The Glory features a 4-inch 854×480 pixel resolution display, a 8-Megapixels camera on the back, and 2 GB of memory inside along with a microSD card slot. It has 1900 mAh battery. As for the thickness, Huawei Glory is 9.7mm thick. The device is pre-paid smartphone in US. It hits Cricket on November this year.

[via SlashGear]

Now, there won’t be $25 refilled. T-Mobile apparently exterminated their lowest priced refill options and switch with $30 option. So, T-mobile pre-paid users, expect to see this change on October 20th.

[via TmoNews]

It breaks down like this: T-Mobile’s chosen the $50 sweet spot for their own plans, and if you choose this path you’ll get unlimited access to voice calls, text, video, and picture messages. It’s not unlimited data, unfortunately, and it doesn’t look like T-Mobile is going to add it any time soon. But, at least you’ve got the main features taken care of.

But, if you’re not a fan of unlimited features, you can still opt-in for T-Mobile’s pay-as-you-go plans. Also, the magenta carrier hasn’t dropped its current monthly pre-paid plans for $15 per month, featuring unlimited messaging, and $.10 for voice calls.

[via T-Mobile]

“Beyond Talk” is by far the best plan, especially when you compare them against the larger wireless carrier’s pre-paid plans. These start at just $25, and they include unlimited messaging, email, data, and web access. On the voice end of things, you’re looking at 300 minutes of talk time. But, if you’re more interested in getting a BlackBerry, you’ll just have to add an additional $10 to the plan of your choice, and you’re good to go. But, if you think you’re going to be talking more, boost up your plans to 1,200 minutes for $40 a month, or unlimited minutes for only $60.

As for phones, it’s not as bad as you may think. You can pick up the BlackBerry Curve 8530 for $299.99 (remember, you’re buying your phone out-right, due to there not being a contract), the Kyocera Loft for $69.99, the LG Rumor Touch will run you $149.99, and finally the LG Rumor 2 for $89.99. Dan Schulman, President of Sprint’s pre-paid group, believes that these pre-paid plans, which will be available starting May 12th of this year, are a reflection of the wireless industry’s inevitable change: data usage and text messages over actual voice calls. We’d have to agree, but that’s just because we like texting.

SPRINT’S PREPAID MULTI-BRAND STRATEGY FOCUSES ON DISTINCT CUSTOMER SEGMENTS

Differentiated Brands Old & New Aim to Serve Increasingly Diverse Audiences, Tackle Specific Competitors

WARREN, N.J. – May 6, 2010 – Sprint [NYSE:S] today officially unveiled its comprehensive multi-segment approach to the prepaid wireless marketplace. Since Sprint’s acquisition of Virgin Mobile USA, Inc., the company has rolled out a series of new prepaid products, enhancements and industry-advancing products, each designed to appeal to specific customers in the wireless space.

“We brought together the resources and experience of the Boost and Virgin Mobile teams in late 2009,” said Sprint CEO Dan Hesse. “Since that time, we have been developing the critical pieces of our multi-brand prepaid strategy. Our approach to the prepaid market can truly set us apart from the competition with tailored offers that will address specific needs in this growing market.”

“This is the year that prepaid moves to the forefront of the wireless industry,” said Dan Schulman, president of Sprint’s prepaid group. “In the first quarter of 2010, more than half of the mobile gross additions in the U.S. selected prepaid, and we predict that approximately 70% of the net adds in 2010 will choose plans without a contract.”

“With almost 60 million people now on prepaid service,” Schulman continued, “the no-contract market has clearly moved beyond the credit-challenged and lower income segments. The prepaid market has changed dramatically, with customers across multiple demographics and lifestyles demanding a wide variety of handsets, features, and plans tailored to their specific needs and wants.”

Sprint’s prepaid portfolio will initially be driven by four brands, with each focused on a specific audience. “The launch of this portfolio goes far beyond changing prices,” explained Schulman. “We are introducing innovative and attractive offers for specific groups of customers based on usage and habits – from those who are on limited budgets and use their phones infrequently to those who want high-end devices to use for all their communications, entertainment and social networking.”

