BlackBerry loyal users, here’s something that you can be proud of for choosing to stay with Blackberry despite all the hoopla with iOS4 and Android smartphones these days. Kinda interesting to know for BlackBerry junkies.Rysavy Research did this study on “Mobile Data Constraints and the Need for Optimization”, which contextualizes the BlackBerry advantage in terms of today’s mobile data industry and emerging consumer trends.

Here are some points comparing BlackBerry’s efficiency with competing systems based on the study:

Efficient E-mail Handling – As shown in the above table, in nearly all cases, BlackBerry was significantly more efficient than competing solutions when it comes to handling e-mail. In nearly all cases, BlackBerry sent less data over the air than the original file size.  In some cases, the amount sent was only a small percentage of the original file.

Superior Browsing Efficiency – BlackBerry users have the ability to choose the image quality settings for Web browsing including low, medium, and high. The lower the image quality setting, the less data is transferred to the device and the faster the downloading time.

Policy Management Capability – Beyond efficient operation, the BlackBerry Enterprise Server provides a number of ways that businesses can control data consumption on BlackBerry devices, for security and consumption control purposes.

Protocol Resiliency – BlackBerry communications protocols were designed to function even in slower networks. This heritage makes them highly bandwidth-efficient and particularly resilient in congestion situations regularly encountered today’s modern networks.

While the mobile broadband market is emerging as an extremely successful industry, it is facing significant challenges that can only be met through a broad sweep of measures to meet rising demand while ensuring efficient use of networks.

RIM rises to the challenge by delivering high-value, highly efficient products and services for a wide range of customers.  As BlackBerry enables significantly less data consumption by applications, it benefits carriers by lowering costs and by accommodating a greater number of users on the network without any deterioration in quality.  Meanwhile, end-users can benefit from lower monthly fees.  This is the BlackBerry advantage.

UPDATE: Nokia reps said that if you have your Nokia Messaging activated at the store tomorrow when you buy the Nokia C3, you should get a free 2GB microSD card.

For one day only, if you’re planning to get the Nokia C3, do it this Saturday as stores will be slashing a thousand pesos off its price bringing it down to Php6,295. That’s pretty cheap for a WiFi phone with a full QWERTY keyboard and social network features using the Nokia brand.

Admittedly, it’s not for the power user but if you’re after a cheaper alternative to the E63, you can go with the C3. You can’t surf at 3G speed but it doesn’t matter if all you need is to push data for your Facebook or Twitter.

Nokia C3 Specs:

• Quad-band GSM/EDGE
• WiFi 802.11b/g
• 2.4″ 256K-color QVGA display
• 2 megapixel fixed-focus camera
• QVGA video recording at 15fps
• Series 40 UI, 6th edition
• FM Radio with RDS
• Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP
• microSD card slot (8GB supported, 2GB included)

Remember, special price of Php6,295 is happening only this Saturday, July 31 in your nearest Nokia mobile phone dealer.

Via Yugatech

I was invited for an intimate sit-down earlier today to learn more about LG’s first and upcoming Android smartphone, the LG Optimus (GT450). Here are my initial impressions with this new LG phone.

It’s not your typical high-end smartphone. The reasonably priced LG Optimus (Php12,900) is geared towards those who want to start experimenting with smartphones without having to spend a lot. They are trying to follow the success of their first LG Cookie which was the cheapest touchscreen phone back then.

The LG Optimus is a casual smartphone that is defined by its playful looks and will benefit those who are huge fans of social networking sites. It comes in four colors: black, silver, white (brushed finish look) and the pink one which has a quilted pattern that resembles a lady’s handbag. LG reps are quick to mention that the white one won’t be arriving in our shores.

LG opted for the same TFT resistive touchscreen for the Optimus which is the same thing they used on their Cookie line. It takes a bit of familiarity to navigate for those who are used to the capacitive screen found in typical smartphones (HTC, iPhone, Galaxy S, etc.) but LG Cookie fans will feel at home. This takes out the multi-touch, pinch-to-zoom functionality  that some Android apps may require though but at least you can use it with your gloved hands.

