Puma started a teaser campaign a few days ago for a product called Puma Phone.  It attracted moderate interest, but, really - how excited are you supposed to be about a feature phone from a sports apparel company?  Well, they've officially used MWC 2010 as the platform to make it official.

Developed by Puma and Sagem, the device is a feature phone with capabilities that are geared towards sports and outdoor use.  It's sufficiently small (102 x 56 x 13 mm) and light (115 grams), making it easy to carry throughout the course of an active day.  Billed as having been “engineered to facilitate and encourage an active way of life,” it comes with a slew of sports-oriented applications that include a bike speedo, a run tracker, a pedometer and a sailing compass.

Phone details include a 2.8” QVGA touchscreen, a 3.2 megapixel camera module, aGPS, Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR, a 3.5mm audio jack, FM radio, microUSB port and microSD expansion.  It comes with 7.2Mbps HSDPA and 2.9Mbps HSUPA data speeds.  Battery is an 880mAh Li-ion with a rated talk time of 5 hours.  It uses a custom carousel-based UI

Since it's geared for outdoor use, the Puma Phone has been outfitted with a solar panel around the back to add a little trickle of charge.  Release is slated for April, although price hasn't been announced.

[via Unwired View]

LG announced another addition to their popular Cookie family of touchscreen handsets.  Billed as the LG Cookie Plus GS500, it's an entry-level feature phone that boasts slight improvements over the original KP500.

Looking to compete against the widely successful Samsung Corby, LG endowed the new device with a similar cartoon-like, widget-heavy UI.  In fact, the promo pictures show icons that look suspiciously familiar to anyone that has used Samsung's entry-level number.

The biggest update for the Cookie Plus is 3G connectivity, paving the way for faster browser page loads, better performance from web-connecting apps and, hopefully, streaming media support.  Social networking is a primary focus, with both the SNS (which supports Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and other social sites) and the LiveSquare apps onboard.  Most of the hardware set should be along the same lines as the original Cookie.  Other details mentioned in the press release include a 3.2 megapixel camera and an FM tuner.

In a not-so-surprising move, LG also announced that the company will be releasing a slew of Cookie-branded handsets in 2010 (each one likely to bring only slightly different features from the rest).  Yep, a strategy that directly copies a page from what Samsung has began doing with the Corby (e.g. Corby, CorbyTXT).

The LG Cookie Plus GS500 will debut in 45 countries beginning with Italy and France this coming May.  No pricing details have been given.  They also mentioned a second Cookie handset in the press release, dubbed as the LG GS290.  No details yet, but they're priming it for the UK sometime in March.

[Press Release]

Despite the label, the LG Shine II GD710 is actually the third handset with the Shine branding (and the second to come out in the US under AT&T).  Like its predecessors, it uses an unusual navigation array, midrange multimedia capabilities and the signature shiny exterior that gives the phone its name.

Physically, it sports an attractive slider design, with a sturdy metal body that sets it apart from the mass of plastic handhelds that flood the market.  It feels particularly solid in the hand, with an exceptionally solid construction and sturdy slider mechanism that delivers an assuring click when it moves into place.

The 2.2-inch LCD (320 x 240 pixels) offers bright colors and sharp graphics, as well as good performance under sunlight.  Unfortunately, the differently-styled navigation array doesn't really work all that much better compared to its predecessors, making it a bit of a mixed bag.

As a phone, the quad-band, world-capable Shine II offers satisfactory call quality, with loud and natural-sounding voices.  There's some amount of static, especially when using the speakerphone, although it should handle conversations well.  Battery life is rated at a little over three hours, which makes for about a day or so of regular use.

On the features end, it comes with all the usual fare, including a 1,000-contact phone book, PIM tools, stereo Bluetooth and a well-rounded messaging set (both POP3 and IMAP email, IM, SMS and MMS).  There's also aGPS (with support for AT&T Navigator) and a 2.0 megapixel camera (limited editing options and average image quality).

With relatively fast 3G, it brings support for AT&T's range of broadband multimedia services, including streaming audio and video, XM radio and music downloads.   It only comes with a WAP browser, though, so your use of the web could be a little limited.

Overall, the LG Shine II offers a decidedly midrange feature set.  Available without a contract for $269 (or $119 with a two-year tie-in), it should prove a good purchase if you're looking for a physically attractive 3G phone with decent multimedia capabilities.

Looking for a budget phone with some excellent social tools?  I'm not sure what regions it's available in (except for the ones on the official site - UK, Singapore and a couple of others), but the INQ Mini 3G sounds like a great option.

