China Unicom has a brand new 3G network called “WO” and has started offering new devices that use all the benefits of the high speed data. One of the devices we caught is the Alcatel OT-S988W, a Windows Mobile-powered smartphone.
It has a large touchscreen (3.2-inches, 240×400 pixels), coupled with a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Rest of the specs include Bluetooth and WiFi wireless connectivity support, GPS receiver, 3.5mm audio jack, 256MB of RAM and 256MB of ROM, Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM)’s 528 MHz CPU, and we guess a microSD memory card slot. Size wise, the OT-S988W measures 110×55x15.1 mm and has a weight of 124 grams.
Details on pricing are unknown at this stage, and we’ve no idea whether this baby will ever be sold in the Western hemisphere…
Alcatel has recently unveiled two new devices, both targeting low-to-mid range of the market. The twist is in the form factor, as both of these bring interesting features to the entry-level segment.
The first of the two, OT-707 (pictured on the right), is a small all-touchscreen device, measuring just 95×53x13 mm. Specs wise, it comes with a 2.3-inch QVGA touchscreen (kinda small for a touchscreen, though in real-life that may be just enough), dual-band (900/1800 Mhz) GSM/GRPS radio, Bluetooth, music player, FM radio, 1.3-megapixel camera, 10MB of internal memory that is further expandable with microSD memory cards.
As for the other model, OT-800 (the one on the right), again it’s an entry-level device, which dumps the touchscreen for the full QWERTY keyboard. In that sense, this low-end messenger is an ideal handset for young, savvy texters, who don’t necessarily like having bulky devices in their pockets — the OT-800 measures 111×58x14 mm. In terms of specs, it comes with a QVGA screen, tri-band (900/1800/1900 MHz) GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity, FM radio, 2-megapixel camera.
Availability details are unknown at this stage. We do however, know the prices. Once they hit the market, the Alcatel OT-707 and OT-800 will be available for 100 EUR ($126) and 95 EUR ($120), respectively.
Yet another gem found whilst cruising through my photos of Mobile World Congress was this clip showing Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU)’s Enhanced Reality, which is still in its early stages. By initiating a video call through the service, video content can be superimposed onto real-world objects viewed through your phone’s camera. Two U.S. carriers are sniffing around the project, although no announcements have been made as of yet. It’s vaguely reminiscent of Nokia (NYSE: NOK)’s Point and Find object recognition software shown off at CES, but I think Alcatel-Lucent’s offer has the potential for more pizazz. Point and Find will certainly be useful if it see the light of day, but simple links to relevant information lack the wow factor that will rope in early adopters.
The first Mandarina Duck phone was obviously a success when we have the company extending its relationship with Alcatel to launch a new device called MOON. Again, we’re not talking about a high-end smartphone here, but a reasonably priced (they say it will have a “tempting price”) fashion phone that prides itself to be a “feminine and sophisticated mobile phone.”
Sporting a clamshell form factor, the MOON sports a music player, Bluetooth 2.0, and an array of standard mobile phone apps like calendar, calculator, and alarm clock. No other specs were given, but we’re guessing there’s some camera included in the mix, too.
Once it hits the stores, the new Mandarina Duck phone will be available in three 3 pearlescent colours: white, pink and orange, with each one of the versions coming with the specially colored UI to match the handset’s color…
It’s not that often that we hear about some new Alcatel phone. The French company seems to have almost abondend its handset business, hence the device we’re showing you today, Alcatel OT-I650, is manufactured by China-based TCL Communication Technology.
Anyway, the candybar-shaped device is made for those that don’t want a smartphone with its complicated mambo-jumbos. Rather the individuals Alcatels is targeting want a simple and easy to use phone that fits their active lifestyle. That being said, the Alcatel OT-I650 does go beyond “classic” low-end phones we’re seeing thanks to the built in G-sensor (accelerometer), which allows users to switch between apps by shaking the phone. In that sense, this device reminds us such handsets as Nokia (NYSE: NOK) 5500 or Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) W580, though the mentioned two are way more capable than Alcatel’s baby.
In addition to G-sensor, the OT-I650 also comes with a 1.3 megapixel camera, FM radio, Bluetooth, as well as several sport apps pre-installed like pedometer.
The Alcatel OT-I650 will first be available in Russia in two colors (black and orange) for 3,190 rubles, which is about $120.
Orange has teamed up with BIC to launch the easy-to-use, ready-to-go BIC phone. Manufactured by TCL (Alcatel), the entry-level device comes with 60 free minutes, the battery charged, and the SIM card already in place. Once you spend the free minutes, refilling is done using prepaid cards called “mobicarte.”
The idea seems to reach those users that don’t care about high-end features of today’s smartphones, but rather prefer simple phone for texting and calling. Additionally, the France Telecom owned mobile operator may push the device towards a large number of tourists, who in most cases just need a cheap solution to stay in touch while visiting France.
