A Glimpse Of The Future: 12 Mobile Devices From CTIA Wireless Fall 2008

BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion kicked off the CTIA device frenzy by unveiling its first ever flip smart phone, the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220.

The Pearl Flip is a quad-band EDGE smart phone that weighs in at 3.6 ounces and measures roughly 3.9 inches by 1.9 inches by 0.7 inches. It features to high-resolution, light-sensing color displays; an external LCD to view incoming calls, emails and text messages without opening the device; and an internal 240 by 320 LCD display for messages, video and Web browsing.

It features a host of multimedia capabilities, advanced phone features and the access to corporate applications that BlackBerry users have come to crave throughout BlackBerry's evolution.

The Pearl Flip 8220 supports thousands of business and consumer applications; and features a 2 megapixel camera with flash, zoom and video recording; BlackBerry Maps; and an enhanced HTML browser to view Web pages in either column or page view. The browser supports TRSP for watching streaming video from mobile YouTube and the device supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and UMA, meaning the device can work on home and corporate Wi-Fi networks along with Wi-Fi hotspots.

Along with the flip, BlackBerry also announced a host of new consumer-focused, lifestyle applications, showing off integration with TiVo, Ticketmaster, MySpace, Slacker, Windows Live Search and more.

Elektrobit (EB) unveiled and demonstrated critical applications, like Web browsing and VoIP calling, on its dual-mode satellite-terrestrial HSPA smart phone reference design.

The IP-enabled satellite-terrestrial reference design platform, similar in size to a typical PDA, lets users stay connected to both satellite and terrestrial networks. Using applications on EB's reference platforms ensures that device manufacturers, OEMs and ODMs, can provide next-generation wireless technologies and deliver advanced features.

The reference design is the first quad-band GSM and tri-band WCDMA/HSPA smart phone with integrated all-IP satellite-terrestrial voice and data capabilities; the first satellite-terrestrial smart phone with no external antenna; a fully IP-based satellite phone using HSPA; the first smart phone of its kind with a touch screen and full QWERTY keyboard; and the first satellite-terrestrial smart phone based on Microsoft Windows Mobile Professional, with planned service offerings like SSM, MMS, IM, email, push to talk and location based services.

Other features of the EB reference design include 100 MB of memory; and Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB and GPS connectivity. The form factor measures 4.7 inches by 2.5 inches by 0.8/0.6 inches. It will be commercially available in the first half of 2009.

Virgin Mobile USA, along with Personal Communications Devices, took CTIA by storm releasing its first 3G handset, the Shuttle.

The Shuttle, a slider, will be available exclusively at Best Buy Mobile stores and BestBuy.com on Sept. 28 for $79.99. It features a two-inch screen, a 1.3 megapixel camera with video, a multimedia player, Bluetooth connectivity and an SD slot for memory expansion.

The device, which measures 3.9 inches by 1.9 inches by 0.7 inches and weighs just over 3 ounces, is the spawn of Virgin Mobile's $39 million acquisition of Helio in June.

While it lacks some of the core productivity features for mobile business users, it ties in high-speed Web browsing and location-based services.

The Shuttle offers integration with MySpace, Facebook, YouTube and other applications, along with the Buddy Beacon which lets users find nearby friends.

The monthly data plan model for EV-DO networks runs $5 for 2 MB of surging and $10 for 50 MB. For those who prefer pay-as-you go, plans run from $5 to $20 for between 5 MB and 50 MB.

Velocity Mobile used CTIA Wireless Fall 2008 to make its public debut, showcasing two brand spanking new Windows Mobile phones. Velocity, which "aims to shift the way people view and use smart phones."

First up is the Velocity 103 (pictured). The 103 runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and integrates a Qualcomm Mobile Station Modem MSM7201 chipset. The device operates on GSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 and UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 850, 1900, 2100. The Velocity 103 features a 640 by 480 touch screen, has 256 MB of ROM and 128 MB of RAM and is compatible with Bluetooth, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi and GPS.

The Velocity 103 offers a 2.0 megapixel camera and a 0.3 megapixel video conferencing camera; TV/VGA out and a MicroSD expansion slot. It is expected to be available later this year.

Along with announcing the Velocity 103, Velocity Mobile also used CTIA Wireless to unveil its counterpart, the Velocity 111.

Somewhat similar in look to the BlackBerry Curve, the Velocity 111 runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and features a Qualcomm MSM7201 chipset. It has a full QWERTY keyboard and a 320 by 240 GVGA touch screen.

The Velocity 111 operates on GSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 and UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 850, 1900, 2100. Like the Velocity 103, the Velocity 111, which will be available later this year, features a 2.0 megapixel camera and a 0.3 megapixel video conferencing camera; TV/VGA output and a MicroSD expansion slot.