Inside the GT450 is a Qualcomm 600MHz processor that runs on Android 1.6 (Donut) although there will be a provision to upgrade to 2.1 (Eclair) before the year ends. LG also incorporated their own UI on top of Android’s own interface. This makes it easier for users to customize their homescreen (up to 7) to access frequently used widgets.

Here’s a video clip of LG Optimus’ UI:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y2jLOhul28

The biggest feature first-time Android users will enjoy is the automatic account synchronization of Google mobile services. There’s also the enhanced social networking functions and same multimedia capability such as DivX video support and camera with video recording capability.

To sum LG Optimus up, LG can’t say it any better:

“This is a device that was designed for regular people who want to jump into the smartphone experience but have been hesitant to do so because of the learning curve. With the simplicity of the LG Optimus, coupled with a great design and highly attractive and affordable price tag, we hope to see more users enjoy the benefits of using smartphones.”

Specs:

• 3.0-inch resistive touchscreen @ 320×480 pixels
• Qualcomm MSM7227 600MHz CPU
• 130MB internal storage
• up to 32GB via (2GB included)
• 3G/HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
• WiFi 802.11 b/g
• Bluetooth 2.1
• 3.15MP autofocus camera
• FM Radio w/ RDS
• GPS w/ aGPS support
• Android 1.6
• Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery
• Price: Php12,900

The LG Optimus will be available by the second week of August.

This just in! We just heard yesterday that Globe is going to offer portable WiFi routers. Today, we have the Frequently Asked Questions including new broadband postpaid plans. And yes, it is called Globe MyFi.

1. What are the new Tattoo Postpaid plans? Globe has made your life simpler by providing you with just 2 choices for your postpaid plans: Globe Tattoo Postpaid Plan 499 ideal for light users and Plan P999 for heavy users – both at 3mbps speed!

Note: Plan P999, due to its unlimited internet access provision at a very affordable rate, doesn’t offer any calling feature.

2. Are the old Tattoo Postpaid plans still available? No. The new plans are far more affordable and superior than the current ones.

3. What will happen to current subscribers of old Globe Tattoo broadband postpaid plans? Existing subscribers who are out of their lock-up period may transfer to the new plans should they wish to by proceeding to any Globe Store to request for a change in their subscription. Only subscribers out of their lock-up period may do this.

4. Why should I get a postpaid broadband plan from Globe Tattoo? Globe offers the most affordable broadband plan available nationwide at only P499 and at the same time it also is the only brand with up to 3mbps speed across all postpaid plans, even on unlimited.

5. How do I subscribe to a Globe Tattoo Postpaid plan? Just bring any 1) valid ID, 2) proof of billing address, and 3) proof of income OR 1 month advanced payment and proceed to any Globe Store to subscribe.

6. What is the MyFi Device The Globe Tattoo Broadband MyFi Device is wireless WiFi router that enables you to share your internet access with other WiFi capable internet access devices simultaneously within a 10meter radius (coverage may decrease if there are obstructions such as walls). It’s an optional modem that you can subscribe to in lieu of the regular Globe Tattoo Postpaid stick for only an additional P250/ month for 24 months. After 24 months, you no longer have to pay the P250 and your bill will revert back to the regular plan rate.

If you’re planning to buy a new mobile phone and if you’re considering Sony Ericsson, you might want to go to Megatrade Hall 1 at the SM Megamall Bldg. B this weekend for the Sony Ericsson Expo 2010.

We went there earlier where they launched their new affordable Android phones, Sony Xperia X10’s little brothers, the X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro. If you want to transition into an Android phone but don’t want to spend much money for those high-end ones, better check out the X10 Mini or X10 Mini Pro.

There are many stalls at the Expo selling different SE phones at a discount. The standard selling discount price (cash basis) of the X10 Mini is Php15,490 while the X10 Mini Pro is Php16,490 which is a thousand less than the SRP but these two stores have the cheapest bargain. We also checked the price of the Vivaz which is a gorgeous SE feature phone.

Text & Call

• X10 Mini – Php15,000
• X10 Mini Pro – Php15,300
• X10 – Php28,600
• Vivaz – Php19,500
• Vivaz Pro – Php20,500

Techno Mobile

• X10 Mini – Php14,900
• X10 Mini Pro – Php15,500
• X10 – Php28,500
• Vivaz – Php19,000
• Vivaz Pro – Php20,000

These are all cash-basis. You can use credit card for 0% installment but they can’t give you the discounted prices.

