BlackBerry cuts prices steeply

BlackBerry phones on display at a shop in Ahmedabad

Canada-based Research In Motion (RIM) on Wednesday announced a steep cut in the prices of its BlackBerry smartphones, a move that will further intensify competition in the hi-end mobile handset market.

RIM has reduced prices of its four popular phones — three in the Curve series and one Torch model — that accounts for its 60 per cent of its total sales.

Across models

The price of entry-level model, Curve 8520, has been reduced from Rs.10,990 to Rs.8,999, the new price of Curve 9360 is Rs.18,990 (old price Rs.20,990) and that of Curve 9380 Rs.16,990 (old price Rs.19,990). Similarly, the price of Torch 9860 has been reduced from Rs.29,990 to Rs.21,990.

Stating that the price cut would help the mobile handset-maker tap a wider base of the large Indian market, RIM India Managing Director Sunil Dutt said: “RIM as a brand has moved from just an enterprise device to as a more consumer device. Be it our services or the product, we have seen a strong uptake by the youth and therefore, to get the devices into more hands, we are cutting the prices.”

Industry estimates say the smartphone market in India stood at 1.1-crore handset in 2001, registering a growth of an impressive 87 per cent over 2010. Nokia was the leader in the smartphones segment, with 38 per cent share in 2011, followed by Samsung with 28 per cent share and RIM with a 15 per cent share.

Best Smartphone Accessories

Smartphone accessories are as necessary as Smartphones. These accessories provide an enhanced experience of having a smartphone. Here are the best mobile accessories which add utility-value for your smartphone.

1. Bluetooth Headset

The Plantronics M100 has a sleek, unique design with dual color and glossy matte finish in inside surface. The M100 goes well with both executive and casual attires. The device just weights 9 grams and is comfortable for long time wearing. It has an interesting feature called ‘voice alert’ which alerts the users when the device is switched on, pared, connected and even gives voice alert if the battery level is low. The M100 can be paired with two or more devices at the same time, making it easier to use single headset with multiple devices. It comes with a mini USB for charging, three buttons: one for call functionality and rest for volume control. This Bluetooth device has a price tag of Rs.4199.

2. Bluetooth Earphone

Bluetooth headset are becoming more and more stylish these days. Jabra, mobile accessory maker has come up with a new Bluetooth device in the form of a pendent for Rs.3800. This device wirelessly auto pairs with your smartphone or music player. It delivers music via standard headphone with virtual surround sound and full power bass. It has a technology called AM3D which also enables to attend calls. It has keys to skip music tracks, reject calls, activate 'mute', redial last number etc.

3. SmartWatch

Wearing your Smartphone at your wrist sounds interesting isn't it. Many companies, including Sony have launched this smart watch which runs on Android operating system. This smart watch can be connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth to access calls, SMS, music and it also supports apps like Facebook, Twitter, music player and even weather apps.

4. Portable Power Charger

The iBall Portable Power Charger is a multi-purpose charger which comes with 8 different charging ports like micro USB, mini USB, Nokia 2 mm, MP3 Player, iPhone, iPod, Ericsson port and Samsung charging ports.

The device features huge 5000 mAh battery capacity, built in Auto power saving, retractable USB cable and has an easy to carry portable design. This multi-purpose charger is affordable too costing only Rs.2499.

5. Portable Speaker

The Genius SP-i175 mini portable speaker can be linked with other portable speakers for more sound. The SP-i175 uses a big 40mm speaker driver for middle frequency sound balance and solid bass. SP-i175 has a built-in 300mAH battery.

Battery backup is for almost 8 working hours. No power adapter is necessary; SP-i175 can be used with any smartphone, iPad, iPod, iPhone, notebook, MP3/MP4 player or CD player that has a standard 3.5mm audio input. Also, SP-i175 has a 3.5mm to 2.5mm converter for a music device with a 2.5mm input. A convenient volume knob on SP-i175 adjusts the volume easily. SP-i175 comes in 3 vibrant colors: black, white and green for just Rs.850.

Best Desi Smartphones

Global brands ruled the mobile market in India till early 2009. With the introduction of indigenously made low cost mobiles, Indian companies like Micromax, Karbonn and Lava were able to get a huge bite out of the revenue which goes to these companies.

