Omio News Blog

Everything Everywhere announces Apple iPad prices and plans

Both T-Mobile and Orange have now separately unveiled their ‘more affordable prices’ for the Apple iPad, started from £199 with a £25 monthly tariff attached.

The two companies that make up EverythingEverywhere are selling the Apple iPad at a much lower cost than the Apple Store, who currently offers the 16GB iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G for £529.

Orange are also selling the other capacities of the Apple tablet, with the 32GB version costing £249 and the 64GB model being priced at £529 – where T-Mobile are only retailing the 16GB version.

Both networks are bundling in a 1GB data allowance for use at any time, along with another 1GB for off peak use.

No dates have been confirmed by either network as to when the Apple iPad device will be arriving, but the prices are a good start – now it’s Three’s turn.

Check out the full range of Apple iPad deals at OMIO

Motorola Milestone 2 now available

Motorola’s sequel to 2009’s Milestone has gone on sale, with the Motorola Milestone 2 costing just £379.99 SIM free and unlocked from Expansys.com.

Motorola’s Milestone 2 is their Android Froyo 2.2 handset, with the Motorola MotoBlur overlay to the OS where the handset boasts a 3.7-inch 480×854 touch screen, a 5MP camera, 8GB of internal storage and a slide out Qwerty keyboard – which also featured on the original Milestone.

The Milestone 2 shouldn’t be confused with the recent Motorola Milestone XT720. This was actually the second Milestone handset, but lacked the physical keyboard and shipped with a microHDMI port for displaying video and images on a HDTV screen.

Motorola’s MotoBlur overlay to the Google mobile OS brings social networking onto the home screen of the phone, with Facebook and Twitter feeds along with showing text messages and email notifications too.

The features of the MotoBlur do not stop there, as the overlay also backs-up all of the Milestone 2’s content’s to an on-line account where if the phone’s lost or stolen – everything can be restored to a new mobile. If the Motorola phone is lost, the on-line account can also be used to track the phone and if permanently lost the portal can be used to remotely wipe the mobile too.

Check out the full range of Motorola Milestone 2 deals here.

Three also to sell the Apple iPad cheaply

Three has announced they too will be offering ‘more affordable prices’ for the Apple iPad and on a contract, in an identical statement to both T-Mobile and Orange.

Three companies have now unveiled in the next few months they will be selling the iPad at a lower cost than the Apple Store can currently offer and on a contract too, in much the same way as mobile networks can afford to offer a £500 handset for free.

Three haven’t confirmed any prices yet, nor has Orange or T-Mobile but they at least have provided a link to register interest which Three haven’t as yet.

Out of all of the networks Three currently has the cheapest price for the 16GB iPhone 4, at nearly a third of the cost of the nearest competitor – where it’s been rumoured Orange could be selling the Apple iPad at £200.  

With this theory in mind, Three could very well undercut EverythingEverywhere and sell the iPad at £150 or even £100 as the iPhone 4 currently costs £499 from Apple directly. 

Check out the full range of Apple iPad deals at OMIO

Samsung Wave 723 Now Available, Free From £20 Per Month On O2

The Samsung Wave 723 is now available to buy, with the cheap and cheeky smartphone chucked in for free from £20 per month on O2, and finally bringing the Korean manufacturer’s bada platform to the masses.

A versatile device, the Wave 723 brings support for Samsung Apps, the popular Social Hub messaging mash-up service and a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash to an affordable price point, whilst also boasting a capacitive 3.2-inch touchscreen (although not sporting the AMOLED display goodness of the original Wave) and strong connectivity features with Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth 2.0 support.

Complete with stylish -if slightly 80s chic – flippy leather cover, the Samsung Wave 723 is a great option for those looking for a smartphone without smashing open the piggybank.

Check out the full range of Samsung Wave 723 deals here.

Nokia directly selling latest Touch and Type C3-01, SIM free and unlocked

Nokia’s on-line store is now retailing their C3-01 touch screen handset with a keypad for just £159.

Nokia’s C3-01 has a 2.4-inch 240×320 touch screen, a standard keypad, with a 5MP camera, WIFI and 3.5G capabilities – all in a candy base style phone, with a classic Nokia design.

The Nokia C3-01 builds on from their Nokia 6100 classic model of 2009 and was only announced a few months back, at Nokia World 2010 in London.

