Posted on May 11, 2007 at 7:25 AM in @earthlink
Note: The below is an archived entry from Earthling, formerly EarthLink's official blog. The blog itself has been decommissioned and is no longer updated, and comments are trackbacks are no longer accepted.
As of early this morning, the Helio Ocean is now available for purchase via 1-888-88-HELIO or www.helio.com. If you're near Santa Monica, Palo Alto, San Diego, Denver, or New York, you can enjoy the instant gratification of stopping by a Helio retail store and picking one up in person. Oceans will be in GameStop and EBGames stores next week, and then in authorized Helio retailers shortly thereafter. It sells for $295.
The result of efforts began even before Helio's formation as a company, the Ocean is a voice/GPS/3G data/multimedia handheld communications device with an integrated sliding QWERTY keyboard and number pad. It's hard to quickly convey all of its capabilities but in the words of Helio CEO Sky Dayton, it's an "exceptionally designed messaging, surfing, multimedia and talking device." There's lots of reviews and video walkthroughs in the blog entries currently just below this one, and more on the basics in the initial announcement.
Helio also announced a new $145 unlimited voice plan(with unlimited data as well), to join their current 500, 1000, and 1500 minute all-in data and a la carte plans.
Comments
Dave,
Can you give me a few reasons why I should buy a Helio Ocean over an Apple iPhone (when it comes out)?
I'm currently in the market for a new cell phone and I've narrowed it down to either the Ocean or the iPhone.
Posted by Travis | May 11, 2007 10:32 AM
From what I've been reading, here are three main reasons that have come up: (1)the 3G data service on the Ocean is faster than what the iPhone will offer (802.11b Wi-Fi or EDGE) (2)It's a fair bit cheaper (likely half the price), and (3)To me, the QWERTY and number pad will be preferable to a touch screen input system if I'm really going to be using it as a heavy-use phone.
The Ocean also available now, and as Scoble has said, shipping is a feature ;).
Here's a comparison chart I found. I haven't fact-checked it myself so can't guarantee its accuracy.
Posted by Dave C. | May 11, 2007 11:25 AM
Thanks for the advice, Dave.
Posted by Travis | May 11, 2007 12:11 PM