Physically, the candybar handset looks leagues ahead in terms of appearance, compared to INQ's previous cellphone effort.  Heck, it's considerably more attractive than a lot of the mid-range phones with the same form factor that's available right now.  Small and light, it fits very comfortably in your pocket.  It feels a little fleeting in the hand, however, with a predominantly plastic make.

The Mini 3G comes with a 2.2-inch screen showing a 320x240 resolution.  Quality is gorgeous, showing off plenty of brightness and excellent colors.  The T9-style keypad facilitates comfortable use, although the navigation array doesn't exactly work seamlessly with the menu interface.

As a phone, it manages excellent calls, with clear and natural-sounding voices.  The speakerphone works equally well, although it could have used just a slight more volume.  While the interface works decently, overall phone operation feels a little sluggish, sometimes pausing in mid-operation for a split second.  The 3G speed also doesn't appear to be that fast.   Battery life should be good for 2.5 hours of regular use.

Being a social networking device, the Mini 3G's main strengths lie in its native integration of social-based services, namely Facebook, Twitter, Skype and Windows Live Messenger.  Using them is literally a breeze, with performance (for the aforementioned services) that's better than 90% of phones around. The inbox structure - which gathers all messages and conversations in one place - is downright brilliant.

All other features, however, aren't as souped-up, but they work well enough, especially at this handset's price point.  The 2.0 megapixel camera, for instance, takes rather lacking shot quality - a shame since the interface from shooting a photo to uploading it to Twitter is very well-done.  There's also a decent media player, Bluetooth and compatibility with a variety of streaming services.  One feature many will like is the built-in tethering support - yep, simply connect it to your laptop and use your phone's 3G to get online.

Despite a few complaints, the INQ Mini 3G is a serious value for its price.  Available for just $100 unlocked and free with a contract from any network, it's an excellent mid-range phone, especially if you're heavy on the social networking.

Slim and light, the Samsung Mythic is the latest mobile TV handset from AT&T.  Marrying familiar Samsung design with a solid multimedia feature set, it's among the more interesting entertainment devices currently in the carrier's roster.

Physically, the Mythic comes with a sleek, albeit understated, design.  It sports rounded corners, chrome lining and a glossy chassis, marked with a solid construction.  Display is an ample 3.3-inch touchscreen with a generous 640 x 360 resolution.  Images appear vibrant, with excellent color and sharp details.  It uses Samsung's proven TouchWiz interface, paired with a highly-responsive touchscreen facility.

As a phone, it manages generally good call quality with a very feint amount of distortion.  It's barely noticeable and won't distract, so don't worry.  Speakerphone performance was similarly good, adding just a little bit of echo to conversations.  The phone's 3G performance was acceptable, managing decent speeds during surfing, downloads and video streaming.  Battery life is a little lacking at only 3 hours of talk time.  Given that it's geared towards heavy multimedia use, you'll either need to replenish every night or carry a charger along.

It comes with the usual set of basic conveniences, including a 2,000-entry phonebook, full messaging support (SMS, MMS, IM and web email), stereo Bluetooth and GPS.  You can watch broadcast programming via AT&T's Mobile TV, which is powered by Qualcomm's MediaFLO network.  For as low as $10 a month, you can get up to 150 simulcast and time-shifted programs on a regular basis.  Along with TV shows, the phone also plays nice with AT&T's various streaming services, including mobile video and mobile music.

The 3.2 megapixel camera manages above average photo quality for similarly-armed cellphones, with a good range of editing options.  It comes with AT&T's full HTML browser, which is based from Opera Mobile. For casual surfing, it works well enough, although I would have appreciated a few more functionalities.

Overall, the Samsung Mythic does well where it's supposed to: TV viewing and multimedia playback.  If you're looking for a feature phone that can manage those capably, this should prove a worthy choice.  Price isn't that cheap, however, at a $199 price point with a two year contract.

The Samsung Flight SGH-A797 is a unique feature phone, in that it comes with both a touchscreen and a slide out QWERTY keyboard, two features that usually find their way hand-in-hand only in smartphones.  If you like having that much variety of input even without the versatile talents of a full-fledged WinMo or Android device, then you'll likely find this to be an attractive offering.

Physically, the Flight is a little bigger than most messaging/feature phones, but it remains decidedly portable. Construction is solid and build is sturdy.  Plus, it looks good too.  The touchscreen measures 2.8 inches with a 320 x 240 resolution, which is a little small for comfortable onscreen typing, making the QWERTY keyboard kind of warranted.  Surprisingly, it doesn't come with TouchWiz, Samsung's well-worn touch interface.  The UI they used isn't too shabby, though.

