AT&T

Samsung Focus 2 on AT&T out now, brings LTE for only $50

May 20, 2012 | By Surur

The Samsung Focus 2 on AT&T is now in stores.

The mid-range Windows Phone provides LTE at the very budget price of only $49.99, and is mainly hobbled by only having 8 GB of storage.

The full specs include:

General	Network	GSM
	Style	Bar
	Dimensions	121.6 x 62.7 x 10.9 mm
	Weight	121.9 g (With Battery)
	Battery Type	Li-Ion 1750 mAh
Display	Display Colors	WVGA
Display	Display Resolution	480 x 800 Pixels, 4.0"
Memory	Memory InBuilt	8 GB
Memory
Messaging	SMS	Yes
	MMS	Yes
	Email	Yes
	Push Mail	No
Camera	Camera	Yes
	Mega Pixels	5.0 MP, 2592 x 1944 Pixels
	Camera Zoom	4x Digital Zoom with Auto-focus and LED Flash
	Video Capture	MPEG4, 3GP, H.263, H.264, WMV
Connectivity	Ports	USB Port
	Infrared	No
	Bluetooth	Bluetooth with A2DP 1.2, AVDTP 1.2, AVRCP 1.3
	A2DP	No
	Wifi	Yes
	Internet	GPRS, EDGE, HTML, WAP
Entertainment	Music Player	MP3, M4A, WAV, WMA, 3G2, AAC-LC, HE-AAC



	Loud Speaker	Yes
Technology	3G	HSPA
	OS	Windows OS v7.5

	Touch Screen	Yes
	Dual Sim	No
	QWERTY	Yes

Network	Operating Frequency	Quad-band GSM 850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900 MHz


	GPS	A-GPS
Special Features	Voice Recognition; Voicemail; Visual Voicemail; Picture Caller ID; Multitasking,

The handset can be purchased at AT&T here.

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MobileTechReview reviews the Samsung Focus 2

May 19, 2012 | By Surur

MobileTechReview have posted their take on the 3rd LTE Windows Phone on AT&T.

The handset is pretty good, but thoroughly middle of the road, even for a Windows Phone handset, with no real outstanding features, and MobileTechReview agrees that the smartphone suffers from being only $50 cheaper than the Nokia Lumia 900.

Samsung Focus 2 video review

May 17, 2012 | By Surur

Mobileburn have posted this short and concise video review of the Samsung Focus 2, Samsung’s new LTE Windows Phone on AT&T’s network.

While the handset is a competent device, it suffers from a small price difference with the more premium Nokia Lumia 900 which will likely limit the potential of the smartphone.

Would any of our readers chose the Samsung Focus 2 over the Nokia Lumia 900? Let us know below.

Via Mobileburn.com

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AT&T’s CEO Ralph de le Vega confirms Nokia Lumia sales have exceeded expectations, expects boost from Windows 8

May 17, 2012 | By Surur

Speaking at the JP Morgan technology conference today, AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega has once again expressed confidence in Windows Phone, noting Nokia Lumia 900 sales have exceeded expectations, and that he expected Windows Phone sales would get a further boost from Windows 8, which would unify the UI of desktops, tablets and phones.

He said:

I am really pleased with what I am seeing out of Microsoft and Nokia coming out with their first product. The operating system works really well. It is simple, it is easy to use, it is intuitive.

The reception to the Lumia launch has actually exceeded our expectations. So we think there is a very good chance that Microsoft will have a very good OS that will be right in there with iOS and Android.

When they come out with Windows 8 in the fourth quarter, I think it will actually add to the value that that OS brings to the marketplace, in that that will be the first time that you can truly have a similar experience on your PC, on your tablet, and on your smartphone from soft Microsoft. From what I have seen and the previews that I have been given, I think it is going to be exceptionally good. I am very upbeat in what they are bringing to the market.

Windows Phone has made unexpected market share gains in recent months, suggesting we may all be surprised at the smartphone situation at the end of the year.

Via ZDNet.com

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Nokia Lumia 900 vs iPhone 4s (video review)

May 14, 2012 | By Surur

Zollotech usually publish pretty fair reviews, and their look at the Nokia Lumia 900 vs the iPhone 4S is no exception.