According to CyberMedia Research, 40%-45% of the total handsets shipped in 2011 were indigenous brands and is expected to grow more in 2012.

When it comes to Smartphones, the Indian companies were not able to get a strong recognition in the market. But with the new Smartphones like Lava Xolo- with an Intel processor and Micromax Superfone a85, the companies give a tight competition to international brands.

Here are some of the best Indian made Smartphones.

Lava Xolo X900

Lava Xolo X900 is claimed to be India’s first Smartphone with an Intel processor (1.6 GHz Atom processor with Intel Hyper-Threading Technology). It comes with a 4-inch capacitive LCD touch screen having 3264×2448 resolution, 8 megapixels camera in rear, 3 MP in front and runs on Android 2.3. The device is expected to launch in early second quarter of this year.

Micromax A85 Superfone

A85 is the flagship android from Micromax and first dual core phone in sub 20K price market. The matt finished device with stainless steel cover has a 3.8-inch capacitive touchscreen with a 480x800 pixel resolution.It runs on Android 2.2 OS and is powered by Nvidia’s 1GHzTegra 2 processor, 512 MB RAM and 8GB onboard storage. Primary rear camera is 5MP and the front camera is equipped with gesture control, which allows you to flip through the photos with a wave of your hand. The device is priced at Rs 15,249.

Spice Mi410

The Mi410 offers wide range of features at a competitive price. It is packed in a full metal back cover and runs on Android 2.2.  A 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 powers the device with 512MB RAM and a 2GB onboard memory. It spots a 5 MP rear camera with HD video recording and 0.3 MP front camera. At a price around Rs 14000, it offers many features found in Smartphones above 20K.

Lava S12 

Lava S12 offers the best battery back-up in the category. It runs on Android 2.2 FroYo and powered by Qualcomm 600 MHz processor. The 3.2-inch touch screen has a resolution of 480 x 320. Main drawback is the internal memory of 120MB but the external memory can be expanded up to 32GB. It spots a 5 megapixel fixed focus camera and comes at a price of Rs. 9,990.

Micromax A78

A78 is a dual SIM, touch and type phone which runs on android 2.3. It features a 3.5" TFT touch screen, QWERTY keyboard and is powered by 650 MHz processor. It spots a 3 MP primary camera with an LED flash and a 0.3 MP secondary camera.The device which comes at a price around 7900, which makes it a highly economic Smartphone for India.

Galaxy Note Android 4.0

An Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade for the "phablet" has been pushed back to Q2. But Samsung is offering a consolation prize for the delay.

Galaxy Note Android 4.0

Samsung joyously announced today that a new "premium suite upgrade" including Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is headed to Galaxy Note owners sometime in the second quarter. This sounds great, unless you remember that Samsung told us to expect Ice Cream Sandwich on the Galaxy Note in the first quarter of 2012.

With Q1 wrapping up soon, it looks like the announcement of the forthcoming upgrade amounts to a note from Samsung asking Galaxy Note users to please excuse Android 4.0 for being tardy.

According to a statement from Samsung, the upgrade package will also include extra multimedia features and new apps optimized for the Galaxy Note's S Pen stylus. One of the new features is something called S Note that the company says will further integrate written or sketched content with other digital data:

To help ease the disappointment of the Ice Cream Sandwich delay, Samsung is now offering what's become the standard consolation prize of global digital culture--Angry Birds.

Download the brand new Angry Birds Space and you'll even find special extra levels available just for the Galaxy Note. On top of that, a special package of 30 extra levels can also be accessed free if unpacked in the next three months.

That should serve as a nice distraction while every other phone around you is getting upgraded to Android 4.0, and perhaps even Android 5.0.

Mid-Ranged Smartphone 'Sony Pepper' Leaked

Sony’s upcoming smartphone: the ‘MT27i Pepper’ has been leaked on a Japanese website called ameblo. The Sony Pepper looks quite similar to Sony’s Xperia P and U as seen in the leaked picture on the website.

Sony Pepper

The leak picture give some details about the new device’s specifications and looks which says, the Pepper will be a mid-ranged smartphone and could be powered by 1GHz dual-core processor with a NovaThor U8500 chipset and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system.  It also comes with 3.7 inch touchscreen display, 5 MP rear camera capable of recording 720p HD video recording capability and supports NFC (Near Field Communication).

