Mini 5 – Launch of new Smartphone by Dell

On March 10, 2010, in Dell Mini 5, by
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Dell has been a major player in the laptop segment and the personal computers for many years .With the launch of the new smart phone dell mini 5, Dell is going to enter a totally new arena.

Looking at the phone’s picture, I first got confused whether it is really a phone or a small tablet PC. Well, the size of the phone is too big to be like a smartphone.

I got to know that on Monday, Dell along with China Mobile gave some new details about the Dell Mini 3i smartphone. The smartphone is going to be launched in China for sale by the end of this month.

The various features of Dell’s first smartphone, the device based on Android include:

  • e-mail
  • instant messaging
  • MMS messaging
  • SMS messaging
  • Bluetooth 2.0
  • Dedicated Volume Keys
  • Micro SDHC Card Slot
  • 3 Megapixel camera
  • GPS capabilities
  • Mini USB connector
  • GSM with Edge
  • 3.5-inch, 640×360 capacitive touchscreen
  • Accommodation of Micro SD card expandable up to 32GB.

The phone is quadband – GSM/EDGE and its weight is around 105 grams. The phone includes a three megapixel camera with all the latest features such as:

  • Zoom
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • video capture
  • Capabilities of Photo editing

The resolution of touchscreen is 640 x 360 pixels.

A high definition screen of 3.5 inch was already confirmed by Dell earlier this month. Under the cover, OPhone software of China Mobile is used to run the mobile. The Ophone software is a modified edition of Android operating system by Google.

Another feature I liked is that the Dell’s New Mini 5 will be able to provide access to online store, as other Android phones do provide. The online store, in this case, will be Mobile Market of China Mobile. People could download games, applications, ringtones and wallpapers.

This is really exciting that on the home screen, users will be able to execute different applications and can keep latest information about the stock prices, news, sports score, weather etc.

Dell said that for the past one year it has been in collaboration with China Mobile. The collaboration was for the evolution and development of the new Mini 5. The collaboration has proved good for us. China Mobile and Dell have also worked together earlier for the integration of a 3G data card. The data card was for the Chinese Market for Inspiron Mini 10 netbook by Dell. Dell says that China Mobile has more than 500 million customers, and is the largest provider of mobile service in the world.

Above from all these facts about Dell and China Mobile, what matters to me is that I will be able to hold such an exciting phone in my hands in a short period of time.

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Number of connections per person will increase in 3G tablets says Dell head

On March 4, 2010, in Uncategorized, by rohit
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AT&T is preferring the tablets using 3G as it can sell more than one connections to a single customer says Neeraj Choubey, head of Dell’s Mini program.
dell phone
Randall Stephenson, CEO of AT&T commented something interesting at the investor conference in regard to the Apple’s products. According to him, the iPhone of Apple is an important part in their lineup. He says that the iPad of Apple will mainly be a “WiFi driven product”. The carrier is currently offering 3G service contract in the United States for the 3G-enabled WiFi.

In the investor conference replying to a question about the Apple iPad, Randall Stephenson said that he did not think too many new 3G subscriptions can be achieved with it because end consumers would prefer using it with WiFi. Moreover, it will be a month-by-month subscription for iPad from the AT&T, which is rare from the carrier as it usually prefer looking customers with two-year service agreements offering them subsidized and locked phones.

With the earlier idea of selling two-three connections to same customer, Neeraj Choubey said that Dell was in negotiation with AT&T to get bundled 3G on the new and first table from Dell, the Mini 5, and also on all other tablet phones being made in the Dell house.

There has been exclusivity contract by AT&T in the United States for the iPhones. However, Randall Stephenon did not disclosed as of now the length of this exclusivity deal with the Apple’s. Though he did not answer directly but he said that according to him the iPhone as “an important part” of the carrier’s phone offerings “for quite some period of time”.

Stephension, when asked about bandwidth demands, replied that in the iPhone-heavy areas such as New York City and San Francisco the network is improving to accommodate high smartphone data usage.

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AT&T may offer data-only service on Mini 5

On March 2, 2010, in Dell Mini 5, by rohit
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Is it that the Mini 5 of Dell will be only a data replacement for your smartphone?

