Should you wait until 2010 to buy your flagship mobile phone?

There has been an influx of flagship phone announcements during the third quarter of 2009, with more to come in the months leading up to the end-of-year festive shopping period. But is it the best time to buy a new mobile phone?

During the last five years mobile phone technology has undergone a huge transformation. It has evolved from the color screens and text-based email featured in yesteryear's newest smartphones into a new breed of superphones that function as all-in-one portable computing devices with real-time notifications, integrated WiFi, multi-touch screens and graphics cards that can play HD movies with more clarity than many TVs found in today's households.

Entering the fourth quarter of 2009 there has been an enormous push by mobile makers to release new flagship phones featuring this stunning technology.

According to IDC's Oct ober 29 third quarter phone shipment report, the five biggest mobile manufacturers worldwide (Nokia, Samsung, LG Electronics, Sony Ericsson and Motorola) are hoping to ride on their newly released technology-rich phones to boost fourth quarter sales. But not all will manage to release flagship devices in time for the busy end-of-the-year shopping rush.

Both Motorola and Nokia will release their flagship devices (the DROID and the N900) in early November 2009. Sony Ericsson's flagship device, the XPERIA X10, won't be out until the beginning of 2010. Meanwhile, the economic crisis has forced manufacturers to drop their prices in a bid to stay competitive within the cut-throat mobile phone market.

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/

Vodafone prices first handset with 360 platform

UK wireless carrier Vodafone is now offering the Vodafone 360 Samsung H1 smartphone on sale through its website. The device is the first to ship with the carrier’s 360 social media platform preloaded. The H1 was especially developed for Vodafone, and sports a 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen.

The Vodafone 360 service automatically syncs all contacts from your phone, Facebook, Windows Live Messenger and Google Talk, with Twitter support coming soon. Contacts from the phone are backed up as well. The H1 otherwise features 16GB of storage space, and there is Wi-Fi, GPS, and a 5-megapixel camera.

Vodafone is offering the free of charge when customers commit to two-year contracts at the equivalent of at least $49 per month. This includes 600 anytime minutes and unlimited Internet and e-mail access. Those who order the device now are expected to receive it

Source: http://www.ethioplanet.com/

iPhone coming to Orange in two weeks

O2’s era of sole iPhone providership is almost over and on the stroke of midnight on November 10th, their impressive leather exclusivity glove will go ‘POOF!’ and turn to dust. Likewise, their dress will turn into a bin bag, their chariot will turn into a matchbox, their horses will turn into shrews and one of their bejewelled shoes will drop off as they scamper back off to the clutches of their ugly sisters.

Hmm, possibly got a bit carried away with the metaphor there. However, if you’re somehow still reading this, the news is that Orange will start selling the iPhone in the UK from 10th November, the day after O2’s two-year exclusivity deal for the Jesus phone comes to an end.

The Guardian are reporting that it will be sold through Orange’s retail shops and Phones4U, while Carphone Warehouse will continue to provide it for O2 and for Orange. No pricing details have been announced yet, despite what you might have heard from gangs of silver-tongued tariff-jockeys in Carphone Warehouse.

Source: http://www.bitterwallet.com/