Pivot -- Engadget Mobile

pivot posts

Samsung Pivot, a possible Epix successor for AT&T?

by Chris Ziegler posted May 25th 2009 @ 4:22PM

The slide here clearly identifies the Pivot as a "successor of BlackJack series," yes -- but the same slide deck also refers to the Samsung Jackie (the Jack's codename) as a BlackJack successor, so we wouldn't put too much stock in that. The fact is that this Pivot is a touch-capable WinMo device with QWERTY, and we can't imagine AT&T bothering to stock both this and the similarly-spec'd Epix at the same time. By and large, this seems like an ever-so-slight upgrade to the Epix, featuring 4GB of onboard Flash, a 2.6-inch QVGA touchscreen, AGPS, WiFi, and a 3 megapixel camera (up from the older model's 2 megapixel unit). It also has triband HSDPA for international 3G roaming, but curiously, it seems that it's lined up to launch with WinMo 6.1 -- at least at the time of this slide's creation, which has the phone pegged for an October launch. That'd be precisely a year after the launch of the Epix -- perfect timing for a refresh, and we wouldn't be surprised if they slipped 6.5 into the mix by the time that happens. Follow the break for a closer shot of the phone.

Continue reading Samsung Pivot, a possible Epix successor for AT&T?

Leak sauce: Expansys rides again, three Samsung sets outed?

by Sean Cooper posted Jan 24th 2009 @ 5:32PM

Seems the good people at Expansys are up to their shenanigans again, but this time we're seeing a few Samsung sets dribbling out of the leaky tap -- mind you, we won't holler legitimate 'til we hear it from Samsung. The Samsung B2100 -- apparently a follow up to the M110 and B2700 -- which actually appeared back in October 2008, The Samsung Louve (perhaps a typo of Louvre? It'll make sense in a minute) and the Samsung Pivot. The Pivot is apparently set to be one of Samsung's first handsets with Windows Mobile 6.5 and will come loaded with a 5 megapixel camera, QWERTY keypad, LED flash, aGPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and is touted as coming in a package similar to the Samsung i780. Samsung's Louve is said to be designed like the TyTN II and shares its sliding and tilting screen -- see where the Louvre name fits in? -- runs Windows Mobile 6.1, a 3.2 megapixel camera, and shares the i900 Omnia's tweak-ready interface. The Expansys "Insider" mentioned filling in the details and posting some pics soon, we'll get those up if we see them or fill you in when we hear more.

[Via Cellpassion]

Nokia patent app suggests N97's form factor isn't complicated enough

by Chris Ziegler posted Dec 13th 2008 @ 8:16PM

Combining huge screens with usable keyboards in a pocketable package is the challenge phone manufacturers are eternally doomed to try to solve, leading to an endless stream of (mostly comical) patent applications for ridiculous form factors that will never see the light of day. That's where we think -- well, we hope -- Nokia's latest app comes into play, combining a portrait-oriented QWERTY keyboard with a wide display that somehow swivels behind the body of the phone when you only need a little bit of screen real estate. Looks cool on paper, but realistically, we think this thing would be the most unwieldy Frankenstein of a handset since the MPx were it ever to be produced. Tilt-slide on the N97 looks fine, guys. Seriously.

[Via Cellpassion]

Cable companies drop Pivot, break up with Sprint Nextel

by Nilay Patel posted Apr 23rd 2008 @ 6:23PM

Wow, it looks like someone was listening when we said that Pivot wasn't going anywhere just an hour ago -- Comcast, Time Warner (Engadget's parent company) and Cox have all confirmed to the AP that they've backed out of the quad-play partnership, leaving Sprint alone to awkwardly hang out with Advance / Newhouse, which declined to comment. That must be a fun party. Of course, this also means both of the partnerships Sprint and Big Cable got into have now failed, but that doesn't mean the competition in the space is over: both Time Warner and Cox say wireless is still in the cards for their companies, but Pivot was just too complicated a venture. Comcast hasn't said anything yet, but promised a comment tomorrow sometime between 7AM and 11PM.

Comcast hires former O2 CTO, possibly starting wireless division

by Nilay Patel posted Apr 23rd 2008 @ 5:03PM

We're not exactly willing to sign up for even more punishment at the hands of Comcast, but all you masochists in the crowd should take note: GigaOm is reporting that the cable giant is "serious" about offering wireless services and has hired former Telefonica O2 Europe CTO Dave Williams to make it happen. It's not clear what type of wireless is being considered, but it's a good bet Sprint will be involved somehow: Comcast is still in that goofy partnership with Sprint called Pivot that hasn't gone anywhere, the two companies are rumored to be talking about a nationwide WiMAX network, and GigaOm thinks there's a chance it could up and buy the struggling carrier outright. That would be quite a move, but it's all just speculation for now -- we'll let you know if we hear anything solid.