Pepper might be the codename of the phone or the company may fix the same name while launching. As of now we don’t have any details about this device’s price which is expected to be released in coming few weeks.

Sony Launched 'Xperia Sola' Smartphone

Sony launched the Xperia Sola as the latest addition to its Xperia smartphone series. Few days back this smartphone was leaked as Sony Pepper on a Japanese website called ameblo.

Xperia Sola

The Xperia Sola comes with 3.7 inch Reality Display with mobile Bravia Engine and scratch resistant glass. The Reality Display will provide sharper images and text with 480x854 pixels of resolution.

The smartphone is powered by 1 GHz STE U8500 dual-core processor, 512 MB of RAM and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system (upgradable to Android 4.0 during Q2 of this year). The smartphone comes with Near Field Communication (NFC) and a floating touch technology which let the user to browse the web by just hovering finger over the screen, without touching the display.

It has xLOUD and 3D surrounds sound audio technology and other features include 8 GB internal memory, 5 MP camera with LED flash featuring autofocus and capable of recording HD videos, panoramic images and 3D sweep panorama. For connectivity it has DLAN, Wi-Fi, A-GPS, Bluetooth and USB. Sony has not mentioned the availability and price of this device.

Micromax Launches One more Dual-SIM Android Smartphone

Micromax, the well known producer of affordable mobile handsets in India is launching another affordable Dual-SIM Android Smartphone – ‘Micromax A78’ for just Rs.8000.

Micromax Smartphone

This smartphone will have a 3.5 inch capacitive touchscreen display with 320x480 pixels of resolution and a QWERTY keypad. It will be powered by 650 MHz processor, and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system.

The device also features 3.0 megapixel rear camera with autofocus feature, a 0.3 megapixel VGA front facing camera for video calls and chats. For connectivity it has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, micro USB 2.0, GPS, 3G and a microSD card slot which supports up to 32 GB. The mobile also has pre-loaded apps like ibibo, WhatsApp, Facebook, Mi-Apps, Quikr.

Previously Micromax launched A75, a full touchscreen dual-SIM Android smartphone for Rs.8900. This smartphone is powered by 650 MHz processor, 256 MB RAM and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system. Other feature includes 3G, Wi-Fi, GPRS, Bluetooth, 3.0 MP rear facing camera, a front facing camera for video calls and chats, 190 MB internal memory-expandable via microSD card slot.

Samsung Unveils 'Galaxy Pocket' Smartphone

Samsung launched a compact sized budget Android smartphone – Galaxy Pocket. The device features 2.8 inch touchscreen with 240x320 pixels of resolution, is powered by 832 MHz single core processor and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system.

Samsung 'Galaxy Pocket'

The device is scheduled to hit the UK market later this year than to other countries. Much specification is not available, but it features 3 GB of internal memory, a microSD card slot for expanding memory, 2 MP rear camera and for connectivity it will have Wi-Fi, 3G, GPRS, Bluetooth, HSDPA and micro USB 2.0.

  

The Galaxy Pocket will be the company’s cheapest Android smartphone; the company has not yet revealed the price details. As of now the Galaxy Y is the company’s cheapest Android smartphone which costs around Rs.7500.

5 Smartphones that Record Awesome Videos

Smartphones have distorted the line between the phones and the point and shoot compact cameras. Most of the high-end smartphones offer good video recording capabilities; they are packed with 1 GHz processor and are capable of recording full HD 1080 pixel videos at 24 to 30 frames per seconds, therefore these devices are now acting like a camcorder replacement. Check out these smartphone which gives you a superb video recording capability.

1. Nokia 808

Nokia 808

The new Nokia 808 comes with a jaw dropping 41 MP of sensor which can also record full HD videos at 1080 pixel and comes with Nokia Rich Recording that offers CD like audio quality.   The device enables to select from various megapixels options while taking pictures like 5 MP, 8 MP and up to 32 MP.  The 808 is a Symbian Belle based phone, powered by ARM single-core 1.3 GHz processor and 512 MB of RAM. The Nokia’s monstrous camera phone is expected to be priced at Rs.29725 and will be available in the market by May 2012.

