How do you like the new XDA Ignito from O2? Does it look familiar to you in any way? If you know a thing or two about cell phones you will recognize the HTC Touch Diamond which was spotted in O2’s catalogues for August.

The XDA Ignito is not a new handset. Not at all! It’s the same HTC Touch Diamond which got rebranded especially for O2. However that’s quite a move bringing in the Touch Diamond after launching the iPhone in July. Besides O2, Orange, Vodafone and T-Mobile are also selling the Diamond. Only UK’s 3 doesn’t have it yet! But maybe they want to be special like that and not get the Diamond yet.

Here’s a phone coming from 3, the S2 made by Amoi of China. This is another Skypephone with preinstalled Skype software. It has built in Windows modem drivers which will install automatically once you connect it thorough the USB port. (more…)

T-Mobile and 3 UK just announced a network merge. Apparently, the British mobile giants are combining their 3G networks, saving them both GBP1 billion (approximately USD$2 billion) each in the process. The aim of the merger (aside from saving billions, of course) is to create Europe’s largest Hsdpa network. Critics remain unconvinced of the move’s potency as a network merger is not exactly the ticket to success. Still, it looks quite promising and we won’t know if this merger would be for the betterment of their 3G services or the reverse until the consumer market finally gets a shot at testing it.

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