Fonehouse nears network full-house

Retailer to make B2B connections through O2 and consumer connections through Orange, adding to existing relationships with T-Mobile and Vodafone

Fonehouse will have almost a full collection of mobile networks across its consumer and B2B divisions in the coming weeks, a large part of its plan to be the third-largest high street mobile retailer by the end of next year.

The retailer, which has over 50 stores nationwide, connects both T-Mobile and Vodafone. From March 1 it will connect B2B connections through O2, with Orange following on consumer and B2B connections on April 1. Fonehouse said it may also make B2B connections through Three from the same date.

Fonehouse recently signalled its intent to have about 170 stores open by the end of 2012. It is seeking to capitalise on its raised profile from Channel 4 documentary Mary Portas: Secret Shopper, which revealed the retailer is on a major store re-fit programme to create a ‘sit down and relax mentality’.

Fonehouse aims to add three partners a month to its franchise programme until the end of the year, and a further 90 stores next year. It also said it was confident of growing sales by 80 per cent before the start of next year, raising turnover to about 45 million in the next 12 months.

Fonehouse managing director Clive Bayley said: “The addition of networks is a result of our new store roll-outs. We want to be selling everything. However, the focus will still be with T-Mobile and Vodafone and we’re not going to tilt in any way to a new network. We’ve told the networks our volume numbers will increase due to the shops we’re opening.”

Fonehouse is also building a mock store within its head office in Fulham, West London, featuring the new shop layout currently being rolled out. The structure will be used purely for training purposes and not be open to the public.

HTC Thunderbolt Battery Life Causes Delay, Verizon Facebook

The HTC Thunderbolt news still carries on and Verizon has responded on its Facebook page, the delay is apparently down to battery life issues. Stick with us, as we will cover until released.

The HTC Thunderbolt delay according to Android Community suggests that it could be down to the battery life, apparently the poor battery life needs sorting before Verizon can release the smartphone and HTC is trying to fix this problem. Apparently the Thunderbolt can only give 3 to 4 hours of battery life running the LTE/4G connectivity.

Earlier on today phonesreview.co.uk writer James reported via sources that Verizon does not have a clue, if you visit the Verizon Wireless Facebook page you will see that they have responded to the delay and have said and quoted:

Hey fans, we appreciate all the excitement about the anticipated launch of the ThunderBolt by HTC. We’re excited too! Verizon 4G LTE is America’s fastest, most advanced 4G network & we want to ensure the advanced technology behind our first 4G LTE phone is flawless. We will announce its release date as soon as it is confirmed. Thanks for your support & patience while we work to bring you the ThunderBolt by HTC.

Droid-Life has reported that the HTC Thunderbolt ads have been removed from YouTube, which were live on Verizon’s YouTube channel, they are all now private and cannot be viewed.

The last we heard the HTC Thunderbolt will now be released to market on March 4, this has not yet been announced as of yet so please do not get annoyed with us as we only report what we hear, but trust us you will be the first to know when it does officially release. Thank you for being patient.

If you would like to talk about this handset and anything to do with delays etc please join our discussion page.

LG Optimus 2X Releasing in Europe This Month

For those in Europe who are waiting for the first dual-core Android smartphone, the LG Optimus 2X to be released, the word is you wont have to wait much longer as the Android 2.2 Froyo packing device is heading your way.

According to an article over on Android Central, LG has now officially announced that the LG Optimus 2X Android handset will see release in Europe sometime this month, although no specific date was given nor which countries would see the LG Optimus 2X.

Furthermore, although the LG Optimus 2X will come out to play sporting Android 2.2 Froyo, LG has confirmed that the device is up gradable to Android 2.3 Gingerbread, but hasn’t given an upgrade schedule.

Quick spec reminder for those hoping to snap up the device…4-inch WVGA touch screen, 8 megapixel camera, 1.3 front facing camera, 8GB memory, 1080p video recording, NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core 1GHz processor, microSD expansion up to 32GB, and Adobe Flash 10.1 support.

SO any of our European readers hoping to pick up the LG Optimus 2X once it eventually lands in Europe later this month?

T-Mobile launches new business plans

Operator unveils new business contracts targeted at SMEs including a six month pay monthly deal with a free handset

T-Mobile today (March 1) launched four new business ‘pay monthly’ phone plans, including a six month contract option with a free phone.

There are also 18 month, 24 month and 30 day SIM only plans available.