Virgin Mobile USA

Reinventing prepaid wireless once again, Virgin Mobile will introduce an innovative new value proposition that focuses on serving customers who use text and data services to power constant connection with their social networks.

With unlimited messaging, email, data and web included on all plans starting at just $25 a month and a new high-end handset lineup, Virgin Mobile will offer a clear alternative for customers who want a data-driven service without expensive annual contracts and thousands of unnecessary voice minutes. With the addition of the lowest-priced BlackBerry® service plan in the market, Virgin Mobile will provide real value for individuals looking to stay connected without compromising on handset or service quality.

The way youth and young adults communicate has changed dramatically over the past few years. Data from Nielsen shows that usage patterns for postpaid mobile subscribers aged 18-34 shifted from 2007 to 2009. Minutes of talk dropped over 10% while messages sent and received grew by more than 150%. The amount of data usage within this group grew by over 1800% during the same time period.

Beyond Talk™

On May 12, Virgin Mobile will unveil three new “Beyond Talk” plans that all include unlimited messaging, email, data and web [with no incremental fees or taxes]:

The revolutionary $25 plan is the industry’s lowest price point for unlimited messaging, email, data and web with 300 minutes of voice per month, ideal for high-end device users seeking an unbeatable price to enable the text and data services they need.
The $40 plan includes unlimited messaging, email, data and web with 1,200 minutes of voice per month — the perfect value for those seeking an affordable plan with everything they need.
The $60 plan includes unlimited messaging, email, data and web with unlimited voice to offer great value for high-end smartphone users expecting an unlimited plan to cost much more.
For the first time, Virgin Mobile customers can add Blackberry® data service to any of these plans for just $10 more, enabling an unprecedented $35 plan consisting of both voice calling and Blackberry data service.

“Our new offers target a continuing evolution in wireless consumer behavior – increased use of text and data services as a form of wireless communication over talk,” explained Schulman. “These Beyond Talk plans offer the most accessible solution for customers seeking that data-driven lifestyle — unlimited text and data on their terms without a contract, at prices they will love, without requiring them to buy extra minutes they don’t need.”

New Handsets

Virgin Mobile’s new handset lineup proves that a two-year contract isn’t necessary to get a hot data-driven device:

The Blackberry Curve™ 8530 smartphone is a particularly desirable device without a contract. Key features include an approachable form factor, full-QWERTY keyboard, optical track pad, Wi-Fi connectivity, dedicated media keys, and 2 MP camera. The Blackberry Curve 8530 smartphone will be available for $299.99 at retail and at www.virginmobileusa.om at the end of May.

The LG Rumor Touch™ at $149.99 is the first full touch interface handset from Virgin Mobile and is only available without a contract on these plans. Customers can use all the data they want and message all of their friends easily and simply with a Beyond Talk plan. This handset is ideal for the super-connected with an external memory drive that can store up to 16GB of data.

The very popular LG Rumor 2™ QWERTY launched last year, also only available without a contract from Virgin Mobile. For $89.99, it allows customers to message quickly and easily with preloaded apps like the Ultimate Inbox, threaded messaging and Connect social networking. The popular Opera Mini web browser is included as well.

The Kyocera Loft QWERTY for $69.99 suits message-savvy customers perfectly with an embedded instant messaging and email application, and message threading for SMS and MMS in a single inbox. The camera phone includes the networking features mentioned above as well as a Google Maps and other navigational applications.

Virgin Mobile USA continues to serve its current base of prepaid customers with a wide range of handsets, monthly unlimited plans, Minute Packs, Texters Delight and Broadband2Go.

Broadband

Broadband2Go, launched last year under the Virgin Mobile label, also targets the needs of the high data-using crowd that wants easy wireless Internet access wherever they are but doesn’t want to sign a long-term contract.