As a phone, it manages decent-sounding calls, but there was a strange pitch that persisted throughout all conversations.  It's not that easy to detect, but you probably won't even notice it.  Speakerphone performance was also good with ample volume levels.  3G speeds seems a bit slower, though, for some reason.  Battery life is rated at three hours of talk time, which means you'll probably drain this within a day of normal use (two days max).

The Flight comes with all the basic features you expect from a mid-tier phone - a 2,000 contact phone book, a full messaging suite (SMS, MMS, IM and POP3 email) and stereo Bluetooth.  It comes with a good range of media support, along with a bevy of media-related apps that take advantage of the phone's broadband speeds, including XM Radio, Music ID, Billboard Mobile and AT&T's own services (both music and video).  Onboard 2.0 megapixel camera offers an extensive range of editing options and acceptable image quality.    There's also a GPS.

Overall, I like the feature set available in the Samsung Flight SGH-A797.  The performance is a tad lacking, but it should suffice for moderate multimedia needs.  While the QWERTY keys make it viable as a messaging phone, the lack of email support beyond AT&T's default POP3 service makes it a tad difficult.  It's not that easy to recommend at the $99 contract price, but it's a good choice nonetheless.

The Sony Ericsson Aino is an ambitious phone that tries to add new capabilities other handsets usually don't come with. It bears some very noticeable flaws, but its brave attempt at providing innovative features help it stand out from the pack.

While not exactly the PSP Phone everyone was hoping for, the handset does have a special relationship with the PS3. You can't use it to control games as earlier rumored, but you can turn the console ON and OFF from your phone. Streaming video and audio over cable works like a charm. You can also do it over 3G and Wi-Fi using the Remote Play feature although it's not that easy to configure (let's just say you'll do a lot of trial and error - mostly error).

Physically, the Aino is a beautiful phone with a very attractive design. The interface modes are also quite unique to the handset, mixing both touchscreen and non-touchscreen interfaces, depending on whether the keyboard is slid out or not. Like many Sony Ericsson handsets, the touch implementation is not that good, especially if you're used to better touch controls, such as those on the iPhone and Samsung's handsets.

As a phone, it manages average quality voice calls, with natural-sounding voices and little distortion. Speakerphone is also better than average. Battery life rating isn't stated, but it should be good for around two days of normal use.

The Aino is a feature-rich device, easily evidenced by reading through the specs list. Quite simply, it has everything you can ask for in a feature phone and more. Notables include a good number of useful apps (both pre-installed and downloadable from Sony Ericsson's app store), a decent (albeit, not full HTML) web browser, both 3G and Wi-Fi access, an onboard GPS and a very good music player. For the latter, do note that the phone doesn't have a 3.5 mm jack, but it does come with a wireless adapter. There's also a pretty powerful 8.1 megapixel camera with a huge amount of editing options, although quality of stills is largely average.

Overall, the Sony Ericsson Aino is an ambitious feature phone with some innovative talents. It doesn't always work as advertised, but is a good try nonetheless. It could use a bit of a price reduction, though.

The Sony Ericsson Aino, which some people have been labeling the PSP phone, is now available in the US, although it's not coming with any carrier badge.  Instead, you'll have to get it unlocked directly from the SonyStyle website.

Like some of the company's higher-end devices, it marries the best of both the Walkman and Cyber-Shot brands, touting heavy multimedia support and a powerful 8.0 megapixel camera module.  The camera comes with a complete set of accoutrements, including autofocus, LED flash, 30fps video recording, touch focus, geotagging and a wide range of editing options.

Features include a 3-inch TFT touchscreen with 432 x 230 resolution, onboard GPS with Google Maps, Wi-Fi, 3G (it supports AT&T's 850/1900 MHz bands), microSDHC expansion (8GB preinstalled), live TV streams (with recording options) and MediaGo support.  One of its more unique capabilities is Remote Play, which allows it to control, interact and stream content with the PS3.  Like many Sony Ericsson releases, the Aino uses a proprietary audio jack, which makes replacing the packaged buds a little harder than necessary.

The high-end feature phone received FCC approval nearly two months ago and some have been expecting it to land with AT&T.  As it is, you'll have to get it without carrier subsidy at a fairly expensive $600 price.

