Sony Xperia Tipo with AT&T-friendly 3G hits the FCC

The Xperia Tipo - one of Sony's latest affordable Android smartphones - has showed up at the FCC yesterday, which means it could be introduced in North America soon.

The Tipo that's been approved by the FCC is the ST21a model. Usually, the "a" at the end of a Sony handset's model number denotes a device specifically made for America. Moreover, the handset has 1900x850 MHz WCDMA connectivity, so it's compatible with AT&T's 3G network. Of course, at this point only Sony knows if the Tipo will indeed make it to North America.

Running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Sony Xperia Tipo features a 3.2 inch HVGA scratch-resistant display, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.2MP rear camera, 800MHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 2.9GB of internal memory, MicroSD card support, and a 1,500 mAh battery. The handset has a dual-SIM edition called Xperia Tipo Dual (this one didn't hit the FCC, though).

Samsung gets expedited Galaxy Nexus injunction hearing

The US Court of Appeals has granted Samsung's request to expedite its appeal of the preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Nexus. The company must file its court brief to start the process before July 16 and Apple has until July 30 to respond.

The final comments on the case are due on August 6. Moreover, the court has accepted and will consider Apple's response to the temporary stay of the Galaxy Nexus sales.

Apple has also sent letters to some retailers instructing them to stop selling the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 or the Galaxy Nexus. Naturally, Samsung complained about said letters and got the following Apple stance:

Source | Via

HTC smartphones did not infringe Apple patents, U.K. Judge ruled

 

The Apple versus HTC war started way back in 2010, with the Cupertino-based tech giant filing its first ITC complaint against the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer. It was widely known as the first ever lawsuit filed against an Android device manufacturer. Today, the battle for supremacy continues, as Apple, dubbed as the “patent troll”, takes the lawsuit to the U.K. However, it seems that HTC is winning the duel this time around. Bloomberg is reporting that Judge Christopher Floyd has ruled that HTC did not infringe Apple's four patents and added that three of those patents are actually invalid.

The four patents that Apple accused HTC of infringing include the slide-to-unlock feature, software allowing users to touch the screen in two spots simultaneously, and tools used to scroll through photographs and change alphabets. The court ruled that Apple's photo-management patent is valid but it determined that HTC did not infringe it. "Competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours," Apple said in a statement. On the other hand, HTC spokesperson Andrea Sommer said that HTC is  disappointed that Apple continues to favor competition in the courtroom over competition in the marketplace.

U.S. Judge Rejects Samsung's Request; Galaxy Nexus Remains Unavailable… Or Is It?

 

U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, has rejected last Tuesday Samsung's request to lift a pre-trial injunction that would prohibit sales of Galaxy Nexus smartphone in the country. This comes after Judge Koh granted last week Apple's request to block the sales of Samsung's Android smartphone.

The judge also rejected a similar request to lift the ban on selling Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the United States. But Samsung is not giving up just yet, as it has also appealed to a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., which has exclusive jurisdiction over intellectual property disputes.

Because of the injunction, Samsung and Google (developer of the phone's Android OS) will have to find a workaround to sell their Galaxy Nexus to eager Americans. Sources say that a software patch will be implemented “imminently” to avoid patent infringements from Apple. Also, the phone is currently listed in Google Play store as “coming soon,” just in case the software update would make the Galaxy Nexus clear of any legal issues.

Photo credit: Reuters/ Bobby Yip

Nokia PureView 808 likely to be announced in the US on Monday

More than a month ago, Nokia USA's president said the company was planning to release the 808 PureView smartphone Stateside. And it looks like an official announcement related to this will be made on Monday, June 18.

Over at its US Facebook page, Nokia has shared three images which promise something for Monday. The PureView smartphone isn't mentioned, but all images are related to the 808 number. The first one is satellite photo of Hawaii, which has the 808 telephone area code. The second one shows the Roland TR-808 drum machine. And the third one matches the cover of an album released by a band called 808 State. And if that's not enough, All Things D reports that unnamed sources say the upcoming announcement indeed "has to do with the U.S. availability of the" PureView 808 - which, with its 41MP Carl Zeiss rear camera, seems to be the best cameraphone ever made.

As previously rumored, the 808 PureView might be sold in the US only unlocked, hence we will probably not see any mobile carrier offering it.

Mysterious Motorola slider spotted, heading for Sprint, not Verizon

Still in love with a hardware keyboard, and looking for something new on Sprint? You might be in luck, as this little guy (and it does seem little by today's standards) was spotted in the Android Central forums.

Not much can be said about the device, other than the buttonless approach from Motorola (thank you, Moto, somebody's got to follow Google's Android 4.0 guidelines). Android Central is guessing a qHD screen, possibly LTE. However, I have to reiterate again: nothing other than the 5-row keyboard, running ICS, being a Motorola device and heading for Sprint (there's a Sprint Music app) can be determined with certainty.

