Helio Ocean 2 breaks cover, FCC style?

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 28th 2008 at 9:50PM

In light of the fact that the original Ocean's model number was OZ, it seems pretty obvious that an "OZ2" passing through the FCC by way of Pantech would be -- you guessed it -- the Ocean 2. It helps that the label diagram's depiction of the phone is clearly Ocean-esque in nature, too. So let's use this opportunity as a springboard for discussion: what does everyone hope to get out of the dual-sliding Helio Ocean's successor?

Filed under: Handsets, Pantech, Helio, EV-DO, MVNOs, CDMA

Tags: fcc, helio, ocean, ocean 2, Ocean2, oz2

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Low Ranked

Oscar5453 @ Mar 28th 2008 10:34PM

I have the OCEAN right now. I mean its a great phone. GPS, 3G ....Qwerty....but the customer service is BY FAR the WORST CUSTOMER service I have ever seen in any company. I heard they are like 566 Million in the hole right now....I am just hoping one day I wake up and my service will be shutoff meaning they went out of business. So I won't have to pay their $175 disconnection Fee.

My first ocean went bad so I called them for a replacement and 3 replacements later I still have a faulty Ocean device. Horrible customer service !!! Very horrible!!

DIE HELIO!!! DIE!!!

Neutral

supes @ Mar 29th 2008 12:24AM

i think it should be aluminum and rectangular with rounded corners. it should also have a multi-touch screen made of glass surrounded by chrome trim. the back should have a silver apple logo on it.

Highest Ranked

Nathan @ Mar 29th 2008 2:38PM

I see what you did there.

Highly Ranked

j_key_boy @ Mar 29th 2008 2:45PM

Yep. Then it would suck, obviously :P

Highest Ranked

Ace b @ Mar 29th 2008 12:51AM

I think a touch screen would be nice.Or at least a bigger screen.Actually,the whole thing could be a little bigger to accommodate a bigger screen(hopefully touch),and a more usable,and bigger keyboard.

Neutral

Jon @ Mar 29th 2008 5:19AM

Well, I love my Ocean now, but it does have its faults... Fortunately, hitting it with a rubber mallet in just the right place nearly always fixes any issues I'm having (anything from bad reception [if the device is at fault] to blank screen). I hope the new model doesn't need a rubber mallet... And I wish that microSD slot were front side accessible, because without that, I'm useless. Touch screen and WM6.1 would definitely seal the deal for me, though.

Neutral

plh2034 @ Mar 29th 2008 7:47AM

Needs a new carrier
Helio is a joke

Neutral

Mog @ Mar 29th 2008 8:16AM

It needs to be smaller. The Ocean is nearly an inch thick, far thicker than its current competition (the Sidekick Slide and LX). The nature of the triple-decker design might force the Ocean to always be on the thicker side of things, but my question is: does it need three layers?

Yes, the dual-sliding design is attention-getting, and sort of magical at first. But when I had an Ocean, I rarely used the keypad "layer." I slid it out that way to make and end calls, but I didn't press any of the buttons unless I was entering a new contact - which happens only occasionally. Personally, I think a touchscreen-over-slide-out-QWERTY design, a la Samsung Glyde, would be perfect. A touchscreen is fine for navigating the phone and dialing the occasional number - and, when you needed it, you could slide out a full keyboard. The phone could be thinner, the screen could be bigger, and it would get the feature du jour of feature phones these days: a touchscreen. That beats a clunky dual-slider any day.

Neutral

AwlAmericanDawg @ Mar 29th 2008 10:18AM

It needs to lose some weight! Thin is in!

Neutral

PEZ @ Mar 29th 2008 12:14PM

It needs to be SHUT UP.

Neutral

Inimical @ Mar 29th 2008 1:00PM

The fact that the MicroSD slot is under the battery shows that they're reducing the thickness. Manufacturers pull this inconvenient tactict in order to save a few cm.

