In Japan, Panasonic has unveiled the new KX-WP800, a WLAN phone with Skyper functionality. equipped with a 1.8-inch TFT LCD, the Panasonic KX-WP800 could be used to make voice calls over the internet using Skype without the need for a computer. This is possible because the handset itself comes with WLAN router. Moreover, you could also use the Panasonic KX-WP800 on any of Japan’s 32,000 FON access points, as it can utilize the “FON” WLAN sharing service. The Panasonic KX-WP800 Skype phone will be available starting March 28, 2008 and will be sold for US$290.

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Last March 8, 2008, Cricket made history as it launched the very first CDMA AWS (Advance Wireless Services) cell phone — the UTStarcom CDM7126. The new UTStarcom CDM7126 cell phone is first phone in the world to utilize the AWS spectrum band. Aside from said band, though, the triband UTStarcom CDM7126 also works with cellular and PCS bands. The UTStarcom CDM7126 cell phone is a metallic slider with colored display and Bluetooth connectivity. It’s now available in Cricket retail stores across Tulsa, Oklahoma, and will be available nationwide soon.

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Remember the Samsung SGH-i550? That first GPS Symbian-based smartphone? Samsung decided to up the ante and mold the old SGH-i550 into the new Samsung SGH-i550W. Its new flagship feature is WiFi connectivity. However, to ensure that the Samsung SGH-i550W could compete with Nokia’s N-series phones, aside from WiFi, new features also include a tri-band GSM connectivity, HSDPA capability, as well as EDGE and UMTS functionalities.

For Samsung SGH-i550W’s complete specs, check out the original SGH-i550.

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Popular Middle East singer, Elissa, was tapped by Samsung to become the face of its new Impulz i450 dual-slider music phone. The upper part of the Samsung Impulz i450 could be slid to reveal alphanumeric keys, while the lower slider contains speakers. The phone has a 2.4-inch LCD screen, a 2-megapixel camera with flash, and a VGA camera for video calls. Of course, since the Impulz i450 is a music phone, it has an MP3 player which boasts high-def quality thanks to Bang & Olufsen-develooped ICEpower amplifier. For storage, it has 35MB internal memory and an expandable memory slot of up to 4GB.

Samsung Impulz i450 is now available across Middle East and Africa for approximately US$400.

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During its talk in the Cupertino headquarters where members of the press were invited, Apple announced the release of iPhone 2.0 software beta. The beta release of the iPhone 2.0 software includes the much-awaited iPhone Software Development Kit. As we all know, the iPhone SDK enables programmers to develop apps for iPhone and iPod through the use of APIs. The iPhone SDK is now available for download. The Standard Program US$99 per year while the Enterprise Program costs $299 yearly.

Additional announcements include:

• support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync
• over-the-air push email
• contacts and calendars
• remote wipe
• Cisco IPsec VPN
• iPhone Developer Program
• App Store

A link to the full press release after the jump.

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Very late last month, an advertisement leak notified us of the impending release of the LG Glimmer exclusively for Alltel. Merely a couple of weeks later, Alltel is releasing the Glimmer tomorrow, March 13, 2008. The LG Glimmer is a touch-screen slider phone with a 2-megapixel camera, MP3 player, 128 internal memory, expandable microSD card slot, graphics support, and GPS capability. It comes loaded with various Alltel features such as Axcess Search, Axcess TV, Axcess Search, Axcess Voice2TXT, and Alltel Navigation. The LG Glimmer costs US$249.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate.

Check out LG Glimmer’s full specs and press release after the jump.

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Along with the new Nokia 6650, CeBIT also saw the launch of the Nokia 6124 Classic, this time for Vodafone. The Nokia 6124 Classic phone is a candybar type handset with 3G broadband connection that’s, according to Vodafone, 10 times faster than other 3G networks. This multimedia Nokia handset features a 2-inch color display, 2 megapixel camera with panorama mode and flash, multimedia player, and an expandable microSD card slot of up to 8GB capacity. The Nokia 6124 Classic operates on Symbian S60 and has the capability to run different applications simultaneously for optimal web surfing and multimedia experience. The device will ship on Q2 ‘08 in Vodafone markets.

A pic of the phone’s back after the jump.

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At CeBIT 2008, Nokia announced the launch of the new Nokia 6650 for T-Mobile. What’s confusing is that, there’s an older Nokia 6650 phone in existence, yet the company opted give it the same model number. The new Nokia 6650 is a clamshell device geared towards multimedia functionalities. The phone features a 2.2-inch TFT QVGA color display, HSDPA connectivity, 2 megapixel camera, built-in AGPS, 30 MB of internal memory, audio player with FM radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and a microSD card slot. The new Nokia 6650 phone could be used for a variety of T-Mobile services such as NaviGate route management, MyFaves, web’n'walk, and Mobile Jukebox. It will be available on Q3 ‘08 across Europe.

