ocean

The Pantech OZII known as Helio Ocean 2 for most of you has landed at FCC today. The phone that could have saved Helio isn't all that exciting in terms of specs, but it's still a nice mid-level handset equipped with a QVGA display, EV-DO, 2Mpix camera, full HTML browser, and A2DP support.

Finally it happened. Virgin Mobile has agreed to acquire Helio for $39 million from SK Telecom and Earthlink. The deal is expected to close sometime in Q3.

However, allthough Helio brand will no longer exist, we might still see the Ocean 2 and other cool devices in the near future, as Virgin intends to incorporate Helio's technological advantages and content offerings.

This sign was photographed at a Helio store in Denver, and it says: “The Helio Store is closed. Contact their customer support”. Don't know what to think: first news about Helio being sold off to Virgin, then spy shots of the upcoming Ocean 2, and now this... Let's hope for a happy ending.

Things aren't looking good for Helio, but despite that the company is moving forward with the Ocean 2. Above is the screenshot captured from a YouTube video.

As you can see the device looks the same as its predecessor, but will be more advanced in terms of specs.

Anyway, if we consider the current situation with Helio, we might never see the device going live.

For a "very limited time" Helio offers its Ocean smartphone for just $99 after rebate.

While the price seems very reasonable, we wouldn't rush, as this could mean that a new device is coming soon...

So, you can either buy the handset now, or continue to wait for the second Ocean to appear - the choice is yours.

 

Finally it happened!

Opera Mobile is now officially available on Helio Ocean devices. Users can download it from Helio’s Web Portal, however, the browser is currently available only for the Ocean smartphone.

But if everything will go as planned soon Opera Mini will be supported by the entire Helio line.

Helio Ocean received a new YouTube Mobile application that will allow users to watch, rate and comment, a well as upload new videos to the famous website directly from the handset.

You'll have the ability to share videos with people from your contact list, add files to My Favorites and to create new video playlists.

Helio has launched a new downloadable client, called Mail for Microsoft Exchange. Using the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol the application allows users to remotely synchronize and access business email, contacts and calendar data from their corporate Exchange Server.

Owners of the Helio Ocean smartphone can wirelessly download the mail client to their device and after a brief set up, send and receive email, create and send calendar appointments and access corporate contact lists.

Helio has just released the Ocean, their new 3G dual-slider. This smartphone costs $295 at Helio Stores and online. Starting May 21 it will be available at selected GameStop and EB Games locations and after that at thousands of additional retail stores across the U.S.

Ocean's key features are specified below.

Helio Ocean features:

• 2.