the INQ Chat 3G as a mobile broadband dongle to get internet access on your laptop.

We’ve spent months working with our friends at Facebook, Twitter, and doubleTwist to produce the INQ Chat 3G. We also wanted to make sure we could

make it affordable for people who have up until now had to settle for unattractive voice-and-text-only handsets.

Nice! I’m getting a review device soon, and I’ll let you know how all of the above turns out!

Our friends over at Gajeto.com have let us know that the only GSM prover now without a BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) service, 3, is going to launch BIS (BlackBerry Internet Service) in January 2010.

Apparently there’s nothing on the 3 Indonesia site, but, there is a space reserved for customers on the RIM website.

Other than that we don’t have too much more info, but rest assured as and when it goes live, we’ll let you know more!

[Via: Gajeto.com]

In what was a completely silent launch in terms of PR (and I say that because I’ve spoken to INQ’s PR a number of times), the INQ Chat 3G has launched with 3UK, on a range of tariffs.

I was really interested in the INQ Chat 3G, because it promised a nice melding of Integrated Social Networking, excellent messaging capabilities, and 3’s forward-looking attitude to data/text usage.

Well on the tariff/pricing front, I wasn’t disappointed – it’s well-ranged at a decent cost, and you get lots bundled in terms of voice/text/internet – but what is a real surprise to me is the fact that it’s launch was so low-key. I would have expected that INQ would have made quite a song and dance around the fact this device was launching at a very keen price point, yet had the ability to pull potential buyers of Smartphones over to it’s lair. But no, there didn’t seem to be any fanfare – and certainly no devices that I’ve heard of, available for review

Possibly the most interesting feature that I’ve read about is the fact that the handset will come bundled with DoubleTwist – an application that will let users of the device play iTunes files back on it:

Can’t live without your music? Seamlessly synchronise your iTunes or Windows Media Player media with your INQ Chat 3G using doubleTwist. Just plug your phone into your computer, open the software and drag and drop media to your phone’s memory. You don’t even need to know your .wavs from your .mpegs – doubleTwist converts your files automatically, meaning you get all your media with minimal fuss.

Nice! Well that just made the handset even more attractive, in my view

Anyway, you can check out more on the INQ Chat 3G here, and check out the pricing on Three here.

[Story via TechDigest / Image via: three.co.uk]

The GSA (Global Suppliers Association) is reporting that over the past 8 months there has been a near 100% increase in the number of operators around the world committing to the LTE standard. There are now 51 network commitments in 24 countries, an increase of 96% over the past 8 months. Not all is rosy in terms of a frequencies however with the EU mainly sticking to 2.6 GHz for LTE, American operators using 700 MHz, and the Japanese using 800 MHz, 1.5 GHz or 1.7 GHz depending on operator. Why is LTE (Long Term Evolution) important? It’s going to be 10x faster than today’s networks, with less latency, and it can scale to support more users. It really is going to be the next generation of wireless. Here is a list of who is working on what:

