Mobile Phone
Optus to launch the Motorola CLIQ/DEXT?
Mar 17th
Optus have started to roll out training for what they describe as “Project Revolution” which in their words is an exciting new Smartphone device that will be exclusively available to Optus. Due for release early next month, could this be the Motorola DEXT?
After some digging, i found that Optus had been also being referring to the project in different materials as “Project Revolution MotoBLUR”, which got me thinking. MotoBLUR of course is Motorola’s Social Widget UI that is pasted over the top of selected Motorola Android devices, eg the CLIQ/DEXT. So i did a search for MotoBLUR which led me to the CLIQ/DEXT Wikipeida page, which in turn had this lovely piece of information about release dates: “On 23th January 2010, Motorola sold CLIQ/DEXT to Singapore in Asia exclusively and it was also sold to Singapore Telecom, Singtel exclusively.” BINGO!!!
So from a little bit of digging, i would assume its safe to say that Optus will be bringing to Motorola DEXT to Australia early next month, however is it really going to be revolutionary?
Nokia X6 to come Down Under sooner rather then later and the N97 mini has been delayed
Feb 2nd
It seems as the trouble Nokia have been having with the N97 in regards to software issues has forced the delay of the “mini” Apparently this delay is to make sure that the issues that have plagued the N97 don’t also plague it’s little brother. While all this is going on Nokia have released another update to the N97 software, increasing the version from 20.0.0.019 to 21.0.0.045, Nokia have noted that this update improved scrolling, and call reliablity. As of yesterday this hadn;’t filtered through to Australian’s N97 variant.
Nokia’s latest XpressMusic range, the X Series, is coming to Australia. At this stage it is currently being tested by networks and is planning for a first half of the year release. Network availability and pricing is yet to be confirmed and also will depend on whether the Comes with Music version is taken or not. As more information comes to hand, I will update with details.
The 5800’s little brother – 5530 XpressMusic touches down in Australia, along with the E72
Nov 30th
The little brother to Nokia’s 5800 has finally landed in Australia. This nice little handset has already got the “kinetic scrolling” software on it, like what the N97 got in an update not long ago, and the same update the 5800 is yet to get. The update in question, changes the scrolling to be more iPhone-esque and in turn more accurate and easier to use. The 5530 XpressMusic on first glance is quite a nice handset, it has a great finish which shows good quality, something the 5800 lacked. Sporting a 3.2 megapixel camera + video, WiFi, 2.9″ resistive touch, built-in Facebook app and 4GB MicroSD included, it comes in 2 colour variants, White with Blue and Black with Red. The only downside of this handset is, it’s only 2G. Look for these to be south of the $250 mark. Definitely a good handset for a Christmas present.
Next is the E72, successor to the popular and well received E71. The handset is coming in 2 colours, Gold and Black, with the Gold colour being exclusive to Allphones for release. Packing a 5 megapixel camera, GPS with compass, 3.5mm stereo jack, WiFi, HSDPA 10.2Mbps, 4GB MicroSD included, optical track button instead of standard D-Pad (works exceptionally well BTW) and the standard S60 suite of apps, it also has a redesigned QWERTY keypad, borrowing heavily from the E63 which means, bigger keys. Virgin are really headlining this handset, bringing it out for $0 on the $49 Rollover Cap, this is cheaper then any of the major networks in Australia, all charging extra for the handset.
Nokia’s “Booklet” netbook and N900 not coming Down Under
Nov 28th
It has been heard that Nokia’s netbook, the “Booklet” and its Maemo touch handset, the N900 will not be making their way to Australian stores due to lukewarm support from networks. The major factor for the Booklet would have to have been lacklustre sales and poor public reception of the netbooks deals currently offered by carriers now, including Optus’ Samsung NC10 and Vodafone’s Dell Inspiron mini 9. If the networks could get the Booklet down to free, which at the moment is a big ask, considering Optus charge you extra for their premium modem which doubles your accessible speed from 3.6Mbps to 7.2Mbps with 2Mbps HSUPA, I certainly can’t see them providing a netbook at a free price. But this is what the market needs for these things to be viable. They can subsidise a $500 handset and give it away for free on a $30 plan, but can’t get a netbook for less than $20 on top of existing wireless broadband plans that start at $40. Crazy!
The N900 on the other hand, I have no clue as to why Australian networks don’t want it. This just seems absurd, it would run on both Vodafone’s and Optus’ dual band 3G networks without an issue, it’s a full touch handset with sliding keyboard in the same vain as the Motorola Droid, it runs Maemo 5 – Nokia’s platform of the future, 32GB internal memory with support for up to 16GB via MicroSD, 5 mega pixel camera with video. This thing is a beast, a far better handset then the current flagship, the N97. Maybe cost was an issue, maybe it had to be subsidised too heavily to appeal to the masses, either way, I’m still holding out for this to all be a dream and to hopefully wake up and be able to get one of these and the Booklet in Australia, guess we will have to wait and see.
iPhone 3G S shipping to Australian stores as we speak.
Jun 23rd
UPDATE: Vodafone just released pricing, check out both Optus and Vodafone’s below.
