14 DAY TRIAL // The past week started with the unveiling of a new series of mobile phones from Microsoft, called KIN, handsets manufactured by Sharp, running under a new OS, resembling the Windows Phone 7 platform. It seems that a wide range of mobile phone users are already interested in KIN, even if the new devices will come with reduced functionality, being focused mainly on offering access to social networking sites.
The new KIN devices are set to become available for purchase in the US in May, via Verizon Wireless, and they should land on the European market too, on the airwaves of Vodafone, but this carrier would launch them only in autumn, it seems. Unfortunately, users in other markets around the world won't be able to enjoy KIN, at least not in the near future, as Microsoft reportedly has no plans for marketing the phones outside US or Europe.
Unlike KIN, Windows Phone 7 handsets are expected to arrive in almost all corners of the world, with a lower-priced version of the OS said to be on its way to emerging markets. The officially announced Windows Phone 7 OS, expected to arrive on handsets before the end of the ongoing year, should benefit from enhancements via software updates, Microsoft stated recently. Also this week, the Redmond-based company released the RTM version of Visual Studio 2010, which does not support the Windows Phone Developer Tools CTP at the moment, and which won't offer support for development of applications for Windows Mobile 6.x.
This week also brought an official announcement regarding the upcoming release of HTC Incredible on Verizon Wireless' network. Powered by Google's Android 2.1 operating system, the device comes with a large touchscreen display and with an 8MP camera, set to become one of the most appealing phones on the carrier's lineup. It should be put on pre-order status on April 19, with sales availability on April 29, and a wide range of accessories for it should emerge as well.
Another Android-based mobile phone from HTC, the Desire, is enjoying increasing interest from users in Europe, and wireless carriers in the UK are having hard times keeping up with demand for it. T-Mobile UK and Vodafone UK are already in this situation, and it seems that Orange UK might soon experience problems with Desire stock too, even if the carrier has just made it available for purchase on its website.
Taiwanese handset vendor HTC is delivering its latest mobile phones to more and more markets. The Brew MP-based HTC Smart was launched in Singapore this week, and was announced to arrive in Malaysia before the end of April, while the HTC HD mini and HTC Legend are already available for purchase in Malaysia. At the same time, we should note that HTC was rumored to be considering the development of its own OS, that it confirmed plans to update HTC Hero to Android 2.1 in May, and that it delivered a new version of HTC Sync, which included support for Desire and Legend.
Nokia unveiled three new phones this week, the Nokia C3, C6 and E5, it launched Comes With Music in China as a DRM-free service, and it also released new Ovi Store stats. The Nokia 5230 was announced to come to Canada via WIND, an updated version of Nokia Image Exchange was released from the Nokia Beta Labs, while the Nokia N86 8MP, which seems to sport a series of hardware issues with its microUSB port, was updated to firmware version 30.
Among other interesting pieces of news, we may count the fact that Sunnyvale-based handset vendor Palm is seeking for a buyout, with Huawei named as a possible solution, that Motorola updated its Android 2.1 roll-out plans, that Symbian^3-based Nokia N8 might have been delayed, or that T-Mobile is expected to launch a white version of Bold 9700, as well as its own Galaxy S. One might also want to take a look at the accessories that emerged for Sprint's HTC EVO 4G.