General Manager of Dell’s tablets division Neeraj Choubey confirmed recently to Laptop Mag that the company is in negotiation with carrier AT&T to make the Mini 5 device reach to the end consumers.
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Choubey said to the magazine that one can hold this Android-based handset on their head or even attach Bluetooth headsets to make or receive calls. He adds further that the device will have a front-facing camera in it so that it eases the video calls.

Till now AT&T has not officially announced a partnership with Dell so it is tough to evaluate whether the carrier will require a voice plan also with the data service. Usually it is seen that AT&T has gone for both with all its smartphones.

Right now it seems that AT&T will go with a data-only tablet plan because many people may find this 5-inch Mini 5 tablet computer too bulky for a phone. Moreover, let us also refer the case of Apple’s iPod which is going to be offered only data service.

Speaking truth, the Dell’s Mini 5 is actually having an awkward size. It will never accommodate the pants pocket and this is creating some sort of skepticism.

Analyst Van Baker gives the right comment while talking to the media. He said the Mini Five will be sitting uncomfortably between large-screen tablets like iPad and smartphones.

This does not mean that Mini 5 will not be having its own market. It has some really positive features and one of the main features is one can make VoIP calls from this device. Choubey adds that the device may appeal to “this quintessential soccer mom” by consolidating the functions of a navigation device, a Flip camera and a cell phone into one product.

More to this, Dell will be benefiting from the Android Market and also with its smooth operation. Whatever it is, if Dell could shrink the device little more, many more users would be very interested.

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Mini 5 vs. iPad of Apple

On February 28, 2010, in Dell Mini 5, by rohit
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Let us have some comparison between the Dell Mini 5 and the Apple iPad, both are much talked about these days. First let me convey what I found in Mini Five.
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The Dell Mini 5

Mini Five loads Google apps and it is easily scaled in 3.5” screen to a 5” screen. Dell Mini 5 is easily put into belt pouch, though of big size. The life of battery in this Tablet Computer seems same to what we have seen in a screen phone, but it is better than an iPhone for browsing, gaming, watching videos, and also the typing part.

The screen of Mini 5, at 5″ the screen, looks about 90% larger and this in fact makes a lot of things better. For the purpose of multi-tasking the device has two cameras. One of it is of 5 mega pixel accompanied with twin LED lights and also digital zoom. The other camera is made for video conferencing.

The Apple iPad

Few things which comes to my mind first while writing about Apple iPad is that it lacks of multi-tasking and have heard of flash complaints many a times. Moreover, the iPad does not have any camera. The main problem that can be evaluated here is that the iPad even does not replace anything, and in fact not even a Kindle.

The battery life of kindle lasts for almost two weeks, but this is not the case of iPad. The battery of it discharges the same day, better to say, it can carry-on only in single digit hours.

The Wi-Fi version of it better works at home or and the WAN version needs another data service. So, you will still be carrying your smartphone for making calls and your laptop for the work purpose. If you are carrying you laptop then there is no need of carrying iPad for browsing.

Wrapping Up

According to me Apple should have come up with a 5” iPhone and not a 10” iPod, initially at least. Mini 5 seems to be attracting folks more who wanted something bigger than 3.5” Smartphone.

The type of screen version that iPad has is going to struggle as a reader. In it the browser is crippled vs. a Netbook or Notebook (no flash). It is too big for your portable media player.

Put your thoughts too here whether you would prefer 5″ or go for 10″ iPod.

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Mini 5 price still undisclosed, but may oscillate around iPad

On February 28, 2010, in Dell Mini 5, by rohit
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When someone speaks of tablet computer, the first thing that comes to our mind is Apple’s iPad. Well, this does not mean other companies are not busy bringing up their own version of portable computing goodness.
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The first effort of Dell in the world of tablet computers named (beta) Mini 5 is a 5-inch capacitive touchscreen of a slice of glass and plastic, which Michael Dell says it will hit the market in a couple of months. Not only this, this device is just a first in a series. According to Neeraj Choubey, general manager of tablets in Dell’s Communications Solutions Group, the company is going to have a family of such tablets. He also says that this 5-inch screen is just an example and they are going to bring to market variety of screen sizes. If this is going to happen then the other versions of Mini 5 may have larger screens in future. It may also be closer to the iPad. Let’s wait for the varieties.

