It’s not like we have known almost every detail about the upcoming Xperia Play, the device that has been dubbed for ages as the PSP phone. And it’s not like we have not gotten demo after demo not showing us what the hardware looks like, but the function of the software and gaming capabilities of the phone as well.
However, Sony Ericcson decided to use Superbowl XLV to officially announce the phone / gaming device. Of course, most of us never watched it thanks to the fact that it’s American Football. However, you will be glad to know that not only is the Xperia Play officially official at the moment, it will be coming to Vodofone in the UK as well as O2.
The news came via O2’s Twitter page where the company announced the following: “Awesome news – the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is coming to O2.” As usual, the company was prodded for explanations and clarifications as well as more launch information to which the following tweet was sent: “We don’t have much details at the moment but we’ll let you know more before it launches. Watch the space!”
As for Vodofone, we’re hearing from Pocket Link, TechRadar and others that that said company will indeed be getting the Xperia Play although Vodofone has not confirmed such rumors yet.
All is left now is for Sony and Ericcson to convince the world that this device will not end up like another N-Gage (from Nokia), and that it will have the marketing capital to get games out for this system, not to mention the fact that the NGP is set to be released this year and it could potentially pose a problem to potential buyers if the price is similar.
Source: Pocket-lint and Twitter
Archive for the ‘O2 Phones’ Category
Xperia Play coming to Vodafone and O2
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011New Androids and Nokia’s N8 to Hit Stores Soon
Monday, October 25th, 2010
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is coming out for both T-Mobile and O2 UK. The big announcement from O2 has just been confirmed and they have stated that the device will be coming out in November 1. Those interested in the touch screen tablet might want to know that it packs a 7 inch capacitive touch screen display, a 1GHz CPU, dual facing cameras, and of course, Google’s Android 2.2 Froyo.
The tablet also supports Flash 10.1 so users can browse any website without any worries about the compatibility of the browser.
Vodafone has confirmed that they will also be launching an Android smart phone, the HTC Desire HD. This handset is basically a remake of the original HTC Desire that came out alongside the Nexus One (in the UK) and the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10. The updated version brings in a 4 inch capacitive touch screen display and a powerful 8 mega pixel snapper as well. Expect to see plenty of use of the handset’s HD video recording and playback features.
The Nokia N8 is also coming to Vodafone, O2 and Virgin Media as well. O2 has officially listed the launched date to be on the first of November, making the launch date just a few short days away. The phone has been delayed from launch since it was announced earlier this year.
Thanks to the N8’s 12 mega pixel camera and HD video features, users can expect to have plenty of fun experimenting on the phone. The Symbian^3 operating system will also be making its high end debut with the N8 as well.
Speaking of the Nokia N8, a specialized Virgin Media player app has been launched exclusively for the N8. Subscribers under VM getting the handset will find the app pre-loaded while those on different networks may choose to download the app separately.
A Week of Mobile News Highlights
Thursday, August 19th, 2010
This is a very busy week for the mobile phone industry with one new announcement after another. Here is a quick list of all the big headlines for the past couple of days.
First off, Samsung has confirmed that they are going to be releasing a white version of the GT i9000 Galaxy S Android smart phone. No word yet on exactly when this phone will be on stock, but it will be coming. Many believe that Samsung is directly competing with the iPhone 4 (which has a white version that has been terribly delayed).
O2 and the UK police have teamed up to bring down nine individuals that have conspired to steal millions from network providers. The arrest was just made recently and is a major step in helping out the local phone operators from potentially losing millions in a major scam.
Orange Mobile UK has confirmed that the iPhone 4 is now available for free on certain plans and tariffs. The big offer can still be availed off –especially now that the demand for the smart phone has died down considerably. Just be certain to avail of the free iPhone 4 Bumper through the downloadable iTunes app.
It has been confirmed that the Android operating system is now one of the largest mobile platforms available with over 55 million units distributed in this year alone. This volume is almost six times more than the amount of Android shipped out last year. Currently, Google’s Android is second place only to the Symbian OS.
Sony has taken the first step in a marketing campaign that pits the PSP against casual titles on the mobile phone industry. Many, however, believe that this is just a prologue to the upcoming PSP2 smart phone-gaming handheld which is supposedly an Android device. Google is indeed with Talks with Sony and it is possible that there is more to this rumor than meets the eye.
UK iPhone Users Advised: Contact Network about High Roaming Charges
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
If you have been out of the country for any given amount of time and have spotted an increase in your mobile bills, then it might be a good idea to sit down and have a quick talk with a representative from your network service provider and discuss the details of the roaming charges that are present in your bill.
