SlashPhone » Helio

Virgin Mobile USA Announces Helio Ocean 2, Available from Feb 12th

Kim Poh Liaw — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:13:48 +0000

Virgin Mobile USA has announced the long-awaited Helio Ocean 2, a dual slider phone with easy access to popular messaging and social networks and sites. The Ocean 2 will be on sale for $149 at www.virginmobileusa.com beginning February 12, 2009.

With the similar hardware built as the first Helio Ocean, the Ocean 2 has a larger 2.6-inch display screen with QVGA resolution, 2 megapixel camera and microSD card slot. One-click access to updates and alerts across multiple social networks and media sharing sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Flickr and YouTube convenient for users on the move. Its Media Player also provides background mode playback allowing the user to multi-task while listening to music.

Able to work in landscape mode for web browsing, the Ocean 2 also comes with application to view / edit the Microsoft Works, Excel and PowerPoint files right from the device.

Together with the launches of new Helio Ocean 2, Virgin Mobile is eliminating the $5 charge for unlimited mobile to mobile calling and all contract customers will have Unlimited Nights & Weekend calling starting at 7 PM.

Additional Features:

3.5mm standard media headset jack/headset
Stereo Bluetooth® Wireless
Upgraded Alert Manager
3D gaming
Video ringtones and wallpapers
Opera Mini preload
Full-featured Planner includes Calendar, To-Do List, Notepad, Stopwatch, Alarm, Calculator and World Time Clock

Virgin Mobile USA is initially releasing the Ocean 2 in a limited edition Red; black Ocean 2s will start to become available later this year.

[via slashgear]

FCC Releases Helio Ocean 2 Pictures, Anyone Still Care About it?

Kim Poh Liaw — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:04:35 +0000

Approved in March this year, FCC has finally released the external picture of Helio Ocean 2. The new Helio Ocean 2 will be a dual slider phone, with the ability of sliding side way or down that gives you a numeric keypad or QWERTY keyboard.

More Helio Ocean 2 photos at next page

via [helioncity]

Virgin Mobile USA Begins to Integrate Handsets & Voice Plans With Helio Devices & Service

Kim Poh Liaw — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:24:27 +0000

On August 22, 2008, Virgin Mobile USA completed its acquisition of Helio, the mobile telecommunications company best known for its advanced mobile services and exclusive high-end connection devices. Today, Virgin Mobile USA unveiled its new branding message to highlight the acquisition: “Helio By Virgin Mobile: Plan To Have It All.”

Immediate plans include the launch of the Shuttle, Virgin Mobile USA’s first handset enabled to integrate such Helio services as Buddy Beacon; and the enhancement of Helio’s $80 A La Carte plan, effective today, to include Unlimited Minutes rather than the current 1500 minute allocation.

The new terms of the Helio A La Carte plan, which mirror Virgin Mobile USA’s Totally Unlimited prepaid voice plan at $79.99, will be available for current and future Helio members. More information is available at http://www.helio.com.

The transition for Helio’s approximate 170,000 postpaid members and Virgin Mobile’s 5 million prepaid customers has been seamless. For now, the two customer care services and sales operations are separate, with further integration planned over the next several months.

via [engadgetmobile]

Virgin Mobile USA Closes Acquisition of Helio

Kim Poh Liaw — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 04:07:56 +0000

Virgin Mobile USA has completed its acquisition of Helio, a joint venture between SK Telecom and EarthLink, Inc. In connection with the acquisition, Helio shareholders SK Telecom and, EarthLink and have received limited partnership units and shares equivalent to 13 million shares of Virgin Mobile USA Class A common stock, with a value of $38 million based on the average closing price of Virgin Mobile USA’s Class A shares, as of two trading days before and two trading days after the date of announcement. In addition, SK Telecom and Virgin Group will each invest $25 million in Virgin Mobile USA for preferred shares.

Dan Schulman, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Mobile USA, emphasized the benefits of the transaction to Virgin Mobile USA and the new opportunities for growth it creates. “Adding Helio’s differentiated postpaid offer to Virgin Mobile USA’s existing portfolio will expand both our market opportunity and our ability to deliver new products and services more rapidly,” he said. “We believe this transformative transaction will bolster our leading position in the wireless space, and enable us to provide customers with whatever they need in wireless, always with our focus on great value, flexibility and customer service. We look forward to revealing our roadmap for expanded, innovative offers in the near future.

Virgin Mobile USA to Acquire Helio for Approximately $39 Million in Equity

Kim Poh Liaw — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:27:41 +0000

Virgin Mobile USA has entered into an agreement to acquire Helio, a joint venture between SK Telecom and EarthLink. Under the terms of the agreement, Virgin Mobile USA will acquire Helio from SK Telecom and EarthLink for limited partnership units equivalent to 13 million shares of Virgin Mobile USA class A common stock, with a value of $39 million based on the closing price of Virgin Mobile USA’s class A shares on June 26, 2008. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2008, subject to receiving regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

Helio has approximately 170,000 existing subscribers with an ARPU of approximately $80 and a handset inventory of approximately 85,000 units with a book value of approximately $17 million.

Virgin Mobile USA also announced today that Virgin Group and SK Telecom will each invest $25 million of equity capital in the Company, creating an aggregate investment of $50 million. The investments will take the form of mandatory convertible preferred stock, convertible to Class A common stock at $8.50 per share, pending shareholder approval. The preferred shares will carry a four-year maturity and a 6% annual dividend. Upon approval of Virgin Mobile USA’s shareholders, the preferred stock will convert into Class A common shares when the shares reach the conversion price or upon maturity.

Through its holding of limited partnership units and preferred stock, SK Telecom is expected to own the equivalent of approximately 17% of Virgin Mobile USA, and will take two seats on Virgin Mobile USA’s Board of Directors.

Rumor: Helio Ocean 2 Picture and Video Leaked

Kim Poh Liaw — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:27:15 +0000

Apparently while Helio Ocean 2 is being tested, a couple of videos have been uploaded to YouTube. Unfortunately all of the videos has been deleted except one, and luckily there is still a clearer picture captured on the upcoming Helio Ocean 2.

The new Helio Ocean 2 will still be a dual slider phone, with the ability of sliding side way or down that gives you a numeric keypad or QWERTY keyboard. The new dual slider will comes with 1GB internal storage, microSDHC card slot, 3 megapixel camera and an web browser that support flash video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source [helioncity] via [phonemag]

Rumor: This is the new Helio Ocean 2

Kim Poh Liaw — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:05:31 +0000

Is this the new Helio Ocean 2? Engadget has obtained a small piece of the phone picture plus some details on the specs. The new Helio Ocean 2 will still be a dual slider phone, with the ability of sliding side way or down that gives you a numeric keypad or QWERTY keyboard. The new dual slider will comes with 1GB internal storage, microSDHC card slot and an web browser that support flash video.

The Helio Ocean 2 has got FCC approved 2 months ago in March.

Source [Engadget]

Helio Now Pushes GMail/Pop/IMAP Emails to You

Kim Poh Liaw — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:51:23 +0000

Adding up to the existing instant delivery service on Helio Mail, Yahoo, Windows Live and AOL accounts, Helio is now able to push GMail, Pop or IMAP emails to your Helio phones.

If you hold a Helio device, just do a manual send/receive action on the email client to get a prompt for the Push activation. You will be asked if you want an notification automatically whenever there is new email. Now if you have an unlimited data plan, it would save you the time from keep checking the new email periodically.

via [phonemag]