That being said, the two companies will push the BIC phone through over the counter channels, major supermarkets and local convenience stores. Starting from August, 7th, BIC phone will be available in citrus orange and lime green in metropolitan France for 49 EUR with all the taxes.
Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) and Telstra have opened a “mobile TV handset testing service centre” in Melbourne, Australia. The facility has been developed to support Telstra’s Mobile Foxtel TV service and will ensure that Alcatel-Lucent’s MiTV application and the Mobile Foxtel service are compatible with and operate smoothly on the handsets that Telstra offers to customers.
Apparently the facility will test up to 100 3G handsets per year to ensure that the typical issues found with complex applications and services and met ahead of time. The testing will also include Streamezoo, who supply a client software app to AlcaLu for MiTV. Whereas as previously testing had been done overseas, it will now be handled locally, and over time the idea is that the service centre can provide testing for other service providers too.
So, a pretty logical step - the best tests are always those that approximate reality the most closely, and therefore where better to test than your own network….!
Alcatel is looking to bring hardware to the US through O2 (NYSE: TEF) Wireless (not to be confused with O2 in the UK). The Alcatel E206a will be offered as a super-basic (read: cheap), dual-band GSM handset. The Alcatel E206a doesn’t offer Bluetooth or even GPRS (let alone EDGE) data services, and is aimed at the entry-level market. In fact, the Alcatel E206a’s spec-sheet is devoid of much more than basic voice calling functionality.
O2 Wireless’s parent company, Locus Communications, operates MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) like CallPlus, Locus Mobile, and POP in the US and will be distributing the Alcatel E206a through these pre-paid channels.
CTIA Las Vegas 2008 is slow, at least from a hardware/handset perspective. There haven’t been many new announcements and even less new hardware on display. Still, some of CTIA’s exhibitors really know how to entertain. Take Alcatel, for example.
The Alcatel booth wasn’t the biggest or glitziest booth on the show floor. Not by a long shot. They didn’t have amazing hardware. They did have, however, was a Playboy phone and a bunch of hotties prancing around the booth. Unfortunately, it seemed as though I missed the runway show.
The Playboy phone is a Playboy-branded Alcatel OT-V770A mobile phone for the discerning bunny-lover in all of us. Cellatel is handling the licensing of the Playboy brand. It comes in your choice of Gold, Pink, or Silver metallic trim, and plays up its Playboy affiliation to the brim. The Playboy phone sports the same 1.3 megapixel camera, media player, full-screen video playback, 10MB onboard memory, and microSD card slot as the Alcatel OT-VV770A, with the addition of that Playboy logo and embossed metallic rear-panel.
It’s not high in features, but at 10mm thin, it’s got gobs of style. The Playboy phone was only one of 20+ handsets that were at the booth today. The new lineup ranges from sporty and rugged to stylish and refined - but Playboy got the lion’s share of the attention. Go figure.
Following on MetroPCS (NYSE: PCS)’s successful launch in the coveted Los Angeles market, the “unlimited” carrier has announced that they’ll be working with Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) to bring 3G data service to seven key markets in the US. MetroPCS won the 3G spectrum in last year’s AWS spectrum auction, and will be upgrading their CDMA network from 1xRTT to EV-DO speeds in Los Angeles, Detroit, and Dallas.
MetroPCS also plans to launch in four new markets with 3G from the get-go - New York, Las Vegas, Bostson, and Philadelphia will see MetroPCS’s 3G EVDO network go live in the near future.
“Our customers want the most value for their dollar and our unlimited flat-rate service offers a compelling value proposition, which is evident by the remarkable continued growth of our subscriber base,” said Roger D. Linquist, MetroPCS’ Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.
The upgraded 3G MetroPCS network will bring advanced data solutions to its subscriber-base. MetroPCS customers can expect the same “unlimited” rate plan model with even more service options - services like “advanced multimedia, mobile data, unified communications, video mail, speech-enabled and real-time voice portal applications.”
MetroPCS did not outline their 3G-rollout timeline, but we assume it’ll be completed before the end of 2008. Unlimited wireless plans just got a bit more interesting. We’d love to see a 3G GSM network with an unlimited rate-plan model - now that would get us to bite.
Orange has teamed up with BIC to launch the easy-to-use, ready-to-go BIC phone. Manufactured by TCL (Alcatel), the entry-level device comes with 60 free minutes, the battery charged, and the SIM card already in place. Once you spend the free minutes, refilling is done using prepaid cards called “mobicarte.”
Alcatel is looking to bring hardware to the US through O2 (
CTIA Las Vegas 2008 is slow, at least from a hardware/handset perspective. There haven’t been many new announcements and even less new hardware on display. Still, some of CTIA’s exhibitors really know how to entertain. Take Alcatel, for example.
Following on MetroPCS (