Orange and T-Mobile customers brace yourselves: Price hike number two on the way!

    Orange and T-Mobile's parent company, EE, has today announced that they have decided to enact a clause in consumers contracts to increase the price of their contracts in line with the increase measure on the Retail Price Index.

   EE argued that:

"Due to inflation, which directly impacts the costs of running our business, we've had to re-evaluate our prices and introduce an increase from 9 May 2013...We've used the Retail Price Index (RPI) which is currently at 3.3%. This is a measure of the increase in prices for consumers and businesses on average across the country over the last 12 months."

   According to EE this should result in a typical price increase of 75p per month per customer, a figure disputed by consumer research site 'Which?' who estimate that it will be around 79p. Assuming that the rise is actually 79p per customer these price increases will see EE rake in anything up to £52 million on top of their current earnings!


   We know this won't go down well with consumers and it certainly didn't go down well here at TTF! Indeed, 'Which?'s executive director, Richard Lloyd, described the situation as 'outrageous that customers [are forced] to collectively pay almost £52 million more per year for a mobile phone contract they thought was fixed,' and that's a viewpoint many people will agree with.


   The changes won't be enacted for a little while yet though, EE is obliged to contact all customers who will be affects by post 30 days before any changes happen. This means that price increases won't impact you until April 10th if you're on Orange or May 9th if you're with T-Mobile.

   In some cases there will be customers who are immune to the price hike, for example you are immune if your contract was taken out with Orange between the 2nd December 2012 and the 8th April 2013, but you will have a 6 month 'freeze' after which your price will go up 3.3% too. To quote T-Mobile's website directly:

"Why are some customers affected and not others?The majority of our customers are affected by this change. However, if you recently joined or upgraded with T-Mobile the increase will be delayed until November 2013.
What if I have recently upgraded on a new pay monthly tariff like The Full Monty?If you have joined or upgraded since 2nd December 2012 on one of our consumer plans the change will be delayed for 6 months. This means you'll see a credit on your bill for 6 months, starting from your bill on or after 09 May.
If you renewed on or after 22nd January 2013 onto one of our new Pay Monthly 24 month plans or the latest Full Monty plans, you will not be affected by the price change."  

   There doesn't seem to be too much rhyme or reason for changes to SIM only or business consumers, but all SIM only deals will face the increases immediately. The 'majority' of T-Mobile business customers will face the rise, whereas 'business customers on Orange are not affected'.

   As a way of helping customers Orange and T-Mobile users will be able to sign up to this new 'Fix Your Monthly Plan' option. Ironically this will cost you anywhere from 50p to £2 per month depending on the price of your plan. If your plan is £14.99 or less, "the extra cost to fix your plan is 50p. For plans £15.00-£24.99 it costs £1.00; plans £25-£34.99 it costs £1.50; for plans of £35 or more it's £2.00."

   Naturally there is no way to terminate contracts early with this sort of increase so we'll have to stick it out. For further details and justifications check out www.t-mobile.co.uk/pricechanges or www.orange.co.uk/pricechanges, they're more or less the same save for network specific differences and you can check the new price of your bill on those pages too!
Via Which?, Guardian and Coolsmartphone.

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Everything from the Huawei MWC event!

   Today at MWC Huawei called themselves 'a brand in the making' and they're seeking to create 'an emotional bond [and to] earn the right [to resonate]" with consumers through this year's line of phones! The ultimate aim for this year is to secure a place in the top 100 global brands! So they're quite lofty goals

   There's four ranges for this year: they'll be offering the P for fashion and design, G for best in class value, Y for accessibility and quality and D for bleeding edge tech, the last of which we've already heard about!

The Huawei Ascend P2.

   Huawei's update to their P-series is finally with us and this time it's another solid device.

    There's a 720p 4.7" IPS display which is one of the highlights of the device! It features some new things such as 'HD In-cell tech' which should make it easier to read outdoors, there's 85-degree viewing angles, 500nit brightness. Huawei were content to offer a 720p display because the ppi remains above 300, 315ppi to be precise, the full justification for that decision is available here. The display is also 'infinity edge' which to all intents and purposes means that it's an edge to edge display and with that much screen on show it's reassuring to know that the screen will be well protected with a coating of Gorilla Glass 2 and there's a final nice touch through a feature called 'Magic touch', this will basically let you use the P2 even if you're wearing gloves!