• Verizon (NYSE: VZ) is deploying LTE in the 700 MHz band. Trial networks are set up in Boston and Seattle, each with 10 LTE sites. Verizon in planning to launch LTE in up to 30 commercial markets by the end 2010, giving coverage to roughly 100 million people, and to deploy a nationwide network by 2013.
• AT&T (NYSE: T) will deploy LTE in 700 MHz and plans to launch LTE in “key markets” during 2011.
• China Mobile is building their TD-SCDMA network so that cell sites and other elements can be upgraded seamlessly to support LTE. TD-LTE is estimate to be commercially available around 2012. China Telecom plans to migrate to LTE.
• Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) Germany is deploying an LTE system using digital dividend (790-862 MHz) spectrum. The government plans to auction 6 blocks of 2×5 MHz Digital Dividend spectrum in Q2 2010.
• In Japan the LTE operators will use 1.5 GHz (DoCoMo and Softbank Mobile), 1.5 GHz + 800 MHz (KDDI), and 1.7 GHz (eMobile). NTT DoCoMo plans to launch a commercial LTE launch in December 2010. They will initially focus on PC usage and will only begin offering dual-mode 3G/LTE handsets in 2011. By 2014 NTT DoCoMo plans to provide LTE service to 50% of the population from around 20,000 base stations at a cost of between $3 to 4 billion. eMobile says their LTE network will launchin September 2010.
• SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM), KTF and LG Telecom are deploying LTE networks in South Korea right now.
• Telstra will deploy LTE in hotspots in Australia, mainly in urban areas in 2.6GHz spectrum, and will fill rural broadband gaps using 700MHz. Neither of these bands has been auctioned yet though.
• Telecom Italia plans to deploy LTE and reported in December 2009 that a technical trial using 14 LTE cell sites on its existing mobile broadband infrastructure in Turin delivered 140 Mbps down.
• TeliaSonera Sweden is deploying LTE using nationwide 2 x 20 MHz 2.6 GHz spectrum. On May 25, 2009 TeliaSonera unveiled the world’s first commercial LTE site, part of the LTE network scheduled to launch in Stockholm in 2010.
• Tele2 Sweden and TeleNor Sweden are jointly building an LTE network. The joint venture includes spectrum sharing in the 900 MHz and 2.6 GHz bands. Launch of LTE services is targeted for end 2010, or when modems are available. By 2013 the operators expect 99% of the Swedish population to have access to mobile broadband at speeds up to 80 Mbps in rural areas and up to 150 Mbps in urban areas.
• TeliaSonera Norway is planning to launch an LTE commercial launch in Oslo in 2010.
• TeleNor has an LTE trial network in Oslo and has also committed to commercial deployment.
• France Telecom (Orange) is trailing LTE and deployment is planned for 2011, subject to availability of (2.6 GHz) spectrum.
• T-Mobile Germany anticipates LTE deployment from 2011, with trials underway this year.
• MetroPCS (USA) plans an LTE launch in 2H 2010.
• Cox (USA) has made plans to deploy LTE in 700 MHz spectrum from 2011.
• Aircell will launch LTE in 2011 to boost capacity of their in-flight network.
• Bell Canada and Telus have deployed a joint HSPA network, which will later be upgraded to LTE. Rogers Wireless is conducting LTE trials right now.
• In Hong Kong 2 x 15 MHz blocks of 2.6 GHz FDD spectrum have been auctioned, and won each by China Mobile, Genius Brand (Hutchison Telecom/PCCW) and CSL Limited.
• SmarTone-Vodafone plans to deploy LTE re-using their GSM (900/1800) spectrum in Hong Kong.
• Smart Communications has conducted the first LTE trial in the Philippines. Piltel is reported to have applied for the remaining 3G licence in the country to deploy LTE services.
• Chunghwa Telecom is firmly committed to LTE, however the spectrum situation in Taiwan is unclear. Deployment is expected to start from around 2012.
• Speaking at the LTE Forum 2009 in Lisbon, Portugal, Telecom CEO Zeinal Bava announced LTE trials would be undertaken in Portugal and Brazil.
• Vodacom is testing LTE in its South Africa and reportedly has 1,000 LTE ready cell sites with launch planned “when handsets become available”.
• VivaCell-MTS in Armenia, is reported to have confirmed plans to deploy LTE in 2010.
• MTS, Uzbekistan will deploy LTE and is setting up a pilot LTE network in Tashkent for testing 2010-2012.
• T-Mobile Austria launched a 60 cell site trial LTE network in Innsbruck in July 2009.
• 3 Austria provided a live LTE demonstration at the European Forum in Alpbach, and on August 25, 2009 announced that upgrading of their entire network for LTE had begun, and that the company will have the technical capability to offer LTE to customers from 2011.
• In Denmark a public consultation on 2.6 GHz is underway. An auction is expected during Q1 2010.
• Telefonica has conducted LTE field tests at its Madrid Demonstrations Center, achieving download speeds over 140 Mbps, and plans to trial LTE on its mobile networks in Argentina, Brazil, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, and the UK.
• Bouygues Telecom has selected an infrastructure partner for Europe’s first LTE trial in the 1800 MHz band. The trial is scheduled to begin in 2010 at a number of sites in the western part of France.
• An auction for 2.6 GHz spectrum recently closed in Finland and three operators (Elisa, TeliaSonera and DNA) won a piece of it; they all plan to deploy LTE.

As for LTE devices, LG is saying that the first LTE handsets should come to market. Samsung and Nokia (NYSE: NOK) have already demonstrated LTE modems that you’ll soon see sticking out the side of laptops in cafés all around the world.

Amongst the good ideas I’ve seen recently, I really liked this one – 3UK are offering their MiFi device (on contract) with a free iPod Touch.

“What? Who? When?” is what you might be thinking, but it’s all quite logical my dear Watson – you see, the MiFi is basically a 3G/WiFi gateway (AKA a mobile broadband hotspot), which connects to the 3UK network, and then provides a local WiFi field, for a limited number of devices. The iPod Touch is an iPhone with the phone bits taken out (or thereabouts), but it does have WiFi – so suddenly you can see how useful the combo is together! Internet access on the move with your iPod Touch (without wires)? No problemo!