The name touch and type comes from the mobile having both a touch screen, along with an actual keypad. There has only been one other phone in the touch and type range, the X3, which was aimed at music lovers just like every other X series mobile phone.

Nokia’s C3-01 Touch and Type can be purchased from here SIM free and unlocked for £150, or for £99 on pay as you go with O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone.

Check out OMIO’s Nokia C3-01 deals here.

Everything Everywhere to sell the Apple iPad cheaply

Both T-Mobile and Orange have separately announced they will be offering ‘more affordable prices’ for the Apple iPad, but only when purchased with a data service plan.

It appears the two companies that make up EverythingEverywhere will be selling in the next few months the iPad at a lower cost than Apple Store currently does, only on a contract in much the same way as the networks can offer the latest mobile phone for free.

Apple currently sells the 16GB iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G for £529 and although Orange will still add a fee for the Apple tablet, it’s been noted on What Mobile this could be as little as £200 – less than half the price SIM free.

No confirmed prices have been made public by either network, only that they will be offering the iPad at a better price and Orange has provided a link to register interest – seen here.

Sony Ericsson Cedar Review

The latest in a range of eco-conscious phones under the ‘GreenHeart’ moniker, the Cedar is an affordable, yet feature packed handset that maintains its planet friendly reputation with a host of concepts that is refreshing to find in the age of disposable technologies.

Sony Ericsson’s green approach is initially apparent by the lack of paper manual and sparse recycled packaging. It doesn’t stop there though, as their environmental ethos has been carried through into the design of the handset itself.

The Cedar is constructed of recycled plastics, utilising water borne paints and utilises a low voltage adaptor to help minimise your impact on our ecosystem. Who said functional and green needed to look frumpy? The smooth curves, bright screen with vibrant colours and animated wallpapers add a touch of sparkle to an old tried and tested form factor.

The Cedar handset is lightweight, with just enough weight to feel secure in your grasp, whilst the smooth curved underside of the phone complements the shape of your hand, providing ergonomic relief for even the most avid thumb typist.

The large four-way navigation pad is suitably raised and has a satisfying click to it. In addition, the keys are angled inwards, rising along the bottom edge, thus resolving the small keys/big thumbs conundrum.

Whilst WIFI is absent, the snappy 7.2Mb/s HDSPA connection means that you are never far away from an update via the included Facebook, Myspace and Twitter widgets. The 2MP camera is included as a formality, but integration with the social media functions means that neither you nor your friends will miss that vital photo opportunity.

Internet access is available via the built in browser, and whilst it is somewhat cramped on the smallish screen, remains functional in the event of a Google emergency. Those wishing for a fuller internet experience can always plug into their laptop and use the Cedar as a fast 3G modem.

Entertainment features include the reliable media player functions and solid build quality synonymous with the Sony Ericsson brand. Storage comes via Micro SDHC card, allowing up to 16GB of removable storage, and thankfully this time you can use your favourite headphones via the welcome addition of a 3.5mm jack.

‘TrackID’ can identify any music that you hear, avoiding embarrassing encounters with stroppy DJ’s, whilst the ‘Playnow’ portal gives you access to a plethora of new music, ringtones games and applications.

The Youtube application provides on-demand entertainment on the go, whilst the FM radio rounds off the fun features with a touch of the old school, just plug in some headphones and let auto-tune find your favourite stations for you.

Despite all this under the hood, the battery still manages to pull an impressive 2 days or more of moderate use, which will be a relief when you’re caught away from the mains. And whilst the Cedar has a definite playful side, it’s not work shy either.

Push email is provided to the relief of business users, and the built in calendar, note functions and files are easily synced via Bluetooth, and the convenient inclusion of a micro-usb port that doubles as the charger socket.

Those traveling or working abroad will also be happy to hear that the phone is quad-band GSM and therefore usable worldwide, although don’t forget to offset your carbon footprint before you buy that long distance plane-ticket!

To sum up, the Cedar provides an impressive balance of work and entertainment features especially considering its size and price point. This would be an ideal phone for businesses or individuals who want fuss-free communications, whilst maintaining their green credentials.

Its generous battery life will be an eye opener for users moving from more flashy handsets who still need to keep tabs on their digital social lives, whilst its bevy of social communication features provide a perfect entry level phone for those wishing to take their first steps in the world of mobile connectivity without breaking the bank.