   Outside of the screen there's a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage and a 2240mAh battery (which has special charging options which should speed it up) all of which they crammed inside an 8.6mm thick profile. Huawei said that the device would've been thinner if they hadn't squeezed in the new camera.

   So the extra size can be attributed to Huawei's new 13-megapixel rear-facing camera. The sensor is Back Side Illumminated (BSI) which should help in low light conditions and it has HDR capabilities in both photos and videos. Thankfully Huawei included a dedicated camera button so you can make full use of that nice sensor and on the front the camera is a 1.3-megapixel option.

   The rest of the phone features your normal array of connections, including NFC, and the final treat that comes with this phone is that it is the, "first smartphone in the world that support LTE Cat4." That means that you can download data at theoretical speeds of 150Mbps!

   On the software front Huawei have made some customisations to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The OS is skinned with a new version of the Emotion UI. Huawei mention that the software has hundreds of customisable themes as well as:

   "[A] UniHome function combines home panels with the main menu, while Huawei's patent-pending Me Widget better utilizes screen real-estate by combining all the information and functions you need in a single, customizable widget. Emotion UI is also pre-installed with a smartphone housekeeper function to support real-time data traffic tracking, automatic blacklisting and blocking, periodical system cleaning, and spontaneous exiting of idle programs and cache clean-up, in addition to anti-virus, energy saving, privacy protection, software management, and more."

   Huawei will also throw in their Cloud+ service to help back up and sync your files and Huawei Air Sharing which can share information between phone, "Pad" and TV, so it's almost like iCloud, indeed Huawei said they were very impressed by what Apple had worked on and achieved so that is undoubtedly where they got their inspiration!

   If you're interested in this device you can pick it up in either black or white, it'll set you back 399 euros and European availability will begin in Q2! There's a little promo video embedded below for your enjoyment!

Collaboration with Orange:

   A big part of Huawei's hope for this device rests on their new partnership with Orange in Europe; the P2 will be available on Orange France in June 2013and the ultimate aim of this collaboration is to help Huawei build an improved brand in Europe.

   Orange's Yves Maitre said that: 

"We're pleased to be working with Huawei again to enable our customers to have easier and faster access to all their favorite content... We are impressed by the design and look forward to putting the Ascend P2 into the hands of consumers as soon as possible."

The full press release for the Ascend P2 is embedded below:

Huawei Reveals the World's Fastest 4G LTE Smartphone
HUAWEI Ascend P2 breaks all records with its 150 Mbps download speed
Barcelona, Spain, February 24, 2013: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today introduced the HUAWEI Ascend P2, the world's fastest smartphone, at the 2013 Mobile World Congress (MWC). The Ascend P2 features a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor and LTE Cat 4 providing an ultrafast web experience with download speeds of up to 150 Mbps. Continuing the fashion legacy of the Ascend P-series, it is only 8.4mm slim with an infinity edge 4.7-inch IPS HD in-cell touch display with second-generation Corning® Gorilla® Glass, and will be available in black and white.
"Ascend P2 is the perfect combination of elegance and power, and further proof that there's no need to compromise when desiring a perfect smartphone. It is evidence of the outstanding smartphone experiences and great technology that we are committed to bringing to consumers globally," said Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group.
The HUAWEI Ascend P2 will be on sale in France through Orange in June 2013.
"We're pleased to be working with Huawei again to enable our customers to have easier and faster access to all their favorite content," said Yves Maitre, Senior Vice President, Mobile Multimedia & Devices, Orange. "We are impressed by the design and look forward to putting the Ascend P2 into the hands of consumers as soon as possible."
"The technological capabilities of the HUAWEI Ascend P2 will enable our customers to have the fastest access to all their content, with speeds up to 150 Mbps on our brand new 4G network," said Florence Paour, Device Marketing Director, Orange France.
The HUAWEI Ascend P2 runs on the Android 4.1 operating system, with Huawei's own Emotion UI 1.5. Powered by a 2420 mAh battery and 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, the Ascend P2 downloads HD movies in minutes, and loads online videos, web pages, songs or e-Books in seconds. Huawei's proprietary 'swift sharing' supports uploads and downloads two to three times faster than other smartphones in a Wi-Fi environment. With its NFC module*, Ascend P2 enables e-payments and can act as an electronic ticket. Huawei's unique Quick Power Control (QPC) and Automated Discontinuous Reception (ADRX) power-saving technologies, reduces power consumption by 30% and charging time by more than 25% compared to other smartphones.
Continuing the fashion focus of Huawei's Ascend P smartphones, HUAWEI Ascend P2 evokes the image of an infinity pool with its seamless, elegant design and curvy contours. Using in-cell technology, its LCD 4.7-inch IPS HD touchscreen is an impressive 8.4mm slim. Its 'magic touch' feature provides enhanced screen responsiveness even with gloves, and instant keyword translation and Wikipedia searches can now be done on a single window with 'smart reading'. The screen also calibrates its brightness automatically under any light conditions, allowing users to perform any function, under any light.
The HUAWEI Ascend P2 provides optimal photo and video features including a 13 MP BSI rear-facing camera with HDR, and a 1.3 MP front-facing camera to support self-portrait and video shooting. A dedicated camera key on the side of the phone also allows instant access to picture taking, click once for the camera to be activated and another time to take the shot. With Huawei's advanced camera algorithm, high-definition images can be captured even in backlit conditions. Auto adjustment modes further enable Ascend P2 to produce photos that rival professional cameras.
The Huawei Emotion UI*, available on the Ascend P2 is easy to use and customize. The UniHome function combines home panels with the main menu, while Huawei's patent-pending Me Widget better utilizes screen real-estate by combining all the information and functions you need in a single, customizable widget. Emotion UI is also pre-installed with a smartphone housekeeper function to support real-time data traffic tracking, automatic blacklisting and blocking, periodical system cleaning, and spontaneous exiting of idle programs and cache cleanup, in addition to anti-virus, energy saving, privacy protection, software management, and more.
The Ascend P2 will also be available globally around the second quarter of 2013.
*This function is available in selected markets only.
About Huawei Device
As at the end of 2012, Huawei's products and services are deployed in over 140 countries, serving more than one third of the world's population. Huawei has also set up more than 20 R&D centers around the world in countries such as the United States, Germany, Sweden, Russia, India, and China. Consumer business is one of Huawei's three business groups offering a range of products that include mobile phones, mobile broadband devices, home devices, clouds, and consumer chipsets. With more than 20 years of rich business expertise in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, an extensive global network, vast global business operations and partners, Huawei Consumer Business Group, through Huawei Device, is dedicated to bringing the latest technology to consumers, offering a world of possibilities and creating extraordinary experiences for people everywhere.
For more information, visit Huawei Device online: www.huaweidevice.com

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Orange outs three smartphones all destined for continental Europe.

   The devices you see pictured above are three of Orange's own brand handsets which will be landing in continental Europe in the first half of the year. Orange have conveniently summed up the features of each device below and they're interesting devices especially as we expect them all to have reasonable price tags!

Orange Lumo

- The first ever 4G Orange Smartphone, with super-fast LTE connection speeds, 4.5" screen, 8MP camera, and running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Orange San Remo

- The first large format Orange smartphone, featuring 4.7" display and slim design at only 8.2mm thickness, 8MP camera and running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Orange Nivo

- Orange smartphone targeting youth and first smartphone markets featuring 4" display, 5MP camera, and running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

   It seems then that all of these will actually be quite solid devices. We don't know any more than what Orange's press release tells us at the moment, but it seems like Orange will have another set of good sellers on their hands here! The Lumo is the one which intrigues us the most purely because it does 4G on a budget, but we'll have to wait and see how much the devices cost when they launch! Expect there to be some hands on with these devices at MWC!
Via Engadget.

The full press release is embedded below:

