14 DAY TRIAL // We reported last month that WIND Mobile plans to release two new Huawei handsets, the U2801 and U8350. It looks like the latter has just hit shelves and is now available for free on WINDtab.
Also known as Huawei Boulder, U8350 is the fifth Huawei mobile phone launched by Canadian carrier WIND Mobile.
However, this is understandable as both companies have signed an agreement that allows WIND Mobile to sell some of Huawei's devices cheaper than other carriers in the country.
Obviously, this is a budget-friendly Android smartphone, hence the low price ($0). However, one of the downside of the device is the fact that it runs on older Android 2.2 Froyo operating system, which is less likely to receive any upgrades in the near future.
The carrier describes the phone in just a few words: “A value-packed smartphone that sports a slim design, a 2.6-inch capacitive touch screen, and a full QWERTY keyboard.”
Customers who prefer price over quality can go for the Huawei U8350 Boulder, especially that they can grab it for free.
It is also worth mentioning that WIND Mobile and Huawei are also planning to release the U2801 feature-phone, but there is no information on the handset's exact launch date yet.
When it comes to design, the Boulder features Blackberry-esque form factor and comes with a 2.6-inch capacitive touchscreen with support for 320 x 240 pixels resolution.
A full portrait QWERTY keyboard is also present, allowing for fast and accurate message typing.
On the inside, Huawei U8350 Boulder packs 256 MB of RAM, 512 MB of ROM, as well as microSD card slot for memory expansion (up to 32GB).
There's also a mediocre 3.2-megapixel camera on the back, which features video recording capabilities.
According to WIND Mobile, the phone's 1200 mAh Li-Ion battery should provide up to 6 hours of talk time or up to 6 days of standby time.
