As you’ve just entered the new year 2013, Celcom has already brought in three latest Android smartphones, HTC Butterfly, Samsung Galaxy S III Mini and Sony Xperia Tipo, and bundle them with attractive plans for the customers. It seems if there’s a new phone in town, it’s got to be first on Celcom!

These 3 latest Android smartphones, each for different user segment, are added into the wide range of devices Celcom has to offer. It gives buyers the best smartphone choices paired with the best plans.

HTC Butterfly (as low as RM1,468)

HTC have been doing very well in bringing in their latest smartphones to Malaysia in the shortest time in recent years. Just merely after 1 month after HTC Butterfly’s official launch in Japan, it has finally reached our shores and Celcom is now offering this HTC latest flagship Android smartphone from as low as RM1,468!

HTC Butterfly is labelled as the world’s first full HD smartphone, so you won’t be disappointed with its latest hardware and software:-

• Runs on the latest Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and 1.6 GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor.
• It has the world’s first full HD smartphone display, 5” wide.
• With an amazing 8MP camera, you won’t need any other.
• Equipped with Beats Audio to bring music to life.
• 16GB storage with expansion card slot supports microSD memory card (up to 32GB).

Samsung Galaxy S III mini (as low as RM588)

Celcom is currently offering Samsung Galaxy S III Mini at a very affordable price from as low as RM588 making it a good mid-end alternative to its expensive but more powerful sibling Galaxy S III.

Despite Galaxy S III Mini is offered at a cheaper price, it is still running on the latest Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). On the exterior, it has a 4” Super AMOLED display and sports a similar intuitive and elegant design with Galaxy S III. On the inside, it features some quality hardware too :-

• Has a 1GHz dual-core processor.
• Take pictures wherever you go with the 5MP camera.
• Integrated with S Voice, Samsung’s advanced natural language recognition software.
• 8GB storage with expansion card slot supports microSD memory card (up to 32GB).

Sony Xperia Tipo (as low as RM88)

Sony Xperia Tipo is priced as low as RM88 by Celcom, making it the least expensive Android smartphone among these 3 latest devices.

Sony Xperia Tipo has a 3.2” Scratch-Resistant display and weighs only 99.4g, so it suits user who prefers a light and small phone. Below are the highlight of its specifications:-

• It is powered by a 800MHz Snapdragon processor.
• Running on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).
• 3.2MP camera with 4x digital zoom.
• 2.9GB storage with expansion card slot supports microSD memory card (up to 32GB).

Celcom First Plan

If you are looking for a Android smartphone, get the HTC Butterfly from as low as RM1,468 (RRP: RM2,299), the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini from as low as RM588 (RRP: RM1,199) or Sony Xperia Tipo from as low as RM88 (RRP: RM499) with any Celcom First Plan of your choice:

Why Celcom First? Here are the top 10 reasons why:

• 3 simple plans with one FLAT RATE for voice & video calls, SMS & MMS.
• Enjoy more to talk with AUTOMATIC SAVINGS on your calls to all networks.
• The FLEXIBILITY to switch between postpaid and prepaid, anytime.
• Payment choice made CONVENIENT for you via reload, online or over the counter.
• EXCLUSIVE & PERSONALISED customer service always ready to assist you.
• NO BILL SHOCKS with your monthly commitment already inclusive of IDD and roaming fees.
• MULTIPLE PLANS for lower, middle or higher usage to suit every mobile need.
• FREE DATA instantly to keep you surfing, chatting and emailing on the go.
• Connect with PEACE OF MIND via real-time updates and notifications on your usage.
• The FASTEST NETWORK in Malaysia that offers superior coverage and quality.

Please feel free to visit the nearest Blue Cube outlet or get more information at www.celcom.com.my.

Nokia held a preview session for Nokia Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 in Malaysia and I had the chance to experience these 2 latest Nokia smartphones running Windows Phone 8 operating system.

The new Nokia LUmia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820 will be retailing for RM1,999 and RM1,599 respectively at Nokia Store nationwide starting today. While these 2 phones may arrive just in time for Christmas and New Year, the accessories such as wireless charging plate will only be available in January 2013. Anyway, local mobile operators Digi and Celcom will carry the phones while Maxis is expecting to join soon and they all will announce their pricing separately.

Nokia Lumia 920 & Nokia Lumia 820 Preview Session

It’s not surprising the Nokia Lumia 920 sold out in many countries during its launch. Physically, it is a beauty with rounded edges, a smooth glass finishing and seamless polycarbonate body. It boasts a 4.5” PureMotion HD+ display with ClearBlack technology and is the world’s brightest, fastest and most sensitive touchscreen. It also comes with Nokia’s signature PureView imaging technology and Carl Zeiss optics for the ultimate smartphone camera experience. With Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and a revolutionary floating lens built in taking a clear picture and video is so easy, even in low light conditions and holding it with one hand.