In the 14 min video above they compare most of the relevant specs, including apps, keyboard, screen, battery life and video quality.

Do our readers think the Nokia Lumia 900 holds its own? Let us know below.

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Analyst: Channel checks find Nokia Lumia 900 outselling the HTC One X

May 9, 2012 | By Surur

Channel checks by Raymond James analyst Tavis McCourt from 15 AT&T stores found the Nokia Lumia 900 is continuing to sell “reasonably well”.

In fact he found according to most stores it was the second-best seller after the iPhone. This of course agreed with Canaccord Genuity similar findings.

He also looked at the HTC One X, and found it was also selling “reasonably well”, but logically worse than the Lumia 900.

He writes:

Our conversations with store reps indicated no signs of Lumia demand “falling off a cliff” following the reasonably strong launch week. Clearly, at $99 and with very noticeable retail store support from AT&T reps, the Lumia launch in the US was built for volume. We are still skeptical that demand can remain strong as the HTC One X ramp continues, the Galaxy S III launch occurs, and the iPhone 5 hits later this year, but we continue to be we continue to be impressed with sell through trends in the meantime. Notably the hold music for all AT&T stores across the country invites listeners to behold the “beautifully different” Nokia Lumia 900, and store reps are clearly pushing the product heavily,” writes McCourt.

If Nokia can withstand the onslaught of what will likely be the most anticipated Android handset until the Samsung Galaxy 3 they will have done a very good job indeed.

Via Barrons.com

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Nokia not worried about LG’s Windows Phone departure

May 9, 2012 | By Surur

Speaking to FierceWireless here, Chris Weber, Nokia’s president for the Americas, said he was not concerned with LG dropping out of the Windows Phone game to focus on Android, saying they were not a major player, and their exit will not have a significant impact.

"I see significant commitment from HTC, Samsung," Weber said. "I actually see increased momentum and commitment form a various set of OEMs on the platform."

He cited the recent announcement of the Samsung Focus 2 as an example of such commitment, saying the $50 handset would benefit the whole ecosystem.

He was also not intimidated by new Android handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy III, and did not think it would shorten the life span of the Lumia 900 in US.

"We feel like we have a very strong value proposition on the Lumia 900 regardless of whatever else comes in," he said. "These are strong companies and good products. We think that we will hold up regardless of what competition is there," he said.

With the Nokia Lumia 900 having significantly cheaper components, he noted that Galaxy S III is likely to be more expensive than the Lumia 900.

AT&T’s CEO loves Windows Phone, thinks Android has security issues

May 8, 2012 | By Surur

In a recent interview hosted by the Milken Institute AT&T’s CEO Randall Stephenson had some good things to say about Windows Phone and some not so flattering things to say about Android.

While recognizing that they were committed to Android, he said he believed the ecosystem was best served by a number of healthy mobile operating systems and confirmed he “really loved” his Windows Phone, likely a Nokia Lumia 900, which he had for a month and called robust, solid and exciting.

While calling Windows Phone great he also said Android had work to do regarding enterprise security.

He also alluded to some exciting things coming this year, by which we hope he means Windows Phone 8, as we suspect very little exciting is coming from Android and he is probably not privy to the new features of iOS.

See the original video here.

Thanks Mark for the tip.

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Samsung Focus vs Samsung Focus 2 (Specs)

May 7, 2012 | By Surur

	Samsung Focus	Samsung Focus 2
Size	124.7 x 64.3 x 9.9 mm	121.7×62.7×10.9 mm
Weight	119.4 g	122 g
Screen	4 inch Super AMOLED	4 inch Super AMOLED
Camera	5 megapixel	5 megapixel
FF Camera	No	VGA
Storage	8 GB, microSD expandable	8 GB
Processor	1 Ghz Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon, Adreno 200 GPU	1.4 Ghz
Battery	1500 mAh	1750 mAh
WPBench score	56.74	89.56
Connectivity	HSDPA	LTE, HSDPA+
Price at launch	$199 on contract	$49.99 on contract
Release date	November 2010	May 2012

The Samsung Focus 2 was announced today as a successor to the original Samsung Focus.

Do our readers think the improvements over the last 18 months have been significant enough? Let us know below.

