CTIA 2005
Mar 15, 2005, 11:00 AM by Rich Brome and Eric Lin
Live daily coverage of CTIA Wireless 2005, North America's premier cell phone event. Exclusive photos and hot info from the show floor in New Orleans. Major announcements from Samsung, LG, Kyocera, Nokia, and more.
It's that time of year again - time for the big CTIA show. CTIA Wireless is the event of the year for the North American cell phone industry. Every spring around this time, absolutely every company that does anything remotely related to cell phones makes the annual pilgrimage to hawk their wares to the rest of the industry.
The size of the show is intimidating. The number of companies in this industry is more than you might think. This year the lucky host city is the Big Easy, New Orleans. The show completely fills the massive 3/4-mile-long convention center.
For the third year in a row, Phone Scoop was on the scene, reporting live from the show floor. This year we had a two-man team - Rich Brome and Eric Lin, enabling us to bring you more and better coverage than ever before.
The big phone news this year was from LG, Samsung, Kyocera, Nokia, and Motorola. There's also the launch of a whole new carrier - Amp'd, which is pretty exciting.
This article was expanded and updated through March 21st, so if you only saw the first few parts, check out the final sections to see what you missed!
CES 2006
Review: LG VX-8100
LG VX-3300 / 3280
LG VI-125
LG VX-8100
Comments
Samsung MM-A880?
Hey guys, any idea when the Samsung MM-A880/SPH-A880 is coming out? Thanks.
Brian
Brian
CCD Camera Phones
Were there any camera phones that use a CCD sensor rather than a CMOS?
All the megapixels in the world done mean a thing if the lens and the sensor are not high quality.
If you compare the MPX220 1.3 mp CMOS camera to the SE S710A 1.3 mp CCD camera there is no comparison.
Aside from the s710a are any other manufacturers planing on putting together a phone with a CCD camera to compete with the s710a?
The reason I ask is that I like all the features on the Sony-ericsson, but I do not like their interface. I may stand alone on this fact but I prefer the motorola interface, especially when it comes to their predictive text input and various menu navigation.
I am trying out the s710a for a few days and I have decided they...
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All the megapixels in the world done mean a thing if the lens and the sensor are not high quality.
If you compare the MPX220 1.3 mp CMOS camera to the SE S710A 1.3 mp CCD camera there is no comparison.
Aside from the s710a are any other manufacturers planing on putting together a phone with a CCD camera to compete with the s710a?
The reason I ask is that I like all the features on the Sony-ericsson, but I do not like their interface. I may stand alone on this fact but I prefer the motorola interface, especially when it comes to their predictive text input and various menu navigation.
I am trying out the s710a for a few days and I have decided they...
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It's not as simple as CCD vs. CMOS.
While CCDs generally means high quality, CMOS does not necessarily mean low-quality. There is a huge variation in CMOS quality.
The best CMOS sensors can even outperform most CCDs - in fact, Canon's top-of-the...
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While CCDs generally means high quality, CMOS does not necessarily mean low-quality. There is a huge variation in CMOS quality.
The best CMOS sensors can even outperform most CCDs - in fact, Canon's top-of-the...
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I think what is missing
That should have been reported were the small upstart companies.
I talked to some of the manufacturer reps and more than a few of them were impressed with the design and build qualities of some of the smaller Chinese and Korean venture groups.
One group that was really impressive at the show was NewGen with their really cool designs.
Under an inform discussion in the eating area, some of the these product managers feel that in the next 10 years, some of them (like Hop On, Bird, New Gen, Telson) maybe in the top 10 market and some of the older stalwarts in the world markets (like Alcatel, Philips, Siemens and Mitsubishi) may pull out as phones becomes total commodity items.
I talked to some of the manufacturer reps and more than a few of them were impressed with the design and build qualities of some of the smaller Chinese and Korean venture groups.
One group that was really impressive at the show was NewGen with their really cool designs.
Under an inform discussion in the eating area, some of the these product managers feel that in the next 10 years, some of them (like Hop On, Bird, New Gen, Telson) maybe in the top 10 market and some of the older stalwarts in the world markets (like Alcatel, Philips, Siemens and Mitsubishi) may pull out as phones becomes total commodity items.
Samsung i730
Is there any news on the Samsung i730? Will it be Verizon? When might it be available? Also, any hints if the WIFI portion will be enabled?
I'm just as anxious as you are celljack...I've been checking PhoneScoop everyday to see if the rumors (that the phone will be released in mid-March) are true. âšī¸ I'm just hoping that it will be on Sprint's network...their data services are must les...
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I did ask about that today. I was told May or June.
Of course Samsung can't discuss carriers, but I'm 90% sure Verizon will have it. Not sure if Sprint will have it also.
No word yet on wi-fi.
Of course Samsung can't discuss carriers, but I'm 90% sure Verizon will have it. Not sure if Sprint will have it also.
No word yet on wi-fi.
...
I found out more info since yesterday.
The i730 (for Verizon) will have Wi-Fi. It will not have a camera.
The i730 (for Verizon) will have Wi-Fi. It will not have a camera.
...
FasTap ??
What happened to Digit Wireless' FasTap?
Were they at CTIA? They have a really cool product but its still only in one phone. I for one want FasTap on my phone and i wonder why it still only in one phone. Problem?
Were they at CTIA? They have a really cool product but its still only in one phone. I for one want FasTap on my phone and i wonder why it still only in one phone. Problem?
No problem. In fact, quite the opposite.
I did meet briefly with FasTap. I think it's a pretty cool technology, too. đ
The deal is...
They had a lot of interest form the beginning, but everyone was nervous about taking the risk on it. They ...