I don’t know if these are first-day prices but better check out these two shops for their low prices. I also found it odd that some stores are not selling the X10 Mini Pro saying that they will be available in August. Weird.

Check out other good deals on other SE phones at the Expo. Entrance is free anyway.

As if Globe’s My SuperPlan is not enough to make your head spin with all the possible customization, they’ve introduced two more unlimited plans into it, My Super One and My Super IDD.

Actually, Super One was already revealed late last month but for those of you who don’t know, it is the first and only unlimited call and text offer to a frequently called number. For as low as P150 for each number every month or just P5.00 per day, you can stay in touch with your spouse, significant other or best friend for as long as you want. Existing My Superplan subscribers can also enjoy Super One for P175 per number every month.

Next is Super IDD which is the first and only call-all-you-can offer to US and Canada. For just P99 for an entire day, callers can stay on the phone for as long as they want between 11:00pm to 5:59am, Philippine time. That’s about 419 minutes of talk time, or just P0.24 per minute. Super IDD gets even more affordable at only P1,999 for a whole month of unlimited calling to US and Canada . That’s 30% cheaper than daily rate.

Launched last April, My SuperPlans is an all-you-can buffet of services such as call, text and web browsing. Subscribers can choose any plan and add as many services as he or she wants for the month. Subscribers also have the option of changing their plans every month.

____________________________

Want to try Super One and Super IDD right now? If you’re already on a  Globe postpaid or Fully Loaded plan, just pick the person you want to be your SuperOne and then text SUPERONE <that person’s Globe or TM mobile number> ON to 8888. If you’re on a Globe SuperPlan, text MY SUPERONE <that person’s Globe or TM mobile number> ON to 8888.

And if you want to call abroad easily with Super IDD,  text SUPERIDD 99 to 8888 for P99 one-day IDD calling, or text SUPERIDD ON to 888 for 30 whole days of off-peak bliss.

To know more about Globe’s Super offers, call (02) 730 1000 or visit a Globe Store near you.

The Sony Ericsson Expo 2010, a three-day extravaganza of mobile phones, music, movies, discounts, and all-around entertainment opens tomorrow, July 23, 2010 at the Megatrade Hall 1, SM Megamall Bldg. B.

Get the best deals on Sony Ericsson Xperia™, Walkman™, Cyber-shot™ and other mobile phones and accessories, customer electronics, music and movies from over 20 dealers and business partners’ booths.  Test the latest Sony Ericsson handsets – such as the Xperia X10, X10 mini and mini pro, Vivaz and Vivaz pro at the touch-and-feel stations for visitors.

Each mobile phone purchase from any participating dealer entitles you for a chance to win a Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10 mini, Xperia™ X10  or Vivaz™ pro and other prizes from participating Sony companies in the raffle draw.  Receive a special edition mini tee from Oxygen when you purchase the X10 mini and mini pro.

Allied Bank credit cardholders will get a free exclusive Sony Ericsson Pilipinas shirt for every mobile phone purchase with their credit card. Special installment terms are also available for Allied Bank credit cardholders.

Enjoy live performances throughout the 3-day schedule from Sony Music’s upcoming stars including Kiss Jane and Letter Day Story.

The Sony Ericsson Expo 2010 is free and open to the public.

Join Sony Ericsson PH on Facebook for more details.

Research In Motion (RIM) released a new teaser video for the upcoming BlackBerry OS update, the BlackBerry 6.

In addition to the new fluid user interface, the new video illustrates a few of the new applications and features in BlackBerry 6 that will provide users with a mobile experience that is both fun and approachable, yet extremely powerful including:

• redesigned home screen
• universal search
• context-sensitive pop-up menus
• revamped BlackBerry Browser powered by WebKit
• new applications like Social Feeds (which integrates all your news and social networks into one destination) and more

The universal search is a bit late but the revamped browser is a much-needed upgrade. Since most BB users are business executives, they don’t find much value for the integrated Social Feeds. I think this would entice the young and hip market to switch to BlackBerry.