Another pic after the jump.

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At CeBIT 2008, Samsung has launched the clamshell version of the Samsung Soul called the G400. This handset was was first made known to the public last February, and was surmised to be among the phones Samsung will showcase during the Mobile World Congress. Samsung G400’s selling point is its dual touch screen feature. By dual touch screen, it means the G400 has one 2.22-inch TFT LCD display, and one 2.2-inch external touch screen display. The external screen is used to access the phone’s multimedia capabilities without the need to use the main internal display. Other features include a 5 megapixel camera, 7.2 Mbps HSDPA capability, and multi-media player with FM radio. Samsung G400 is equipped with three different graphic user interfaces or GUIs from which the users can choose. The clamshell phone will be available starting June 2008 to select European countries.

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Do you remember those Sony Ericsson slider pic leak a few days ago? I didn’t think the announcement would come this soon, but Sony Ericsson has unveiled its new slider phone, the Sony Ericsson T303. Based on the recent report about the new Sony Ericsson nomenclature system, this new slider is a low-end device which is the first in its series. The Sony Ericsson T303 is a compact slider phone with a 1.8-in 128 x 160 pixels color TFT display, 1.3 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom, media player with FM radio, WAP 2.0 XHTML Internet connection, Bluetooth connectivity, and USB support. This GSM/GPRS phone measures 83 x 47 x 14.7 mm, weighs 93 grams, and will be available starting mid of 2008 in selected markets worldwide.

More pics after the jump.

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I was wondering when this would happen, but well, it happened today. Nokia will support Microsoft’s Silverlight platform (a competitor to Adobe’s Flash technology) with a view to deliver rich web applications on the S60 (Symbian OS) series of devices.

You may already know that Flash is available for S60 in the form of Flash Lite, but now Microsoft is aiming for a piece of the pie. Lee Williams, Senior VP for Nokia’s Devices software org claimed “Nokia aims to support market leading and content rich internet application environments and to embrace and encourage open innovation. By working with Microsoft, we are creating terrific opportunities and additional choices for the development community, S60 licensees and the industry as a whole.”

Like Flash, Silverlight is a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in and is used on such websites as NBA.com and NBC Universal. With a mobile phone, the reach will be much higher. For a demo, check out the MIX08 conference on March 5 in Las Vegas. Developers can get their hands on Silverlight for S60 later this year.

(Via press)

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If the service you’ve bought with your Nokia cell phones has got you grumpy in light of the recent price drops in various American cell phone networks’ call plans, then the No-Key Nokia X-SIM can help you out. The No-Key Nokia X-SIM can unlock your DCT-4 or BB5 Nokia phone in a jiffy. And we’re not talking about tinkering with your phone such that it voids your warranty. You simply insert the No-Key Nokia X-SIM with the SIM card of the network provider of your choice, and your phone is good to go. This works because based on a locked phone’s mechanism, when you insert another SIM inside the phone, it won’t work because its identification system would indicate that it’s another network provider. However, the No-Key Nokia X-SIM can totally bypass this identification system, allowing you to use any network of your choosing. You can buy the No-Key Nokia X-SIM here for US$31.69.

Factory testing shows the No-Key Nokia X-SIM to unlock 2630, 5300, 5700, 6120c, 6110 navigator, 6500c, 6500s, N76, N95, N95 8GB, N61 8GB, E65, N73, N80, 6120c, N75, 6300, as well as all DCT4 and BB5 Nokia mobile phones.

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After Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile announced their cut rates a few days ago, analysts speculate that Sprint Nextel would make a bold move and undercut everyone else with a US$60 call plan. I wondered how a business which is arguably in the red could keep afloat with that type of call plan, and apparently, Sprint itself thinks so too. Instead of the speculated $60, Sprint Nextel announced its new Simply Everything plan for $99.99. This call plan works for Sprint’s CDMA and IDEN networks. And when Sprint says “Simply Everything,” it means everything — unlimited voice, data, text, e-mail, Web-surfing, Sprint TVSM, Sprint Music, GPS Navigation, Direct Connect, and Group Connect. Not a bad move, I say.

