Sony Ericsson to launch P990i...finally

The wait is over. Fans of the Sony Ericsson P990i can finally get a hold of the much-anticipated smart phone when it makes its way into Singapore stores on August 24. The QWERTY-equipped handset, the successor to the P910i, was first announced late last year for a Q1 2006 launch. However, due to strategic marketing reasons, the P990i was delayed once and then again, possibly to complement the launch of the M600i communicator.

The P990i's strongest suit is its connectivity. Like the Nokia E61, the P990i delivers the whole gamut from 3G to Wi-Fi, to USB, Bluetooth as well as support for push email clients like BlackBerry. The handset runs on the Symbian 9.1 OS and UIQ 3 software platform and features a 2-megapixel camera, FM radio with RDS (Radio Data System), thumbboard, 18-bit QVGA screen and an onboard Memory Stick Duo slot. The P990i will retail for S$1,288 (US$925.22) with a two-year plan and S$1,388 (US$997.05) without.

BlackBerry goes 3G

Research In Motion (RIM) recently announced its first UMTS-capable handhelds, the BlackBerry 8707g and 8707v, in Singapore. Both models, which essentially offer the same features but with slight differentiation in exterior casing, will be carried by all three local mobile operators. The 8707g will be available from SingTel and StarHub, while the 8707v will be offered by M1.

One of the key features of the new BlackBerry handhelds is their ability to multitask. According to RIM, the 8707g and 8707v allow simultaneous voice and data usage while being used as a modem for a PC. Each handheld will come with a 16-bit QVGA screen, 64MB flash memory, onboard BlackBerry apps, Bluetooth 2.0, speakerphone function and QWERTY keyboard.

The 8707g is expected to be priced around S$748 (US$537.32) when purchased with a two-year contract and S$948 (US$680.99) without plan, while the 8707v will go going for S$598 (US$429.57) with a two-year contract and S$998 (US$716.90) without.

A chocolate K800i?

Not quite. There won't be any touch-sensitive keys on this Sony Ericsson, unlike the LG Chocolate. But the K800i will most certainly be in our favorite shade as our cocoa-based candy, making for a nice change from the usual white and black tones that Sony Ericsson has been favoring the last year.

The Singapore office has confirmed that a brown version of its popular Cyber-shot-branded camera-phone will be launched in selected Asian markets. Expect it in late September. Other than that, the handset will be identical in price and features to its tuxedo-black sibling. This includes a 3.2-megapixel camera, image stabilizer, 3G, Picture Blogging function and Xenon flash.

Palm to announce a new Treo next month

The handheld maker is set to unveil a new Treo smartphone in the UK next month. According to various news sources, a spokeswoman from the California-based firm has confimed that the official announcement will be made on September 12. Information on the new Treo is sketchy for now, though it was reported that the new handheld will run on the Windows Mobile OS and operate on Vodafone's 3G network.

Unfortunately, Palm does not comment on future products. Thus, like the Treo 700p and 700w PDA-phones, it is not known whether the company will eventually offer the new Treo in Asia. Stay tuned for more updates.

Sharp's AQUOS display on a Vodafone

Among the many interesting handsets I came across during my recent visit to Japan, one model stood out--the Vodafone 905SH. Equipped with a TV tuner, the 3G phone doubles as a mobile TV device capable of receiving terrestrial digital and analog TV broadcasts. But what really set it apart from other TV-phones was its unique rotating Mobile ASV LCD. Based on Sharp's AQUOS display technology, the screen produced video images that have never looked sharper on a 2.6-inch panel. Even better, the display could be rotated for viewing in landscape mode.

Like the Nokia N92, the 905SH sports a TV recording function. Here's the best part: You can continue to message and make calls even while watching your favorite TV program. According to the specifications, the phone has a rated TV viewing time of up to 4 hours. It also offers a 2-megapixel CCD camera and miniSD card expansion slot. Sadly, this is one of those phones that's made for Japan only.

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