Apparently the bundle costs £23/month for 24 months (commonly known as 2 years), and that includes a 5GB data allowance per month. So overall it’s a good deal. I would be tempted to wait till early next year, since I do think mobile broadband price erosion will continue. However, if you need a present for someone (or yourself) and want another potential present bundled in, this is perfect

Check out 3UK mobile broadband offers here.

[Via: 3G.co.uk]

3UK has launched the first mobile TV subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, giving subscribers on-demand access to entire episodes of hit TV shows. The service, called ‘TV on Demand’, is fully managed and powered by Mobix Interactive, now part of On Demand Group, (which in turn is a SeaChange International company).

TV on Demand offers a variety of top-rated television shows (comedy, drama, etc.), and ensures subscribers on any 3 handset can enjoy the new personalised functionality, including play, pause and resume of all programs at anytime. Subscribers will pay either £5 per month or £1.49 per day for unlimited access to all shows in the service. Full content details of the service will be launched shortly.

This is an interesting announcement, given the recent focus by 3UK on mobile broadband – like most mobile multimedia services, it will live or die by the quality of content, and the quality of service.

Following on from a post I wrote a few days ago, covering the impending tie-up between 3 (in the UK) and Spotify, we now know the tariffs that are involved. According to TechDigest, it will be:

£35/month, which gets you Spotify premium included, plus unlimited texts, unlimited internet usage, and 750 mins of calls. The Spotify subscription can also be accessed from your PC too. The HTC Hero I mentioned during my last post (it’s going to be the first device with the service on it) will cost £100 upfront also – always good to know.

Hmm, that’s not a bad deal – the Hero is a good device, and having Spotify on Mobile, for those that use it, I’m sure is a major boon.

[Via: TechDigest]

No, no, no, not a quantity of 3 handsets, but rather some of the range of upcoming handsets from Operator “3″ in the UK!

New Media Age has confirmed that Spotify has done the deal to enable it’s streaming music service to go on selected devices from 3 – which is it’s first mobile operator partnership.

The service will go on the HTC Hero, and that’s apparently due before Christmas – after that, there is (again, apparently) going to be a further set of devices that will come bundled with the service – of those, I’d bet on the INQ devices being at least one of them!

Interestingly, this means that Spotify and Nokias ‘Comes with Music’ will go head to head, in a battle of the music services – however, whilst the CWM business model is well known (the device subsidises the music subscription), the Spotify tariffs are not yet known.

In terms of direct-to-customer Apps, Spotify already has an App for the iPhone and Android devices, weighing in at £9.99/month – so it should be fascinating to see if the 3 deal betters this.

[Via: New Media Age]

The slimline INQ Mini 3G is going to be available on 3UK, free on the £15 Internet Texter plan, from … now! The tariff, created for the launch of the INQ1, offers free internet, free 3-to-3 calls, free voicemail and 75 minutes for £15 a month. It will also be available free on any Mix & Match tariff.

On Pay As You Go, the handset slots neatly into the value end of 3’s range at £59.99, offering a market leading price for such an anticipated phone. Top-ups start from £5 online and £10 from all other outlets, and with every top-up customers get a bundle of free texts, a generous allowance of Mobile Internet access, free 3-to-3 calls and free voicemail. The larger the top-up, the greater the rewards – and you can use them for 90 days whether or not the balance is in credit.

Both Pay As You Go on 3 and all contract tariffs come with free Skype-to-Skype calls and free Windows Live Messenger in the UK. And if you buy the INQ Mini 3G on the £15 Internet Texter plan, or on Pay As You Go, all your internet, including Facebook and Twitter, is covered by your bundle.

In case you’ve not come across the Mini 3G yet, it adds Twitter to the range of great internet products built into the heart of INQ’s phones, adding to Facebook, IM and Skype. Applications are easily accessible from INQ’s carousel menu system which can be pulled up on any screen using the handy switcher key.

The new Twitter application lets customers make the most of the ‘always on’ capability that the applications on the INQ1 are known for. Like Facebook, IM and Skype, after the first log in, Twitter stays ‘on’ in the background, letting customers send ‘tweets’ and ‘retweet’ using the phone’s application.

As well as improved software and additional functionality, the INQ Mini 3G is the first mobile to follow the new look and feel for future INQ handsets. It can also be customised with a range of seven coloured backs. INQ Mini 3G will be available with red backs in-box, other coloured backs will be available from 3 Stores.