Orange Announces Numerous Devices at MoDaCo's Summer Event

[Mike Temporale]

MoDaCo held their annual Summer event over the weekend where Orange decided to announce some new Windows Mobile devices. We'll start out with the Orange F600, (http://www.modaco.com/index.php?showtopic=243015) better known as the HTC StarTrek. Then there was the SPV C700 (http://www.modaco.com/index.php?showtopic=243016) (HTC Breeze), still as ugly as before. And the entry level SPV C100 (http://www.modaco.com/index.php?showtopic=243018) (HTC Oxygen) with it's 176x220 screen. However it is running the latest Windows Mobile 5 with AKU 2.3. If that wasn't enough, there is one more surprise Smartphone coming from Orange. The Samsung Blackjack. (http://www.modaco.com/index.php?showtopic=243021)

http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060717-SamsungBlackJackMoDaCo.jpg

Built on the now famous Q style, this i320 derivative has some noticeable updates, like UMTS, a forward facing camera, and a round rocker switch - similar to the SMT 5600. There's no word on when this or any of the other phones will be made available. My thoughts are that you'll see some of these start to be made available towards the end of the summer. Follow the device links for more pictures and information about that device. :)

[edgar]

OooOooOooO the Blackjack is UMTS

1> Does that switch down to EDGE/GPRS automagically?
2> Can I dream that *maybe* they added 850 band?

-Edgar

[mbranscum]

SPV C700[/url] (HTC Breeze), still as ugly as before.

I kinda like the looks of this phone! :wink: Of course having to carry the "hump phone" around in public, you can understand why.

[Stinger]

1> Does that switch down to EDGE/GPRS automagically?

The hand-off happens automatically on every 3G phone that I've tried. However, certain networks ("3" mainly) did have issues with handing off when they first established their networks and this lead to a lot of dropped calls.

I haven't experienced any problems recently though.

[Rocco Augusto]

the oxygen is a cute entry level phone. hopefully someone picks it up here in th US, i couldnt see that phone being more than 149-199 on a new two year contract :)

[Mike Temporale]

I would expect less than that. The 2125 is $200 on contract, no? The Oxygen should be much less.

[Mike Temporale]

The hand-off happens automatically on every 3G phone that I've tried. However, certain networks ("3" mainly) did have issues with handing off when they first established their networks and this lead to a lot of dropped calls.

I don't know how that works in North America. There's not much in the way of UMTS over here. So I don't know how the device would handle it. The people with JasJars don't seem to be getting EDGE speeds. So that would make me think it doesn't step down from UMTS to EDGE.

[sojourner753]

I don't know how that works in North America. There's not much in the way of UMTS over here. So I don't know how the device would handle it. The people with JasJars don't seem to be getting EDGE speeds. So that would make me think it doesn't step down from UMTS to EDGE.

I think the issue with the JasJar (Universal) is that it doesn't have EDGE support at all. So there's nothing to step down to except standard GPRS. HTC basically went with the all or nothing (or nearly nothing GPRS) with the Universal.

And I don't think it even has the 850 band if I remember correctly.

[Rocco Augusto]

if this has the us umts band i would have to import one over :)