Gadgeteer has speculated a little further than most on what might be going on with new the 3 teaser site.
They’ve posted thoughts linking Hutchison subsidiary INQ’s recently announced device and the coming 3 venture, “The INQ1 slider phone features integrated Skype [and] Facebook (a key part of the 3UK teaser) [...] the timing is right (the INQ1 was due to be announced in October for availability in November).”
It’s definitely a theory and one you can read about here.
The Advertising Standards Agency has upheld complaints made in Vodafone’s direction on some of their claims regarding their broadband service.
Members of the public, T-Mobile and 3 all took issue with the statements that indicated Vodafone were ‘the most reliable’, ‘fastest’ and ‘light years ahead’. ISPreview have documented briefly their thoughts on the episode and the reasons given by the ASA for upholding the complaints. In each case the conclusion reached was that the claims were misleading. The article maintains balance by also containing the response given by Vodafone explaining their stance on the issue.
Buzzing in the tech-based web space is news of the new 3 teaser site.
The site has a countdown clock and a call to “Be part of the revolution”. Besides this we’re left with only the carrot of a curt piece of copy, “It’s coming soon. 13th November. It will change the way you use Facebook on your phone. Trust us, you don’t want to miss out. Be the first to find out more.”
Discussion is speculative, but that’s the idea, 3 are playing it close to their chest. Slash Gear mentions the track history with the 3 Skypephone’s. A collaboration between the carrier brand and VoIP provider that was well received and provided something unique. Is another such partnering in the offing? The Link take the same stance, “3 is not shy of nuzzling up with the hottest web brands out there to create special edition handsets and it looks like Facebook is its latest squeeze.”
If it is true private eye, sleuth standard delving you’re after though, I’d head to T3. They run through the ‘boring’ and ‘exciting’ options, while analysing what the site design might mean, they’re even after your theories if you’ve any. It’s all good stuff to keep one occupied while that timer ticks down…
Style is as prominent in the technology market as anywhere else, arguably even more so recently. Has anyone noticed the influx of fashion orientated programming arriving through the tube recently? It’s definitely a movement.
Mobile Broadband Blog has asked, whether the USB Dongle a fashion accessory? This is because in Sweden, the appearance of your dongle has been tied in to the latest offer. Signing up for any 3 Mobile Broadband contract for 18 months allows a choice of skin for your dongle at no extra cost. It’s a deal that the fashion conscious and colour co-ordinated must surely be pleased about?
Any preferences? I’m kind of all about the paisley, but have to say the black and white offering is tickling my fancy.
Nokia’s ‘Comes With Music‘ service is about to be available on 3 Mobile UK.
The service will be on selected Nokia N95 8GBs that will, from the 3rd November, be slipping from shelves on a £35, 18 month contract. This will include 300 mins/texts and 1GB of inclusive internet access.
So a quick install and Comes With Music gets you hooked up with access to over four million tracks, with an ‘all you can eat’ protocol for getting them downloaded and on your handset.
This news has been greeted well, notably TrustedReviews andTechadar, seeing 3 as exactly the right brand due to their willingness to get involved with a service that may change the “mobile music landscape for years to come.” This sentiment follows Pocket-Lint’s belief that 3 is “often described as the UK’s most progressive network” and therefore well suited to collaborate with Nokia when other networks have been reluctant.
So all that is left to do, is wait for the 3rd Nov to roll on, then get my mobile groove on…
The grumblings relating to the financial state of our country are referenced in this Mobile Today article that discusses the latest figures regarding 3’s consumer base:
“3 UK emerged from the difficult first half of the year with a net addition of 390,000 customers“.
Good news indeed, and the reason? Well it’s down to that most lovable of mobile, gadget-y critters, the broadband dongle. It appears that high speed internet on the move is want the people want. Despite this increase, the financial squeeze has been felt with 3 customers average spend dropping. An undeniable sign of the times?
Dennis Howlett (www.accmanpro.com) couldn’t believe the following tweet from Paul Walsh:
“I’m using my UK 3G WiFi dongle in HK – no roaming charges as it’s considered as one network. That’s how technology should be used.”
Paul is obviously using his 3 network dongle. Free-spirits on the 3 network will find that they are not charged any additional fees when visiting any other country with a 3 presence. So that’s Hong Kong, Austria, Ireland, Australia, Malaysia, Denmark, Sweden, Italy and Indonesia.
This arrangement is so unusual that Dennis even tried digging through the T&Cs to support or disprove this claim!
How is it that a perfectly reasonable approach to roaming is treated with such disbelief?
Earlier this month we covered both 3’s launch of the Sony Ericsson W595 and Ant Carroll’s first look at the handset.
Ant of Fresh Plastic has written a further update on the W595 after receiving notification that 3’s Mobile Mail now supports the device which you can read more about here.
Adonis of self-titled adonismobile has had his hands on the W595 for several weeks now and has just published his first in-depth review including his likes: the Sony Ericsson interface, themes and “decent earphones” and dislikes: “lack of WiFi” and “Propriety SE port”.
Rather than spoil a good read by quoting him verbatim here, pop over to his blog and read his findings for yourself.