There’s still room for improvement like a better calendar app or the ability to install programs in SD cards for BBs with small internal memory. Maybe it would make the final release that will happen in a few months.

They didn’t say if the new OS will be applicable to keyboard-based BBs but if it is, not all new stuff will be available. Storm owners will be excited for this much-needed OS update.

httpv://www.youtube.com/v/plWOkI_Urwo

via Inside BlackBerry

Facebooks fans of Smart Communications are treated with a mystery that’s driving them insane. Smart is coming up with a promo at the end of this month that’s supposed to be BIG, FREE and for 18 and Up only.

Now what is it really? Smart says fans of their Facebook page will get first dibs on what the promo is all about. Is Smart really coming up with something that’s for adults only hence the 18 and up caption? Or are all of these smokescreen to get a lot of people like their Facebook page?

Tell us your speculations.

The HTC Legend and HTC Desire are closely related Android phones from HTC. The price difference between the two is just Php3,000 as of this writing. I’m here to give you an idea whether it’s worth the extra 3k for getting the Desire or should you just spend on accessories and get the Legend instead?

The HTC Legend’s appearance can be compared to its predecessor, the HTC Hero, with its awkward-looking angled chin but, less steep and of course made of different material.

HTC Legend (left) vs. HTC Desire (right)

In terms of the device’s look and feel, I find the HTC Legend a lot sleeker than the bigger and slightly heavier Desire. The Legend boasts an aluminum unibody encompassing the front chin and majority of the back panel with a rubberized plastic cover at the bottom, which also serves as the battery, sim and microSD cover and a rubber panel where the camera lens and LED flash resides. Taking off the cover to access the battery and the sim is also a lot easier in the Legend than the Desire.

The rubber back on the Legend does not really give good traction

I have to admit that although I find the Legend’s angled chin a little awkward, it actually fits better in my palm and find it more suitable for holding even for long periods compared to the Desire. Add to that the fact that the standard Google phone buttons (home, menu, back and search) is placed a little higher on the Legend than on the Desire makes pressing those buttons a lot less strenuous since you can have a better grip on the Legends lower body.

The screen of the Legend is made of a 3.2 inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 320X480 which is slightly smaller than the Desire’s 3.7 inch and 480×800 resolution AMOLED displays… and yes they both share the same problem of being almost unusable in broad daylight.

The HTC Legend is one of HTC’s mid-range Smartphone and the first one running on Android 2.1 with their famous Sense UI. This phone is equipped with Qualcomm’s MSM 600MHz processor, a lot lower in terms of raw power compared to the newer HTC Desire which has a 1 GHz SnapDragon processor. Experience on both devices are quite similar, although I experienced some occasional lag in terms of scrolling, screen animation and application boot time on the Legend which I did not have on the Desire probably because of Desire’s more powerful processor.

It is also important to note that despite running the same Android build, the Legend does not support those really fancy live wallpapers which I really admired in the Desire.

The HTC Legend houses a 5 megapixel camera capable of taking widescreen photos and videos. What is lacking though is the face-detection feature which is present on the Desire which, again, can be attributed to the Desire’s powerful processor.

However, despite the Legend’s less powerful processor, I find that it can get really hot when doing resource intensive tasks on the phone such as playing games, watching videos or even browsing – a behavior I didn’t experience while using the Desire.

Conclusion

All in all, choosing between the two devices is a matter of preference. If processor power is not an issue and you want a sleeker device that fits perfectly in your hand and more pleasing to look at then the HTC Legend would be suitable for you. If you want a bigger screen and more powerful device that is somehow future-proofed, then the HTC Desire is an ideal buy.

It really depends on how you want to use your smartphone. Browsing and video work well with Desire’s bigger screen. For basic smartphone usage, you may find the Legend’s smaller package more convenient. Looking at how much both devices are retailed, it is also a matter of the value you are getting for their price.

Editor’s note: This post is contributed by Roy Sanchez with some slight revisions by the editor. Roy is a regular contributor here at PTB and specializes in Android platforms.  He  thinks that Android OS will win the smartphone OS wars if it comes to that.