2. HTC Sensation XE

HTC Sensation XE

HTC Sensation XE has a stunning 8 MP camera with autofocus and powerful LED flash. The autofocus starts as soon as you start recording, user can also swift to manual focus. The camera is capable of recording full 1080 HD video at 30 frames per seconds and in low light it is capable to capture 24 frames per seconds.
The device comes with a great built quality and is integrated with Beats Audio. The device is powered by dual core 1.5 GHz processor, 786 MB of RAM and runs on Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread operating system. This beautiful looking smartphone has a price tag of Rs.32450.

3. Motorola Droid Razr

Motorola Droid Razr

The Motorola Droid Razr is a solid smartphone packed with Kevlar plastics back panel. It is powered by dual core TI OMAP 4430 1.2GHz processor and a PowerVR SGX 540 graphics chip. The device has an 8 MP camera which is capable of recording 1080p HD video at 30 frames per seconds. The camera lacks autofocus while video recording but the image stabilization helps a lot. The device also comes with 3300 mAh battery which has an incredible battery life of 20 hours continues talk time and 368 hours in standby mode. This phone has available for Rs.33990.

4. Samsung Galaxy Note

Samsung Galaxy Note

Samsung’s hybrid gadget: Galaxy Note, a smartphone cum tablet runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and comes with an 8 MP wide angle camera with LED flash. The camera is able to capture stunning images and record videos at 24 to 30 frames per seconds.
The camera provides continues autofocus while video recording and also offers choosing 720p HD shooting mode with wider viewing field. The device is powered by Dual-core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor and comes with an advanced stylus "S-Pen" for better inputs. This phablet has a price tag of Rs.34250. 

5. Apple iPhone 4S

Apple iPhone 4S

The Apple iPhone 4S doesn’t need any introduction, it has an 8 MP camera for recording full 1080 HD videos featuring auto focus and image stabilization to record videos with great sharpness and details at 30 frames per seconds.
The device is powered by a dual-core processor and has a superior graphics chip. It also has a unique feature called Siri, a virtual assistant, which allows users to carry out functions like setting an alarm through voice commands. The iPhone 4S is priced at Rs.44,450 for 16 GB model, Rs.50,900 for 32 GB model and Rs.57,500 for 64 GB model.

Verizon Wireless to introduce three new Android smartphones

The customers of Verizon Wireless will soon get a massive surprise. According to recent leaked report, the company is planning to release three new Android-based smartphones this year.

Droid Life reported that the upcoming handset of the Droid Incredible series by HTC will be identified as the “Droid Incredible 4G” and is also likely to be appeared on Verizon’s networks.

However, there is no information about the Droid Incredible 4G but previous reports indicate that it will be powered by the latest Android ICS 4.0 OS and 4G LTE web browsing speed.

Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless to introduce three new Android smartphones Apart from the Droid Incredible 4G, the website also mentions about LG’s next roll out plans and it might be possible that LG will release its new smartphone called the Lucid 4G via Verizon Wireless. The specs and features of the LG Lucid 4G are still unknown but sources claim that it will be a mid-range device than the LG Spectrum, which is now available at Verizon for $200 with two year contract agreement.

However, Verizon recently launched Motorola Droid RAZR and is already available for purchase in three colors, white, black and purple but sources say that Verizon is going to launch the Droid RAZR in blue color soon.

Hence, HTC Droid Incredible 4G, LG Lucid 4G and the Motorola Droid Razr in Blue are the three approaching Android smartphones to be available at Verizon Wireless.

As soon as we hear more information about these three smartphones from their respective manufactures and Verizon Wireless, we will let you know.

LG WCD-800: Wireless Charger for Smartphone

LG launched a Wireless charging pod ‘WCD-800’ last week at MWC 2012 in Barcelona. LG announced this new interesting device to the tech world along with its new breed of smartphones at the show.

The WCD-800 will work with all new smartphones like LG Optimus 4X HD and LG Optimus Vu which were released in MWC. It is also compatible with all other devices supporting Qi standards for wireless charging.

Wireless Charger

The wireless charger has electric coils which powers smartphone using the magnetic fields. The WCD-800 comes in a cradle like shape and the smartphone can be placed either in portrait or landscape while charging. It also enables users to enjoy watching videos, make calls and send messages when your smartphone is getting charged, this is one unique feature when compared to other wireless chargers.

