Camera Phones Plaza

Here’s a great news for those of you out there who own a Pantech C810 Duo dual slider with AT&T carrier: you can now download an upgrade including Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard operating system. But you should understand one thing very well: this upgrade is for AT&T customers only. If AT&T isn’t your service provider, do not update your product with this software! More than that, after updating the Pantech Duo with this software, the product will only work with AT&T service.

The company warns users to back-up all of their Duo handsets with their AT&T Mobile Backup available on their official website, because the update will erase all data from their devices. So you are asked to ensure that all critical information has been backed up before applying this update. All user data (including contacts, photos, ringtones and videos) can be backed up by using Microsoft Sync which was included in your installation disc.

Among the list of exciting upgrades to the user experience for both business and consumer customers, Pantech Duo owners now enjoy a more efficient use of key phone features. The improvements include: customizable home screen, threaded text messaging, Web, Support for Enterprise Device Management and Security, productivity, Bluetooth, Mobile Banking, the addition of Windows Mobile 6.1.



Sliding panels streamline access to frequently-used phone features, allowing for picture and video viewing, listening to music and coordinating calendar appointments. On the other hand, SMS text messages are threaded together into a single conversation, so users can view the entire conversation as they type. As far as the Web is concerned, zoom in and out capabilities provide enhanced Web page viewing. Advanced enterprise device management support features sophisticated security settings and simplified access for IT managers. You also have the ability to cut, copy and paste text, auto-fill options for email addresses, select multiple messages in bulk, you can also easily manipulate contacts, calendar and tasks features. When it comes to the Bluetooth, there is a seamless pairing of headset to device without pairing code. With Mobile Banking, you can perform secure banking transactions with many of the nation’s largest banks directly from your handset.



But probably the most important improvement is the addition of Windows Mobile 6.1 to the Pantech duo, “which is another example of Pantech’s commitment to improving the mobile experience for our customers”, said Sandy Gomo, Director of Product Management, Pantech Wireless, Inc. “Availability of this update online is part of Pantech’s strategy to protect the investment of loyal Pantech product users. Out continued relationship with AT&T and Microsoft brings customers fun and productive tools to enhance their everyday lives”.

This updater will function correctly under Windows 2000 & XP. Other requirements include: (1) USB port, fully charged battery for your phone (standard or extended) and USB data cable which was included in the retail box.

The new Pantech duo is now available in the US exclusively from AT&T for as low as $79.99. For those who already have their devices, they can download and have more information about the new update on pantechusa.com.

(Source phonearea.net)

If you’re the “I’ve seen it and I’ve already forgot it” type of guy, then you must have went beyond the Xperia X1 phase, even if the arc-slider smartphone with Windows Mobile 6.1 Operating System is still considered by some a new device, as it was first presented at the 2008 Mobile World Congress. Maybe you’re not, I wouldn’t know, but pay a little bit of attention to what I have to say: Sony Ericsson is getting ready to release a new touchscreen handset that will bring 8 GB of internal memory and an 8 megapixel camera.

Sony Ericsson Labs are leaking phones on a daily basis, so according to the SEMC Blog, the handset which was codenamed Hikaru, a common Japanese term used for both males and females, will be the next high-end slider of the Swedish-Japanese manufacturer. Because everyone seems to just love the touchscreens these days. There are lots of devices like the HTC Touch Diamond, LG Vu, BlackBerry Storm the iPhone 3G, or even the recent Nokia Tube, that has just made its official debut.



For the moment, it’s not clear where Hikaru will fit into Sony Ericsson’s range of products. Will it be a Walkman, a Cyber-shot or perhaps a G-series? This is one thing people would really love to find out, but they would also like to know whether the keyboard will be an alphanumeric or a QWERTY one.

While there is yet to be a formal announcement on the matter, it seems that the Sony Ericsson Hikaru will be the company’s official competitor to the iPhone and other similar devices. There are no real details or shots yet, except that it will sport a slider form factor. Hopefully, we’ll hear more about this one soon, so stay tuned and see if Hikaru will be a real handset.

