Mobile Fun Blog

Pre Mobile World Congress 2009 Rumours

Friday, February 13th, 2009

Nokia:
Nokia seem to have the most amount of rumours again this year, with a few interesting handsets set to be announced. Some have been announced already, but information on them is still sketchy. Leaked information is still trickling out, so I’d expect to see more than just the ones below get confirmed.

Nokia E75 & 5730:
Originally covered on our post back in September, the E75 looks like its finally going to make its debut – along with the music inspried 5730. Both seem to be the same at first glance, and presumably will run different software to distinguish between the two, with more of a business user spin on the E75, and more music/media focus on the 5730.

Sources: GSM Arena, Phone Arena

Nokia App Store:
Apple really started something with the iPhone. First everyone went touchscreen crazy, now following the success of the Apple App Store (where users can download new applications and games directly to their phone,) it seems that everyone wants a slice of the action. Microsoft, Palm and Samsung have all announced they will be launching an App store in the not so distant future, and MWC should see Nokia announce to the world that their “download!” service is going to be replaced with their version of the App Store.

Source: The Nokia Blog

Codenames: Ivalo & Madeleine:
No real naming is known for these two handsets, but the do seem to match the descriptions of the leaked Nokia Roadmap that we revealed back in November.

Source: GSM Arena

Sony Ericsson:
Not so many with Sony Ericsson last year, nothing groundbreaking anyway. A few revisions to the Cyber-Shot line up and an interesting rumour on facebook phones are the main stories this year.

C903:

Last year camera phones to a big step forwards as the megapixels jumped up to 8MP, and software such as face detection and smile detection made its way into phones. Sony seem keen to develop the Cyber-Shot brand with their phones, with their latest one, the 5MP C903 looking more like a current Cyber-Shot camera from the back than a phone – although I’m really not convinced about the bright red housing.

Source: Mobile Burn

C901:
The C901 seems to be a replacement for the current C902, but without the gimmicky slide out camera and relatively small screen and with the welcome addition of a Xenon flash.

Source: Mobile Burn

C510:
The C510 has already been announced, but the latest rumours suggest that when it is released, it will feature full facebook integration. While its not the first facebook phone, it will be good to see this in a more mainstream handset than the 3 exclusive INQ1.

Source: Unwired View

LG:
LG have had a good year with several successfull handsets, and it looks like they’ve still got a fwe tricks up their sleeve and are about to raise their game again when it comes to touchscreen phones.

LG Arena:
Interestingly named seeing as they are in the process of rebranding the NEC Arena to the LG Arena, but that aside, the LG Arena will introduce a new menu system – a 3D cubic system. Its not Multi-Touch like the iPhone, but looks pretty impressive.

Source: Unwired View, Engadget

LG Solar:
Not content with only offering a Solar Powered Bluetooth car kit LG are expected to announce a solar powered phone. While not relying solely on power from the sun, the phone will use solar energy for phone calls while a conventional battery will power the other functions.

Source: Unwired View

Samsung:
Last year Samsung probably got the most attention and released the most amount of handsets, and it looks like it could be the same this year. Rumours are suggesting that upto 14 new handsets could be being announced, most of these will be low end handsets though. Of all of them, these are the ones that have caught my eye the most.

Tocco Ultra:
I’m not 100% sure why they’re calling it the Tocco Ultra, as it doesn’t really resemble the original Tocco, but this full touch screen handset has handy addition of a sliding standard phone keypad. Great for those that want a touch screen phone, but don’t want to lose their keypads completely, or move to a more bulky device with a full QWERTY keyboard.

Source: Unwired View, Engadget

i8910 Acme:
This one is set to be the show stopper if it is announced. It runs on the same operating system as the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, so its Symbian 60, and rumoured to have 8MP camera and HDMI support.

Source: Engadget

Blue Earth:
Not wanting to be left behind by LG, Samsung are also set to announce a solar powered phone. The Blue earth is rumoured to be a touch screen device made from recycled plastic bottles, and will even tell you how many trees you’re saving by not charging your phone.

Source: Unwired View

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Nokia Roadmap Leaked – 8 megapixel phone on its way

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

Looks like Nokia are really struggling to keep their prototype handsets a secret at the moment. A recently leaked document shows Nokia’s next batch of handsets. Although not particularly detailed, the report gives us a good idea on what to expect from them.

I’ve listed the handsets that I think are the most interesting below, and you can see the full list over on the boygeniusreport.

Handsets for 2008:
First up is codenamed IP08. This is expected to be a Widescreen touch device possibly similar to the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1. It will also feature Naviscroll as seen on the N78, QWERTY keyboard, AGPS, FM radio and transmitter, 5MP AF camera, WiFi, Bluetooth, TV-out. This device is expected to have a prototype ready early December

The Sofie has already made an appearance as the Nokia E63/E72. It is a Symbian smartphone running software 3.1 and is a downgraded version of the popular E71. It features a 2MP camera, but doesn’t have support for 3G. Expect an official announcement on this one soon!

Next up is Shakira. Not much is known on this one other than its a candybar smartphone running S60 V3.2 and has Wi-Fi – so this could be a new N-Series device. Prototype due anytime now.

Then we have the Stella and the Terra – successors to the E51. Both will run S60 V3.2 and are expected to have AGPS with integrated compass, 3MP camera with LED flash and WiFi. The Terra is a little bit different for Nokia,as it is expected to have a hybrid Qwerty keypad, similar to that found on the BlackBerry Pearl. The Prototypes for both of these are due anytime now.

Gwen is expected to be a Candybar with AGPS, 5MP AF camera with LED flash. Doesn’t really sound anything special as we’ve already got several Nokia’s like this. Expected at the very end of 2008.

The last one for 2008 is the Ivalo. The Ivalo is a follow-on to the IP08 and will probably replace the N96 as the flagship device. The Ivalo will have a 3.5-inch wide touchscreen, 32GB ROM, AGPS, FM transmitter and receiver, 5MP camera, WiFi, TV-out, and Bluetooth. Nokia’s real attempt at an iPhone killer by the looks of it. prototype is expected very end of 2008 possibly early 2009.

Coming up in 2009:
Better late than never, the Corolla is Nokia’s first 8MP camera phone. It will have a 3.0-inch VGA display but isn’t touch screen, and a half QWERTY keyboard, 128MB RAM, 8GB ROM, WiFI, UPnP, HSPA, AGPS, FM transmitter. All sounds quite good, although I’m not sure exactly what the score will be here with the screen and keyboard? 3" screen would suggest a slide out keyboard – but half qwerty?

Madeleine has side-sliding QWERTY keyboard, WiFi, Bluetooth, FM radio, supports VoIP, GPS and has a 3.2MP camera. Madelaine will also have N-Gage support with gaming keys. Is this the previously rumoured Nokia E72?

The last one that caught my attention was the Eitri. Eitri is a Landscape candybar with QWERTY keyboard, 3.5-inch 640×350 display, minimum 8GB ROM, microSD, pressure sensitive touch UI with tactile feedback and gestures, charging via USB, 5MP AF camera with dual LED flash, integrated compass and accelerometer, proximity sensor, FM transmitter. From the looks of it this is going to be a beefed up version of the IP08.

UPDATE: Nokia have just announced the N97 which could be the official name of the Eitri or IPO8.

For more information on these we’re probably going to have to wait until sometime around April.

Nokia still seem to be playing catch up with most of these – we’re looking at a release in the second half of next year of an 8MP Nokia, and earlier next year before we see any more touch screen devices.

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