skartel

First full review of HTC Max 4G

December 15, 2008 | By Surur

Mobile.mail.ru has published the first full review of the HTC Max 4G. The mobile powerhouse is the first WIMAX handset to enter commercial release, but is only available on the Skartel network in Russia.

The reviewer notes that, while the Yota service is comprehensive, the coverage of WIMAX is still very limited, only existing in the inner circle in Moscow and a few spots in St Petersburg. Buying the device therefore for the ability to stream music from a large catalogue, watch TV or have video on demand would be a bad idea.

He does however say that if you want the most advanced Windows Mobile handset the Max 4G is a must buy, despite lacking features found in the HTC Touch HD such as a 3.5mm headphone jack and 5 megapixel camera.

See the video below for the device and service in action.

The review, translated from Russian by Google, is available to read here.

Via PDA.pl.

5

HTC T8290 gets real, now HTC Max 4G

November 12, 2008 | By Surur

HTC has released details of the much leaked HTC T8920, the Wimax device exclusive to the Russian Yota network. The device would be the best specced Windows Mobile device so far, featuring 8GB internal memory and of course the 4G WIMAX connectivity.

Press Release

SCARTEL AND HTC LAUNCH WORLD’S FIRST INTEGRATED GSM/WIMAX HANDSET

Designed and Optimized for the Russian market, HTC MAX 4Gä Will Be Available in Russia on November 26th

Moscow, Russia – November 12, 2008 – Scartel (brand Yota), Russian provider of Mobile WiMAX, and HTC Corporation, a global leader in mobile phone innovation and design, today announced the HTC MAX 4G, the world’s first integrated GSM/WiMAX handset. Supported by a broad range of services based on Yota’s Mobile WiMAX network, the HTC MAX 4G delivers a rich multimedia and high quality telephony experience in a sleek and powerful touch screen handset.

“Yota was established to provide a unique set of mobile communication services to millions of people in Russia and today we have launched the first device and services to realise its full potential,” said Denis Sverdlov, General Director of Yota’s parent company, Scartel LLC (brand Yota). “We really believe that these innovative services, high-speed Internet and stylish HTC MAX 4G will completely change the communications industry, just as the introduction of cellular communications did many years ago.”

HTC MAX 4G: A New World of Entertainment

The Yota Mobile WiMAX network offers high-speed wireless Internet access that opens a new realm of entertainment and communication possibilities. The basic Yota Home package will provide subscribers with instant access to online games, maps, messaging and file exchange applications while on the move. In addition, the high-capacity Mobile WiMAX network with traffic prioritisation algorithms, allows online films, video and TV programmes to be viewed on the large WVGA screen.

Thanks to mobile WiMAX, high-quality multimedia entertainment is no longer limited.. With Yota Video, a full video on demand (VOD) service, users can watch their favourite movies and videos from their personal Yota catalogue anytime, anywhere.

Broadcasting 14 free channels at launch and 23 channels by the end of 2008, Yota TV introduces a powerful mobile television experience. The vibrant, 3.8 inch 800×480 screen of the HTC MAX 4G can display up to nine TV channels simultaneously, allowing quick and easy channel surfing and programme selection. Thanks to the device’s TV-out capability, users can also watch content on the big screen, putting the HTC MAX 4G at the very heart of the mobile entertainment experience.

For music-lovers, Yota Music offers an extensive online music catalogue of more than 50,000 titles, including a wide range of music from both international and independent music labels. Users can choose to either play the tracks direct from the online catalogue, or download them to the HTC MAX 4G’s 8GB of onboard flash memory.

In addition, a separate catalogue of electronic books is available, so users can download, read and enjoy a broad range of books while on the move. “The introduction of the HTC MAX 4G represents the culmination of a close partnership between HTC and Yota to develop the world’s first integrated mobile GSM/WIMAX handset,” said Peter Chou, CEO and President, HTC Corporation. “Russia is a key strategic market for HTC and Yota’s Mobile WiMAX network sets a new global benchmark for next-generation mobile services.”

HTC MAX 4G: Flexible Communication

The HTC MAX 4G supports GSM calls using a SIM card from any Russian network operator and when both callers are Yota subscribers, the call will automatically be routed as a VoIP call over the Yota Mobile WiMAX network. The Yota Phone service also supports more business applications, allowing users to switch between English and Russian contact records while providing functionality such as call holding, conference calling and video calling using the VGA camera on the front of the device.

HTC MAX 4G: Unparalleled Performance With Intuitive Usability

The HTC MAX 4G was created to take full advantage of Yota’s high-speed Mobile WiMAX network without compromising style or ease of use. The device is sleek and elegant and includes a vibrant, large 3.8 inch, 800×480 WVGA touch screen display. The HTC MAX 4G also integrates a 3.5mm headphone jack to create the best possible experience for enjoying movies, music and photos on the go. Running Windows Mobile 6.1, the HTC MAX 4G incorporates HTC’s proprietary Touch FLO 3D user interface, allowing swift and intuitive navigation to key applications such as dialling calls, listening to music, taking picture and more.