(The picture above is just a mockup I found on unwiredview.com, and it’s based on the Sony Ericsson’s W960 model. The official Hikaru most probably doesn’t look like this and we sure hope it will actually look better).

(Source phonearea.net)

As if there weren’t already enough Mobiado luxury cell phones on the market, the Canadian manufacturer has announced the release of four new handsets: Professional 105 EM White, Professional 105 EM Red, Professional 105 EM CLB Black and Professional 105 EM CLB Silver.

The first two phones are part of the Professional 105 EM Special Edition series which continues the tradition of the Executive Model series. They are built from exquisite materials like maple burl wood, titanium, sapphire crystals and 24K gold. Burl wood is highly prized by artists because of its unique beauty and rarity. Every 105 EM Special Edition is as different and unique as every rare exotic tree is.

Each pair of wood inserts is CNC machined from the same piece of solid maple burl wood. This is a guarantee to the consistent grain structure on both sides of the phone. The maple burl wood is then inlayed into a nickel plated, brass frame. While the screws are made of titanium, the button of the 105EM Special Edition White are sapphire crystal, hand painted with silver paint, in order to produce front and back surfaces made entirely of sapphire crystals (225 carats).

As far as the Red version is concerned, the wood inserts are also CNC machined from the same piece of solid box burl wood, for the exactly same reason. The box burl wood is then inlayed into a 5 micron thick 24-karat gold plated, brass frame. The screws are gold plated brass and the buttons are sapphire crystals, hand painted with 24-karat gold.

Based on the construction of the Professional 105 ZAF lineup, the entire front and back of the 105EM Special edition phones have been crafted from large pieces of sapphire crystal, providing a modern minimalist look with a wear resistance second only to diamond. These luxury cell phones utilize a unique and hidden sliding battery cover mechanism (patent pending) with the battery cover being made entirely from one piece of sapphire crystal.

The specs of Professional 105EM White and Professional 105EM Red include: quad band GSM/EGSM and dual band WCDMA (850/2100) connectivity, a 2 megapixel camera and video camera, more than 1 GB of internal memory (whatever that means), a 2-inch display with up to 16 million colors, Bluetooth and micro USB connectivity, and a music player that supports AAC, eAAC+ and MP3 audio formats.



Professional 105EM CLB Black and Professional 105EM CLB Silver have the same specs as the other two Mobiado luxury cell phones, but they look a little bit different. And I’m not sure this is a very good thing.

All four devices will be available unlocked, but unfortunately there is no word about the release date and prices. Anyway, don’t expect them to be affordable!

(Source Mobiado)

After the latest i7110, Samsung and AT&T officially announced the SGH-i907 Epix, a QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen equipped smartphone running Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system. The Epix is based on the SGH-i780 that is available in other parts of the world and features the same optical joystick controller that replaces the directional pad and is found on that device as well as on the i900 Omnia.

The Epix is available exlusively to AT&T customers in the US and allows users to choose between several ways to navigate its touchscreen, including the first-ever implementation of optical mouse technology on a phone sold in the US. The optical mouse is placed in the center of the device, between the right and left soft keys, and makes navigation a whole lot quicker and easier by simply sweeping a finger over it. Thus, if you want to make a selection, you just have to click one single time and you will get to the desired location within the phone’s menus. You can also switch the optical mouse to a four-way navigation key for more traditional navigation. If you, on the other hand, prefer to interact directly with the touchscreen, then you either use your finger to navigate or the Epix’s built-in stylus for pinpoint accuracy.

The Epix has a cool silver finish and follows a long line of robust and groundbreaking crossover smartphones from AT&T and Samsung Mobile. In addition, the Epix is a next generation, sleek, stylish and compact handset.