New Orange smartphones add to growing own device range which now has the fastest growing market share across Orange's European footprint
The first Orange 4G phone, Orange Lumo, the affordable Orange Nivo, and the large-screen 4.7" Orange San Remo to be available in select markets from H1 2013
Orange's own smartphone range grew rapidly throughout 2012, with sales increasing by 62%, and market share increasing by 77% across Europe
Orange's own devices now represent the fastest growing smartphone range in our portfolio
Today, Orange is announcing the addition of three smartphones to its Orange own-brand device range, including its first 4G and large touchscreen smartphones. The phones are the latest additions to a portfolio which is becoming increasingly popular for Orange customers and combines a rich user experience and the best value for customers.
The Orange own-brand device range has grown steadily in recent years to make up a significant proportion of overall Orange phone sales. Today, Orange is building on that success and aggressively developing its smartphone portfolio. With Orange smartphone sales growing by 62% and market share growing by 77% in 2012, Orange smartphones represent the fastest growing range of devices within our portfolio by market share growth.
"All of our customers around the world, from Bordeaux to Bucharest, are hungry for sophisticated yet affordable mobile phones that allow them to reap the benefits of the mobile internet," said Yves Maitre, Senior Vice President of Mobile Multimedia and Devices, Orange. "The growth of our portfolio and, most importantly, the response from our customers, shows that our strategy is resonating in the highly competitive smartphone market that we're operating in today."
In Spain, the Orange Monte Carlo was the top selling phone throughout 2012, and Orange's devices made the top 10 in the UK, France and Romania with the Orange Dallas and Orange Sydney. The success of these phones illustrates the fact that customers are seeking options in addition to the wide range of phones sold by Orange from traditional device manufacturers.
The three smartphones that Orange is launching represent the breadth of devices that Orange customers are seeking, from high-end 4G devices for demanding customers to powerful entry-level smartphones for those seeking an affordable device without compromising on experience. The new smartphones that Orange is introducing for customers are:
Orange Lumo
- The first ever 4G Orange Smartphone, with super-fast LTE connection speeds, 4.5" screen, 8MP camera, and running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Orange San Remo
- The first large format Orange smartphone, featuring 4.7" display and slim design at only 8.2mm thickness, 8MP camera and running Android 4.1(Jelly Bean)
Orange Nivo
- Orange smartphone targeting youth and first smartphone markets featuring 4" display, 5MP camera, and running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
"Orange's strategy of selling its own branded devices at affordable prices sets a very good benchmark for all industry players," said Francisco Jeronimo, Research Director, European Mobile Devices, IDC. "When consumers' needs are thoroughly understood, there is still room in the market to create value in all segments. These three new smartphones show Orange's strong commitment to innovation and will provide customers with a differentiated experience."
The smartphones will be launching from H1 across a number of Orange markets including Romania, Slovakia and Spain (not all countries will carry all three devices). Pricing will be announced with local availability, but will be in line with previous Orange smartphone pricing and tariffs. All three devices will be on display at Mobile World Congress 2013, and can be seen at the Orange booth Hall 5 Stand 5H110.

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OFCOM opens consultation over price rises during the life of your phone contract.

   During the last few months those of us who live in the UK will most likely have been subjected to price rises for our phone contracts. The reason for this is that in the small print of our terms and conditions, which no one ever reads, there is a sentence which allows the carrier to raise the cost of your contract by a small percentage of it's cost if the network deems it necessary, this would probably be enacted, as it has recently, to keep the cost of your contract in line with inflation.

   It seems OFCOM doesn't think this is entirely fair, after all you sign up for a contract at a certain price and you don't normally expect it to change during the life of the contract. That's why OFCOM has opened a consultation on how to manage changes to phone tariffs during the lifetime of the initial contract. Ofcom wants to implement an approach where you will be allowed to duck out of your contract without paying any penalties if your service provider introduces any price increase during the life of the contract.

   Carriers themselves would be obliged to be clear and upfront about any potential changes in the cost of contracts from the off and they would have to state your right to cancel the contract in the event of any price increase. The idea behind this is that it would remove the unfair price hikes which can ad have been used lately and it would remove the issues of people complaining to OFCOM because they had to pay the extra money without knowing it was in the contract. Indeed, Claudio Pollack, Ofcom’s Consumer Group Director, said: “Many consumers have complained to us that they are not made aware of the potential for price rises in what they believe to be fixed contracts."

   Other than this there are a few other options for OFCOM which include; tackling the current lack of transparency around the potential for price increases, cosidering whether consumers should have the choice to “opt-in” to contract with a variable price, which like credit cards offer. Or finally, OFCOM could issue a carpet ban on price rises contracts, which would seem to be the most logical step if they wish to avoid confusion and keep consumers happy and protected.

   We'll find the findings of OFCOM's consultation on March the 14th and OFCOM thinks they'll be ready to publish their findings some time in June.