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I did meet briefly with FasTap. I think it's a pretty cool technology, too. đ
The deal is...
They had a lot of interest form the beginning, but everyone was nervous about taking the risk on it. They ...
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...
About "Cingular" on the F7200 screen...
Like I mentioned for reasons stated in the new Part 2, I complied with LG's request and covered up the carrier logo on the F7200 keypad.
I'm sure some of you also noticed that it said "Cingular" on the display, and I did not cover that up...
That was intentional. It was not an oversight, and is not any kind of "cheating" with LG's request.
The deal is... what a GSM phone says on the screen is not necessarily the carrier that brands and sells that phone. Depending on how the phone and/or SIM chip are configured, the name on the screen is usually that of the carrier that sold the SIM, or the current network the phone may be roaming on.
So the fact that it says "Cingular" on the screen means very little and doesn't necessarily gives...
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I'm sure some of you also noticed that it said "Cingular" on the display, and I did not cover that up...
That was intentional. It was not an oversight, and is not any kind of "cheating" with LG's request.
The deal is... what a GSM phone says on the screen is not necessarily the carrier that brands and sells that phone. Depending on how the phone and/or SIM chip are configured, the name on the screen is usually that of the carrier that sold the SIM, or the current network the phone may be roaming on.
So the fact that it says "Cingular" on the screen means very little and doesn't necessarily gives...
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Sounds like some sort of conspiracy... đ lol jk.
How come LG didnt want people to see which carrier the phone was branded by? Thanks in advance Rich.
How come LG didnt want people to see which carrier the phone was branded by? Thanks in advance Rich.
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i930
đ
Someone down there at the show, get some information and lots of new pictures of the motorola i930 with different screens. ask what the deal is on the phone and release date and why it's taking so long to approve this phone. Thanks
Someone down there at the show, get some information and lots of new pictures of the motorola i930 with different screens. ask what the deal is on the phone and release date and why it's taking so long to approve this phone. Thanks
We didn't have much time to play with that one.
It was there in the Moto booth, but it wasn't a priority for us, since I already covered it in the CES article just two months ago.
Plus, at CES I was told the i930 might be canceled altogether so ...
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It was there in the Moto booth, but it wasn't a priority for us, since I already covered it in the CES article just two months ago.
Plus, at CES I was told the i930 might be canceled altogether so ...
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speakerphone on the Samsung 970???
Does this phone have one?? and if it does, is it full or half duplex???
chris
chris
No clue. Samsung isn't very good about releasing good specs when they announce new phones, and the A970 at CTIA wasn't operational, so I doubt anyone knows (that can legally talk about it).
SIDEKICK
HEY RICH DO U HAVE ANY JUICY INFO ON THE SIDEKICK MAN?ELLL ME WHEN THEY GONNA RELEASE THIS JAVA APP THANXX...
rich might remember differently, but i can't recall seeing danger there at all. sorry, nothin to report back on this front.
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Lack of Quad-Band GSM phones
I am always amazed that more carriers don't spend the extra money and make their GSM phones Quad-Band (850/900/1800/1900) instead of coming out with one or even two tri-band versions of the same phone.
I realize that very few people actually seek out quad-band phones, but if you're making the phone capable for three frequencies, why not four?
Perhaps the rest of the manufacturers know something that Motorola will not admit - that squeezing 4 radios in these compact phones affects RF performance.
Anyway I will continue to only purchase quad-band, as the last thing I want to do is get stuck wishing I had GSM 900 in Gabon or GSM 1800 in Trinidad. And you pretty much need 850/1900 here in the states. Oh well.
I realize that very few people actually seek out quad-band phones, but if you're making the phone capable for three frequencies, why not four?
Perhaps the rest of the manufacturers know something that Motorola will not admit - that squeezing 4 radios in these compact phones affects RF performance.
Anyway I will continue to only purchase quad-band, as the last thing I want to do is get stuck wishing I had GSM 900 in Gabon or GSM 1800 in Trinidad. And you pretty much need 850/1900 here in the states. Oh well.
Price point buddy....by adding the necessary components, SW, R&D work to perfect the quad-band handsets...you end up spending too much. This extends your price point for the handset, which in turn reduces the appeal. The only reason it will affect the...
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Thanks Rich.
Thanks for posting accurate, timely information. I take it for granted sometimes, but it's nice to be able to log onto this website and get timely information about such events. Great pictures too!
I was certain that i wasnt the only one greatful. Your featured articles are ALWAYS good articles! I really appreciate the time and effort you put into this site. ~thumbs up
Thanks! đ
There is a LOT more we gathered that we still have to get posted, so definitely "stay tuned"! đ
There is a LOT more we gathered that we still have to get posted, so definitely "stay tuned"! đ
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Moto A840 world phone at CTIA?
Rich---Did you see this phone in New Orleans again this year? I am hearing this is close to being offered by Verizon..........
I can't recall... I wasn't looking for it.
Yeah, it should be out very soon, form what I heard a couple months ago. But you know how Verizon is with testing...
Yeah, it should be out very soon, form what I heard a couple months ago. But you know how Verizon is with testing...
Samsung i645
I am very interested in the i645 and wanted to know if you have seen it at CTIA, and if a carrier has picked it up yet. Do we have better specifications yet?
Thanks for feedback on this!!!!
Rob.
Thanks for feedback on this!!!!
Rob.
Yes, it was there. It's still on the roadmap, but it's been pushed back to Q3 now.
Unfortunately, my schedule was so completely packed, there was no way I could go in-depth with every phone, so I had to set priorities. therefore I focused more on t...
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Unfortunately, my schedule was so completely packed, there was no way I could go in-depth with every phone, so I had to set priorities. therefore I focused more on t...
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