This is the latest advice being given out to UK iPhone owners, as a recent spike in the number of customer complaining about larger than usual bill charges that have been added on to their monthly bills after having spent time outside of the UK. What is slightly alarming is the fact that networks do not seem to have much of a problem with refunding clients who have already paid the excess amounts or are willing to write off any excess charges – which indicates that the problem might be something that networks are already familiar with and are simply not disclosing to the public.
The case is reported to be centered specifically on owners of the Apple iPhone handset. Not surprisingly, the biggest number of complaints arises from subscribers in the O2 network, but this is simply because O2 has the largest number of iPhone users in the UK. As some of you may remember, the local mobile network had exclusivity for the Apple smart phone for almost two years (which ended around October of last year). There are also complaints from subscribers from iPhone users on other networks as well.
According to experts, most smart phones – not just the Apple iPhone – have an option that enables or disables data roaming. This is an often ignored feature that users should familiarize themselves with and use when traveling in or out of the country. However, the excessive iPhone roaming charges appear to have affected even users who have turned off data roaming.
Apple iPhone 4 Availability is Low in the UK
Monday, July 5th, 2010
It seems that after Apple has managed to sell over 1.7 million units of the iPhone 4 in just three days of sales, the Cupertino based company is having trouble keeping up with the demand. Recent reports indicate that stocks of the iPhone are not just low, but have already gone out of stock in various network operators.
3 UK and T-Mobile have yet to offer the iPhone 4 to their customers. The two networks are still leaving their iPhone offers on hold until stocks arrive. According to 3 UK, the iPhone 4 is expected to be made available by the end of this month. T-Mobile on the other hand did announce that they will also offer the Apple smart phone, but no details or date has been given.
Tesco mobile has announced that it is accepted pre-registrations for the iPhone. While the process will not ensure a handset for every person who signs up (unlike a pre-order which ensures an Apple iPhone 4 for the buyer), they have hinted that stocks of the handset will be arriving in a matter of weeks.
Vodafone UK has already run out of stocks –having received the Apple iPhone 4 early, they had already shipped out all the pre-order units to the customers and have proceeded to offer the handset locally. As one can see, the sheer volume of people who availed of the smart phone was more than enough to empty out the stocks of the network operator.
The same situation faces O2 UK. The network that originally hosted the older iPhone in the UK for three years has announced that all their stocks of the iPhone 4 are all out. Like the case with Vodafone, O2 has been able to accommodate all pre-order customers. According to OS, they are expecting a new batch of iPhone 4 stocks to arrive over the weekend.
O2 Takes On Bandwidth Problems
Friday, March 19th, 2010
To say that O2 has some “capacity issues” would be an understatement. With over a million smart phone users in the network –many of whom are prolific iPhone users, there is a strong degree of network based congestion in 3G.
Competitor Vodafone has yet to feel the full brunt of the network issues as they have only started offering the iPhone to customers last January –placing their current number of users at a significantly lower number than that of O2.
O2 on the other hand is wisely investing in the expansion of their network by placing more masts in London and several other measures. According to the Chief of Technology for the operator, the problem will not just go away in a matter of time, in fact, network congestion and the demand for faster and more stable connections is always on the rise.
With apps for Facebook and Twitter becoming more and more common, people are starting to rely on living life with their smart phones easily able to go online in order to update their status and other important information.
According to studies, the growth of internet usage among mobile phone users is encouraged heavily by the presence of social networking tools such as Facebook and Twitter. The two sites are considered to be the most often visited websites of today –easily beating Google. Facebook is a social networking tool with thousands of apps available for use, Twitter on the other hand is a micro blogging service.
O2 is keeping up with 3G demands by further expanding their network. They have already installed an additional 1550 3G sites in order to extend the areas of their network coverage. More masts are expected to be coming as well.
Get to know more about O2’s network expansion at Mobile Today UK.
O2 Still Holds the iPhone Market in the UK
Friday, February 5th, 2010
Despite the fact that O2 no longer has exclusivity on the Apple iPhone, they still have the largest number of subscribers using the iconic mobile phone. It has recently been reported that O2 Mobile still has over 2 million iPhone subscribers –a pretty large number that rival companies such as Orange Mobile, Tesco and Vodafone will have to catch up to.
Orange and Tesco were first to get and launch the Apple iPhone after O2’s exclusivity on the device ended last year. This January, Vodafone had a very successful launch of the Apple gadget and sold 100,000 units during the first week along. Recent reports show that Vodafone’s strengthening of its network has attracted plenty of users, and there are even some reports which state that several former O2 subscribers have switched over to Vodafone. Late last January, the network operator re-released the Femtocell Sure Signal 3G booster for homes at less than half the original price with the monthly fee waived.