The new contracts are tailored towards the needs of SMEs and based on research conducted by the operator which shows business owners are increasingly reluctant to take out long term contracts in a fast- changing economy.

T-Mobile director of SME marketing Martin Lyne (pictured) said: “ Our customers told us it didn’t make sense for their business to be locked into long term contracts when times are changing.

“Having the flexibility to adapt things quickly if needed is key to a small business’ ability to survive and thrive, so we believe these shorter term plans, will be a great fit for small businesses.”

The new contracts come with services specifically designed to comply with SME requirements such as next day phone replacement and free business voicemail.

Company owners will also be able to choose from a range of devices, from smartphones to basic handsets, depending on employee needs.

The new handsets are available through T-Mobile’s direct channels and selected business partners and distributors.

Nokia demonstrates Revived Symbian UI for Nokia N8

In malevolence of its newfound partnership with Microsoft for upcoming Nokia-branded Windows Phone 7 smartphones, the Finnish phone-maker isn’t abandoning its Symbian platform and had shown off an updated user interface to its Symbian^3-powered Nokia N8 flagship smartphone at MWC.

However as part of the UI revamp, Nokia will be adding a thin drop down status saloon at the top, which is similar to the drop-down notifications menu on Android and has appeared on previous Maemo devices from Nokia.

There is also a simplified Navbar at the bottom, with quick access to menus, search, the home screen, and apps, similar to the Android capacitive or hardware navigation buttons. Flexible widgets are also part of the update. For users hoping that Nokia had chosen Android instead of Windows Phone 7, perhaps the latest update announced for Symbian will give the N8 more of an Android appearance.

Yet it’s still unclear when the update will hit, but it will be delivered over the sky and will also come with improvements to the performance. Users of the Nokia N8 so far have complained of some lags in navigating the handset despite other compelling specs, such as a 12-megapixel 720p HD camera with Xenon flash and Carl Zeiss optics.

Source: GottaBeMobile

RIP, Danger, 2002 - 2011: Microsoft axing service on May 31st, T-Mobile promises customers an 'easy transition'

Oh, come on, you saw this coming: Kin represented what was supposed to be Danger's rebirth under Microsoft's half-billion-dollar umbrella -- and when that failed, there wasn't really a future for these guys in the cards. We've received a statement today from T-Mobile breaking the news that Danger's cloud services will be decommissioned after May 31st, and the problem with Sidekicks is that they're more or less paperweights without a connection to Danger's servers... so if you're still using one, you're definitely going to need a new phone. For T-Mobile's part, they're saying that they'll "provide offers... to help make an easy transition" from old phone to new, and they'll be sharing those offers in the coming weeks. If anything, we wouldn't be surprised if the carrier was simply waiting for its all-new, Samsung-made, Android-powered Sidekick to be ready in the hopes that they'll be able to keep folks in the Sidekick fold even though Danger's gone. They're also providing web-based tools and Sidekick apps to get data off the devices, so you can't say they're not doing all the right things in light of the situation. Smart of Microsoft to make sure the statement comes from T-Mobile, too, since it means the carrier can get out ahead of the panic before it starts. See the full statement after the break.

"After May 31, 2011, the Danger Service (a subsidiary of Microsoft) used by T-Mobile Sidekick customers for data services will no longer be available on Sidekick devices.

T-Mobile will provide offers for our Sidekick customers before May 31, 2011, to help make an easy transition from their existing Sidekick device to a new device. We will have more information to share about these offers with our customers in the weeks ahead.

To ensure the best possible transition for our loyal Sidekick customers, an enhanced Web tool is available on myT-Mobile.com to easily export their personal data, including contacts, photos, calendar, notes, to-do lists, and bookmarks, from the Danger service to a new device, computer, or a designated e-mail account. An application is also available in the Sidekick Catalog to make it easy to export personal data to the Sidekick's memory card. Many T-Mobile stores can transfer data from that card to a new T-Mobile device if the customer brings in the memory card and Sidekick."

LG Optimus 2X coming to Europe in March, a little later than planned

European dual-core aficionados were promised their fix way back in January from LG, however the Korean company's delivery schedule evidently slipped a tiny bit as we're today bidding adieu to the month of February. Good news is that LG will definitely, totally, honestly be releasing its Optimus 2X in "key European markets" this March. It'll ship with Froyo on board, however a Gingerbread update is expressly promised, which should allay fears of being left with a very powerful but outdated piece of hardware. Last time we looked, Amazon's German branch had priced this handset, to be known as the Optimus Speed in Deutschland, at just under €500, which sounds about right for its eventual unlocked price.