Samsung U470 for Verizon gets a name: "Juke"

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 26th 2007 @ 9:00AM

We may not know when this thing's going to be at retail, but hey -- at least we'll know our way around the external controls by the time it does. A tipster has graciously hooked us up with overview documentation for the Samsung U740 for Verizon, an off-the-beaten-path, swiveling musicphone that has apparently been christened "Juke." The key legend doesn't reveal anything too terribly special, though we're happy to see a speakerphone made the cut despite the unit's diminutive outline. Our tipster tells us "it's your basic Verizon Wireless phone," so beyond a music player, stereo Bluetooth, and a trick mechanism that'll impress friends (for a few days, anyway), we're banking on a reasonably low price point. How's everyone feeling about the form factor?

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

Gallery: Samsung U470 for Verizon gets a name: "Juke"

Sprint bows out of wireless spectrum joint venture

by Darren Murph posted Aug 2nd 2007 @ 1:08AM

Sprint sure has been backing out of and sashaying into quite a few deals of late, and the schizophrenic trend is continuing as it opts out of SpectrumCo, one of two joint ventures with cable operators Comcast, Time Warner Cable (parent company of AOL, which owns Engadget), Cox Communications, and Brighthouse (Advance/Newhouse). Reportedly, the firm is still remaining a part of the Sprint/Cable venture (now known as Pivot) as it focuses on "integrating wireline and wireless services offered by the cable partners with itself." We're led to believe that Sprint simply had different plans for investing its capital, but it apparently sees value in hanging in there with the whole Pivot endeavor. Interestingly, when TWC's CEO was questioned over SpectrumCo's possible involvement in the forthcoming wireless auction, he casually proclaimed that "it would be inappropriate for him to make any comment on it one way or the other," but if you'll recall, it most certainly picked up a few licenses the last go 'round.

Samsung's SCH-B710 with picture-in-picture DMB

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 20th 2007 @ 3:02PM

Picture-in-picture functionality on a phone is certainly not without precedent -- on Korean handsets, anyway -- but that doesn't mean we have to understand it. Watching even a single show on screen the size of a thumb remains a tough sell in many parts of the world, let alone two shows side by side. Alas, this game plan must be working out alright for LG and Samsung since they keep pumping out handsets that rock the feature. Latest is the SCH-B710 from Samsung, a rather portly-looking pivot phone with a pair of DMB tuners and the aforementioned picture-in-picture functionality for individuals afflicted with particularly brutal forms of ADD. Thanks to Anycall branding, we know this one'll stay well within Korean borders, but we wouldn't be surprised to see the form factor head elsewhere by a different model number.

Pivot: Sprint's quad-play package

by Peter Rojas posted Mar 26th 2007 @ 7:17PM

Yeah, Sprint unveiled the UpStage today, but the other sorta big news is that they officially took the wraps off of Pivot, the new name for their new quad-play service bundling up wireless, voice, broadband, and cable TV as a single package (they've been offering service in a handful of markets for a while now, they're basically just rebranding everything). Sprint's partners in Pivot are a handful of different cable providers, including Comcast, Cox, and our arch-nemesis Time-Warner Cable (which is owned by our parent company's parent company -- not that it's done a damn thing for the totally awful cable TV and internet service we get at Engadget HQ). All the big telcos are pimping these triple-play and quad-play packages -- they see them as a way to lock-in subscribers by offering them lower prices than consumers would pay for each service separately -- but Sprint's big selling point is that they're also promising some intergration across services, like the ability to program your DVR box from your cellphone (which we've already seen from AT&T), check home email and voicemail from a single interface, and make unlimited calls between your home VoIP line and your mobile phone. Anyway, Pivot is currently available in eight cities now, with another 40 more set to launch this year. Pricing will vary by market.

Click on for a few more shots of the cellphone/DVR interface.

Continue reading Pivot: Sprint's quad-play package

Verizon to get LG VX9400 on March 23?

