Wireless carrier 3 has introduced its Web Cube 3G hotspot to the UK. The broadband router, made by Huawei, offers broadband networking to up to five Wi-Fi devices. 3 is targeting renters and students who want Wi-Fi at home without being tied to a contract or a landline.
Denmark's Three wireless carrier has brought the unique addition of video calling for its call center staff, allowing users to buy a new phone face-to-face without physically being in a store. The interface allows the employees to show off product videos and photos as well as features on a heads-up, picture-in-picture window during the video call as well. Shoppers don't have to show themselves to the Three employees, however.
(Update: not worldwide) Google has just informed The Verge that the Galaxy Nexus will be "pretty much everywhere" beginning Monday, November 21. This likely means a launch in Canada and the US among other countries, making North Americans wait an extra weekend compared to UK buyers. The UK version is LTE-less, just like the Canadian version, while the US phone will have an LTE radio onboard.
HTC's Facebook-oriented smartphones, the ChaCha and Salsa, have now gone up for pre-order on Amazon UK. The ChaCha lists for £250 (about $409) and the Salsa is priced at £320 (nearly $524). The phones are due to arrive on June 26 and are sold as unlocked devices.
The UK is reportedly preparing its largest-ever spectrum auction, which will include bands spreading across 250MHz of spectrum no longer utilized by television broadcasters. The wireless regulation authority Ofcom is said to be working to finalize a strategy that will ensure the spectrum is distributed among at least four competing networks.
UK network operators Three and Vodafone will soon get Sony Ericsson's Xperia Arc smartphone, both announced on Wednesday. While release dates weren't specific, it's expected the phone will begin arriving in April. Pricing for the device at either carrier also remains unknown.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab has officially launched in the UK market today but has been launching cautiously. Vodaphone said the Galaxy Tab will be available for £499 ($802) with rolling monthly plans that start at the equivalent of less than five dollars (plus data charges). Wireless provider Three is offering the tablet for as low as £100 ($161) with a two year, £40/month ($64) contract that provides 5GB of data, but has not released pricing for voice plans. Orange prices the device at £499 ($802) with 12 month data plans that start at 500MB/month for £5 ($8).
Samsung Mobile UK manager Gary Twohig revealed in an interview with SiliconRepublic that a 10-inch version of the Galaxy Tab will be released during the first half of next year. The devices, including the seven-inch version, will not sport a Super AMOLED display, he added, but the displays will be capable of displaying HD video. The 10-inch Galaxy Tab will still have a version of Android, but whether it's 2.2, 3.0 or a future release like Honeycomb isn't known.
The Mini 3G handset introduced by INQ earlier this summer is now being offered by wireless provider 3. The candybar handset is meant for younger owners heavily involved in social networking, as it can be customized with body covers in eight different colors and has shortcuts for access to Facebook, IM programs, Skype and Twitter.