If it's not touchscreen, they should at least throw a trackball on there for easier navigation. Also, with the position of the camera, it makes me think they're trying to make it smaller overall (which is counter productive if we're hoping for a bigger screen)

Highly Ranked

Jeff D @ Mar 29th 2008 3:42PM

As a happy Ocean owner the following things would make me look at the Ocean 2

1. Thinner
2. Touch screen
3. The ability to hold whatever sized microSD card is available instead of being stuck on 2GB

4. More ability to customize the phone. I'd love to be able to change the open and close sounds of the phone.

5. Access to more ringtones/songs online.

Helio recently switched CEOs, mainly because the old guy had no idea how to run a company. He was an entrepreneur and so good at starting firms, but he should have been replaced six months ago. Hopefully the new CEO will cut costs and fix the customer service issues so that people actually keep their phones.

Highest Ranked

tuck @ Mar 29th 2008 9:27PM

This new version needs to have: the ability to multitask, you know like every other "smart phone"

An IM application that actually works and lets you know when you receive a message no matter what you are doing with the device.

A buddy beacon app that doesn't require constant update requests

An email app that doesn't download every message you have on GMAIL

To get rid of the stupid T9 keypad....

Also, why don't they just go ahead and integrate buddy beacon, google maps, and flickr maps into one app instead of 3.

And finally, they need to get a real person to use the phone and test the software for more than an hour before they release this version. The Ocean 1 software was horrible. How did that even get out the door?

Helio has a lot of potential as a service provider.... Personally I love their reasonably priced data friendly plans that include unlimited everything (Unlike the ridiculous $35 data plans + $$ txt offered by AT&T). But if they keep turning out buggy software that doesn't work they just won't make it.

Here is the recipe for success HELIO, someone grab a pen and write this down:

1. Partner with Danger (oops, too late Bill beat you to it) and release a phone with the Sidekick form factor and operating system.

2. Then get Danger to get their stuff together by adding real multi media support, HTML email, and GPS capabilities.

3. Combine the above device with 3G

Hopefully they get this one right, but I doubt they will. More than likely we will just have another piece of junk rushed out the door.... Then a few months later they will go out of existence just like Danger; we will all be stuck with 200 txt messages with our iphones.

I would love to support them, but only if they give me a phone I can actually use!

Highly Ranked

D.Bandith @ Mar 30th 2008 6:41PM

I think we all would like a new thinner/touchscreen Ocean.

Neutral

jessica @ Mar 31st 2008 4:51PM

i second the multi-tasking feature request. it's the only thing that kept me from buying an ocean instead of a sidekick 3. if the new version had software that worked better, then i'd definitely get one.

Neutral

Cassie @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:31AM

I had a Sidekick before I swiched to Helio. The Sidekick was like a hockey puck, and the Ocean is like a brick. My problems with the Ocean:

1 - Too many outer buttons. Who actually makes voice memos? It would be great to be able to hold the freaking thing without triggering the volume, camera, voice memo, etc.

2 - The camera is in a ridiculous place. You can barely maneuver it to take a picture without your finger being in it or hitting another button.

3 - The keys aren't tactile at all. Too slippery for heavy typers like myself.

4 - One function at a time - why am I not allowed to be in the middle of an email and scroll over to my IM to get a bit of info?

5 - Why does it not connect to AIM and STAY CONNECTED? I don't appreciate the freezeup everytime I open my buddy list and then sit and wait for it to reconnect and tell me who is online. When I sign on, that should be it until I sign off.

And lastly, 6 - for something adding so much weight to my purse, it would be nice if the keys were larger.

Honestly, if you could get Sidekick functionality, the old Cingular customer service, with the Helio style and pricing that would be swell.

Highly Ranked

M K @ Apr 4th 2008 12:59AM

Pantech's Duo (basically a Windows based Ocean) + Helio service plan = SWEET!

Neutral

GargantulaKon @ Apr 4th 2008 5:16PM

I have the Ocean. Overall, I love it and the Helio service except for the below average customer service. Fix all of these issues and then I will be happy: http://forum.heliocity.net/index.php?topic=6600.0

Neutral

craig @ Apr 10th 2008 11:38PM

www.helioncity.com has pictures of the ocean 2 prototype but it says curitel on it insead of helio

Neutral

nycred @ Apr 24th 2008 1:25PM

I would hope to get a device that works. After 3 faulty Ocean's and customer service that was the absolute worst. (I mean seriously...it was atrocious) I jumped ship...and this was all within 30 days!!! So luckily I didn't have to pay the disconnect fee....Sorry Oscar5453...I feel your pain.