[UPDATE]

Vodafone are the first company to comment on the OFCOM proposal and the main points of their statement are outlined below:

"We support Ofcom's desire to give consumers reassurance about the prices that they will pay during their contract, but the regulator's proposals risk generating significant confusion and potentially increasing the cost of getting a mobile phone contract for millions of people. As such they could damage what Ofcom's own research shows is the best value mobile phone market for consumers anywhere in Europe.
“We believe there is work to be done to ensure that customers understand the need for long-term contracts and to ensure they are protected during that time, but Ofcom first needs to understand the difference between the prices that are set by mobile phone companies and those which are not.... We simply do not control many of the charges faced by consumers. They are set by third parties and mobile phone companies have to pass those costs on or they will be subsidising other companies. Prices set by third parties such as BT, include those for directory enquiry services, premium rate and 08 numbers. Yet Ofcom appears resolved to introduce measures that would effectively prevent any rises in these prices being recouped while customers are still in contract." Statement via KYM.

   Vodafone argues this will mean carriers try to second guess what price increases third parties will attempt to introduce and as such the initial cost of contracts will increase and given their argument we can almost sympathise with them.



The full press release from OFCOM can be found here.

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Ofcom report names and shames the most complained about UK service providers!

   

Broadband complaints.

Ofcom released their 7th quarterly report today showing the number of complaints the regulator received about each service provider for a number of industries from Phone and broadband to television services! In some cases you may be surprised, but if you live in the UK the results were mainly what we expected to see!

   There was a surprising change in the broadband category as TalkTalk was finally knocked off the top spot by Orange who saw their complaints double to 0.5 in every 1000 customers. TalkTalk don't have too much to be proud of though as Ofcom told them their complaints remained "well above the industry average" and they secured the title of "Most complained about landline provider" category. Sky, on the other hand, did best with a mere 0.09 per 1,000 customers.

   In the mobile stakes T-Mobile were voted worst for pay monthly with 0.17 per 1.000 customers and ironically Ofcom says the problem was in part down to the complaints handling procedure. 3UK, Orange and Vodafone also received higher than average volumes of complaints, while O2 was considered the best in numbers of complaints, by quite a large margin! On the whole though mobile networks did relatively well!

   In the paid TV services category, BT Vision came off worst yet again, based on numbers of complaints. Despite a slight drop they still gained a title for complaints that were "six times greater than the industry average". Virgin Media attracted above industry average complaints at 0.06 complaints per 1,000 customers and Sky excelled again with the lowest number of complaints – 0.02 per 1,000 customers. So Sky came off best, it seems there is a positive little trend with Sky!

Ofcom Via Wired.

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21/11/2012: Jolla show off the Sailfish OS, Asus perhaps working on Android 4.2 updates? Orange launch messaging app Libon and much more!

Jolla show off their 'Sailfish OS': Can the little guy make it big?

   Today Jolla showed off their elegant new Sailfish OS, they also brought with them a host of other details about what we can expect from their Meego-based operating system. Head on past the break for the full details!

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So what if EE's announcement included this?

   

There was a huge amount of discontent from everyone, except Orange and T-Mobile, the other week when OFCOM officially gave the pair permission to roll out LTE on their existing spare spectrum. A move which gave the duo a monopoly on LTE services for the best part of a year.

   If these rumours are correct then the threats of legal action are going to be very real and there will be very heated debates after the press conference tomorrow!

   The rumours run that tomorrow Everything Everywhere will officially open up their 4G LTE service to consumers. There will be a rollout from tomorrow until Christmas, by which time 98% of the population will have access to these services! 98% in 3months, now that is impressive! It's worth considering that this will be a phased turn on, much like the recent digital switch over so you won't necessarily have the service from day 1!

   On top of this the upcoming iPhone will have LTE, it's pretty much a banker. So if we have EE with the only LTE network in the country then we can put two and two together and we have an EE exclusive on an LTE iPhone in the UK!!!!

   Ohh, you remember the Nokia Lumia 920 and 820, well they will come with LTE too and there's been a lot of rumours of that EE is looking to get exclusives on these too. It seems most people are expecting to see this too!

   And finally, the word is that Everything Everywhere will officially be shortened to EE. Short and effective. But, we'll have to see what tomorrow holds for official confirmation of all of this!




Via DigitalSpy, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent.

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07/09/2012

HTC One X+ pops up on Twitter!

