Alcatel has sprung quite a pleasant surprise this time.  We have seen many low-range Alcatel cellphones make an appearance from time to time but this round, the OT-S988W is a smartphone that can put many of the other devices in the same segment to shame.  Running Windows Mobile 6.1, the device has a Qualcomm 528MHz helped along by 256MB RAM and an equal amount of ROM and has support for China Unicom’s newly unveiled WO 3G network.  Also crammed in are a GPS receiver, WiFi, Bluetooth, a QWERTY keyboard, and yet another surprise, a 3.5mm headphone jack.  Headed for China Unicom in the near future at an unknown price, and we should know better than to expect something this good to appear Stateside.

IM