T-Mobile LTE, HSPA+ expansion update

 T-Mobile has put out a press release to give an update regarding the work on establishing their 4G LTE network and introducing their HSPA+ services on the 1900 MHz spectrum. The entire release is posted below, but the main points are:

1. LTE trials are underway, and the network should launch next year.

2. HSPA+ on the 1900 MHz bandwidth is currently being tested, and was spotted by a few people in San Francisco near the Moscone Center.

3. New equipment has been installed at “modernized GSM/HSPA+” sites, and the aim is to reach 2,500 sites by the end of July.

  Press Release

Fast Progress on 4G Network Modernization

June 14, 2012

We’re making great progress in just three short months since we first announced T-Mobile’s $4 billion 4G network evolution plan, including network modernization and deployment of long term evolution (LTE) service in 2013. Here are some of the highlights:

Just last month, T-Mobile announced multi-year agreements with Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks to support our $4 billion 4G network evolution plan, which will include a modernization of 37,000 cell sites and a move to the latest, state-of-the-art, LTE release 10 capable equipment.

Initially, this effort will improve existing voice and data coverage, make our 4G network compatible with a broader range of devices (including the iPhone), and pave the way for long term evolution (LTE) service next year.

With contracts in place, we’re making excellent headway on our network infrastructure transformation. By the end of this month we expect new equipment to be installed at our first 400 modernized GSM / HSPA+ sites and we plan to grow this to over 2,500 sites by the end of July.

We’ve also secured zoning approval or do not require zoning for over 19,500 sites and have completed necessary entitlement work, including obtaining building permits for over 4,000 sites.

As new equipment is in place, we’re turning up some small scale tests of 4G HSPA+ service in our 1900 MHz spectrum. Some customers with unlocked iPhones recently saw evidence of those tests; clocking much faster data speeds at the Moscone West conference center in San Francisco. More of these speed sightings will occur as we work toward introducing 4G HSPA+ service in our 1900 MHz spectrum in a large number of markets later this year.

Finally, LTE trials are underway and this summer we’ll begin using Release-10 equipment in these trials. The ability to launch with this next version of LTE technology is one advantage of launching next year.

Samsung Galaxy S III Enterprise Version Coming to US

 
When Samsung launches its Galaxy S III in the United States, it will also unveil its boardroom-worthy version. The Android 4.0-powered smartphone will be Samsung's first American phone to be stamped with its SAFE (Samsung Approved for Enterprise) seal of approval.

The Samsung Galaxy S III enterprise edition will handle 256-bit AES encryption–regardless of the carrier–as well as upgraded support for Exchange, remote management, and VPNs you always find on any Android device.

Samsung also introduces the SAFE2SWITCH program that offers trade-in discounts for prosumers and corporate customers who are willing to swap their older devices in exchange for secured Galaxy S III, even if it is not part of any corporate deal.

The SAFE-ready Samsung Galaxy S III is expected to be available by July.

LG Optimus 4X HD set for European launch this month, have some “major surprise” too

The 4.7 inch, Tegra 3 powered Optimus 4X HD looks set for launch in Europe this month. LG will be bringing the device to Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain and Italy first, and also have some “major surprise” regarding the launch itself. They do have their work cut out in publicizing it, though, with the Euro 2012 football (or soccer, if you prefer) tournament going on.

Alleged image of the AT&T branded Motorola 'Dinara' leaks

 Right when we began to wonder why is Motorola being so quiet on the US front these days, a juicy rumor regarding an upcoming smartphone from Google's newly acquired property sprung up. An AT&T branded Motorola, codenamed "Dinara" has leaked out in an alleged image.

The upcoming smartphone is rumored to offer 4.5" HD display and Motoblur-ed Android Ice Cream Sandwich, to go with its LTE connectivity. The rest of the specs are likely to be similar to the Motorola XT928, which is sold on the Chinese Market.

As the image mildly suggests, a late July launch is possible. Don't be surprised if you see the handset carry the Atrix 3 moniker when it goes official.

Source

Samsung Galaxy S III on SK Telecom mixes 2GB of RAM and quad-core, importers break out credit cards

There's a Galaxy S III with a quad-core chip, and there's a Galaxy S III with 2GB of RAM. Never the twain shall meet? They reportedly will at SK Telecom: a comparison sheet leaked to Phone Arena has the South Korean carrier's SHV-E210S variant combining the 1.4GHz Exynos 4 Quad with the 2GB of RAM that the dual-core versions receive as a consolation prize. It's even supposed to keep LTE, which could suggest that Samsung isn't wedded to Qualcomm for 4G in South Korea like it is for North America. The phone's 4G support loses steam outside of its native country, and it gains an ever so slight amount of bulk, but we're looking at what could be the best of both worlds for Samsung's flagship. We have a hunch that a few foreigners might be eager for an import, or a surprise vacation to Seoul, when the E210S arrives in July.

