Originally released almost two years ago, the Ocean was a great phone at the time. Its dual-sliding design was unique, and it was packed full of features that weren't widely available elsewhere, such as 3G surfing, GPS and great Gmail integration. Cut to two years later, and none of these things seem all that unique.

Today, the Ocean 2 doesn't hold up as well. It's seriously thick compared to most other phones—twice that of an iPhone—and its dual-sliding design requires a fatness that is the phone's Achilles heel. It's not worth the space when a touchscreen could replace the entire numerical pad level. A much simpler configuration would be a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a touchscreen for dialing, like on the Palm Pre. Sure, the screen is brighter and sharper than the original, but it's still not a touchscreen. Cost-cutting was clearly a key influencer in the Ocean 2's design, but that may hurt it in the end.

The Ocean 2 does, however, offer some upgrades to its predecessor. Besides the noticeably sharper and brighter screen, you also get 2GB of built-in storage, plus an SD slot for more videos and music.

There's a new optical navigation pad, which is a bigger, fancier version of the "OK" button on the original Ocean. It still acts as an OK button, but it also is touch-sensitive, allowing you to scroll around websites and through menus without any clicking required. Unfortunately, it's too small to feel very useful, and you end up accidentally scrolling when you're trying to hit OK.

There are some new software features that are nice, including Helio Connect, a way to check on your Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube accounts, as well as your RSS feeds, all in one place. It's a convenient way to get caught up without having to jump around to a half dozen websites or apps.

On the other hand, the browser is inexcusably bad. It completely destroys the rendering of most websites, and if you choose to view them as regular HTML, you'll be scrolling all over the place. It's also very slow, despite the 3G connection. It just feels like a last-generation mobile browser.

Overall, the interface is basically identical to the original, just like the design. Yes, there have been updates, but none of them feel all that substantial or consequential. This feels more like the Ocean 1.5 than the Ocean 2.

With phones such as the Palm Pre and the iPhone out there for not all that much more, you've got to wonder how many people are going to be interested in signing a two-year contract for a two-year-old phone that's merely been polished instead of being really revamped. You certainly won't feel like you've got the hottest piece of tech on the block, but it's also too expensive and bulky to be seen as a good budget phone. It's stuck in a vague middle area, a place few customers are going to want to go. [Virgin Mobile]

They don't have many details, but you can head over to see lots and lots of photos of it in the open and splayed positions. [MobileCrunch]

Also, it looks like Virgin Mobile is using Britney Spears' tour to help launch the device. Wha?

In conjunction with sponsorship of the “Circus” tour, Virgin Mobile USA plans to launch its new Ocean 2 multimedia device. Select fans at the private show will be given an Ocean 2 to chronicle the event. This “Ocean 2 Camera Crew” can blog, IM, email, post to social networking sites and send photos from this one mobile phone to share with friends and fans.

Thanks Luis!

WARREN, N.J. Sept. 10– Video and web entertainment on a cell phone without the hassle of a contract just got a whole lot faster. Virgin Mobile USA and Personal Communications Devices, LLC [PCD] are launching the Shuttle, Virgin Mobile USA's first EV-DO handset, designed with high performance for data and content in mind. Available exclusively at Best Buy Mobile and BestBuy.com as of September 28, the Shuttle ushers in a new era of performance for consumers who demand the flexibility of monthly plans with no contract but also feel the 'need for speed.'

Following Virgin Mobile USA's recent acquisition of Helio, the Shuttle will be the first handset enabled to integrate several features from the Helio portfolio. This will include improved access to social networking communities and other mobile internet sites through partnerships with Accuweather, ESPN, Facebook*, MySpace, YouTube, Yahoo! and more.

The Shuttle is also slated to feature Virgin Mobile's first location-based services from uLocate including:

· Buddy Beacon®, the popular 'friend-finder' solution which allows customers to find friends in a crowded city and show where they are and what they're doing; and

· Where™, the application that delivers local information to easily discover nearby places and things of interest such as locating the lowest gas prices, finding local events, and getting restaurant recommendations.

According to Bob Stohrer, Virgin Mobile USA's Chief Marketing Officer, the time has arrived for Virgin Mobile USA to make the 3G leap. "With the Helio acquisition and the new Shuttle, we've made a strong move into 3G, satisfying our customers who want the speed and affordability, while greatly enhancing our handset line-up just in time for the holidays," Stohrer said.

Jam-packed with features such as a 1.3 megapixel camera, 2'' screen; video capture, playback and messaging, integrated media player that supports both streaming and sideloaded music, stereo Bluetooth** wireless technology, and SD card support, while sporting a stylish S-curve design in a compact slider form factor.