Introduction of Yota Yap-yap

HTC MAX 4G users can now record their lives through a lens thanks to Yota’s Yap-yap service. This allows contacts to be synchronised and edited through the Web and video clips and photos can also be uploaded to www.yota.ru. Images taken with the integrated 5MP camera can also be geo-tagged using coordinates from the integrated GPS.

Specs

Processor: Qualcomm® ESM7206A™ 528 MHz

Platform: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional

Memory: ROM: 256MB / RAM: 288MB / Flash: 8 GB

Dimensions: 113.5mm X 63.1mm X 13.9mm

Weight: 151 grams (with battery)

Display: 3.8-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with 480 x 800 WVGA resolution

Network: Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE:900/1800/1900 MHz Yota Mobile WiMAX 2,5-2.7 GHz

Device Control: TouchFLO™ 3D

GPS: Inbuilt GPS

Connections: VoIP, Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth® 2.0 with EDR, HTC ExtUSB™

Main camera: High-resolution with autofocus

Second: VGA-camera

Additional: Motion G-sensor (automatically rotating picture), Proximity sensor (saving energy while talking due to the switching the display off), FM-radio

Audio: Ring tone formats:AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, QCP, MP3, WMA, WAV, 40 polyphonic and standard MIDI format 0 and 1 (SMF)/SP MIDI

Battery: Li-Pol, 1500 mAh

Talk time: GSM: up to 420 minutes, VoIP: up to 230 minutes

Standby time: GSM: up to 350 hours, VoIP: up to 50 hours

AC Adapter: Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60 Hz, DC output: 5V and 1A

In addition to these published specs we believe the device has a 5 megapixel camera, TV out and infrared.

Via WMExperts.com

6

More on the HTC T8290

October 18, 2008 | By Surur

A bit more information on the HTC T8290 has leaked onto the web, and for Sprint Wimax users it is not great news.

Apparently the device has been commissioned and designed for the new Russian Wimax carrier Skartel, who retains all the rights to the distribution of the smartphone. They have specifically requested a large high-resolution screen for use with the streaming video service (but clearly forgot about the 3.5mm headphone jack). Originally the device was to be designed by Art Lebedev Studios, but they refused to do only the external appearance, and di not have the expertise to do the electronics inside also. Its clear however that the angular styling HTC finally went with had some roots in the original Lebedev look.

Only a few thousand of the exclusive devices have been ordered, and Skartel is only testing its network right now, but has plans to expand the network to cover Moscow and St Petersburg pretty soon. Despite the small volume of devices however the smartphone is not expected to cost much more than the HTC Diamond, and on par with the iPhone 3G in Russia. Skartel may distribute the device to Venezuela eventually, where it also has a Wimax network in development.

So bad news for American Wimax users hoping the device will soon arrive on western shores. However apparently Skartel only paid around $1 million to develop the device, so if any network wanted to have one for themselves it seems a pretty cheap investment.

Source:CNews

0

HTC T8290 claimed specs

October 10, 2008 | By Surur

Sim-unlocker claims to know the real specs of the HTC T8290. They claim the device’s HTC codename is the HTC Quartz, and features:

Processor: QUALCOMM(R) ESM7206A @ 528MHz
Cellular networks: GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, UMTS900, UMTS2100
Cellular Data connections: CSD, GPRS, EDGE, 3G/UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA
TouchScreen: WVGA 480 x 800 TFT 3.8 ” (65536 scales) MDDI Samsung S3CA460
ROM: 512MB
RAM: 256MB or 128MB
Mobile WiMAX: 802.16e (chipset Sequans SQN1130)
Wi-Fi: 802.11b/g with VoWLAN capabilities (VoIP enabled)
microSD, microSDHC, TransFlash and SDIO support
Built-in GPS
Built-in accelerometer (GSensor)
TV-Out
5 Megapixel Camera
IrDA

While the rest of the specs are now pretty standard for such a high-end device from HTC, the return of infra-red seems rather unusual.

Via MSMobiles.com

17

HTC T8290 – only 1710 models before we are all Terminated

October 10, 2008 | By Surur

If some-one told me HTC has developed AI which is beavering in its headquarters designing its new generation phones, I would not have believed it. Until today of course. With the HTC T8290 popping up on nedge2K I am prepared to believe the cellphone manufacturer can do anything.

The T8290 has apparently been developed specifically for Russia’s nascent Yota Wimax network, which apparently at present covers 20 million citizens. The device makes good use of this too, easily achieving 14 Mb/sec speeds, useful for displaying web pages on its gigantic 3.8 inch 800×480 screen. The phone also has the usual complement of GSM and WIFI, keeping you connected everywhere.

The photos we have seen so far show a full-face device with even less buttons than the Touch HD. The device however appears more angular and deeper, likely to to accommodate the gigantic battery we will need to carry around to make the best of the high speed connectivity

Pictures and info from Nedge2k.com.

Thanks John Slater for bringing this development to our attention.

3