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 8th 2007 @ 9:50AM

Liking VCAST TV but that Samsung u620 -- the only supported handset at the moment -- isn't doing anything for you with its submicronic display? We can't blame you, especially after we laid eyes on that rather comely VX9400 from crosstown rival LG at CES a couple months back. A tipster is reporting that the pivot display VX9400, which was originally thought to be scheduled to launch alongside the u620, will end up dropping on the 23rd of this month in VCAST TV markets. Not too painful of a delay, eh? Pricing should come in at $350 full retail, $250 on a one-year contract after rebate, or $200 if you like that mobile TV action enough to sign up for two full years. Launching the same day should be the Samsung u540 at $80 after rebates on a two-year agreement (we'll take the VX9400, please).

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

Hands on with the LG VX9400 for Verizon

by Chris Ziegler posted Jan 7th 2007 @ 5:56PM

It may not be Chocolate -- but in terms of style, the VX9400 isn't very far off. From the pictures, we'd thought that this was going to be one heavy, wide, unusable disaster of a handset, but we were dead wrong on every count. The phone can be used against the ear whether open or closed (obviously crucial for easy access to the keypad and quick taking of a call while watching TV), the pivot is smooth, and the glossy black top contrasts nicely with the silver bottom. The MediaFLO-based VCAST TV service, announced during the press conference today, is fully functional on the phone; we caught wind that Vegas and Seattle are fully live (among other markets) so it seems reasonable for Verizon to meet its goal of launching before the quarter's out. The video was smooth and quick to load, and the interactive guide (which loads via the FLO link) seemed well laid out. Click on for more pictures!

Continue reading Hands on with the LG VX9400 for Verizon

LG announces 9400 with MediaFLO, sort of

by Chris Ziegler posted Jan 7th 2007 @ 12:53PM

Wait wait wait, LG, let's be sure we have this straight: you've gone ahead and distributed pictures of the rumored 9400 with your CES press kit, but you make positively no mention of it in your press release. Didn't something just like this happen at CTIA with the VX8600? Either you've truly mastered the fine art of brilliant viral marketing, or you've accidentally announced yet another critical phone in Verizon's lineup early. Our money's on the latter. Anyhoo, here's the 9400 finally in all its blur-free glory, finally ushering in the age of mobile TV stateside. Though it's not branded as a Verizon release, we know from our candid shots that it's due up as a launch device for the imminent unveiling of Big Red's MediaFLO network -- possibly as soon as this afternoon at Verizon's press event. As always, we'll keep ya posted; in the mean time, check after the break for some more eye candy.

Continue reading LG announces 9400 with MediaFLO, sort of

Pantech's SKY IM-R110

by Chris Ziegler posted Dec 8th 2006 @ 1:58PM

Pantech's high-end SKY division is up to its usual antics again, doing its best to humiliate the remainder of the telecommunicating world -- this time with the be-all, end-all IM-R110 pivoting candybar. The handset touts support for just about every conceivable acronym in the cellphone industry, with DMB mobile TV and SK Telecom's GXG gaming portal topping the list. Other features include a 2 megapixel camera with autofocus, the typical suite of media support, and microSD expansion. As usual, this one is destined to be confined to Korea for all of eternity, but hey, things are looking up -- we've got our own mobile TV to look forward to, right?

LG KU950 does DVB-H for Vodafone

by Chris Ziegler posted Dec 1st 2006 @ 5:08AM

Vodafone already has a partnership with the UK's Sky TV to bring live television to handsets via 3G data; it must be going pretty well, seeing how this here LG KU950 will apparently be one of the first handsets to bring Sky to Voda customers via DVB-H. Unlike UMTS, DVB-H is a downlink-only technology, suggesting that Vodafone might be a bit... shall we say, concerned at the long-term implications of customers getting their TV fix via the traditional data pipes. We don't have any solid details on the KU950, but the pivoting slider features a front-facing cam (meaning 3G is a sure thing), the screen apparently clocks in at a TV-friendly 2.4 inches, and it'll apparently run €99 when it hits next year -- not a bad first foray into the brave new world of digital mobile TV for Vodafone, if we do say so ourselves.

[Thanks, Tony]

Samsung's tiny X830 now shipping

by Chris Ziegler posted Nov 3rd 2006 @ 11:46AM

It's not every day that a global release from Samsung gets as many oohs and aahs as one of their domestic pieces, but the SGH-X830 is a notable exception. The curious lil' spinner gets by with just two columns on its keypad (a rather low number, we reckon), brazenly sacrificing usability for fashion and the cool factor. Then again, for a phone of this shape and size, we could be going completely keypadless -- so we'll stop our bellyaching right here. Look for the "Flick & Swing" X830 to drop in a rainbow of six colors when it shows up in your friendly local importer's inventory.