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Samsung Focus 2: low prices LTE Windows Phone for AT&T coming soon

May 7, 2012 | By Surur

The Samsung Focus® 2, an affordable Windows® Phone on AT&T’s 4G LTE network, will be available from AT&T beginning May 20 in pure white for $49.99 with a two-year service agreement.

The glossy pure white handset will be the third LTE windows phone on AT&T’s network, following the Nokia Lumia 900 and HTC Titan II.

The handset is 10.98 mm thick, 4.3 ounces and has a 4 inch Super AMOLED screen and 5 megapixel main camera and also a VGA front-facing camera, and comes loaded with 8 GB of storage and a 1.4 Ghz processor. It will also support the Windows Phone WIFI hotspot feature.

The handset has long been rumoured as the Samsung Mandel or Samsung SGH-i667 and passed through the FCC in March 2012.

"AT&T offers our customers the broadest Windows Phone portfolio of any carrier, with three 4G LTE Windows Phones – the only 4G LTE Windows Phones in the U.S. – now at a variety of price points and form factors," said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility. "The Samsung Focus 2 brings the people-first Windows Phone interface together with AT&T’s fast 4G LTE network for an unbeatable experience."

"Samsung is the unmatched leader in offering smartphones across a variety of platforms and the Focus 2 is a powerful example of our continued commitment to Windows Phone," said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile. "As our first 4G LTE Windows Phone, the Focus 2 is a fast and versatile device for productivity, entertainment and social networking."

For more information, customers can visit AT&T’s Focus 2 page or Samsung’s Focus 2 page. .

Thanks Arun for the tip.

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Canaccord Genuity analysts find Nokia Lumia 900 the second best selling smartphone on AT&T in April

May 4, 2012 | By Surur

Demonstrating that those Amazon rankings we have been watching so closely in April were not disconnected from reality, Canaccord Genuity has confirmed the Nokia Lumia 900 was the best selling smartphone on AT&T after the iPhone, which has of course been taking around 70% of AT&T’s smartphone market.

The handset beat out the Samsung Galaxy S2, which of course has been one of AT&T’s best sellers next to the iPhone so far and now took 3rd position.

The news is pretty big, and has been the first sign of a Windows Phone handset actually getting traction in the US market. Now the only question which remains is whether the handset can withstand the onslaught of the HTC One X, to be released soon, but early signs are at least encouraging.

Thanks Arun for the tip.

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Tip: How to add EDGE/3G/4G selector to your Nokia Lumia 900 settings

April 29, 2012 | By Surur

MobilityDigest have a handy trick for selecting the maximum connection speed your Nokia Lumia 900 should use to connect to AT&T’s network.

This may be useful if you want to eke out the last bit of battery life from the phone in an emergency, or if you are in a poor signal area and your phone is wasting battery life flipping from one connection speed to another.

Jim posts:

Typing ##3282# into the dialler opens the Data Field Test utility
Tap the three
At the bottom of your screen you can tap and open Settings.
Change the Network type from from 2G or 3G only to Automatic.
Tap the Back button once to go back to the Field Test menu.
Tap on the last option on the screen; Toggle ENS (REBOOT).
When it opens tap Start.
A few seconds later tap Stop. After a slight pause your phone will reboot (soft reset).
Now go to Settings>Cellular on your phone and you will have an option to select E (Edge), 3G or 4G as your highest connection speed.

The instructions should be easier to follow with some screen shots, which can be seen at MobilityDigest here.

Have any of our readers tried this, and have you had positive results? Let us know below.

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HTC Titan II–the screen is so big the Office Hub works in landscape mode

April 28, 2012 | By Surur

The headline is of course just a bit of a joke, but it seems AT&T’s graphics designers felt Microsoft missed a trick by not making the Office Hub work in landscape mode.

They stitched together the above graphic in one of AT&T’s in-store magazines, and the picture interestingly exposes an issue with simply turning a panorama on its side in landscape mode – the buttons are different for each pane of the panorama, meaning you end up with multiple task bar buttons at the bottom of each segment.

Hopefully Windows Phone 8 will expand landscape support in Windows Phone, but I suspect it will not quite look like AT&T’s mock-up above.

Thanks Kevin for the tip.

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