Verizon intros new $35 prepaid plan for basic phones, for those not keen on the ‘smart’ era

Posted on 12/04/2013 by Edgar Alvarez

For some time now, Verizon and other carriers have slowly but surely shifted focus from "dumb" handsets to ones that are much more intelligent, with data-driven shared plans being one of the strategies that corroborate this move. Today, however, Big Red's gone back to basics, announcing a novel prepaid plan for folks without a smartphone -- which will go alongside the company's existing $50, all-you-can-have offering. With the new Basic Plan, Verizon's giving would-be customers a $35 option which serves 500 anytime minutes (sorry, no mobile-to-mobile) as well as unlimited mobile data and text messaging. Hey, don't be ashamed, there's definitely nothing wrong with keeping it vintage -- and, above all, saving cash.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Verizon

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Source: Verizon Wireless

Nielsen compares mobile consumers across the globe, details the differences in how we connect

Posted on 25/02/2013 by Joe Pollicino

Right in-time with MWC, Nielsen's latest report provides some insight into how folks in different regions are using their mobile devices. On the whole, many of the findings aren't exactly shockers. Among many highlights, owners of smartphones and feature phones don't use their respective devices for the same tasks, while developed areas are more likely to have upwards of 4G connectivity with higher smartphone adoption rates. As you'd might imagine, people in regions with under-developed infrastructure tend to gravitate toward the likes of simpler, less costly feature phones. Diving deeper with some specifics, Nielsen points out that US-based users of smartphones gravitate toward map and video apps, contrasting that those in China are hungrier for info about weather and news. If you'd like to confirm any more of your suspicions about how mobile devices are being used across the globe, you'll find all the details your noggin desires at the source link below.

Filed under: Mobile

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Source: Nielsen

Hands-on with the Asha 205 and Nokia’s Slam quick-sharing feature (video)

Posted on 26/11/2012 by Jamie Rigg

Feature phones don't grace our pages too often, but when Nokia said it had a new Asha to show us, we thought we'd go take a look. We've been following the Asha range since it launched a little more than a year ago, but we were also interested to see Nokia Slam in action, a new Bluetooth quick-sharing feature with Android compatibility. There were no touchscreens in sight as we were introduced to the Asha 205 -- a Series 40 QWERTY handset with a social angle aimed primarily at emerging markets, but also at those who either don't have the cash or the need for a top-of-the-range device. Bearing that in mind, we gave the phone a brief once over, looking at what it does for roughly $62 (excluding taxes, etc.), rather than what it lacks compared with smartphones at higher price points. During the meeting we also glanced over the Nokia 206, which shares many of the same features but isn't part of the Asha family due to its numpad input (see the video and gallery for more details). Head past the break for our thoughts on the Asha 205, and a demo of Nokia Slam in action.

Gallery: Asha 205 and Nokia 206 hands-on

Continue reading Hands-on with the Asha 205 and Nokia's Slam quick-sharing feature (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia

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Explay Crystal revives transparent display phones with dash of color, low price

Posted on 29/05/2012 by Jon Fingas

If you've been lamenting the passing of transparent display phones like the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pureness as those vile, opaque smartphones took over, you'll be happy to know that Russia's Explay has taken up the mantle with the Crystal. The basic song remains the same, a numberpad-driven dumbphone with a display that will help you avoid the lamp post up ahead, but it's remixed through colors that render the experience a lot less monotone. We saw this in the Lenovo S800, but the dual SIM card slots and Bluetooth 3.0 at least see the Crystal keep pace with more recent phones in its category. By far the biggest advantage Explay has over its ancestors is pure cost: at 7,000 rubles ($218), it's less than half the $500 that Lenovo wanted and that much more palatable for a handset that isn't running a sophisticated OS like Android or Windows Phone. Russians have to wait until July 1st to pick up the Crystal, but wouldn't count on the see-through phone seeing its way to the US through official channels.

Explay Crystal revives transparent display phones with dash of color, low price originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 05:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nomobile.ru, The Verge | source

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Nyx Mobile Twist Connect hands-on

Posted on 09/05/2012 by Terrence O'Brien

Nyx Mobile Twist Connect hands-on

It's not often that we write about a feature phone, but we were charmed by the Twist Connect's unique design. The dual-SIM device prides itself on its integration with Nyx Messenger, social networks like Twitter and it's MP3-playing abilities. It's the music playing features that caught our attention. The whole bottom of the phone rotates, switching from a full QWERTY keyboard, to a set of dedicated music controls. In messaging mode the keypad is angled out on a chin to make typing easier, while keeping the screen in a better position for visibility -- it wasn't the greatest display, easily getting washed out at even slight angles under the conventions center's lights. Give it a twist (hence the name) and the keyboard gets stuck to the rear, exposing a pair of stereo speakers and a set of controls to raise and lower the volume, skip tracks and, of course, play and pause your tunes. Otherwise, the bulky and plasticky handset holds little allure, but we'll cheers Nyx Mobile for their special twist on the MP3 phone. Check out the gallery below for a few pics.

Gallery: Nyx Mobile Twist Connect hands-on