   Given the proximity of HTC's press conference it's not surprising that we're starting to see some leaks! This one comes from Twitter where a source claims to know details of the much rumoured HTC One X+!

     The purported new phone will have dimensions of 134.36 x 69.9 x 9.3mm and is relatively light at 129g. This time as well there's suggestions that we'll be seeing NVIDIA‘s enhanced Tegra 3+ AP37 1.6GHz quad-core processor, that has the 1.7GHz single-core processor for the less taxing tasks! Just for good measure there's also 1 GB of RAM and 32GB's ROM.

   The main complaints with the original One X was the diddy little 1800mAH battery and if the leak has got this one right then the same battery is in this version too. That will likely be the main reason for bloggers to complain again! So if you're a textaholic or like playing your Angry Birds or Temple Run then sorry but we're ready for a short battery life again.

   Finally, the software looks to be coming in the form of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean masked by HTC’s Sense 4.5. 

   If the source is to be believed then the specs look relatively solid and it'll be another solid phone, but we expect that battery will be putting people off again!

In other news:

• It's been reported that there will be more than just an iPhone reveal on September the 12th! It seems like we'll be getting some iPod refreshes too!

• There has been a lot of rumours of an Amazon phone recently but Amazon CEO, John Bezos, has today confirmed that there's no current plans to announce one but there are more devices coming next year, but at the moment it'd be "premature" to talk about them and there won't be one "any time soon". An enigmatic answer and it's looking like Amazon has their sights set on a phone after all!

• Keep your eyes peeled for the next iPhone to be available on September 21st! That's the rumour of the day!

• UK carrier Everything Everywhere (Orange/T-Mobile) has announced a press conference on September 11th, the day before the next iPhone is launched to talk about their plans for their future! An LTE iPhone in the UK?!?! We can hope!

• Slashgear has today reported that Apple and Samsung's recent courtroom battles has seen the Cupertino company reign in their reliance on the South Korean giants. Slashgear said they've seen reports from Reuters and Bloomberg that say 

"Samsung's memory and displays will be absent from the first batch of Apple's new iPhone, insiders claim, after pricing and legal disagreements saw the Cupertino firm slash orders from its long-time rival. Patent fight tensions and arguments over costs have led to a stalemate of sorts... though Apple is also believed to be working to reduce its reliance on any one individual company. However, Apple hasn't been able to entirely oust Samsung from its iPhone 5 supply chain: the processor powering the new smartphone will apparently still be produced by the South Korean firm."

•  Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD will hit UK and Europe on October 25!

And finally, is this HTC's upcoming Windows Phone 8 device that's been codenamed the Accord? If so it'll be called the HTC 8X, which is a pretty cool name and a pretty slick looking phone!

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21/08/2012

Samsung to release a Galaxy Nexus 'II'?

   Now the spreadsheet above is very interesting for a couple of reasons. Firstly, there's a few inaccuracies such as the Galaxy Nexus having a mere 'Super AMOLED' display but, there's also the news that there is a slightly refreshed version on there.

   As you can see there's the bum to a 1.5Ghz processor and a camera upgrade on both the front and rear shooters! This is very intriguing...

   ... We've all heard the rumours about multiple Nexus devices. Does this mean that this is a 'mid-range' Nexus and another manufacturer will provide the top of the line device? Whatever this means Sammobile have caused quite a stir with this leak!

UPDATE! Numerous Nexus devices hinted at!

   According to a post by Android Noodle there is a lot more than a single Samsung made Nexus device on the way. A leaked device list from the carrier, DoCoMo, outlines that there are three devices coming; a Sony Xperia Nexus, a LG Optimus Nexus and the Samsung Nexus II. 

   At the moment we don't know much about the devices at the moment, but all three are listed as having NFC, which is expected of a Nexus device, and are part of the Xi series, which is DoCoMo's LTE service so they'll all have that on board too! The only other interesting information is that the LG Optimus Nexus is expected to be waterproof, which is a welcome addition!

In other news:

• Samsung has announced that they're committed to spending $3-4billion on their chip producing facility in Austin, Texas. This money will allow them to 'upgrade' about half of their factory and the plant will reopen at some point in 2013!
• Microsoft has updated Skype for iOS with new photo sharing features and performance boosts!
• If you're a US reader you might want to head to your local Walmart as they're selling $100 iTunes cards for $80!
• Overnight Apple temporarily became the most valuable company in history, just beating Microsoft's 1999 peak. But, when inflation was taken into account Microsoft still holds the record by about $200 billion, but it probably won't be long before Apple beats it properly!
• Google Play gift cards are now available at Target, GameStop, and RadioShack!!!