This charger will release first in Korea, then in North America by the end of quarter second of 2012. The company has not revealed its price details yet.

3 More Cool Smartphone at MWC

Mobile World Congress is the paradise for gadget passionate. The biggest mobile trade show has unveiled lots of gadgets including tablets, smartphones, mobile applications, car tech and many more which we have already shown you some shots. Now have found three more cool smartphones to add-up the wonders in the show.

1. ZTC Era

ZTC Era

ZTC unveiled a new unlocked smartphone to compete with leading brands like Samsung, HTC and Sony. The ZTE smartphone is powered by Quad-core 1.3 GHz processor along with the Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset, 1 GB of RAM and runs on latest version operating system of Google, i.e., Androids 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

This smartphone sports a 4.3 inch touchscreen display with 540x960 pixels of screen resolution featuring multi-touch functionality. Other specifications include 8 GB of internal memory, Dolby mobile sound enhancement, 8 MP rear facing camera featuring autofocus, LED flash and geo-tagging and a VGA camera in the front.  For connectivity it has GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, microUSB port and also has 3G.

 

2. Fujitsu Mystery 

Fujitsu Mystery

Fujitsu introduced a new unnamed smartphone at MWC. This smartphones is powered by Nvidia Tegra 3 quad core 1.5 GHz processor, boasts a 13.1-megapixel camera and runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.

This water resistant, dust resistant smartphone sports a huge 4.6 inch touchscreen display and also comes with a fingerprint sensor. The smartphone is still under progress so much details are not available about its specification, but its holds all the features which a high end smartphone has.

3. ZTE Orbit 

ZTE Orbit

The ZTE Orbit look beautiful with its curvy edges and metallic color finish at the back. The mobile is powered by 1 GHz Qualcomm processor, 512 MB of RAM and runs on Windows Phone Tango operating system.

The Orbit sports 4.0 inch touchscreen with 800x480 pixels of resolution, 5 MP rear camera featuring autofocus and LED flash, 4 GB of internal storage. For connectivity it has GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and microUSB port.

5 Smartphone Trends at Mobile Show 2012

Smartphone makers are defining new trends in the smartphone realm by introducing Quad-core processors and huge, high definition screens at the Mobile World Congress. Here are the five major technological trends showcased in this year’s show.

1. Quad-Core Processors:

Qued-Core Processors

By this year smartphones are going to be much faster and efficient than your PCs. Major Smartphone manufacturers have launched products which comes with powerful Quad-core chips. LG Optimus 4X HD, HTC One X and ZTE’s Era are the attention grabbers in this category, all these smartphones comes with an Nvidia Tegra 3 Quad-core processor. Huawei has taken a bold step forward by developing an in-house Quad-core chip ‘K3V2’ which is used in its new phones named Ascend D Quad and Ascend D Quad XL phones.

2. Huge, High-definition Screens:

Huge Screens

2012 will see more of Phablets than Phones or Tablets; this new breed of smartphones comes with big high-definition screens and gives you the functionality of both smartphones and tablets. Till now Samsung was ruling this territory with its Galaxy note, but now it has some powerful competitors like LG Optimus 4X HD, HTC One X, these phones has a 4.7-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels.  LG has also unveiled a new smartphone which comes with a 5-inch screen in the 4:3 format. Huawei is keeping its screen a bit smaller in Ascend D Quad and Ascend D Quad XL with its 4.5inch screens, but they have a resolution of 1280 X 720 pixels.

3. Near Field Communication (NFC):

NFC

NFC technology is getting popular in smartphones as people a getting more knowledgeable about this new payment method. Customers will have a wide range of phones available in the market to choose now as all major manufactures like Acer, Huawei, LG, Nokia, Orange, Samsung, Sony and ZTE have launched smartphones with NFC. According to Sandy Shen, research director at Gartner, the biggest hurdle to NFC payments is to change user behavior, which takes much longer than deploying the infrastructure or devices.

4. Cheap Smartphones:

Cheap Smartphones

These new affordable smartphones are meant for those who care more about functionality and price than Quad-core processors and big screens. Nokia Lumia 610 is such a Window Phones which will cost around Rs.12000 and will hit the stores by the second quarter. ZTE has also introduced its ZTE Orbit at the show which is a cheap Window Phone based.