"Virgin Mobile USA is a natural fit for the handset, especially considering their game-changing commitment to innovation, service and value," said Philip Christopher, President, PCD. "The Shuttle is the latest in a long line of PCD offerings that deliver on that commitment, a tremendous and affordable device that will surprise and delight discerning Virgin Mobile USA consumers, just in time for the holidays."

New Virgin Mobile USA Mobile Web Offer

With the new Shuttle, Virgin Mobile USA is also introducing its first Mobile Web data packs as add-ons to calling plans, as more and more customers access the mobile web and other mobile data services. "Data is the center of growth in wireless. This handset is a perfect fit for our new Mobile Web, heavily discounted for customers who purchase a monthly voice plan, and a big benefit for users looking to take advantage of the fast web-browsing abilities," said Stohrer.

For Monthly Plans: $ 5.00 - 20 MB Surf the Web, Unlimited VirginXL [WAP deck]

$10.00 – 50 MB and Unlimited VXL

For Pay As You Go: $ 5.00 – 5 MB Surf the Web

$10.00 – 20 MB, Unlimited VXL

$20.00 – 50 MB, Unlimited VXL

The new Shuttle adds a cost-effective and attractive product to Virgin Mobile USA's lineup, as customers have access to a host of calling and messaging plans without annual contracts, including the $79.99 Totally Unlimited voice plan that provides unlimited calling without roaming charges, activation fees or a two-year commitment. Here are highlights of the Shuttle handset:

· Sleek and small, this slider measures 3.9" x 1.9" x 0.7" – all at just a shade over 3 ounces and about the size of half a candy bar, the phone fits perfectly in a pocket or the palm of a hand.

· EV-DO 3G-capable data speeds for browsing mobile internet and downloading content.

· Boasts a 1.3 megapixel camera, 2" screen, video capture and video messaging, a music player, stereo Bluetooth*, and SD card support.

· Comes preloaded with an array of playful games, along with downloadable animated and Real Music ringtones.

· More than 235 minutes of talk time and nearly 2 weeks of standby time on a single charge

· Room for 500 contacts that accommodate 5 numbers, 2 email addresses, 2 IM handles and 1 website slot for each contact.

· Has Virgin Mobile USA's Contact Vault, which allows customers to store, retrieve, delete and transfer their wireless phone's personal contacts list online in the event the phone is lost, stolen, damaged or upgraded.

Greatly Expanded Handset and Data Offerings

Helio has built its reputation by providing its approximately 170,000 customers with highly sophisticated data services, and Virgin Mobile USA will leverage these advanced applications along with Helio's established postpaid platform, social networking content and feature-rich handsets to provide its customers with the latest in wireless products and services. This acquisition will allow Virgin Mobile USA to provide current and future customers with unique user applications on Sprint's high-speed EV-DO network, including Google maps with GPS, as well as integrated You Tube and MySpace applications.

When we called up Helio stores, their people sounded like they were reading off a script, or that they've gotten a memo, and were trying to convince us that they shouldn't worry if Virgin takes them over. So in essence, Helio customers won't be plan-less if Virgin does take over their customers—you'll just be making out your checks to Virgin instead of Helio.

The software is available for download from today from Helio's web portal. Currently it's optimized for the Ocean, but since this is apparently the "start of a beautiful relationship" we may expect to see other versions in the near future.

Opera Mini Surfs on the Helio Ocean
Opera signs first deal with U.S. service provider

Oslo, Norway and Mountain View, CA - March 19, 2008 - Opera, together with Helio, announced the first deployment of Opera Mini on a mobile service provider in the United States. As of today, Helio members can surf the Web with Opera Mini on their Ocean device with a specially-tailored version of the browser designed specifically for the handset.

Available as a downloadable application from Helio's Web portal, Opera Mini is a perfect addition to the Helio Ocean, a sleek and powerful dual-slide device that offers an incredible breadth of functionality. Opera Mini makes browsing on the Ocean even more fun and addictive with an
elegant desktop-like experience that lets the user dive into the page to access the content they want. At the same time, Opera Mini serves pages at lightning speed so it will not slow down the on-the-go mobile experience to which Helio members are accustomed.

"We're always looking to give our members their choice of great applications so we're excited to be the first service provider in the U.S. to make Opera Mini an on-deck option," said Doug Britt, Vice President of Service Management at Helio. "Opera Mini is a tremendous mobile browser. Optimized for Ocean and running on a nationwide 3G network, its a combination that's tough to match."