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[Sony Style]

The Samsung Rogue SCH-U960 (released in the US by Verizon) is a touchscreen messaging phone with a full QWERTY keyboard that slides out of the side.  With so many handsets of the same configuration in the market, the Rogue manages to set itself apart by sheer quality - it's simply one of the best devices in its category.

While largely geared toward heavy messaging users, the Rogue manages to count several high-end features among its specs.  Things like an AMOLED screen and a full HTML browser with Flash support just don't come to this class of handsets all that often.

Physically, the phone is a bit on the bulky side.  That's understandable, considering the hardware it packs, along with the full QWERTY panel.  It bears sophisticated looks, though, thanks to the bronze-and-silver color scheme and slightly roundish form.

The 3.1-inch touchscreen, however, simply steals attention.  Display is gorgeous at a 480 x 800 resolution, with vibrant colors and extremely bright images.  It does suffer somewhat under direct sunlight, but it's beautiful nonetheless.  Boasting Samsung's well-worn TouchWiz interface, UI performance holds its own across the excellent screen.

As a phone, voice calls sounded natural and clear.  Speakerphone performance was very similar, although the voices sounded a tad robotic.  Rated battery life is 4.7 hours of talk time, which should be good enough to last you more than a day of use.

Like many of Samsung's touchscreen handsets, the Rogue offers plenty of niceties on the front end, beginning with numerous widgets across a sliding toolbar.  You get the whole works of basic phone capabilities, including stereo Bluetooth, onboard apps (document viewers and such) and more.  Messaging suite is naturally complete, with SMS, MMS, IM (AIM, Windows Live and YM), visual voicemail and email (via mobile e-mail, corporate e-mail and mobile Web e-mail).  Some of the services do cost extra, though, so check your plan before activating.    The four-row QWERTY keyboard is spacious and responsive, making for a great time typing out messages.

More premium features include a 3.0 megapixel camera module (very impressive photo quality), high-speed internet connectivity (allowing for fast downloads and streaming), full HTML browsing (Flash support is limited, but works with YouTube and a few other video sites) and GPS (with VZ Navigator).  Multimedia is a particular strength for the device, offering an excellent music player and a decent video app.  It can play H.264 clips, which look incredible on the AMOLED display.  Streaming video isn't the best quality, however.

Available for $99 on Verizon (after a $100 rebate), the Samsung Rogue SCH-U960 comes in as one of the best messaging feature phones around.  The AMOLED screen, great camera performance and well-designed keyboard guarantee that this handset will be well worth the price.

While T-Mobile has largely stayed away from the messaging feature phone craze that has swept carriers over the last 12 months, that's not to stay it doesn't get even the least bit into the action. The Samsung Comeback sure puts them in the thick of it, offering a solid youth-oriented messaging handset with enough high-end niceties to make it worth your while.

As a messaging phone, the Comeback supports the usual set of features, including SMS, MMS, IM (AIM, Windows Live, and Yahoo) and email. It doesn't allow use of your own POP3 or IMAP server, but you can set up any account from AIM Mail, AOL Mail, Yahoo Mail, Comcast, and Gmail.

Physically, the Comeback is the kind of phone you will either love or abhor (please note that I needed a stronger form of hate), especially with that color scheme. It's wide, clunky and looks too cute for comfort. Build is good, though, and the side-flipping hinge feels very sturdy.

Like most clamshell phones, it sports two screens, a 1-inch PMOLED panel on the front and a 2.7-inch display inside. The outer one offers sharp lines but isn't very bright, while the inside display offers great output quality. Keyboard is very good, although we would have preferred a little more room at the edges (for the QWERTY one, at least).

As a phone, the Comeback offers good and natural-sounding voice calls, with a small bit of static. It also comes with all the basic phone features, along with a surprisingly good speakerphone experience.

Full HTML browsing (via 3G connection) is available for the phone, which supports both Javascript and some Flash. Implementation was well-done, although the screen size meant more frequent scrolling than you'd likely care for.

The onboard camera is actually very good for a 2.0 megapixel unit, with plenty of customization options and shooting modes. Image quality is above average, although camcorder captures (320 x 240) are pretty awful. It also comes with an onboard media player that's very comprehensive, with plenty of options and settings. Samsung could have bandied this as a music-centered phone and it would have been fitting. Other features of the handset include GPS (Telenav pre-installed), stereo Bluetooth, USB mass storage and microSD card support.

Overall, the Samsung Comeback is a very good messaging handset, with plenty of high-end talents to go around. If you can appreciate the phone's design, it could prove a very good choice for your next purchase.

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