The Samsung SGH-i907 combines impressive features, such as: Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) to connect with home or campus networks or access more than 17,000 AT&T hot spots nationwide, including at thousands of participating Starbucks locations, a built-in aGPS, which can be used with AT&T Navigator, AT&T Navigator Global Edition and other GPS-based applications for personal and business use, AT&T Video Share, the first-ever service in the US that allows users to share live video over wireless devices while participating in a voice call, Global capabilities to help user to make or receive a phone call in more than 200 countries and check email, browse the Web or perform other data functions in more than 150 countries, including in more than 60 – such as Japan and South Korea – that have developed 3G networks, 2.0 megapixel camera with video capture capabilities and a slim, light form factor.



Moreover, users have the chance to access multiple email accounts with Microsoft Direct Push for corporate users and AT&T Xpress Mail, which includes access to most major personal email accounts. Developed with the business user in mind, “the Epix allows you to never miss a beat at the office, stay in touch with colleagues and family and enjoy entertainment”, said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Telecommunications America.

The Epix runs on Windows Mobile 6.1, bringing a powerful personal computer experience to a compact device. Therefore, you can use Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile, Internet Explorer Mobile that provides improved quick and easy Web browsing and Office Mobile, which enhances the productivity with the ability to manage Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents. It also feature threaded SMS messaging, Internet connection sharing, mobile banking and Voice Command.



The communications tools aren’t everything about this new device, because the Epix is a multimedia and entertainment powerhouse also. You have access to AT&T Mobile Music, an integrated, on-the-go music experience that delivers “your music, your way”, by providing simple access to a robust collection of music content, including access to online subscription music content from Napster Mobile, XM Radio Mobile and more. You can also see thousands of video clips via streaming videos, a feature enabled by the Cellular Video (CV) from AT&T.

In addition, there are the Stereo Bluetooth technology, with stereo headset support, a 2.0 megapixel camera with video-capture capabilities, Windows Media Player 10 Mobile and microSD memory card slot for external storage of up to 32GB of data.

The AT&T BroadbandConnect 3G network is the one backing the Epix and the network’s HSDPA-based technology allows users to perform data functions and conduct a phone call simultaneously. Besides the 3G connectivity, there is a AT&T nationwide EDGE network, which is available in more than 13,000 cities and towns and along some 40,000 miles of major highways.

The Samsung Epix is available through select AT&T retail locations or at AT&T’s official website for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement and after a mail-in rebate.

(Source SamsungMobileNews.com)

Pantech, South Korea’s third largest handset manufacturer, is doing a very good job, not only in its country, but also on the US market, especially since the company has recently announced two new phones ( the Matrix and the Slate) for AT&T, the most important provider of both local and long distance telephone services, DSL Internet access and wireless service in the United States.

The Pantech Design Community, comprised of 20 college students, has come up with four new concept phones that Pantech might someday build. You must agree with the fact that some companies are prolific at this time of year, and Pantech surely does not make an exception!

<-300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->

The first concept is called Coralliform Water and it was obviously inspired by the sea and the underwater life. Being a slider, the phone somehow looks like a budding flower when it’s closed. There were no specifications given, but the device seems to have a touchscreen display and a camera. Even if this phone looks like being targeted at the fairer sex and like fitting better in a lady’s hands, I bet that gentlemen won’t mind having one.

The Easter Moai had been made with a view to articulate the “multifaceted nature of human beings”. It features a “wave” touchscreen LCD, a touch key, a dome key and lots of other keys on its sides, which are put there in order to increase the phone’s functionality. The thing that really looks different is the included support that fits the phone perfectly.



Recy_Q is a full touchscreen phone that features a sliding QWERTY keyboard and touch keys which are embedded in the metal frame, for an easier control over its User Interface. Recyclable material should be used for the case and the keypad. I’m not sure about how those tiny “wings” of the phone would feel in hand, but on the whole the device looks good.



Softy Lofty is the fourth new Pantech concept, and maybe the wackiest of them all, because we just can’t figure out where the display of this phone is. All we’re said about this strange design is that it’s supposed to “offer as much visual and emotional comfort as possible” and to emit a vague light when re-charged.



To conclude, all the four Pantech phones look really inviting, but it would really be interesting to see those concepts turning into reality.

(Source concept-phones.com)