“Since we expanded distribution, lowered the price, and added more data capacity without changing prices, sales have tripled,” said Schulman. “We’ll continue to enhance this product line as well, possibly under multiple brands to include new services and the very latest in high speed networks, including 4G where available.”

Broadband2Go operates on Sprint’s Nationwide Network, unlike other prepaid broadband offers.

Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile continues its popularity by focusing on consumers who love to talk and text and stay connected with the best value and straightforward monthly unlimited pricing. With more than 25% of U.S households now wireless-only for voice, Boost offers value and service that is second to none. This week, Boost added unlimited 411 calls, email and instant messaging to its $50 Monthly Unlimited plan, which also features unlimited talk, text and web access.

Boost’s ever-increasing suite of CDMA handsets, introduced in late January, is driving significant consumer demand. The Blackberry Curve 8830 smartphone, launched earlier this year, is joined by the Samsung Rant™ and, from Sanyo by Kyocera, the Incognito™, Mirro™ SCP3810 and Juno™ on the CDMA side. Depending on a customer’s choice of features, Boost Mobile also is available on the Nextel National Network for push-to-talk technology.

Assurance Wireless

First launched late last year, Assurance Wireless is a free wireless service developed specifically for the 37 million eligible low-income households who need it most. Qualifying customers – often cash-constrained individuals eligible for government- assistance programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps) – receive a free cell phone and 200 free minutes of airtime for local and long-distance calling every month.

Sprint is “proud to offer this valuable program,” according to Schulman, which is currently available in Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia and will continue to expand as individual states approve the program. To date, hundreds of thousands have signed up for this uniquely tailored offer. Sprint anticipates that Assurance Wireless will be available in approximately 25 states by the end of 2010.

A New Pay By the Minute Brand

During Sprint’s first quarter earnings call, reference was made to another new brand to launch this month targeting budget-conscious customers who spend less than $30 per month and are focused on the value they pay per minute. Roughly 63% of the no-contract market chooses to pay by the minute or by the day.

“There are millions of people who don’t want or can’t afford smartphones and expensive data plans,” said Schulman. “This is the traditional no-frills prepaid customer base. For these ‘basic communicators,’ we are creating a fresh brand with industry-leading value and consumer-friendly offers.” Designed to resonate directly with cost-conscious consumers, this new brand is expected to initially debut at retail in approximately 16 markets.

Hop 1810 (Hop 1811 Photo not available at the moment)

The HOP1811 is a dual-band 850/1900MHz, or 900/1800MHz phone for Europe and Asia, weighing a scant 79 grams, offers 4 hours of talk time, 150 hours of standby time and polyphonic ring tones. Though low in cost, the HOP1811 uses reliable Infineon chip sets for excellent audio quality, reception and call stability. An MP3 option can also be added to this low-end phone. The company offers a $5 rebate for returning the phone to encourage recycling to “Keep it Green.”

AT&T call center representatives in the GoPhone divison have confirmed to PhoneNews.com that the current $19.99 unlimited GoPhone data option on Pay As You Go service would be discontinued on November 12th, stating that the offering was meant as a trial exercise and that the company is exploring other options for prepaid data offerings.

[PhoneNews via Gizmodo]

Hop-on’s new series includes the HOP1801 Smart Phone. This particular phone will be the lowest cost Smart Phone on the market. The HOP1803 is an Ultra Low Price GSM Tri band phone, and the HOP1805 is an Ultra Low Price cell phone for emerging markets. The HOP1810 is a GSM Dual Band Camera Phone. All four phones will be available for distribution in North and South America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, supporting English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and more upon request.

Available in North and South America are the HOP1808 Dual Sim Mobile Phone with Camera, Supported MP4/SMS/MMS/GPRS/WAP/FM Stereo with Bluetooth optional. The HOP1809 3G mobile phone with Camera, supported MP4 /MMS/ STK/ JAVA/ BREW/ SMS and Bluetooth. And finally the HOP1800, the Lowest Cost mobile phone in the world. This simple phone is a GSM Dual band with no display that features a Braille keypad. See below for the specifications and picture.