Most of the predictions for an iPhone price war never came to fruition; instead, users turned to a major factor regarding the iPhone -3G network potential. Vodafone stated that it spent over a year preparing for the network demands of iPhone users and that they are able to provide the widest, fastest and strongest 3G signals in the region. The preparation seems to have paid off; the operator recently claimed that talks about former O2 subscribers switching over were true.
Picking out O2’s name was never part of the declaration, but there are no other network providers who have subscribers with plans even close to halfway finished. Orange Mobile and Tesco both started offering the device late last year. O2 has denied such remarks and states that they still have the largest number of iPhone users.
Read the rest of the details at the source.
O2 Gives you Cash for Old Phones
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
Christmas is just right around the corner and everyone is already feeling the weight of having to spend on Christmas shopping.
Be it for gifts, decorations, trips or what-not, the Holiday season is notorious for bleeding pockets (and wallets) dry. This is probably why O2 has decided to give us all a little slack by allowing us to earn a little from selling our old electronic junk.
O2 recycle is an impressive, eco-friendly program by the mobile phone manufacturer that will not only net you some nice cold cash for the holidays, but it also aims to help reduce the amount of plastics. All electronic devices sold to O2 recycle will be stripped down to the bare component for –obviously- recycling purposes. The result is that we get devices very similar to the Greenheart series of Sony Ericsson or those mobile phones that use over 50% recycled plastic.
There are limitations to the recycling program. Only certain devices can be stripped down 100%, and that is the limit of what O2 will buy from people. For mobile phones, only the phone and the battery is needed, do not send the sim card or the charger anymore. Other gadgets would require the device, battery and charger. Also, the program is only valid for residents of the UK and Northern Ireland, this promo is not valid in other territories.
Anyway, if you have gadgets, old phones and other items that you can sell to O2, then now would be the best time for it as very few other programs will be able to process electronic gadgets as efficiently. Right now, most landfills are composed of items that could have been used in a recycling program. By taking part in O2 Recycle, you can also do your part in helping save the environment, and even make a few extra pounds in the process.
O2 Joggler now at £99.99!
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
If you have not heard, the O2 Joggler is now available at £99.99, a large difference from the original £149.99 price tag (unless you got the device for free as a plan upgrade bonus from O2). With additional features such as internet radio and other functionalities being added unto the Joggler, this device is starting to look more and more like a great investment.
Adding to its functionality is the Family Bolt On feature that allows you to instantly connect with all members of your family (or non-family) as long as the contacts are using O2 as well.
Adding internet radio to the Joggler is PURE internet radio service. Their Lounge provides over 100 internet radio stations you can tune in to at any time. Aside from the radio addon, the device will also be getting an update to its Adobe Flash Player; from Flash 8, it will be upgraded to the latest Flash 10.
The O2 Joggler was first announced as the O2 OpenFramework but received a quick name change for better marketability at launch. The resulting device is a mini-information hub that displays news updates, weather forecasts, serves as a digital organizer, to-do list and address book. The calendar allows you to set the date, time and even schedule reminders to be alarmed from the device itself or by sending an SMS message to a designated phone number, preferably yours. You can preset the calendar to send you messages on certain days ahead of time allowing you to organize better.
The price cut will certainly help increase the users of this device, however, the fact that most of its better features are taken advantage of means having to own an O2 phone might alienate some buyers instead. It has not been confirmed whether the price cut is permanent or for a limited time only.
O2 Launches UK Campaign Targeting Students
Friday, October 9th, 2009
We’re excited to announce that O2 will be kicking of the new university year with a big multi pronged campaign targeting students around the United Kingdom. The program will launch this week through a nation wide advertising campaign, which includes Facebook as well as in the grounds of 14 different universities.
The campaign is designed to help raise awareness of the company’s Priority Ticketing offer for students – Priority Ticketing gives customers of O2 the chance to buy tickets for concerts up to 48 hours before the general public has access to them. Students will be given free tickets to performances at their local O2 Academy venues as well, which will be used as an incentive to sign up with O2 as it is very appealing to their target audience.
The three most heavily promoted O2 offerings are;
- Text & Web – a new tariff which offers unlimited data, along with unlimited texts, for Pay & Go customers. (This has got to be our hands down favourite.)
- Friends & Family Bolt On – offering five O2 customers unlimited calls, text and picture messaging amongst each other for only £7.50 a month.
- Cash Manager – allows students to manage their money better by avoiding getting overdrawn, as well as the option to receive real time balance text alerts; very handy as students tend to struggle with money.
Peter Rampling at O2, says “Priority Ticketing is the perfect platform for us to use to engage with students, giving them the benefit of access to gigs at O2 Academy venues across the country. We’ve had great success in recent years with our student campaigns and look forward to an even more successful campaign this year.”
We are inclined to agree.