Dell ventured into the mobile market some three years ago. Today the smartphones of Dell are available in Brazil and China market. The company had also given hopes to bring in North America a version of it.

Not to mention again that the device will have quick access to websites such as YouTube, MP3 music store of Amazon and also the e-mails. Presentation maker, spreadsheet and documents are also there.

Analyst Baker says, “If the Dell Mini 5 is this small and it is pocketable, then why isn’t it a phone?.. If I am going to carry a second device, it better have something that’s a significant advantage over what I can do with my phone. With the iPad, the value proposition is a much larger display.”

He adds further, “That type of model — the way iPad was able to do with AT& T — will become more prevalent with these tablet devices… It allows the carrier to increase number of devices per user.”

The price of Mini 5 is still undisclosed. Well, it may be oscillating around apple’s iPad price, may be. The iPad is introduced at a $15 for 250 MB. For $30 a month one is offered unlimited usage with no-contract data plan for use with the iPad.

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Michael Dell and Neeraj Choubey promises more on Mini 5

On February 27, 2010, in Dell Mini 5, News, by rohit
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A discussion has been flooded on the internet on the tablet-like phone device of Dell after it was announced few weeks ago. The main features talked about is a 5-inch screen boasting 800 x 480 pixel resolution, 1GHz Snapdragon processor and a 5-megapixel camera.
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Running on Android, Dell Mini 5 from inside looks like a full-fledged 3G phone. This means that its user will be enjoying a good deal of capabilities as soon as it hits the market.

Michael Dell showed the Mini Five running Android 1.6, keeping in consideration the success of Android 2.0 and 2.1 in recent days. One thing we can assume that either before of its launch or just after, upgradation may take place. Apart from 3G, the device will also be having WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Replying to how much consumer needs to shed for Mini 5, Michael Dell declined to answer and only said to the media that it would “be out in a couple months.” It may be possible that Dell is still negotiating with AT&T so that the phone is offered at subsidized price to users.

Let us rewind back what AT&T said earlier. The company said it has plans to take brave leap in the world of Android phones. AT&T will be releasing this year five Android phones and it is believed that Dell Mini Five is one of those.
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Thursday’s comprehensive interview of Neeraj Choubey, general manager of tablets in Dell’s Communications Solutions Group, revealed that they are working with carrier AT&T in bringing the phone to people. Choubey also mentioned that Android Market will be accessible with this handset as it is with more conventional Android-powered smartphone.

It was also revealed from Choubey’s interview that Dell is working on a service to provide on Mini 5 that customers will buy apps only once and they will be able to access the apps on multiple devices of Dell. Isn’t it something great and which will surely attract spontaneous buyers of the handset. Give your comments.

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Mini 5 – A device optimized for media consumption

On February 26, 2010, in Dell Mini 5, by rohit
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In our previous post about the Mini 5 of Dell, there was one question raised in our mind, on behalf of the consumers, that whether people are really proceeding to decide to buy this handset instead of smartphone. We found answer, somewhat, to this in wired.com latest article on Gadget Lab. The article carries what general manager, Neeraj Choubey, of the tablets division told.
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Neeraj Choubey: “It’s a device optimized for media consumption… It will offer the full web-browsing experience so you have something that you are holding in your hand that replaces everything the smartphone does and takes on quite a bit of the features of a laptop.”

Well, this may not be entirely true if all the services are not available on the handset because the Mini Five will be having easy and quick access to your e-mail, the MP3 store of Amazon for music, YouTube, etc. Not to forget the features of spreadsheet, documents and presentation maker. These features and some other such as voice recognition support will be common characteristics in all the tablets from Dell.

Even though pregnant with so many features with neck-to-neck competition with other smartphones in the market, analyst Van Baker contradicts Neeraj Choubey. He says, “If all you are bringing to the market is another media-playing or handheld-gaming device, then it’s not going to work… It’s all about the services you have behind the device.”

One thing is sure in Mini 5 that Dell is betting to offer a compelling value for proposition to all the business users. It bets that this tablet will not be just a coffee-table device. In fact it will be a powerful productivity tool.

One more best feature to take note of this tablet mobile what Choubey says is at very basic level one can share content across devices easily and also have it in the cloud.

Let us wait and watch and also wish that commitments do take perfect shape when the Mini 5 comes in consumers hand.

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