5. Long Term Evolution (LTE):

LTE

LTE is part of the GSM evolution strategy beyond 3G and is becoming a hit is developed market. New smartphones which are coming with LTE are, LG Optimus Vu, LG Optimus LTE Tag, ZTE N910 and ZTE PF200. Smartphones having Quad-core processors doesn’t have an LTE option, that’s the reason for why U.S. market will see a dual-core version of HTC One X. But Quad-core chip maker Nvidia has announced partnerships with chip makers GCT Semiconductor and Renesas Mobile to make the LTE available for Quad-core processors too.

Samsung 'Galaxy Beam': A Projector Smartphone

The Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2012 started today and Samsung has already announced an updated version of Galaxy Beam smartphone one day before the event at Barcelona.

The Galaxy Beam is not just a smartphone it is a mini portable projector too.  It is different from other smartphones with its built in ‘ultra-bright’ 15 lumens projector which can project up to 50 inch wide on a wall, ceilings or on any flat surfaces.

Samsung 'Galaxy Beam'

The device is powered by 1 GHz dual core processor, 786 MB of RAM and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system. The device also comes with an 5.0 MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash, 1.3 MP front facing camera, 8 GB of internal memory, microSD card slot for expandable memory up to 32GB and for connectivity it has Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi, microUSB and GPS.

There are no details about the price and availability of this new device, we have wait until the company makes an official debt at MWC. Along with this smartphone Samsung also launched a Galaxy Note with 10.1 inch screen size, click here for more details of Galaxy Note 10.1.

Top 5 Dual-SIM Android Smartphones in India

Dual-SIM mobile market in India is growing day-by-day as it is much better to carry an all in one smartphone than two phones at a time; today you will find a range of dual-SIM mobiles packed with latest features. If you are looking out for smartphones with dual-SIM feature then check out the best dual-SIM smartphones in the market.

1. Samsung Galaxy Y Duos

Samsung Galaxy Y Duos

Samsung Galaxy Y Duos is Samsung’s first full-touch Dual SIM device. The Galaxy Y Duos offers the users the opportunity to use the device for both data & call simultaneously, enabling them to maintain a work life balance.

The device is powered by 832 MHz processor, 512 MB RAM and runs on Android 2.3 operating system. It also has 3.14 inch QVGA touchscreen, expandable memory up to 32 GB through microSD card, 3.15 MP camera with Geo-Tagging feature. For connectivity it has GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 and microUSB port. The Samsung Galaxy Y Duos is priced Rs.10490.

2. Motorola Milestone XT 800

Motorola Milestone XT 800

Motorola was the first to launch dual-SIM smartphone in India with its Motorola Milestone XT. The device is powered by 550 MHz Cortex-A8 processor, 512 MB of RAM and runs on Android 2.0 operating system.

Milestone XT 800 is a CDMA-GSM dual-SIM smartphone. It has a 3.7 inch display, 5 MP camera with dual LED flash and has an expandable memory up to 32GB. For connectivity it has GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and microUSB port. This smartphone has a price tag of Rs.15300.

3. LG Optimus Net Dual

LG Optimus Net Dual

The LG Optimus Net Dual is the second version of original LG optimus Net smartphone. This phone is powered by 800 MHz processor, 512 MB of RAM and Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system.

The device comes with GSM dual-SIM options, 3.2 inch HVGA display, 3.2 MP camera with VGA video recording, supports 32 GB of expandable memory. For connectivity it has Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 3.0 and 3G. This mobile has a price tag of Rs.10499.

4. Spice MI-350N

Spice MI-350 N

The Spice MI-350N looks stunning with a metal aluminum finish and rubberized coating on sides. The device has dual-SIM feature and is powered by 650 MHz processor, 256 MB of RAM and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system.

The MI-350N features 3.5 inch touchscreen display with 320x480 pixels of screen resolution, 3.15 MP rear facing camera, VGA front facing camera for video calls and chats and a 188 MB internal memory-expandable up to 32 GB via microSD card. For connectivity it has Wi-Fi, 3G, GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth and USB port. This mobile is available for Rs.7710.

5. Micromax A75

Micromax A75

The Micromax A75 (also known as Superfone Lite A75) is a dual-SIM smartphone with a striking 3.75 inch capacitive touchscreen display. The smartphone is powered by 650 MHz processor, 256 MB RAM and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system.

