Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio

We must say, we didn’t really expect Samsung’s P270 to get official in this manner, but we’ll take what we can get. Nanoradio has today unveiled that its “Always On WiFi” solution has been “commercially launched inside the world’s first 3G UMA phone.” The tech was already available in the 2.5G P250, but its inclusion in the 3G-capable P270 makes it a world’s first. For those unaware, this creates a dual-mode cellular / WiFi mobile which doesn’t require WiFi to be toggled on or off in order to save battery life. Sadly, that’s about it for details, but hopefully Sammy will come along soon and flesh things out.

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Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Portable Audio, Portable Video

There it is, Sony Ericsson just went live with its new G705 powerhouse, 3G slider. Just as we heard, it sports a 2.4-inch display with automatic screen rotation courtesy of an accelerometer, WiFi, aGPS with Google Maps for Mobile, 1GB included M2 memory, built-in FM radio, RSS reader, and full HTML browser. It also features a 3.2 megapixel cam that can capture video and then upload directly to YouTube under a new partnership with Google. Also announced in a UMA variant (G705u) — an SE first — built exclusive for Orange to bridge GSM and WiFi networks. Headed to the US in Q1 2009.

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Filed under: Laptops

Ultra-portables are by the far the sexiest class of laptops. Especially when they start at just 2.2-pounds (1kg) like Dell’s upcoming 12.1-inch E4200 or 3-pounds for the 13.3-inch E4300. Both pack LED backlit displays; Centrino 2 chipsets; Firewire, eSATA, 2x audio, ExpressCard 34, and at least 2x USB ports; integrated UMA graphics; DDR3 800MHz with Intel Turbo Memory 2.0; DisplayPort; and a host of security features to keep corporate IT types happy. The E4300 differs with a higher WXGA+ resolution, modular optical bay, peppier CPU options, and a choice of beefier hard disk drives instead of the 32GB or 64GB SSD restriction of the E4200. Plenty more in the gallery including a head-to-head comparison’s of each new model with the D430 they’ll replace. Stay tuned as our exclusive Week o’ Dell Scoops continues.

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Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Well, goodness, try saying that five times fast. T-Mobile has officially unveiled its rather longwinded “HotSpot @Home Talk Forever Home Phone” plan add-on for folks that aren’t quite ready to put their landlines out to pasture quite yet, though there’s a catch: much like the original, it’s beginning life as a trial in just a couple of test markets. Lucky folks in Seattle and Dallas will be able to march into their local T-Mobile outlet and pick up the long-rumored WRTU54G for $49.99 on contract, at which point $10 a month tacked onto their T-Mobile bill will allow them to jack in their old-school landline phones and get unlimited domestic calling. In the event they need a landline phone (o rly?) or are looking to upgrade their 70’s vintage AT&T Slimline, stores will also be offering this lovely DECT system from VTech to complete the package. There’s no word just yet on when we might see the hardware outside the test markets, but with landline popularity waning the way it is, we’d suggest they get a move on.

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Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Don’t get us wrong, it’s great that T-Mobile has lowered the price of its unlimited WiFi calling service both at home and at T-Mobile Hotspots everywhere from $19.99 down to $9.99 per month (forgetting for a moment that it was $9.99 per month as an introductory price, anyway), but in changing the name from HotSpot @Home to HotSpot @Home Talk Forever, we’d been hoping for something just a little more compelling. Previous intel had indicated that we’d be seeing the introduction of T-Mobile’s first SIM-sporting routers, allowing the use of traditional landline phones in conjunction with the service — but at this point, it looks like it’s going to be at least a little longer before the hardware launches, and it’s unclear whether there’ll be yet more trademarked service branding introduced when it does.

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Filed under: Cellphones

The rumored t739 Katalyst from Samsung has gotten official today for T-Mobile, shoring up a Hotspot @Home lineup that presently features the lowly Nokia 6086 down in the basement and the BlackBerry Curve 8320 up top. The t739 is the first slider certified for T-Mobile’s WiFi-enabled calling service, giving it an instant dose of street cred among folks that love the UMA concept but can’t stand clamshells. In fact, with a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and a 220 x 176 display, the Katalyst is essentially a slider rendition of the t409 with the addition of a microSD slot. Yeah, we’d still like to see a little more meat in the lineup — a 3.2 megapixel camera and 3G would get us to shut up, just as a fr’instance — but in the meantime, we’re always happy for a little choice of form factor. Grab it for a penny shy of $80 on a two-year contract.

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