Side by side: Nokia Lumia 800, Nokia Lumia 820 & Nokia Lumia 920

The inner beauty of Nokia Lumia 920

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Nokia Lumia 920 & 820 Are On Sale Now In Malaysia

I’ve gotten my hand on Yes Eclipse about 2 weeks ago, it’s the only phone that supports both Yes 4G and GSM networks and it runs on Android. I’ve been using it daily since I got it, below is my view from an user experience standpoint. First and foremost, I don’t want to get into the debate of whether the term WiMax or 4G should be used. So, I’ll just use the term 4G for the ease of understanding.

Yes Eclipse

Let me start with the list of the phone’s specification :-

• CPU: Single-core 1GHz Snapdragon
• Memory: 512MB RAM
• Storage: 2GB ROM, supports MicroSD card up to 32GB
• Band: WiMAX IEEE802.16, HSPA/WCDMA (900/1200MHz) & GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz)
• OS: Android 2.2 (Froyo)
• Camera: (Back) 5 Megapixel with autofocus with LED flash
  (Front) 0.3 Megapixel
• Connectivity: Micro-USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, GPS/AGPS
• Battery: 1500mAh Li-Polymer
• Dimension & Weight: 122 x 65 x 12.9mm, 135g

Yes Eclipse is priced at RM1,688 which I think is a steep price for a phone of these specifications running on Android 2.2. Anyway, prepaid bundle plans with 12-months – 24-months contract are available so you can get the device at a lower price.

Yes Eclipse – Hardware

Frankly, the above technical specifications may not look impressive individually but I think it’s more important to look at what the smartphone can offer as a package. As a dual-mode smartphone, Yes Eclipse offers seamless connectivity on fully converged 4G and GSM networks. This is one thing that I truly appreciate as I can now switch between networks with just a tap. In other words, I can use 2 phone numbers on Yes Eclipse too.

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Yes Eclipse, The Android Smartphone That Supports Yes 4G & GSM Networks

Nokia 808 PureView has finally arrived in Malaysia! This latest Symbian Belle phone features a new Nokia PureView Pro imaging technology and a 41 megapixel camera sensor with Carl Zeiss optics.

Nokia 808 PureView sets some new industry standards with its groundbreaking image technology. Basically, it gives you lossless zoom in taking pictures or video without losing any detail while capturing the moment. You won’t get blur/pixelated image in the following situation :-

• 3x zoom for shooting still images
• 4x zoom in full HD 1080p
• 6x zoom in shooting 720p HD video
• 12x zoom in shooting nHD (640×360) video

Below are the highlights of the phone hardware specifications :-

• 41 megapixel camera sensor with Carl Zeiss optics
• Nokia PureView Pro imaging technology
• HDMI & DLNA outputs
• Support NFC & USB On-The-Go 1.3
• 16GB of built-in storage, expandable up to 48GB
• Camera Resolution: 7728px X 5368px
• Able to shoot still image in 3MP, 5MP, or 8MP
• 30 fps Full HD (1280×720) video recording
• Rich Recording: distortion-free audio recording up to 140 dB
• Dolby Headphone: Dolby surround sound playback from any stereo headphone

Visit this media gallery if you are interested in checking out the clarity of the pictures taken using Nokia 808 PureView

The Nokia 808 PureView will be retailing at RM1899 in Malaysia at Nokia retail stores. It will be available from today (8 June 2012) onwards in Black and White.

Nokia launched two of its latest Nokia Lumia phones, Nokia Lumia 800 & Nokia Lumia 710, in Malaysia early February this year. They created a buzz in the mobile phone industry in Malaysia as the consumers here are relatively new to Windows Phone platform. Many people are curious to find out what Nokia Lumia phones have to offer.

I did an unboxing video with a brief introduction to Nokia Lumia 800 a few days ago. Check it out to see what we’ll get in the package.

Below are the key features of Nokia Lumia 800 that worth mentioning.

Design & Ergonomics

Nokia Lumia 800 runs on Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) OS but on the exterior it looks very much the same with the MeeGo-powered Nokia N9 which has one-piece polycarbonate body too. The phone is nice to grip because of its durable and slip-resistant polycarbonate material. Nokia Lumia 800 is currently available in 3 lovely colours (Black, Cyan & Magenta) at the moment while the white one will join the family later this year.

The curved 3.7″ AMOLED ClearBlack display seamlessly integrated into the body and it’s protected by the tough Corning Gorilla Glass. Basically, ClearBlack display reduces reflections on the screen and improve visual image quality, especially when we are at outdoor.

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A Closer Look At Nokia Lumia 800

Nokia Lumia phone was officially launched in Malaysia in February 2012 and I finally I got my hands on a Nokia Lumia 800 a couple days ago. Just managed to shoot a quick unboxing video and some introduction of this phone.

The packaging is almost the same as the Nokia N9 has and it contains the following items :-

• Nokia Lumia 800
• Warranty card, quick guide & safety information
• Silicon case that matches the colour of the phone
• microUSB cable
• Phone charger
• Stereo earphone

Nokia Lumia 800 is now available in all Nokia Store in Malaysia and the RRP is RM1,650.

below is the unboxing video :-

Read my detailed post of a closer look at Nokia Lumia 800.