After the success of the MOTO A 1200, Motorola has announced that version 2 is on its way. The new MING, the A1600, appears to have a similar design but is a bit squarish with a similar transparent flip casing.

It will be 3G-enabled, come equipped with Wi-Fi and AGPS, and retain its touchscreen feature, but will have a newer Linux UI. Another upgrade is with the camera. The A1600 will boast a 3.2 megapixel, auto-focus camera with an LED flash. The CPU has also undergone an upgrade, so it should naturally be faster. The phone will be approximately 17.5 mm thick, so it’s going to be slimmer than the original. No pricing or availability has been announced yet.

Motorola has introduced the MOTO Q 8, the GSM version of the original CDMA-based MOTO Q, as well as the flagship, quad-band 3G QWERTY, the MOTO Q 9h, in India. The MOTO Q 9h, based on the Windows Mobile 6 operating system, features a dual-processor HSDPA/UMTS engine, enabling downloads at up to 3.6Mbps. Moto Q 8 is a quad band GPRS/EDGE1 QWERTY device that is also based on Windows Mobile 6 operating system.”

Motorola is expanding its range in the enterprise segment in India with the launch of  MOTO Q 8 and MOTO Q 9h’” said Lloyd Mathias, Director Marketing, India & South West Asia for Motorola Mobile Devices. “The MOTO Q 9h was developed as a multi-purpose communication device that is easy to use and doesn’t compromise on experiences. This smartphone offers state-of-the art voice quality technology, messaging, and speed, processing power, keyboard and display packaged within a sleek design for the modern consumer.

A complete productivity and entertainment-on-the-go device.” Both MOTO Q 8 and MOTO Q9h are preloaded with Documents To Go application which enables user to create, edit and view Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and Powerpoint slides and view PDF files.

Samsung’s latest iteration of its popular Blackjack Windows Mobile phone is getting ready to hit the spotlight. The Samsung SGH-i617 BlackJack 2 (II) is said to have an integrated GPS module – the SiRF III GPS receiver that’s apparently hardware-based. No word yet on what software will be used though. We do know that the phone will run on Windows Mobile 6.0 OS and is a Quadband, GSM, HSDPA-enabled phone. Price and release date haven’t been announced, nor have any detailed specs come to light.

Considering the fact that it is an upgrade, the SGH-i617 BlackJack 2 will presumably retain a familiar design, with QWERTY keypad and Wi-Fi connectivity. Hopefully it should also have Bluetooth with A2DP, and microSD support for external memory. No word yet on what camera it’ll sport, though being an upgrade it should have at least a 2 megapixel camera. But then again, this is only speculation… as soon as we know you’ll know, so stay tuned.

After being teased with the info that the phone exists, but with no news on the release date or pricing, it’s finally here. Nokia has launched the N82. Another high end mobile from the Finnish mobile makers with a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics. But this time, unlike the N95, they equipped the phone with a Xenon flash. The N82 is also equipped with A-GPS for navigation with preinstalled Nokia maps and all the standard packages come with a free voice guided navigation trial. You can purchase additional features, such as city guides and longer subscription to the navigation. Also available in the standard pack is a 2GB micro SD card.

“The evolution of camera capabilities in mobile devices has been extremely fast over the past years. With the Nokia N82 we have reached such a superior level in image quality, speed and ease of use that not only does it outperform any other camera phone on the market, but it’s also a very credible alternative for single purpose digital still cameras,” said Satu Ehrnrooth, head of Nokia Nseries Cameras Category, Multimedia, Nokia. “In addition to the high-end camera, the Nokia N82 also enables you to navigate and discover new places, enjoy your music, browse the web, play games, chat online and be part of the global web 2.0 community wherever you go. Thanks to the wireless broadband connectivity, convergence and yet again increased performance, the Nokia N82 is all you need in your pocket. 

Everyone at Samsung probably hates it when people compare their devices to the Apple iPhone. But when you officially announce a cell phone like the Samsung F490, the comparisons are inevitable. Previously, we caught a sneak peek at this handset through a random Ukrainian source, but at the time, nothing was set in stone nor did we have any idea whether this device was even for real. Samsung has now officially revealed the Samsung F490 and, yet again, comparisons to the iPhone are popping up. The F490 features a large 3.2-inch TFT touchscreen display that covers nearly the entire front face of the phone.

Underneath are a few touch sensitive controls for basic stuff like initiating and ending a call. The display can also be used in landscape for video watching. Core features include 130MB of internal memory, Bluetooth, USB, tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, and HSDPA. Look for the Samsung F490 to drop in Europe next month for $780.

The software with an unusual name — Fugawi Touratel — is Web 2.0-based and can turn different cell phone models into navigation systems with high-resolution U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps, air photos, and urban photos, according to Northport. Fugawi Touratel also serves up third-party location-based applications, such as U.S. streets maps, for a $3 monthly fee. The software is compatible with cell phone models by LG Electronics, Motorola, Samsung, and Sanyo, from carriers that include Alltel, Boost Mobile, and Sprint. Northport plans to add support for additional carriers and cell phones in the near future. Since the software uses Assisted GPS, the phones don’t need to have the functionality built in or be connected through Bluetooth. Users can see their actual position on maps, find nearby locations, or use various GPS widgets for outdoor recreation such as hiking, mountain biking, and fishing.

Users also don’t have to install client software because Fugawi Touratel works through an Internet connection. The fact that it’s always connected to the Web is useful when receiving updates without having to download new software. However, users are likely to encounter problems accessing the application when they have spotty network coverage, especially in remote places. GPS marker Northport Systems on Wednesday launched software that turns non-GPS cell phones into outdoor navigation systems.