Handset makers opened the floodgates on new phones and carrier deals for the holiday season, with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Nokia Corp., Research In Motion Ltd. and others making announcements.
First up is Samsung, which said it will sell nine new phones in the United States during the critical holiday shopping quarter. Further, Samsung boasted that it will introduce a total of 140 new, unique handsets throughout the world this year. Among the phones Samsung plans to release in the United States are:
- The p735, which features a twist-and-flip display and a megapixel camera, video recorder and MP3 player. The device is available on T-Mobile USA Inc.’s Web site for $500.
- The a760 push-to-talk device, which will likely be sold through Sprint PCS.
- The a790 world phone, which Samsung said will be available through Verizon Wireless.
- The e315, c225, a740, e317, x427m and c207 will also be offered
In other phone news, Nokia released two new mid-range handsets for the CDMA market. The company’s new 6235 and 6235i camera phones feature color screens, streaming video capabilities and integrated FM radios. Nokia said the phones will be available in North America, Latin America and Asia-Pacific markets in the second quarter of next year.
BlackBerry vendor RIM scored a deal with Sprint to sell its BlackBerry 7750. Sprint is the last of the major U.S. carriers to offer RIM’s wireless e-mail devices. Separately, RIM announced Rogers in Canada will sell its new BlackBerry 7100r phone-style device.
Southern LINC said it will be the exclusive provider of the Outfitters Edition Motorola Inc. i720 phone, which features outdoor-themed ring tones, including a turkey cluck, elk bugle and mallard greeting, as well as a camouflage design.
Finally, disposable phone maker Hop-On said it will introduce seven new mobile phone models at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
“Together with our handsets, accessories, and wireless surveillance systems, we believe Hop-On is well positioned to provide a compelling value proposition to its customers, and we look forward to showing our products to leaders from the world’s most prominent retailers, carriers, distributors and investors at CES,” said Dan Gannon, Hop-On’s chief executive officer.<p