HOP1801

• OS: Smart NX Mobile (Linux)
• platform: AP (Chipnuts Processor C7280)
• Band: GSM Tri band 900/1800/1900 MHz
• Dimension: 116mm (D) x64mm (W) x14mm (H)
• Display: 2.5 inch QVGA 320*240 262K TFT (Touch Screen)
• Camera: CMOS 2M pixels
• External memory slot: Micro SD
• Ring tone: Midi 64 Polyphonic.

HOP1803

• Band: GSM Tri band (850/1900 or 900/1800) MHz
• Dimension: 96.6 mm (D) x41.6 mm (W) x15.9 mm (H)
• Display: 1.5 inch 128*128 64K CSTN display
• Internal Memory: 32(Nor Flash) +8(SRAM)
• Ring tone: Midi 16 Polyphonic
• Supported: SMS/STK
• FM Radio (optional)
• Supported MSN: USB: MMS: WAP: EMS: JAVA:
• Bluetooth: GPS (optional)
• QWERTY key pad

HOP1805

• Band: GSM Tri band (850/1900 or 900/1800) MHz
• Dimension: 96.6 mm (D) x41.6 mm (W) x15.9 mm (H)
• Display: 1.5 inch Black/White STN display
• Internal Memory: 32(Nor Flash) +8(SRAM)
• Ring tone: Midi 16 Polyphonic
• Supported: SMS/STK
• FM Radio (optional)

HOP1810

• Band: GSM Tri band 850/1900 or 900/1800 MHz
• Dimension: 96 mm (D) x43 mm (W) x13 mm (H)
• Display: 1.5 inch 128*128 64 CSTN display
• Camera: CMOS .03M pixel
• External memory slot: Micro SD
• Ring tone: Midi 16 Polyphonic
• Supported: SMS/MMS/ MP4 Player
• Speaker 20x14mm
• FM Radio (optional)

HOP1808

• Band: GSM Tri band 850/1800/1900 MHz
• Dimension: 108 mm (D) x48 mm (W) x14 mm (H)
• Display: 2.4 inch 262 K TFT display
• Camera: CMOS 2.0M pixel
• External memory slot: Micro SD
• Ring tone: Midi 64 Polyphonic
• Supported: MP4 /SMS/MMS/ GPRS/WAP/FM Stereo
• Bluetooth (optional)

HOP1809 3G

• Band: GSM 850/1800/1900 MHz
• UMTS/HSDPA Band 850 or 1900 MHz
• Dimension: 108.7nn (D) x47.2mm (W) x14.5mm (H)
• Display: 2.0 inch QCIF TFT Color display
• Camera: CMOS 300K up to 1.3 Mega bit
• External memory slot: Micro SD
• Ring tone: Midi 64 Polyphonic
• Supported: MP4 /MMS/ STK/JAVA/BREW/SMS
• Bluetooth

via [engadgetmobile]

At a $10 price point in the US retail and convenient stores, the HOP1800 could be considered disposable, but the company offers a $5 rebate for returning the phone to encourage recycling the phone to “Keep it Green”.

The HOP1800 is a study in simplicity. There is no display. A tactile numeric keypad with Braille markings, offers reassuring buttons that touch screen cell phone users are longing for. Being a pre-paid cell phone, no contracts are required so you can be up and talking in seconds. The HOP1800 can be used with over 40 US carriers including AT&T, Cingular and T-Mobile as well as through Hop-On’s own low cost Graffiti Wirelesstm network.

Specifications:

• Size: 96.6mm(D)x41.6mm(W)x14mm(H)
• Weight: 77g
• Bands: Dual-band 850/1900MHz or 900/1800MHz
• Battery: Standard Li-Ion 600mAh
• Battery Life: Talk time 4 hours; Standby time 150 hours
• Ringer: Polyphonic (16 Midi)
• Embedded Vibration: Yes
• SIM Lock: Yes
• Keypad Lock: Yes