smartphone

Apparently NTT DoCoMo has licensed the Far EasTone Telecommunications to offer its i-mode service in Taiwan.

The latter has also partnered with Nokia to bring the service on a customized version of the 3G Nokia 6124 classic smartphone.

This is the first Nokia handset compatible i-mode.

Some of the phone's features include: S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1 OS, HSDPA support, a QVGA display, and a 2Mpix camera.

RIM, concerned with the possible low sales of the upcoming high-priced BlackBerry 9000 smartphone, decided to make a budget version of the handset by cutting out 3G support.

It will also have a slightly different bezel and back casing.

Why they decided to change the body is beyond me...

Today we present specifications for three yet unannounced, but highly anticipated HTC smartphones - HTC Touch Pro (Raphael), HTC Touch Diamond and HTC Touch Dual Pro (Titanium).

Hopefully, atleast one of them will be released on May 6rth.

HTC Touch Pro (Raphael):

• Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional;
• 256MB ROM / 128MB RAM;
• Qualcomm MSM 7201A @ 528MHz;
• 7.

O2 has picked up the new Palm Treo 500, previously an exclusive to Vodafone.

It is a business-centric smartphone powered by Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard and featuring 900/1800/1900Mhz GSM radio, 2100Mhz UMTS, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, and a microSD card slot. You can get the handset for free if you take the appropriate wireless plan.

Visit O2's website for more info.

According to NY times, RIM is developing a new iPhone killer, a fully touchscreen BlackBerry smartphone.

After the release of Pearl and Curve series, BlackBerries entered the consumer orientated phone market, and started offering features like in-built camera, memory card slot, multimedia player and headphone jack.

However, those who use their handset for entertainment and web browsing will surely prefer the iPhone.

Here's another handset that was spotted at the FCC site last week.

Apparently, this is the Motorola A810, a new Linux-based touch screen smartphone with the onscreen keyboard and handwriting recognition, along with an FM radio, and tri-band GSM support.

The U.S. release is questionable, though availability details are unknown yet.

Stay tuned for more details.

Alltel and HTC have issued a system update for the HTC Touch smartphone that will upgrade its EV-DO Rev. 0 radio to Rev. A, which allows for faster download and upload speeds. The update will also improve Bluetooth performance and will add the ability to receive video messages.
Go to HTC's support page for the instructions and download link.

Starting today, the Nokia Music Store is accessible for music lovers in Australia.

Owners of the Nokia N95 8GB, Nokia N81 8GB and the N82 smartphones will be able to purchase songs for 1.70 Australian dollars per track and albums from AU $17.00 and download them directly on their device. PC downloads are also available, and cost AU $10 per month for unlimited access.

Users can synchronize the music collection between the PC and a mobile via Windows Media Player 11.

According to a secret e-mail message sent to a limited number of people, Palm intends to start beta testing of its new handset.

In particular, the company is inviting "seasoned business professionals" who constantly use Wi-Fi and spend much time working on email and on the phone. The new phone is most likely the Treo 800w, a WiFi-enabled Windows Mobile 6.

Finnish manufacturer Elektrobit came up with the new EB Satellite/Terrestrial Reference PDA Phone (the actual name of the handset).

This is a WM-based smartphone supporting satellite connectivity with the yet not launched Terrestar satellite network. The handset won't differ from an average smartphone, and will have a very competitive price. Unfortunately, now we can't tell when it should hit the market.