Other feature includes 3G, Wi-Fi, GPRS, Bluetooth, 3.0 MP rear facing camera, a front facing camera for video calls and chats, 190 MB internal memory-expandable via microSD card slot. This Superfone Lite A75 has a price tag of Rs.8900.

Huawei's Upcoming Diamond Smartphones

Huawei is planning to introduce two new high end android smartphone at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2012 in Barcelona. Huawei has scheduled this launch at its press conference at MWC on February 26 (one day before).

There are no detail specifications available on the diamond series smartphone. But it is said that these two devices will be high end smartphone and would feature a powerful dual-core processor, large touchscreen display with Gorilla glass, powerful 8 MP rear camera and 1.3 MP front facing camera. The details of operating system is also not confirmed, expectantly these phones may come with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. 

Huawei's Diamond Smartphones

Earlier this month Huawei launched Ascend P-1S and Ascend P-1smartphones in Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012 at Las Vegas. The Ascend P1S is the world’s slimmest smartphone featuring a 4.3-inch, 540 x 960 Super AMOLED screen covered with Corning Gorilla Glass, a dual-core 1.5 GHz CPU paired with a SGX 540 GPU. Ascend P-1S also has a stunning 8 MP camera capable of capturing 1080p video with dual LED flash, HDR effect optimization and a 1.3 MP front-facing camera capable of capturing 720p video. Other features includes 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB of internal storage, 4G connectivity via HSPA+ antennas and runs on Google’s latest Android revision-Ice Cream Sandwich.

Lenovo K800: First Intel Inside Smartphone

Lenovo launched its new Smartphone - K800, the first of its kind to run on Intel's 1.6GHz Medfield processor at CES 2012 in Las Vegas. With this new venture Intel is all set to make its entry into the Smartphone chip market.

Lenovo K800

Lenovo K800 smartphone come with a 4.5-inch a TFT display with 720p, Intel's 32-nanometer mobile chip dubbed Medfield, which is part of Intel's Atom line and runs on Android 4.0 OS.  The phone also has an 8 megapixel shooter with dual-LED flash and a front-facing camera for video calling, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS connectivity and Wi-Di (Wireless Display), near-field communication (NFC) for mobile payments and a HDMI port. K800 is also able to stream video to TV sets equipped with Intel's Wireless Display technology.  This phone will be available in the market by the second quarter of this year; its price is not disclosed yet.

Motorola has also made deals with Intel to come up with smartphones and other devices having Intel processors. Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc CEO Sanjay Jha at the CES said that the company will have Intel-powered phones in testing this summer and ready for consumer hands a few months later.

Intel has also announced its plans with Google to make a worldwide architecture for Smartphone chips for Google’s Android based systems. Presently this market is ruled by ARM Holdings, producing chips with amazing performance. Intel’s entry into this field and its success will become quite visible in this year.

'Xperia Ion' Sony's First LTE Smartphone

Sony launches its first LTE smartphone ‘Xperia Ion’ in Consumer Electronics Show 2012 at Las Vegas. Xperia Ion is the first smartphone launched exclusively under the Sony brand, alike all other Sony mobile devices which were launched under Sony Ericsson brand.

Sony's LTE Smartphone

This smartphone is powered by 1.5 GHz dual core Snapdragon processor, 1GB RAM and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS and also supports HTML 5, Adobe Flash & Bravia Sync. It also features a 4.6 inch LED backlit capacitive touchscreen, 1280x720 pixels of screen resolution with multi-touch, HD reality display, a scratch resistant glass.

Xperia Ion sports a 12 MP camera on the back with LED flash and a 1.3 front facing camera, both cameras are capable of recording HD videos. These cameras also has some good features like smile and face detection, 3D sweep panorama mode, touch focus, image stabilization and for  video recording it has continuous autofocus feature and video stabilizer technology.

The Xperia Ion has 16 GB of internal memory which is expandable up to 32 GB using microSD card. It also has GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, DLAN, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth, micro USB, HDMI port. It also supports.

This smartphone come with a PlayStation certification, which allows it to access various entertainment services from the Sony entertainment network which contains 15 million unique songs, videos and TV shows.

This smartphone will be available in the second quarter of this year, but there are no details about the price and availability in India.