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Oh lordy. I’m not big on mecha (that’s robot for you, who don’t know what mecha is), but I’ve had my share of it. And now, Softbank has come up with every mecha geek’s ultimate dream — a mecha-phone called the SoftBank 815T PB by Toshiba. The new SoftBank 815T PB model comes in two different versions as you can see on the pic — the Silver X07 and the Blach X01. Aside from 3G capability, this phone features a 2.4-inch QVGA TFT LCD with 0.8 in monochrome OLED subdisplay, 3.2-megapixel camera with auto-focus, 14 MB built-in memory, and a microSD card slot expandable up to 2GB. Other features include “Buddy Talk” which lets you communicate with your phone as it displays a variety of expressions:

…and “Mobile Story,” a card type battle RPG. Of course, as mentioned, these phones can transform into mecha-like bots with movable limbs. The SoftBank 815T PB phone will be available in Japan by April 2008. Check out the phones in their tame, unaltered state after the jump.

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Apple is really set to conquer the globe. If you need more proof than what you’ve already seen, then perhaps this would convince you. It’s been confirmed that the Apple iPhone is coming to Ireland exclusively via O2 Ireland. The official debut would be on March 14, 2008. The iPhone will be sold in the country through Carphone Warehous and O2 retail outlets. The iPhone versions which would be available in Leprechaun Country are the 8GB model which would be sold at US$600 and the 16GB model for US$750.

According to Danuta Gray, O2 Ireland CE:

“The iPhone is changing the way people use their mobiles forever, and we’re thrilled to offer it to O2 customers in Ireland. Our strategy in Ireland continues to be to bring our customers the very best innovations and experiences in mobile communications.”

Three new call plans will reportedly available for the iPhone which would start at €45. The US, UK, Australia, Germany, France, and now Ireland. Where next, Apple? We reckon it’ll be Asian invasion time soon.

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Nokia Remade isn’t the only phone concept which looks promising or, at the very least, intriguing. This entry in the Greener Gadgets Design Competition 2008 is every bit as sensational, although whether it actually hits the stores, I leave that up to time. Called the Bamboo, this is a degradable cell phone concept designed as an environmental-friendly device. The Bamboo’s casing is made of bio-plastic made of renewable natural resources like corn, and Bamboo, which, when harvested, grows back in due time. What’s more, after a year or so and you decide not to use the phone anymore, you can bury the print board, battery, and antenna in compost, which will then disintegrate, releasing bamboo seeds that would grow into new plants. The phone will also feature an energy-efficient monochrome display, and a hand-crack with which to re-charge the device. A 3-minute cranking session could provide enough power for one phone call. What better way to get those arm muscles tones and help save the environment at the same time?

More pics after the jump.

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Finally! After months upon months of mentioning the iPhone SDK, and upon spending its whole existence in the Apple labs, subject to Steve Jobs’s scrutinizing gaze, it looks like the Apple iPhone SDK is finally seeing the light of day. Postponing its supposed February release (hopefully to ensure that everything is perfect), Apple is hosting a talk on 10 am, March 6 at its Cupertino headquarters. Here’s what Steve and co. sent the members of the press:

“Please join us to learn about the iPhone software roadmap, including the iPhone SDK and some exciting new enterprise features,.”

Fantastic.

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A leaked advertisement shows us a delicious glimpse of the new LG Glimmer to be released by Alltel. The LG Glimmer advert leak comes, of course, with specs leak, which makes it all the more savory. The new LG Glimmer comes with a 2.8-inch touch display with haptic feedback for inputs, a 2-megapixel camera with 5x zoom, a numeric keypad slider, microSD card slot, 128MB built-in memory, 3.5 hours of talk time, Bluetooth 1.2 connectivity, and EVDO. Watch out for the official release of the Glimmer here in Mobilewhack.

A pic of the LG Glimmer press release after the jump.

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Sony has just launched the ICF-ClipMK2 — a stereo clock radio which supports the iPhone. And Sony is one of the first companies to launch such a device. The Sony ICF-ClipMK2 comes with a remote control with full access to the iPhone’s menu along with the clock’s radio tuning and volume control. The adjustable backstop mechanism fits the iPhone snugly, although smaller iPod versions could also be used with it. A line-in jack and cable which comes with the device could be used for connection of other players. The Sony ICF-ClipMK2 stereo alarm clock will be available in May for arouns US$100 in Sony retail outlets and the Sony Style web site.

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A new UK-based company named Onyx has released its first offering — the Liscio. The tri-band phone Liscio features a 1.10-inch 96 x 96 pixels OLED full-color display, 128MB built-in memory, Micro SD card slot of up to 1GB cards size, MP3 player, built-in FM radio, and Bluetooth v1.2 connectivity. Very basic, isn’t it? No camera. No 3G. If you’re interested in a basic black phone, however, the Onyx Liscio will be available as a SIM-free handset in www.onyxinnovation.com for around US$260 to be sold in the UK. By the bye, if you’re thinking this handset is familiar, then you’re right. Thanks to mobile magazine, we figured out that the Onyx Liscio is the repackaged Haier Black Pearl which was released prior to Liscio under a variety of other names.

Another pic after the jump.

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