New Helio hardware in the pipeline from Samsung?

Your interpretation of the Google translation is just as valid as ours, but we're getting that Samsung has entered an agreement with SK Telecom (one of Helio's parents, the other being Earthlink) to provide at least one handset to the MVNO's stable in the October timeframe. No real deets on the device itself, though this pictured Z400 "phone of champions" may be the culprit. Anything is an upgrade from the Hero, although the Z400 lacks the Kickflip's style; at any rate, if Helio wants to save itself, we're hoping Bluetooth finds its way into the mix this time around.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 10th 2006 4:41PM]

meh. unless samsung does some SERIOUS design changes, this thing won't sell. period. it looks like a cell phone for some corporate exec, not some twenty-something myspace junkie.

[Rollins Posted Jul 10th 2006 5:55PM]

Phone of Champions? More like Phone of MySpace Whores.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 10th 2006 6:35PM]

not that they'd buy it anyway.

[KC Posted Jul 10th 2006 7:03PM]

Helio needs to line up some new handset suppliers not that 50% of their current handset suppliers have gone out of buisness (VK Mobile makers of the sexy kickflip)

So much potential and so little delivered by Helio... it makes me sad :(

Oh well, at least AMP'd is expanding to Canada in the fall as an MVNO on Telus so maybe there is hope for at least one of the 3G MVNOs

[JasonK Posted Jul 11th 2006 2:38AM]

it says that following VK's bankrupcy, Samsung, who has been interested in the development of the company (Helio) has teamed up with Helio and will launch a device (or devices) in October.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2006 4:56AM]

Man, giant Samsung is making not one, but two phones just for the 100 people who are Helio subscribers? Talk about micro-personalization, sheesh!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 11th 2006 11:14AM]

Samsung will release a unit on Helio called the astropop. LBS, bluetooth, ota music download w/ yahoo, just a few of the many things being thrown around and into the phone.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 5th 2006 12:43AM]

Lest Helio actually comes out with a qwerty phone to make all that myspace and texting easier, they'll be downing eventually.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 22nd 2006 5:40AM]

Helio has well over 30,000 members, do your research.
not once has any company anywhere related to helio ever said anything about helio having trouble.

as for the phones, helio has announced QWERTY devices. reason bluetooth was delayed for the company is that in Korea things like Chocolate and Bluetooth are dead. Its a pointless feature to koreans.

ps dont bash what verizon and cingular cant offer you.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 20th 2006 2:28AM]

Just to clarify, this Samsung has been in the works just as long as the Hero or Kickflip. This has nothing to do with VK Mobile's financial situation. There is also another device scheduled for October's launch although this one might surprise you a bit since it will be a first for an US MVNO of its kind. (And no, it's not a qwerty keyboard smartphone)

Earthlink and SK have some big plans for next year. Those of you making premature statements about Helio's demise will be eating your words.