Everything Everywhere gets 4G go ahead in the UK!

And finally, UK readers we will finally be getting LTE! Everything Everywhere (Orange and T-Mobile) have got permission from OFCOM to roll out LTE on their existing spectrum! Fast mobile internet here we come!!! 

Although O2, Vodafone and Three aren't happy; their statements are below!

O2: "We are hugely disappointed with today’s announcement, which will mean the majority of customers will be excluded from the first wave of digital services. This decision undermines the competitive environment for 4G in the UK."

Vodafone: "We are frankly shocked that Ofcom has reached this decision. The regulator has shown a careless disregard for the best interests of consumers, businesses and the wider economy through its refusal to properly regard the competitive distortion created by allowing one operator to run services before the ground has been laid for a fully competitive 4G market."

Three:  "Liberalisation of 2G spectrum to date has distorted the competitive landscape in the UK, which ultimately harms consumers. Further liberalisation without addressing competition issues could make that distortion worse."

Obviously these three are upset because they feel disadvantaged, but OFCOM have given themselves the kick up the bottom to get the 4G spectrum auction going sooner so hopefully we can see that happen inside 2012!

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31/05/2012

Two operator branded devices land in the UK.

The Vodafone Smart II.

   The first of the two devices is landing on Vodafone and is called the kinda sweet name of the Vodafone Smart II. With a name like that this has budget written across the top of its screen because the manufacturers branding has vanished.

   But, this is a good little device nonetheless, it's rocking a 3.2-inch HVGA display, an 800Mhz processor, and a 3.2 megapixel camera. You won’t be getting Ice Cream Sandwich on a budget though, this device is running Gingerbread. 

   On the plus side the device is available for £70!!! Which is insanely cheap for what you're getting here, even if you choose not to get this as your daily driver it could be a phone to take on that holiday so it doesn't matter too much if you misplace it!

Orange San Diego.

   Today we finally got a taste of the Intel powered Android device in the UK. What was previously known as the Orange Santa Clara has been released today as the Orange San Diego and it's available on the 6th June nationwide on contract and PAYG (PAYG is £200 plus topup).

   It's been widely reported that first impressions were good with the device being really light and nice in the hand. The soft touch rubberised finish has a lot to do with that, although the experience is somewhat diminished by the highly customised Orange skin on top of Android 2.3.7.

   One huge advancement with this phone is the boot time which is roughly twenty seconds to go from being powered off to the lock screen, just as a comparison the Galaxy Nexus takes rough;y seventy seconds!

    Screen transitions are said to be buttery smooth on the single-core Intel Atom Z2460 processor clocked at 1.6Ghz which powers the 4.03” screen which has a decent 600×1024 pixel resolution. This all goes with 1GB RAM, 16GB onboard storage (but no microSD card), a microSIM card slot, a microUSB and microHDMI port. The camera modules shape up well too; there's an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash, AF, an 8x digital zoom, full HD video recording at the back, the ability to record 10 pictures in less than one second, A-GPS, a 1.3-megapixel front facing camera, two speakers, two microphone, HD Voice, ambient noise cancellation, NFC (and a 13.56MHz NFC Antenna), Bluetooth v2.1 and Wi-Fi.

   This is a great mid-range device if you're on Orange and have a new renewal or just a spare £200 lying around!

In other news:

• Virgin have officially got their Olympics Wifi network up and running as of today. So from today you can browse the web from the platform (and only the platform, not the tunnels) using Virgins high speed Fibre network. Enjoy a summer of free internet commuters!
• Cricket Wireless has confirmed it'll be carrying the iPhone 4S in the near future!
• The Canadian Galaxy S3 is essentially the same outwardly as the international version but on the inside there's a Qualcomm processor, LTE speed, and 2GB of RAM. There will be options for either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage while two variations on those models will exist with either 4G LTE or HSPA+ 42 data connections so it'll be coming to your network of choice! 
• Ohhhh and by the way the Galaxy S3 has Corning's Gorilla Glass 2!

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