With Friday only a matter of days away, the biggest fear i had was a repeat of last year, where only flagship stores carried iPhones on launch day and others had to wait via raincheck processes. This year a different story is emerging, stores have already started to recieve stock and for stores that haven’t, they should have stock for Friday’s launch. This is good news for customers, as no pre-order was available to customers this time around in Oz. Optus have released pricing already, with the 32gb version avaiable free on their Timeless plans. Vodafone and Virgin are still yet to finalise pricing but it is expected today or tomorrow.
Vodafone and 3 hold hands…
Feb 8th
Vodafone Australia and Hutchison 3G Australia (3) have today announced plans to merge and create a new telco in Australia. According to news reports the new telco – VHA Pty Ltd will be a 50/50 joint venture and will operate under the Vodafone brand and retain the rights to the “3″ brand through the transitional period and beyond.
So what does this mean for the Australia people? Will they use 3’s call centres which are based in India? What will they do with there duplicate 3G networks? Does this mean there handset will be further butchered with their custom software? And what does this mean for the 3’s deal to use Telstra’s Next G network for customer outside of 3’s network? Hopefully we should get answers to all these question later on, especially seeing it still needs to be approved by regulators and shareholders from Hutchison.
It also seems that jobs will be lost and stores will be closed due to the merger, but Hutchison Australian chief executive Nigel Dews said “we’ll be dealing with those as we get our plans more fully into place” during a teleconference this morning.
We have linked to Vodafone’s Merger Press Release PDF sent out this morning if you wish to have a look.
Vodafone Merger Press Release PDF
[Story from ninemsn]
Can Optus handle another surge in data usage on their network?
Feb 6th
When the iPhone was released on the Optus network in July last year along with new data plans catered especially for it, i think Optus thought they wouldn’t have any problems…but they did. It wasn’t just the new wave of data usage that the iPhone brought in but another newly released product, wireless broadband. At the time of the iPhone’s release, Optus and other Telco’s chomping at the bit to out price and out measure each other, offering ridulous amounts of data and selling it for virtual nothing, compared to what was being sold 6-12 months before. This along side massive spikes in data use from the iPhone was just not a good mix, performance took a big hit…and they are still suffering in some areas because of it.
Optus was forced to cancel it’s Wireless Fusion bundles after less then a month due to capacity issues, as well as many other quite large hiccups along the way. All in all are they really ready for it to happen all over again? I hope so, I really do, Optus are pouring a lot of money into their network over the next few years with both coverage and speed upgrades, so if they can pull it off and leave the bad stuff from last year behind, and what’s a better way to start the year then to get HTC Dream (G1) exclusively. With the Dream and a better network i really think this could push them in front of Telstra…Especially when they will have a network to match Telstra’s.
Optus to launch the Google Android G1
Feb 4th
UPDATE: 16th of Feb is the magical date, make sure to contact your local mobile phone retailer for details on how to get one because if this turns into a mess like what happened to Optus and the iPhone you really wanna get in early.
UPDATE: It didn’t take long, Optus annouced the handset today and whipped up a page on their site that contains all the juicy bits including pricing. Head on over to http://www.optus.com.au/dream and soak it up. Look forward to it around the middle of this month.
Australian It has reported that Optus has done a deal with HTC to bring the G1 to Australia in an exclusive agreement. Optus won the deal despite all Australian carriers apparently vying for the phone. The G1 is likely to release this month but Optus are staying mum about pricing and an exact date. It is rumoured however that HTC will make an announcement as early as tomorrow. In regards to pricing, considering what it sells for in the US, I would expect pricing and deals to be similar to that of the iPhone.
There was rumours going around a few weeks ago in regards to Optus and the G1, with a Manual for Technical Support Centre staff finding its way onto the internet.
I will try and get some more details in regards to a more exact date if possible. Stay Tuned!
[Story from Australia IT]
Motorola launches LTE trial Network in the UK
Feb 2nd
Motorola has just announced that they have launched their LTE trial network and testing lab in Swindon, UK. The network which was demonstrated with an over-the-air, standards compliant LTE call using infrastructure operating in the 2.6GHz range and using a LTE prototype device.
“Motorola is at the forefront of 4G development which will address the mobility demands of today’s consumers who are looking for personalized media experiences and operators looking to lower their cost per bit and gain a competitive advantage.”
said Joe Cozzolino, senior vice president and general manager, Motorola Home & Networks Mobility, EMEA & Asia Pacific.
Motorola’s LTE rollout will include products for the 700MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum ands to help customer increase coverage and capacity of their networks and allow them to faster and better then current 3G technologies.
So LTE is finally becoming a reality not that it has a choice with it becoming the next standard and all but it seems a fair way off in our neck of the woods considering the amount of money and time both Optus and Telstra have invested in their 3G HSDPA lately, and with Optus due to complete it’s coverage rollout of it’s ‘yes G’ network by the end of this year, thus giving them equal coverage to Telstra’s Next-G network, I’m very doubtful we will see LTE rolled out here with in the next 3-5 years. It does seem as though it maybe something we get within the next 5-10 but we will just have to wait and see, one thing is for sure, you can never have enough speed 
.
[Story from Motorola]
