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
Posts Tagged ‘O2’
Xperia Play coming to Vodafone and O2
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011HTC Desire Z and Palm Pre 2 are Now Available
Monday, November 15th, 2010
Good news for all Palm fans, the WebOS powered Palm Pre 2 smart phone is now available locally, but only through the Palm official website; those planning to go under O2 UK will not be able to obtain the handset as O2 has chosen not to offer it.
Now, for those of you wondering why it seems bizarre, it is because of the fact that all other Palm devices are directly available from O2 with the exception of the Palm Pre 2. In fact, O2 UK has an exclusivity deal with Palm. Naturally, this situation is disturbing as the only company allowed to distribute Palm devices in UK has not taken the newest model.
According to O2 UK, their offerings of Palm handsets are already more than enough to satisfy consumers and they believe that the Palm lineup is already adequate even without the Pre 2. While we certainly respect the operators’ decision, there is something to be said about what the consumers want, and certainly, there is a sufficient enough demand for the Pre 2
In other news, Vodafone UK has confirmed that they are now offering the HTC Desire Z. This is certainly one impressive smart phone that we recommend to any hardcore Android user. For the most part, the Motorola Milestone and the Milestone 2 have been the most iconic QWERTY keyboard toting Androids available (as well as the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro).
Now, HTC is bringing in their version of a QWERTY toting Android handset in the form of the Desire Z. Going the opposite direction of the Desire HD –which focused on media playback, this new device centers on communication and connectivity; with messaging and text creation serving as a main point of attention. The screen on this phone is a 3.7 inch touch display and it also comes with a 5 mega pixel camera and of course, Google’s Android 2.2 Froyo operating system.
New 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.
Mac Support for WP7, 3 Delays Froyo Update for HTC Desire
Thursday, October 14th, 2010
The Windows Phone 7 mobile platform is certainly making plenty of headlines these past few days and while there are a lot of people excited about the new operating system, the fact that it is Microsoft based OS is certainly alienating owners of Macs.
It has been pretty much established that the Zune media player –an earlier device from Microsoft is not generally compatible with the Mac’s operating system. The fact that special software is needed in order to connect the device meant that using the WP7 on a Mac was not going to be a simple plug and play.
However, it has been announced by Microsoft that they will be releasing a new client for Macs that would allow WP7 owners to instantly connect to the Mac and have their phones accessed using the iTunes and iPhoto software. Those who are already own the iPhone would find very little issue with this feature as it provides users with a familiar software for use with their mobile phone.
Moving on, it seems that mobile virtual network operator 3 UK will be delaying the launch of the Android 2.2 Froyo update for owners of the HTC Desire. Originally, the update was supposed to launch last September or this October. However, after considering the fact that other networks had issues with the update (such as on O2 where some users reported that their devices had bricked), it seems that the delay has become a necessary evil.
HTC Desire users have plenty to look forward to with the new Froyo update. The new OS version brings more functionality to the Android operating system and improves already existing features such as the user interface for the camera and updating Exchange. Speed and performance of the UI and the browser have also been given a significant boost.
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.
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 UK Confirms Samsung Monte Plans
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
Samsung fans waiting for the next basic smart phone from the Korean manufacturer might want to pick up the Monte touch screen smart phone from O2 UK. The device may be using the old TouchWiz user interface, but for the no-nonsense smart phone user, this handset is an excellent choice.
As one might expect, not having a special OS like the Android or the Windows Phone 7 takes a serious bite out of the price tag, the Monte is available for just 20 Pounds per month for an 18 month contract under O2. The plan is also pretty generous with its monthly allowances, with infinite texting and about 100 minutes of call time, buyers will certainly appreciate this great deal.
In terms of looks, the Monte looks downright serious and makes for an excellent business phone or for anyone who needs to handset to top off a ruggedly tech-ish ensemble. The 3 inch capacitive touch screen display delivers excellent graphics and vivid colors and while the resolution is only 240 x 400 pixels, it still brings enough lines for wide viewing of media and web pages. As expected, the TouchWiz user interface is a breeze to learn. The accelerometer delivers auto rotate functionality and the overall performance of the handset is pretty smooth.
The camera is a nifty 3.15 mega pixel snapper which delivers excellent still images and also has low speed video recording as well. Users will be able to geo-tag images prior to uploading. Speaking of uploads, the handset comes with social networking integration with live updates so users might want to look for a good data plan for this handset as well.
Overall, the Monte is an excellent low end smart phone with all the usual features that is needed. Lack of a specialized OS will certainly deter some gear heads but those looking for a budget smart phone will certainly appreciate this Samsung device.
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.
Vodafone Attracting former O2 iPhone Subscribers
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
If there is one statistic about the Apple iPhone that network operators should know, it is that iPhone owners are the heaviest users of 3G networks in the world. For two years, O2 was exclusively subsidizing the iPhone, limiting many users to the O2 3G network. It’s a pretty decent 3G network, but for the demanding needs of iPhone users, the speed and connection strength of O2 was still not enough.
This explains the exodus of iPhone users from O2 to Vodafone. Considering the fact that many contracts on O2 for the iPhone just ended recently, they would certainly be lured in by the promise of the stronger, faster and wider 3G coverage from the largest mobile network operator in the UK –and according to many users, Vodafone is giving more than just empty boasts.
The company has spent great deal of 2009 preparing their 3G network for their launch of the iPhone this January. Considering that AT&T in the US is taking a lot of flak from its subscribers due to slow connection speeds and congested bandwidths, emphasis on 3G service is very important to successfully support the iPhone.
O2 on the other hand, denies the claims. The company has stated that since the end of their exclusivity contract with Apple, they have not had an increase in the number of customers ending their contracts.
In any case, Vodafone is continuously improving its 3G service. It even brought out the old Femtocell Sure Signal product which will enable users in areas with weak or no 3G signals to be able to connect through their broadband. This emphasis on better 3G service could also be preparation for Vodafone to get the Apple iPad, another definite 3G bandwidth hog.
Read more about Vodafone’s 3G network and iPhone migrations on Mobile Today.
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.