LG CU500
Cingular To Add Live Video Sharing This Year
Cingular has announced it will launch a form of video calling this year. Confirming earlier statements by executives, the carrier announced it will let customers share video from the external camera, instead of face to face calling. Using new video-capable 3G phones, subscribers will be able to make a voice call, and then press a button to enable video sharing with other 3G subscribers. Cingular will demonstrate video share calling at CES using an upgraded CU500. They have not announced an exact date for the launch or if there is any additional cost for the service.
LG Reveals Next Cingular 3G Phone
LG has launched a web site for the CU500, a new 3G phone previously mentioned by Cingular but never revealed. The CU500 is a slim metallic clamshell with a rotating 1.3 megapixel camera in the hinge. It has HSDPA 3G data, which is up to 5 times faster than the UMTS data used in Cingular's first 3G phones. It also has a wide variety of multimedia applications designed to take advantage of the higher data speeds and advanced capabilities of this phone. These include a Cingular Video player for purchased clips, MobiTV for streaming video and audio, and a music player with external playback controls. The CU500 also features a Micro SD slot, stereo Bluetooth (A2DP), and over the air software updates. The Samsung ZX-20, which also has HSDPA, is expected on Cingular soon as well. Today Cingular also launched 3G services for San Antonio, Texas.
FCC Approves Next Cingular 3G Phone
Last month, when Cingular officially launched its 3G service, the carrier announced the LG CU500 would be one of the next models to be released for the network. The FCC this week approved the LG CU500, unveiling a few more details about the phone. The handset will be quad-band GSM and WCDMA 850/1900. The FCC filings do not reveal whether the CU500 is UMTS or HSDPA. They do confirm that the phone has Bluetooth, a MicroSD card slot, and a 1.3 Megapixel camera that rotates in what appears to be the hinge of a clamshell-style body.
Cingular Launches 3G Video Service, Announces Next 3G Phones
Cingular today officially launched its 3G video on demand service. Cingular Video will only work on 3G handsets such as those launched yesterday. Like video services from Sprint, Verizon and others, Cingular will offer clips of popular shows, sports highlights and music videos on demand. Subscribers will not need to pay any additional fees for most content as long as they are subscribed to the MEdia Works unlimited data plan. There will be an additional charge for some content such as HBO shows and music videos. Cingular also announced that the next two 3G handsets it will launch are the Nokia 6282 and LG CU500. LG has not shown off the CU500 before and little is known about this new handset.