Huawei Activa 4G announced for MetroPCS

MetroPCS and Huawei have come together to introduce the next 4G budget phone for the regional carrier. Its name is the Huawei Activa 4G, and it looks to be a decent affordable option for those who want a cheap 4G phone.The device sports a 3.5 inch display, a 5 megapixel camera, a VGA front camera, Android 2.3, and an 800MHz processor.

The device is available right now for $150 after rebates and with no contract, but note that this price tag is only being offered for a limited time. Grab it online here or check it out in your local MetroPCS store if you're interested. Hit the source link for full press details. [PR Newswire]

SK Telecom's Galaxy S III merges quad-core CPU and 2GB RAM

While the difference in performance between Samsung’s quad-core Exynos version of the Galaxy S III and the dual-core LTE variant looks to be negligible, customers in the US will no doubt feel slightly cheated despite the presence of twice the RAM as found in the international version of the phone. Now a new leak seems to reveal that at least one version of the flagship device will merge the specs of both variants. Before those in other regions start to wonder why the same arrangement couldn’t be made for the handset destined for carriers like AT&T and Verizon, 4G support appears to be limited to HSPA+. The SHV-E210S version of the Galaxy S III also adds a bit of girth to accommodate the additional hardware elements.  For those hoping to get their hands on this version of the phone, find a good importer. It’s unlikely we will see this model outside of Korea.

Samsung Omnia M Arrives in Europe

More Windows Phones are debuting from different brands, this time it is heading to Europe. The Samsung Omnia M, which eerily looks like the Omnia 7, will be distributed in the Old World.

This handset features a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, 1GHz processor, and comes pre-installed with Samsung-specific software add-ons like the cross-platform ChatON messenger app. Its front-facing VGA camera also links up with Omnia M’s video call features, white the 5-megapixel shoot comes with primary camera functions.

Samsung reveals that the phone will be available to other regions after its European launch. No word, though, whether the United States is included.

Source: Samsung, via Engadget

Nokia Lumia 610 Hits Malaysia

Nokia has announced the availability of their new Windows phone ‘Lumia 610′ in Malaysia. Coming in four different color options: white, cyan, magenta and black, the Lumia 610 retails for RM 699 (about $229) outright. As a quick reminder, the handset packs a 3.7-inch 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen display, an 800MHz single-core processor, a 256MB RAM, an 8GB of storage, a 5MP rear-facing camera with 720p HD video capture and runs on Windows Phone 7.5 Tango OS. [Softpedia]

HTC One V To Be Released In The U.S. Market

The HTC One V will be available in the U.S. market this summer via several US carriers. The smartphone is equipped with a 3.7-inch WVGA display, a 1GHz single-core processor, a 512MB RAM and a 5-megapixel digital camera. The HTC One V runs on the Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system with Sense 4.0 user interface. [Ubergizmo]

Boost Mobile To Launch HTC Evo Design 4G On May 31st

Boost Mobile is reportedly preparing to launch the all new HTC Evo Design 4G on their network. The handset is said to become available from May 31st for $299.99 outright. Just to remind you, the HTC Evo Design 4G packs a 4.0-inch 540 x 960 touchscreen display, a 1.2GHz single-core processor, a 1.3MP front-facing camera, a 5MP rear-facing camera, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, 4G (WiMAX) connectivity and runs on Android 4.0 OS. [Unwiredview]

Sony Xperia Ion Will Be Available In The U.S. Market Via AT&T

The Sony Xperia Ion will be released in the U.S market via AT&T in the second quarter of 2012. The Sony Xperia Ion is actually an AT&T’s version of the Sony Xperia S, which is currently available in Europe. The smartphone features a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a large 4.6-inch HD Reality display with a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution, a 16GB of storage capacity, LTE, DLNA, HDMI, NFC, Sony’s Bravia Sync and a 12-megapixel rear-facing digital camera with Sony’s latest Exmor R sensor. This camera is able to record full HD video in 1080p resolution. The Sony Xperia Ion runs on the Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system. [PhoneArena]

LG Optimus L3 Hits India

LG has announced the availability of their new Optimus L3 in India. The handset is available for purchase through all leading retailers across the country for Rs 7899 (about $150). To refresh your memory, the Optimus L3 packs a 3.2-inch 240 x 320 capacitive touchscreen display, an 800MHz single-core processor, a 384MB RAM, a 1GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, a 3MP rear-facing camera, a microSD card slot, an FM radio, WiFi, Bluetooth, a 1500mAh battery and runs on Android 2.3 OS. [Softpedia]

LG Optimus LTE2 To Be Released In South Korea

LG has announced the availability of the Optimus LTE2 in South Korea. The Android smartphone features a quad-core processor, a True HD IPS display, a 2GB of RAM, wireless charging capabilities, a 2,150mAh battery and the Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS. LG will launch the Optimus LTE2 in South Korea sometime in the middle of this month. No word on pricing at this time. [Press Release]