14 DAY TRIAL // The past seven days were quite busy in the Android segment of the mobile phone market, starting with the launch of new handsets in various countries, continuing with the unveiling of fresh phones and going all the way to news about software updates for existing devices. We're talking here about that Android 2.1 update for the Motorola DROID, of course, which was announced last week, but hasn't yet landed on devices, the maker saying it has no deployment date to share.
Not the greatest news for DROID owners out there, even if Motorola says that it is working hard on the roll-out of the fresh OS version for the high-end device. We can only hope the handset vendor and Verizon will managed to release it sooner rather than later, especially since Motorola Milestone users in other markets already have access to the software solution. While waiting for Android 2.1, DROID, users can tap into the features of various apps available for their gadgets, highlighted in Verizon's Android Market channel.
[admark=1]During this week, we also had the chance to take a look at new mobile phones officially announced with Google's Android operating system on board, including the Zio M6000 from Kyocera and the long rumored Motorola i1, set to land at Sprint with support for iDEN connectivity, not to mention the HTC EVO 4G (Supersonic), the first WiMAX-based Android smartphone ever, which resembles the HTC HD2 from a certain point of view. South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung announced the launch of the Android-based Galaxy S, a handset that packs impressive features, also one of the two DivX HD-certified devices the company outed on the market.
We should also mention the fact that some of the already unveiled handsets running under Google's Android operating system landed on the market during this week, available on the airwaves of various carriers around the world. The HTC Desire was put on sale on T-Mobile UK's website; users will be able to grab it starting with March 29; it will become available for purchase at Telstra come April 27; Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 emerged on T-Mobile UK's online store being set to arrive at 3 UK along with Desire and Nokia E72; it will soon be put on sale at Rogers Canada too, while HTC Legend was launched in Singapore.
In the Windows Mobile area, we saw the HTC HD2 released on T-Mobile USA's airwaves on March 24, and we also learned that it proved quite a success, since it sold out shortly after launch. Microsoft reaffirmed its commitment to continue the development of Windows Mobile 6.5, and outed a new version of My Phone for the OS, as well as an Office Outlook Mobile Update 1.0. The WM-based HTC HD mini was announced for the Singaporean market, and we also learned that HTC was set to release its first Windows Phone 7 Series device before the end of the ongoing year.
Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia announced the purchase of mobile browser company Novarra, renamed its Comes With Music service to Ovi Music Unlimited, and was rumored to plan on unveiling its first Symbian^3 handset, the Nokia N8, in mid-April. Users of Nokia phones can now enjoy Nokia Bots on their handsets, along with an updated Here and Now application, as well as a Mobile Documents software solution. The company came to CTIA Wireless with the Nokia Nuron in its pocket, touting a series of applications available for this device and other, and announced the winners of its PUSH N900 MOD IN THE USA competition.
Among the other interesting pieces of news, we can count the new colors spotted for HTC Desire, a fresh World Record for texting set on Samsung Omnia II with Swype on board, the release of the BOLT 2.0 Beta mobile browser, the fact that Firefox for Android might land in beta in 2010, or the upcoming availability of HSPA+ connectivity for T-Mobile USA's users. RIM unveiled the BlackBerry Beta Zone initiative and purchased Viigo, BlackBerry Storm users can enjoy Google Mobile App on their handsets, HTC HD2 received two software updates from its maker, and Verizon put Motorola DEVOUR on sale on its airwaves.