Show full PR text

WORLD'S FIRST DUAL-CORE SMARTPHONE COMES TO EUROPE

LG Optimus 2X to Launch in Key European Markets This Month

SEOUL, Mar. 1, 2010 -- LG Electronics (LG) marks another milestone with the international launch of the world's first dual-core smartphone, the LG Optimus 2X, in key European markets. The Optimus 2X, which launched in Korea in January, will be rolled-out in Europe this month.

High-Speed, High-Tech Dual-Core Experience
Powered by the NVIDIA Tegra™ 2 mobile dual-core CPU, the LG Optimus 2X offers clear performance improvements in web browsing and gaming over single-core smartphones running at the same clock speed. Users get all the advantages of seamless multitasking between applications and instantaneous touch response, along with vivid graphics and console-like gaming experience.

"The LG Optimus 2X's enhanced speed, advanced graphics and high-end features such as HDMI mirroring are the kind of high-end features that appeal to European consumers," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. "With the Optimus 2X, we're setting the tone for what will be a huge year for LG's smartphones in Europe and worldwide."

Full HD Entertainment Package
The LG Optimus 2X offers a Full HD multimedia experience with 1080p video recording and playback. Optimized for connectivity and file sharing, the device features HDMI mirroring, which allows content on the phone to be easily viewed on larger TVs or PC monitors with a single cable. And with its gyro sensor, HDMI mirroring lets users play motion-sensitive games on larger screens that rival the quality of today's game consoles.

"The LG Optimus 2X with the Tegra 2 mobile super chip is ushering in a new era of mobile computing," said Michael Rayfield, general manager of NVIDIA's mobile business. "We're proud of partnering with LG, one of the world's leading mobile brands, to create a device that consumers look to as their computer first and phone second."

The first mobile device to feature 7.1 multi-channel virtual surround sound, the LG Optimus 2X provides the closest thing to theater-quality entertainment on a mobile device. Furthermore, file-sharing is made even easier with DLNA connectivity, which lets users transfer stored content to and from compatible digital devices.

Key Features of LG Optimus 2X
- NVIDIA Tegra 2 Processor with 1GHz Dual-core Processor
- 1080p MPEG-4/H.264 Recording and Playback
- HDMI mirroring
- 4-inch WVGA screen
- 8-megapixel rear camera / 1.3-megapixel front camera
- 7.1 multi-channel virtual surround sound
- 8GB memory
- microSD memory expandability (up to 32GB)
- Micro-USB connectivity
- 1,500 mAh battery
- Supports Adobe Flash Player 10.1

The LG Optimus 2X will be released initially with Android 2.2 (Froyo) and will be upgradeable to 2.3 Gingerbread. The upgrade schedule will be announced in local markets in the near future.

Magic W3 Is A 4.8-Inch Phone Running A Desktop Version Of Windows 7

Wondering whether to get a tablet, a phone or a new computer?  Psssh.  Why choose when you can have all three in the Magic W3, a Windows 7 tablet with integrated telephone features measuring under five inches.

The first pocketable computer running Windows 7 (the Home Premium Edition, if you're curious), the device literally throws everything in one small package measuring a mere 141 x 81.5 x 22 mm and weighing 260 grams.   Why bother with apps that can sync with your desktop software, after all, when you can literally carry a full-blown computer in the front pocket?

Core hardware consists of a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 32GB SSD and a 3,200 mAh battery (no word on how long the runtime is -- we're guessing it won't be impressive).  It has all the usual smartphone/tablet fittings, such as a 4.8-inch touchscreen (800 x 480 native resolution), a front-facing 1.3 megapixel webcam, built-in accelerometer, aGPS, Bluetooth, 3G with HSPA, WiFi and an HDMI out.

Of course, you can make calls like any regular phone (even hands-free over the dual speakers).   Since it's also a real computer, you can connect a mouse and keyboard over either USB or Bluetooth for more familiar navigation.  Because everyone knows Windows will be a pain for finger-tapping  (more so on a 4.8-inch screen), it comes with a custom UI for a variety of functions (e.g. phone dialer, composing messages).

No word on availability or pricing for the Magic W3.   It doesn't look like a pipe dream from those product photos available at the website, though, so it's definitely very intriguing.

[AdvanceTC via GSMArena]