Samsung used CTIO to parade out the Highnote for Sprint, a multi-media device with a strong focus on the music, offering access to the Sprint Music Store.

The Highnote features a "dual slider" design, meaning it slides up to use the keyboard, and down to reveal stereo speakers.

The Highnote features a 2 megapixel camera, a full-color display, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and operates on Sprint's EV-Do 3G network. The mobile phone also supports Sprint TV, messaging, email and Sprint's newly-launched One Click interface and an organizer. The Highnote offers Bluetooth support, a Web browser, speaker-independent voice dialing and support for Microsoft Live Search.

The Highnote, available in blue or red, measures 4 inches by 1.9 inches by 0.6 inches. It is expected to be available in October for $99 with a service contract.

Along with the Highnote, Samsung and Sprint teamed up again at CTIA to unveil the Rant, an entry-level slider with a $49.99 with a two-year service contract. The Rant slides open to expose a full QWERTY keyboard. It integrates with Sprint Navigation, the Sprint Music Store and Sprint TV.

Additional features include a 2 megapixel camera with video, Bluetooth connectivity, a memory card slot and speaker-independent voice recognition. It has a 176 by 220 screen that supports 262,000 colors. The battery can support 5.6 hours of talk time.

The Rant, which measures 4.5 inches by 2.1 inches by 0.7 inches and weighs 4.58 ounces, comes in red or black. Best Buy will offer an exclusive purple Rant.

LG at CTIA unveiled the Lotus, a squarish clamshell with a full QWERTY keyboard and a one-click button to open a programmed application like email, the media player or text messaging.

And while fashionable, offering a slick purple with floral engraving or a satin black, the Lotus offers a host of features like a 2 megapixel camera with video, stereo Bluetooth, a music player, GPS and MicroSD memory slot.

The LG Lotus measures 3.3 inches by 2.4 inches by 0.7 inches and weighs 3.7 ounces. The internal display is 2.4 inches (240 by 320) and supports 262,000 colors and the external display is 2.1 inches (176 by 220) and supports 65,000 colors. The battery supports 5.5 hours of talk time.

Sprint will offer the device for $149 with a contract next month.

Sprint and Motorola paired up to debut a rugged push-to-talk device using Sprint's Nextel service. The durable clamshell Motorola i576 is certified under military standard MIL-810F4 for ruggedness when it comes to low pressure, dust, shock, vibration, solar radiation and high and low temperatures.

It measures 4.3 inches by 1.8 inches by 1 inch and weighs 4.2 ounces and uses the IDEN 800/900 MHz network for direct connect, interconnect and data. The main display is 128 by 160 and supports 64,000 colors, while the sub display is 128 by 32 with support for 64,000 colors. The i576 features Bluetooth connectivity, a host of multimedia options and GPS navigation.

On the Nextel Direct Connect side, the device offers group connect, talk group, international direct connect, direct talk, Next Mail and a host of other features.

Sprint Nextel also used CTIA to announce a BlackBerry device that offers Nextel Direct Connect and push-to-talk functionality. The BlackBerry Curve 8350i smart phone, expected to be available by the end of the year, uses IDEN technology and features Nextel Direct Connect push-to-talk service, along with BlackBerry's standard push email and messaging capabilities, Web browsing and mobile applications. It also includes built-in Wi-Fi, integrated GPS, a 2 megapixel camera with five times zoom and video recording.

HTC officially unveiled the Touch Pro at CTIA. The kid brother of the HTC Touch Diamond is a slider that offers Wi-Fi, HSPA, Bluetooth and a 3.2-megapixel camera.

The device runs Windows Mobile 6.1 and features a 2.8-inch VGA display and HTC's TouchFLO 3D interface.

The device slides open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, along with its external touch screen. Overall the HTC Touch Pro measures 4.01 inches by 2 inches by 0.71 inches and weighs 5.3 ounces. The battery offers 3.75 hours of continuous talk.

The HTC Touch Pro is expected to be available through Sprint later this year.

HTC also used CTIA as an occasion to showcase the HTC Touch Diamond. The touch screen device, seen by many as either an Apple iPhone clone or an iPhone killer, depending on who you ask, has a full VGA display, Wi-Fi, GPS and a 3.2 megapixel camera all with a touch-sensitive navigation screen.

The device comes in at 4 inches by 2 inches by 0.6 inches and weighs 4.1 ounces. It features a host of multimedia features like access to the Sprint Music Store, Sprint TV and Sprint Radio. It runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 and offers HTC's TouchFLO 3D.