Helio Mysto Leak

Helio has quietly dropped the Drift from its lineup and may be replacing it with one of Samsung's more popular phones in its Korean homeland, according to a combination of leaked data from the US government. Now back to three devices, Helio last month filed a new trademark for the word Mysto that would apply to a cellphone, indicating the future name for one of its handsets. While the name does not immediately apply to any known model, a recent FCC filing has revealed a Samsung-made device for Helio's network which will most likely bear the name upon its release in the West. Few clues have so far been revealed other than its support for Bluetooth and EV-DO Internet access.

The phone's silhouette and Helio's typical emphasis on features may have betrayed its origins, however. The device as shown in a label drawing bears a strong similarity to the Samsung C220, known as the "miniskirt" for its fashionable front appearance; like Helio's other more recent phones, it also has a 2-megapixel camera, 3G Internet access, and the necessary GPS support for the American carrier's Buddy Beacon and navigation functions. Its Korean release passed in May, giving Samsung the opportunity to optimize the device for its new home.

If connected to the trademark application, the C220 would most likely launch in February as the Mysto once the FCC filing's 180-day confidentiality request has expired. The original Korean model costs $540 but may see a reduction both in its contract-free price and should drop lower after including a new cellphone plan. [via Heliocity]