Mobile handsets are always attention-grabbers, and both manufacturers and carriers used the opportunity of the CTIA Wireless conference in Las Vegas to show off new releases from Nokia, Samsung, LG and Kyocera. For those who didn't get a hands-on look at the show, eWEEK has gathered a few of them here.
Many of the handsets were geared toward consumers rather than enterprise users, and focused on texting and instant messaging. ABI Research recently released a report predicting that handset shipments would drop by 8 percent in 2009. Analyst Kevin Burden, author of the report, told eWEEK, "In these economic times, people are staying focused on the practical functionalities they need most."
In regard to AT&T's introduction of six phones it will soon make available—the Nokia E71x, the Samsung Propel Pro, the Samsung Impression, the Samsung Magnet and the LG Xenon and LG Neon—Burden noted that the carrier was "simplifying the message and [focusing] on the applications that resonate most with users: voice, messaging and e-mail."
Neil Mawston, a director with Strategy Analytics, additionally commented, "High-tier smartphones from the likes of RIM and Apple continue to sell well in the United States, but there is naturally always scope for operators to promote less-expensive models and open up the market to wider adoption."
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11 Notable Phones from Nokia, Samsung, LG and Kyocera Spotted at CTIA
by Michelle Maisto
The Kyocera G2GO M2000 (pronounced "good to go") features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth, a 1.3-megapixel camera with a dedicated key for quick access, an MP3 player also with a dedicated key, a WAP 2.0 browser, and support for IMAP/POP3 e-mail plus SMS, EMS, MMS and instant messaging.
The 2.2-inch QVGA display on the Kyocera Laylo M1400 does a vertical slide to a simple keypad. Included is a VGA camera with digital zoom, Bluetooth technology, a WAP 2.0 browser and—on the back—a slide-out self-portrait vanity mirror.
The Samsung Instinct s300 is an update to the Samsung Instinct and includes an improved Web-browsing experience using either the default browser or the Opera Mini 4.2, built-in IM and 16 GB of external memory. It comes in Cobalt Metal or Touch of Copper and will be available April 19 from Sprint for $129.99 with a two-year contract.
Samsung is calling its Mondi "the most advanced mobile WiMax-enabled handheld device in the U.S." The Mondi features a 4.3-inch touch-screen with Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface, which offers one-touch access to customizable online widgets. The Mondi runs Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and, in addition to WiMax, can connect via Wi-Fi.
The Nokia E71x is a thin, candy-bar-style smartphone finished in black steel. Its features include 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity, a 3-megapixel camera and AT&T's Navigator application for turn-by-turn directions. AT&T will be offering the Nokia E71x for $99.99 with a two-year contract, after a $50 mail-in rebate.
The Samsung Propel Pro runs the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, which allows for full enterprise applications. It also offers 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity.
The Samsung Propel Pro additionally features a full QWERTY keyboard. It will be available in April from AT&T for $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate.
The Samsung Impression features a sliding, 3.2-inch touch-screen that's the nation's first with AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) technology. Which is to say: It looks good. Pricing will be $199 after a $50 mail-in rebate.
The LG Xenon is a bit of a scaled-back Samsung Impression. There's a slide-out QWERTY keypad (no AMOLED here), a 2-megapixel camera and, among other features, the AT&T Navigator GPS application. Users get a choice of black, blue or red for $99 after a $50 mail-in rebate.
With the LG Neon, AT&T offers something for the teen market—or anyone in need of a bolt of color. It comes in green or white and features a full keyboard, a 2-megapixel camera and access to IM, Mobile Email, AT&T Music and the mobile Internet.
Another cheery offering, the Samsung Magnet has a WAP browser and is ideal for chatting, texting and snapping pics. No 3G here, but that helps to lower the price—which AT&T hasn't yet made public, though it's promising something modest.
MetroPCS announced it will be offering the Samsung Finesse. The phone will run users $349, but there's no contract to sign, and for $50 a month they'll get unlimited voice and Internet. It features a full touch-screen, 150MB of memory, a MicroSD expansion slot and a 2-megapixel camera. The Finesse is equipped for 3G, though MetroPCS doesn't offer it; it plans to jump directly to LTE.
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Mobile handsets are always attention-grabbers, and both manufacturers and carriers used the opportunity of the CTIA Wireless conference in Las Vegas to show off new releases from Nokia, Samsung, LG and Kyocera. For those who didn't get a hands-on look at the show, eWEEK has gathered a few of them here.
Many of the handsets were geared toward consumers rather than enterprise users, and focused on texting and instant messaging. ABI Research recently released a report predicting that handset shipments would drop by 8 percent in 2009. Analyst Kevin Burden, author of the report, told eWEEK, "In these economic times, people are staying focused on the practical functionalities they need most."
In regard to AT&T's introduction of six phones it will soon make available—the Nokia E71x, the Samsung Propel Pro, the Samsung Impression, the Samsung Magnet and the LG Xenon and LG Neon—Burden noted that the carrier was "simplifying the message and [focusing] on the applications that resonate most with users: voice, messaging and e-mail."
Neil Mawston, a director with Strategy Analytics, additionally commented, "High-tier smartphones from the likes of RIM and Apple continue to sell well in the United States, but there is naturally always scope for operators to promote less-expensive models and open up the market to wider adoption."