Neutral

Steven @ May 10th 2008 12:10AM

HelioCellular.com/ARTICLE-Helio-OZ2.html Gives a side by side comparison.

Neutral

ohh @ May 20th 2008 4:53PM

my helio works great now that i have opera mini on it.. I just hope that if the ocean 2 comes out that it finally has flash built in. Helio boasts about being having true limitless web browsing but they should really mean it next time.

Neutral

cjmoe87 @ May 21st 2008 6:47PM

Ive had the Ocean since this new year...When I first got it...people were like 'whoa, where did you that get that'? Nothing major, its just a helio.

Everything has worked fine, except...When I enter notes, or do other random thungs, it freezes. Not only that, while the volume of my ocean is at its highest, it will vibrate for a long 10-12 seconds. Then I cant answer the call, then all the signal bars drop...then its back to normal..Its at fault.

I would like to see the new Ocean bigger in size[I dont know about you, but there is something about bulky phones that I like], BUT less weight, more sound, bigger screen, and if they can make it an ACTUAL smart phone..That would be cool.

And Im not done...

When I bought the ocean at $249, there was a $50 re-bate. I got a lousy letter in the mail saying : "We regret to inform you, but we are unable to process your rebate in the amount of $50. We have not received your rebate form and it is past the deadline date." What kinda crap is this. The same day I bought the Ocean, I mailed my info. I know they got...just being A-HOLES!!!!

This new gadget should be CHEAP for existing customers that actually had to put up with ignorance like this and all other dilemmas!!!!

And yes, their customer service is out of control. I hate being asked the same security questions over, and over, and over just to get transferred to technical support!!!!

Neutral

Blaqdragon @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:59PM

I really like the Ocean as it is truly the best phone I have ever used....but, if Helio is going to boast about all of it's multi-media applicacations, can version 2 please have a better camera/video resoulution?That's about all i have to complain about.

Neutral

J3R3MYD @ May 27th 2008 9:52AM

First off, I love my Ocean!
Now with the Ocean 2, I think they could make some changes:

1. WiFi
2. Possibly a Touch-Screen
3. Multi-task, ex. playing your music while texting or surfing the web
4. Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox instead of Opera
5. Flash Player?
6. Your very own mp3's used for ring tones
7. The ability to use any size micro-SD

Neutral

John HelioCellular.com @ Jun 2nd 2008 10:09PM

Get ready! Here it comes. http://www.HelioCellular.com/ARTICLE-Helio-OZ2.html

Neutral

alicia @ Jun 7th 2008 8:56AM

The new ocean should have a touch screen, and a way to have your ringtones play when you get a text message like a lot of other phones have. It would be nice to if the phone comes with some kind of carrying case instead of having to buy one. I mean the phone is expensive enough. Also less bulky would be good

Neutral

Kev @ Jun 9th 2008 1:22PM

1. A bit thinner but bigger screen
2. Some sort of PIM and MS word capability (true smartphone) - Palm, Win Mobile ?***
3. Multitasking
4. Better resolution camera
5. Much better service
6. Less hangups
7, Easier to remove the battery!

Best Features:
*Rounded corners and qwerty slider is amazing! Sits perfectly in my hands... I can text 40 words per minute!!! Can not do that with a touch screen!
* Easy intutitive Menu

Neutral

Scott @ Jun 14th 2008 3:31AM

New Information was just given to me !........ and the Ocean 2 will be out between JUNE 20 and JUNE 23 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Neutral

kc @ Jun 17th 2008 4:31PM

I think they would solve a lot of problems and make a lot of people happy if they get rid of the number layer, make dialing touch screen, and apply Wi-Fi to go with the phone. The main reason I like the ocean is becuase it has a Qwarty Key Board. A big plus would be being ably to multi-task. Maybe it will be like many other phones, the first released has many bug and glitches then as new models come out then the phone gets better. I look foward to the release and new added features.