"Offering Opera Mini underscores Helio's insight into how the mobile industry is evolving," said Rod Hamlin, SVP Sales and Marketing Americas, Opera. "Helio understands their customers' desire for innovative and engaging mobile experiences and answering this demand with a choice in browsers explains why Helio selected Opera Mini."

More than 39 million cumulative users have discovered how Opera Mini can revolutionize their mobile Web experience. Now Helio Ocean users can enjoy all the features and fun of Opera Mini, including Opera Link, a free service that synchronizes your bookmarks, Speed Dial and personal bar between all your Web browsers.

About Opera Software ASA
Opera Software ASA has redefined Web browsing for PCs, mobile phones and other networked devices. Opera's cross-platform Web browser technology is renowned for its performance, standards compliance and small size, while giving users a faster, safer and more dynamic online experience. Opera Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices around the world. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. Learn more about Opera at HYPERLINK "http://www.opera.com" www.opera.com.
Opera Mini Surfs on the Helio Ocean - 2

About Helio
Helio is the mobile brand for the Internet generation. With advanced mobile services, exclusive, high-end, beautiful devices and smart pricing on a nationwide high-speed 3G network, Helio is built for consumers who have mobile at the center of their lives. Helio is a joint venture between
SK Telecom, one of the world's most advanced wireless carriers, and EarthLink, the next generation Internet service provider. www.helio.com.

uLocate Communications Enhances and Extends Buddy Beacon™ Functionality Revolutionary friend finding service offers cross-carrier interoperability on five mobile carriers, as well as applications on iPhone and Facebook

Boston, MA - February 13, 2008— Today, with the release of a new version of HYPERLINK "http://www.where.com/buddybeacon" Buddy Beacon™, uLocate Communications introduced the world's most advanced location enabled mobile friend finding service. With Buddy Beacon, users can choose when to share their location, and what they are up to, with their friends. Buddy Beacon is the first location enabled friend finding application that is interoperable between multiple carriers.

In addition to cross-carrier interoperability, the Buddy Beacon platform allows users to update their location and status on leading online social networking sites, including Facebook. As a compliment to this feature, uLocate has also unveiled a HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=5989766750" Buddy Beacon application on Facebook. This functionality extends the Buddy Beacon user experience beyond mobile devices.

"Historically, consumers who use mobile friend finding applications have been limited to interacting only with other users who share their same carrier," said Scott Ellison, VP of Mobile and Wireless Communications at IDC. "With Buddy Beacon, uLocate has removed this limitation by providing a friend finding product that transcends the single carrier barrier. Additionally, the introduction of cross-platform functionality with online services, such as Facebook, provides the potential for viral adoption of the application. uLocate has clearly emerged as a leader in the mobile friend finding space."

"Helio has always been committed to providing our members with innovative ways to communicate with their trusted circle of friends," said Greg Hayes, Head of Convergence at Helio. "The new Buddy Beacon experience provides better context for location sharing, enhances ease of use and creates new occasions to publish location as a social networking activity.  We know that our members will benefit from the enhanced capabilities that we have developed in conjunction with uLocate."

"Consumer adoption of Buddy Beacon has been remarkable. We are delighted to now offer the service across numerous carriers and the HYPERLINK "http://www.where.com/buddybeacon/iphone.php" iPhone, as well as extend the service functionality to the web," said Walt Doyle, CEO of uLocate Communications. "Buddy Beacon is a revolutionary application that offers a new way to interact with your friends and keep them updated on where you are and what you are up to. We plan to continually advance the functionality and availability of the service in the months ahead."

For more information, or to get Buddy Beacon on your phone, please visit www.where.com/buddybeacon.

About uLocate Communications Inc.
HYPERLINK "http://www.ulocate.com" uLocate Communications is the market leading developer of location based applications. In addition to developing location based applications for strategic partners, uLocate markets and operates WHERE™ and Buddy Beacon™. HYPERLINK "http://www.where.com" WHERE is the leading location based application platform that offers consumers access to a library of over 60 location based widgets on multiple operators in North America. HYPERLINK "http://www.where.com/buddybeacon" Buddy Beacon is the world's largest mobile friend finding solution that lets consumers leverage the power of location based technology to connect with their friends.  For more information, please visit: HYPERLINK "http://www.ulocate.com" www.ulocate.com.
 
Contact:

Dan Gilmartin
VP Marketing
uLocate Communications, Inc.
HYPERLINK "mailto:dgilmartin@ulocate.com" dgilmartin@ulocate.com
617-502-3100